Nvidia 6800U Bios Advice

[Chozo4]

Alrighty, here's a tuffy. I'd gotten an Nvidia 6800 Ultra 256mb off ebay a while back. It works.. for the most part save for a rather disturbing issue.

Intermittently, without a set timeframe.. it will be just fine untill it comes down to opening any application that involves the use of the commandline window after running for a while. Be it cmd/command, php.exe, etc.. doesn't matter. Differing driver versions do not seem to resolve the issue either. The issue being, upon doing so the screen flickers every 5-10 seconds about 3-4 times as if struggling to set to a different resolution (but isn't).. then completely locks the PC as well as producing a 'no signal' type response on the monitor (as if in full monitor powersavings mode). The core temps are normal (53c idle 67c under load) so it couldn't be an overheating issue.

Tried whatever I can to fix the issue to no avail so decided to begin searching for an update BIOS. This is where the tough part comes in...

The board was intially labeled as an original Reference Board from the buyer so was touted as being a regular NVidia-Branded card (not that of any other sub-company such as XFX, BFG, etc). Additionally, googling the boards BIOS version came up with not a single match. As if the BIOS version is such an odd number nobody has ever made mention of it.

It's a reference design board, with Nvidia logo on the fan, Nalu character faceplace, dual MOLEX power connectors, dual Digitial Output. Being used on an NForce3 Mainboard (EPoX 9nda3-j).

Bios version (according to nvidia control panel and sticker on back of board):

5.40.02.05.11

Additional numbers found on the back of the board:

Nvidia

180-10201-0000-A02

Model: P201

900-10201-0300-000 A

600-10201-0008-200 W

(barcode stickers)

00629040001040

47F20100080293 2W

Questions are:

- Is this really an original reference board or an unknown brand just strictly based off it?

- Additionally, what would be the newest or 'best' bios for it? I've found alot of NVidia BIOS's for the 6800U on MKVTech but unsure which NVidia 6800U bios to use since I am not 100% sure of the exact card manufacturer.

Edited October 9, 2008 by Chozo4

[puntoMX]

Before you start hacking into the card:

- Did you try another PSU, what is the model you are using now?

- What kind of motherboard are you using?

- Did you try the card in another system?

- Is this a clean Windows install?

[Chozo4]

Before you start hacking into the card:

- Did you try another PSU, what is the model you are using now?

- What kind of motherboard are you using?

- Did you try the card in another system?

- Is this a clean Windows install?

1) I do not have another PSU available at the moment. Current PSU is a RaidMax ATX12V [Model RX-380K (KY-480atx)] [ Link ].

However, I'd thought at first it could have been a power shortage. I'd disconnected/removed all but the essential of devices (HD, CPU fan), all other add-in cards, etc. but to no avail as the issue still occured. Furthermore, I'd underclocked the card some to reduce power use/requirements even more but to no avail. The drivers have an indicator if there isn't enough power and clocks as neecessary but that has yet to occur. There was never an issue under any load during gameplay regardless of the such.

2) Motherboard is an EPoX 9nda3-j [ Link ]

3) I do not have another system available with AGP4/8 capabilities, my other system is actually a laptop.

4) Yes, I've also tried multiple other fresh installs each with differing driver versions but to no avail.

Note:

Newer bios' seemingly have issues regarding fastwrites being enabled. Therefor I'd disabled fastwrites through the Motherboard BIOS thinking it would hopefully resolve this issue on an older bios but alas, it didn't.

Additionally, this issue also sometimes occurs when booting into windows. Once it loads DOS to boot into windows the screen will have the same symptoms instantly without the flickering (perhaps the card having an issue with VESA support?) such as Monitor lowpowerstate and full system lockup.

...So could be a board+card incompatibility or gfxcard bios issue since it even occurs prior to loading any actual video drivers. The Motherboards BIOS has been already updated hence my seeking out an updated card bios in hopes it resolves this issue.

Edited October 10, 2008 by Chozo4

[puntoMX]

1) I do not have another PSU available at the moment. Current PSU is a RaidMax ATX12V [Model RX-380K (KY-480atx)] [ Link ].

However, I'd thought at first it could have been a power shortage. I'd disconnected/removed all but the essential of devices (HD, CPU fan), all other add-in cards, etc. but to no avail as the issue still occured. Furthermore, I'd underclocked the card some to reduce power use/requirements even more but to no avail. The drivers have an indicator if there isn't enough power and clocks as neecessary but that has yet to occur. There was never an issue under any load during gameplay regardless of the such.

Well, get another PSU, this is never going to work with a rated 11A on the 12V line. Look for something that can at least do some 19A and up, better 24A and up.