rloew Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 512MB Graphics Cards have proven to be problematical when used with Windows 9x.I ran some tests with a nVidia 7200GS and a nVidia 7950GT on various Motherboards to determine why.Apparently nVidia decided to change their design approach after releasing some 512MB Cards.Previously they provided access to the entire Video RAM through the Memory Mapped I/O Space.This approach unfortunately limits the amount of System RAM that can be used by 32-Bit OSes.With the later 512MB Cards they decided to Bank Memory access through a smaller MMIO Space, typically 256MB.Starting with the 8xxx series they also implemented a Memory Page Mapper similar to the MMU in the CPU.The 7200GS is an example of the earlier design. The 7950GT is an example of the later one.The 82.69 nVidia Driver does not recognize the difference between the reported amount of Video RAM and the size of the MMIO Space allocated to the Card.The Driver overwrites the MMIO Space above the Video Card's allocation.Depending upon what is in the next 256MB of MMIO Space, your Computer can crash or other Devices, such as USB, can malfunction.A few people have been lucky enough not to have anything important in this space so they have been able to use a 7950GT although they only get 256MB.Others have not been so lucky.I have developed two solutions for this problem.1. A Patch to the 82.69 Driver to make it recognize the smaller MMIO Space.2. A BIOS Patcher for the nVidia BIOS ROM to increase the amount of MMIO Space it claims.The first is more universal but limits the Video RAM typically to 256MB. The second provides the full 512MB Video RAM of the Card.I am preparing a Package to put on my Website. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiKl Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 (edited) Awesome !!!Does the patch also fixes the protection fault-issue with PCI-E cards ?? Edited September 30, 2015 by MiKl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rloew Posted September 30, 2015 Author Share Posted September 30, 2015 I am not aware of a protection Fault issue with PCI-E Cards in general.If the problem I identifed is the cause, then the Patch will fix it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragnargd Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 (edited) I have developed two solutions for this problem.1. A Patch to the 82.69 Driver to make it recognize the smaller MMIO Space.2. A BIOS Patcher for the nVidia BIOS ROM to increase the amount of MMIO Space it claims.The first is more universal but limits the Video RAM typically to 256MB. The second provides the full 512MB Video RAM of the Card.I am preparing a Package to put on my Website.Me Like + 1 (hell, just NOW i saw the simple like button...) Edited October 11, 2015 by ragnargd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ND22 Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 Really great! Congrats rloew!Does that means we can use nvdia cards generation 8XXX and later? I ask because 7XXX cards are getting really hard to find in my country at least but nvidia 4xx and later are in good supply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rloew Posted October 13, 2015 Author Share Posted October 13, 2015 I'm afraid not.8xxx and later cards use significantly different interfaces than the earlier ones.My Patches are mainly for 6xxx and 7xxx 512MB Cards.At this point I don't think there are any compatable cards available at my local retailers at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragnargd Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 I'm afraid not.8xxx and later cards use significantly different interfaces than the earlier ones.My Patches are mainly for 6xxx and 7xxx 512MB Cards.At this point I don't think there are any compatable cards available at my local retailers at all. For me, the patch for the OS would be enough, as when 98 was hip, everybody knew its limitations, and made no software that deliberately used that amount of Video RAM. And furthermore, this version is without risk for multi-boot-systems, as it does not touch other operating systems in any way. Still, regarding the VGA-Bios-patch, what effect can be expected on Windows XP or Windows 10? Did you already test such constellations? Cheers, Ragnar G.D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rloew Posted October 16, 2015 Author Share Posted October 16, 2015 (edited) The Patch is ready. I plan to update my website over the weekend.There will be a free test program that you can use to test your system before purchase.I haven't tested the BIOS Patch in XP as I have yet to put the one problematic card (7950GT) in a system with XP.I only have Windows 10 in a Laptop, so I cannot test that at this time.I did a BIOS Patch on a 256MB PCI 6200GS that claimed 512MB, the reverse of the 7950GT, and it works in XP.The main impact on Windows XP would be the maximum amount of 32-Bit RAM available.64-Bit systems would be unaffected as the Memory is not lost but hoisted up into the 64-Bit space.Incidentally, the main Patch is for the nVidia Driver not the OS. I do include an OS Patch that fixes a separate problem that I have seen in some Intel branded Motherboards. Edited October 16, 2015 by rloew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragnargd Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 The Patch is ready. I plan to update my website over the weekend.There will be a free test program that you can use to test your system before purchase.I haven't tested the BIOS Patch in XP as I have yet to put the one problematic card (7950GT) in a system with XP.I only have Windows 10 in a Laptop, so I cannot test that at this time.I did a BIOS Patch on a 256MB PCI 6200GS that claimed 512MB, the reverse of the 7950GT, and it works in XP.The main impact on Windows XP would be the maximum amount of 32-Bit RAM available.64-Bit systems would be unaffected as the Memory is not lost but hoisted up into the 64-Bit space.Incidentally, the main Patch is for the nVidia Driver not the OS. I do include an OS Patch that fixes a separate problem that I have seen in some Intel branded Motherboards. I'll test this thoroughly happily, once you're done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rloew Posted October 18, 2015 Author Share Posted October 18, 2015 I'll test this thoroughly happily, once you're done.I have updated my Website. The Test Program is now on my Website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schwups Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 Your NVCheck reports for a NV7950 with 512MB "10000: 0295:10de". What does that mean? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loblo Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 1 = Bus00 = Device0 = Function0295 = Device Model ID10de = Device Vendor ID Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rloew Posted February 26, 2016 Author Share Posted February 26, 2016 That line identifies what Card is being reported on.The rest of the lines have the information that is important. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schwups Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 There are no other lines. I asked because according to description the information is missing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rloew Posted February 26, 2016 Author Share Posted February 26, 2016 You have the 7950GX2. It reports two separate PCI Devices, one for each board.The Secondary Card returns a Class Code not recognized by the Program so it doesn't report any information on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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