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  1. #1
    Ultimate Member Kurylo's Avatar
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    How I killed my Abit GeForce2 MX400 64MB

    As you know, there are BIOS'es in GPUs, which may be overwrited.
    I wanted to make some mods to it using the nvflash.exe program. Those mods are: changing the frequencies of a GPU from the ever start of my PC, so I should not run the RivaTuner every time.
    My specs are 200/166, and the system works stable at 220/205.
    So, I saved an old BIOS, and changed the settings.
    After rebooting I checked if the frequencies are set properly. The 220 GPU OC'ing was successful, but a 205 MHz for RAM was far lower than it should be.
    In a help to the RivaTuner and some internet sites I've read that 64MB cards with some RAM chips configurations may show that they are working in a frequency twice as much as they are. It may be understood then that I set up my RAM frequency to 205, but it is a twice value, so it should be divided into 2.
    So, I decided to put a 410MHz into the BIOS resulting in real 205MHz.
    After flashing and clicking on the reboot button my PC got a black screen... :-(
    I think, that those 410MHz my system took as it should be...
    So, I went to my friend, who still has an old ISA graphics card in his "stock", and a mobo, which has that slot. We inserted two cards, connected them to two monitors, and SUCCESSFULLY flashed the old BIOS to my GPU !!!

    But the card was, I think, already damaged...

    The text modes work, 640x480x16 work, and that's all... No any VESA, no anything more than those specs. Installing Detonators Drivers result in a black csreen during OS load... Only Safe Mode and 640x480x16... :-(

    But I'm lucky: I went to my PC manufacturer, and they exchanged my broken card with a new one. The only difference is that my old card had a black textolyt and my new card has a dark-blue now.

    BTW, I noticed that a slider in the RivaTuner is working in such way: 170-171-...-298-299-150-151-...-251-252 (MHz)
    So, here's the trick: until some value the frequency is doubled, and then it turns to a normal state !!!

    But anyways, it is a good lesson for me: every man should think seven times, and then do something once.
    Last edited by Kurylo; 04-22-2002 at 07:09 AM.

  2. #2
    Ultimate Member Kurylo's Avatar
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    Here are two forms in a RivaTuner overclocker.
    Notice, that system shows equal "205MHz" setting !!!
    Attached Images

  3. #3
    Evil Lurks NDD's Avatar
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    "chop" it was, I believe

    Flashing videocards' BIOS is very risky, not only your case can happen, one can also damage the Boot Block on the EEPROM sometimes. Then the card considered DIA

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