Quake3World

Anyone that has a Nvidia AGP only (PCI E will not work) can dramatically improve performance by doing something thats pretty simple



http://downloads.guru3d.com/downloadget ... 0a49f5918d

Download the above program (RIVA tweak)

what you are basically doing is hacking the bios to bypass the manufacturers bios blocked (masked) pixel pipelines and vertex shaders.

fire up the program
hit customise tab under your cards name
select the graphic that looks like a video card
hit NVStrap Driver tab
check the two boxes unlock professional capabilities and allow enabling hardware masked units
now select customise
check all boxes next to bit (xx) that have yes selected under hardware masked column


hit install and reboot


you should now have 16 pixel pipelines and 6 vertex shaders on your 6800. once that is done you can now crank up the gpu and memory using the same program to 6800 ultra settings.

That's not really new to anyone. RIVAtuner's been out there for quite some time. Doesn't help me though, I have a Gainward 6800GT that's already cranked up OVER ultra settings and still solid as a rock (420MHz).

obsidian wrote:That's not really new to anyone.

I knew about overclocking the cards I didnt know about masked pixel pipelines and you could unlock em......



next time I will just be quiet. :icon23:

Since there is virtually no risk in doing this (has anyone burned out their card by doing so?) I find it odd that Nvidia dosen't actually 'remove' these extra pipelines in the lower grade cards instead of silently keeping them in. I mean, most people already know about the trick and those that own these lesser cards have probably done this without a second look, as it's fairly non-risky.

So people end up buying the cheaper card. Isn't Nvidia shooting themselves in the foot with this one?

dzjepp wrote:Since there is virtually no risk in doing this (has anyone burned out their card by doing so?) I find it odd that Nvidia dosen't actually 'remove' these extra pipelines in the lower grade cards instead of silently keeping them in. I mean, most people already know about the trick and those that own these lesser cards have probably done this without a second look, as it's fairly non-risky.

So people end up buying the cheaper card. Isn't Nvidia shooting themselves in the foot with this one?

The number of people that know of these tricks is much less than the bulk of the buyers.

duffman91 wrote:

dzjepp wrote:Since there is virtually no risk in doing this (has anyone burned out their card by doing so?) I find it odd that Nvidia dosen't actually 'remove' these extra pipelines in the lower grade cards instead of silently keeping them in. I mean, most people already know about the trick and those that own these lesser cards have probably done this without a second look, as it's fairly non-risky.

So people end up buying the cheaper card. Isn't Nvidia shooting themselves in the foot with this one?

The number of people that know of these tricks is much less than the bulk of the buyers.

Absolutely correct.

Plus, they do "remove" the extra cores. During the life of any graphics card product, they will actually use a range of different chips. Some of the time they have an excessive stock of failed 6800GT/Ultra chips, for example. Some of the pipelines may not be fully functional. So they disable a quad and send it out as a 6800NU chip, for example. Also, they design chips for the 6600 or other models that are a completely original chip, and not 16 pipe ones.

There is no guarantee that 1. The graphic card's processor even has 16 physical pipes or 2. If it does, some may be faulty and unlocking them can introduce artifacts or crashing. With physical mods to the cards, that may cause permanent damage. If you use a soft-mod like this, you can probably "lock" them again.


P.S. I highly doubt that any NV40 (I think that's the 6800GT/Ultra chip name, at least) are used in 6200 graphics cards. If they are seriously fucked up, they may use them 6600 cards, but I almost doubt that as well. My guess is the 16 pipe GT/Ultra chips that are partially defective go into the 6800 NU cards (12 pipes) and if not even 12 pipelines work, they're just scrapped. 6600/GT 8 pipe chips that are partially defective go into the 6200 cards. Plus I believe there is a dedicated GPU designed for the 6200. So there are at least 3 different cores used in those products.

dzjepp wrote:Since there is virtually no risk in doing this (has anyone burned out their card by doing so?) I find it odd that Nvidia dosen't actually 'remove' these extra pipelines in the lower grade cards instead of silently keeping them in. I mean, most people already know about the trick and those that own these lesser cards have probably done this without a second look, as it's fairly non-risky.

So people end up buying the cheaper card. Isn't Nvidia shooting themselves in the foot with this one?

well I guess it's one of those gambles they take since manufacturing costs would go up if they were to treat each one so differently

my BFG 6800 OC unlocked nicely nearly 2 yrs ago without any problems

SoM wrote:my BFG 6800 OC unlocked nicely nearly 2 yrs ago without any problems

my 6200 only has 1 "extra" pixel ppipeline that i acn unmask but so far its working pretty good

Pyro, it wont let me check those 2 boxes...they are blanked out...??
Any tips?

Actually i got it goin and i have pipelines to enable

Don Carlos wrote:Actually i got it goin and i have pipelines to enable

why the sad face?

my card cant go quicker

Don Carlos wrote:my card cant go quicker

wha t you talking about man?


I thought you said you have pipelines to enable.

whoops
that was ment ot be dont have pipelines to enable :S

Don Carlos wrote:whoops
that was ment ot be dont have pipelines to enable :S

what card you got ?

6600 gt

Don Carlos wrote:6600 gt

And its AGP not PCI-Express ...... weird. Should have some

definatly AGP sir
I have no xx in the right hand colum at all

Don Carlos wrote:definatly AGP sir
I have no xx in the right hand colum at all

dood the (xx) refers to the bit thats masked IE bit (00) bit (01)



etc


2 secs I'll screeny for ya

excellent
I have the feeling i might be being a wee bit thick here

I have a 6800, I may try this later, thx.

Damn links expired... Hmm...

I already have those ticked...?