KGB - Kepler BIOS Editor/Unlocker

KGB (Kepler Golden BIOS) Is an Nvidia Kepler BIOS Editor/Unlocker program I have written. Enjoy :)

KGB supports: GTX690, GTX680, GTX670, GTX660Ti, GTX660OEM and GTX660.


Instructions: KGB is a console application, you must use it from a command prompt in windows. Start menu then type cmd, then cd to the folder containing kgb.
You will need to extract your bios from your card with this version of GPU-Z http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/at...2&d=1344772659
When you are done modding your bios you will need to flash it back to your card with nvflash.

Usage Example 1: kgb.exe your_bios.rom
This will display info from the bios.

Usage Example 2: kgb.exe your_bios.rom unlock
This will unlock your BIOS. Make sure you have a backup of your original BIOS file!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


By default it will unlock to 150% Power, Voltage 1.1875v (1.2125v On Boost, only on GK104?), and Fan Range to 30% - 100% (You can now define these values in the kgb.cfg file)

NOTICE: When you unlock the bios your card WILL boost higher, It may boost past stable. If you have any overclocks set then it WILL very likely boost past stable.
Remove your overclock settings (from precision, afterburner, etc..) then try again. If it's still unstable you may have to underclock the base a bit.

WARNING: KGB works on all the bios files I have so far. However that's not to say it will work on yours. Make sure to look at the output of KGB after you unlock,
If something looks fishy do not flash it. If something goes wrong I take no responsibility. Use at your own risk!!!

Download:
LATEST: https://www.dropbox.com/s/fsxyvofr1idazhm/kgb_0.6.2.zip

Test version of KGB for titan. Only fan, and power supported for now:
TITAN: https://www.dropbox.com/s/dk54rmgce0...gb_titan.zip?m

OLD: https://www.dropbox.com/s/d6dimgnx8cxvlca/kgb_0.6.1.zip
OLD: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ouhpkeq5m4n6vn5/kgb_0.6.0.zip
OLD: https://www.dropbox.com/s/vrunxuq03vj0m5y/kgb_0.5.zip


Revision History
Version 0.6.2
-Added support for more bioses

Version 0.6.1
-Minor fixes

Version 0.6
-Added config option to change the max boost frequency.
-Added EXPERIMENTAL option to preserve the original checksum.
-Added fixes for some bios that KGB was not playing nice with.

Version 0.5
-Added support for GTX690
-Added fix_checksum option (if you only wan't to fix the checksum and not change any other values supply "fix_checksum" as the parameter rather than "unlock")
-Added kgb.cfg file. You can change the values in this file to customize your unlock values fan, voltage, power.

Version a0.4
-Added support for 660 OEM
-Added extra error checking

How do you fix the digital signature ? (Not the 1 byte CRC)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by W1zzard

How do you fix the digital signature ? (Not the 1 byte CRC)

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i'm interested in that too ...

anyway, as an owner of a 680 lightning im already able to take full voltagecontrol of my card using afterburner!

but i'm looking for a way to extend the fan range to 0% - 100%

Will this work on non reference PCB kepler GPUs too?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by W1zzard

How do you fix the digital signature ? (Not the 1 byte CRC)

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I don't fix it. I and many others have manually modded quite a large number of bios files, and they have been fine without fixing the digital sig.
I'm not sure what purpose the digital signature serves. Also some BIOS file don't even have it.

At this point I would have to say the Digital Signature section has nothing to do with validating the bios section.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bhavv

Will this work on non reference PCB kepler GPUs too?

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Yes

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fgw

looking for a way to extend the fan range to 0% - 100%

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Yes, when I have some time I plan on adding some parameters so you can change the settings.

Thanks a Lot man, that is the tool I've been waiting for.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CrazyNutz

KGB (Kepler Golden BIOS) Is an Nvidia Kepler BIOS Editor/Unlocker program I have written. Enjoy :)

KGB supports: GTX680, GTX670, GTX660Ti, and GTX660 for now.

Usage Example 1: kgb.exe your_bios.rom
This will display info from the bios.

Usage Example 2: kgb.exe your_bios.rom unlock
This will unlock your BIOS. Make sure you have a backup of your original BIOS file!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Right now that is it. It will unlock to 150% Power, Voltage 1.1875v (1.2125v On Boost), and Fan Range to 30% - 100% (Future versions will allow you to define these values)

---

Hey CrazyNutz Your unlock appears to do what it says on the tin but just thought I'd let you know my Palait Jetstream GTX 680 don't like running once unlocked.

Used example 1 to check my 680
Saved stock bios using GPU-Z
Run your unlock tool against my stock BIOS
Flashed mod BIOS using nvflash 5.118 from W8 CMD line
Checked again using example 1 & verified unlock worked ok.

Run MSI Kombustor at stock & screen went black within 30 seconds. Reboot & try again same result.... maybe driver crash.

Re-Flashed my original stock BIOS & tested all ok with Kombustor.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by C-N

Hey CrazyNutz Your unlock appears to do what it says on the tin but just thought I'd let you know my Palait Jetstream GTX 680 don't like running once unlocked.

Used example 1 to check my 680
Saved stock bios using GPU-Z
Run your unlock tool against my stock BIOS
Flashed mod BIOS using nvflash 5.118 from W8 CMD line
Checked again using example 1 & verified unlock worked ok.

Run MSI Kombustor at stock & screen went black within 30 seconds. Reboot & try again same result.... maybe driver crash.

Re-Flashed my original stock BIOS & tested all ok with Kombustor.

---

After the unlock your boost clock will boost much higher. It is likely that it will has boosted past the stable point. You may have to control this by either down clocking the base clock, or lowering the power slider.

Can the power target go higher then 150% and isn't there a way to customize the power draw since I saw that discussed in some bios mod forums.

did a quick check:

my lightning bios has already a powerlimit of 300%

was curious to see what happens if i run unlock to set the new powerlimit to 150% (as intended to be set during unlock) or leave it at 300%.

it stayed at 300%. guess your unlock is not touching the limits if the limits contained in bios are already higher ...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CrazyNutz

After the unlock your boost clock will boost much higher. It is likely that it will has boosted past the stable point. You may have to control this by either down clocking the base clock, or lowering the power slider.

---

Yup looks like that is what it done although I can stop the driver crashing if I max out the power slider in Afterburner. I also added 100MHz to the clock making 1185 base & with the fan on 100% & the power slider @ 150% it runs fine on stock core voltage. Looks to me your mod will work good once you get round to adding the ability to pre define values from the BIOS.

BTW thanks for sharing :up:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Warboy

Can the power target go higher then 150% and isn't there a way to customize the power draw since I saw that discussed in some bios mod forums.

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I will eventually add the ability to set the values yourself. However this version is Alpha, and I'm just looking for feedback. Thanks

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fgw

did a quick check:

my lightning bios has already a powerlimit of 300%

was curious to see what happens if i run unlock to set the new powerlimit to 150% (as intended to be set during unlock) or leave it at 300%.

it stayed at 300%. guess your unlock is not touching the limits if the limits contained in bios are already higher ...

---

Yes the lightning LN2 Bios is already maxed out.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by C-N

Yup looks like that is what it done although I can stop the driver crashing if I max out the power slider in Afterburner. I also added 100MHz to the clock making 1185 base & with the fan on 100% & the power slider @ 150% it runs fine on stock core voltage. Looks to me your mod will work good once you get round to adding the ability to pre define values from the BIOS.

BTW thanks for sharing :up:

---

Ok so if you maxed out power limit to %150 then it was stable?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CrazyNutz

Ok so if you maxed out power limit to %150 then it was stable?

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Yes both stock 1085MHz & +100 1185MHz on stock core voltage.

Hmm, I just tried dowloading and running the program, but it just flashes open and instantly closes again, maybe because I'm running window 8?

I also uploaded my bios to Techpowerup because they didnt have it yet, but I'll have to wait until KGB works for me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bhavv

Hmm, I just tried dowloading and running the program, but it just flashes open and instantly closes again, maybe because I'm running window 8?

I also uploaded my bios to Techpowerup because they didnt have it yet, but I'll have to wait until KGB works for me.

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It's a console program. You have to run it from a cmd prompt.
open a cmd prompt, then cd to where the kgb.exe file is then type: kgb.exe your_bios.rom

Nicely done, I flashed with an unlocked bios and now I'm stable in Heaven with 1267 Mhz on the GPU :up:

But I need to set the core clock to -25 Mhz, otherwise it runs at 1293 Mhz which isnt stable.

1267 Mhz plus my golden 7500 Mhz ram will be lovely :)

Screenshot:

http://i.imgur.com/4kD2b.jpg

I dont know why my power graph only stays at 80 though, I think theres something wrong with that which is why I cant go any higher.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bhavv

Nicely done, I flashed with an unlocked bios and now I'm stable in Heaven with 1267 Mhz on the GPU :up:

But I need to set the core clock to -25 Mhz, otherwise it runs at 1293 Mhz which isnt stable.

1267 Mhz plus my golden 7500 Mhz ram will be lovely :)

Screenshot:

http://i.imgur.com/4kD2b.jpg

I dont know why my power graph only stays at 80 though, I think theres something wrong with that which is why I cant go any higher.

---

Nice. I plan to have a parameter soon that you can use to cap the boost frequency. In your case you would set the boost cap to 1267, this would keep your card from going past that.

My gtx660ti its a really bad overclocker, i can only get 1189Mhz stable on the core with bios unlocked.

When will you release the boost cap feature?

I had to change the core offset to -110 to be stable.

Other than that your tool its working great so far. :)

Congrats.

CrazyNutz, need some clarification:

here is the output of my stock bios (680 lightning)

Power Target: 225000
Max Power Target: 300000 (133%)

Voltage Table:
1150000
1150000
11500000

1150000
1150000
11500000

unlocking it with kgb and checking again without unlock switch resulted in the following output:

Power Target: 225000
Max Power Target: 337500 (150%)

Voltage Table:
1187500
1187500
11875000

1187500
1187500
11875000

regarding your statement in your first post: "It will unlock to 150% Power, Voltage 1.1875v (1.2125v On Boost)"

shouldn't it read something like

Voltage Table:
1187500
1187500
11875000

1212500
1212500
12125000

after unlocking?

is max applied boost voltage shown in the output of kgb? had the impression the last three voltage values might apply to max boost voltage?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fgw

CrazyNutz, need some clarification:

here is the output of my stock bios (680 lightning)

Power Target: 225000
Max Power Target: 300000 (133%)

Voltage Table:
1150000
1150000
11500000

1150000
1150000
11500000

unlocking it with kgb and checking again without unlock switch resulted in the following output:

Power Target: 225000
Max Power Target: 337500 (150%)

Voltage Table:
1187500
1187500
11875000

1187500
1187500
11875000

regarding your statement in your first post: "It will unlock to 150% Power, Voltage 1.1875v (1.2125v On Boost)"

shouldn't it read something like

Voltage Table:
1187500
1187500
11875000

1212500
1212500
12125000

after unlocking?

is max applied boost voltage shown in the output of kgb? had the impression the last three voltage values might apply to max boost voltage?

---

The two voltage tables for GK104 bios are always the same values. The boost logic automatically boost the voltage up 2 levels.
You have notice i'm sure that your stock volts 1.150v will go to 1.175 on boost.

1150000
1162500
1175000
1187500 < my tool sets the voltage tables to this
1200000
1212500 < The boost logic will bring it here, (if the GPU is cool, and not drawing too much power))

Interesting tool, sorta makes me wish I bought a GTX670 so I could play with this app. I suppose I'll have to make do with the AMD beta drivers for now while I research possibilities of making a similar app for AMD 7 series cards (I'm sick of using OC software)

Can someone upload unlocked bios for Asus GTX680 DCII OC ?
That way I won't stuff it up

:)

If I managed to figure it out, you can too! Took me like 2-3 hours of reading to figure it out, but heres a summary:

- Use GPUZ to extract your VGA bios, and make a copy into the KGB folder, and a backup elsewhere.
- Put KBG folder including the bios on your C drive (not neccessary, but makes the rest easier)
- Run cmd prompt which should default to the C drive:

CD kbgfoldername
kbg.exe biosname.rom unlock

That should be done. Then use a bootable USB drive with the latest NVflash plus your unlocked bios and flash it. (--index=0 -4 -5 -6 biosname.rom, your index number might be 1 instead).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CrazyNutz

The two voltage tables for GK104 bios are always the same values. The boost logic automatically boost the voltage up 2 levels.
You have notice i'm sure that your stock volts 1.150v will go to 1.175 on boost.

1150000
1162500
1175000
1187500 < my tool sets the voltage tables to this
1200000
1212500 < The boost logic will bring it here, (if the GPU is cool, and not drawing too much power))

---

is this the complete table?

so max possible boost voltage is 1.2150V ?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bhavv

If I managed to figure it out, you can too! Took me like 2-3 hours of reading to figure it out, but heres a summary:

- Use GPUZ to extract your VGA bios, and make a copy into the KGB folder, and a backup elsewhere.
- Put KBG folder including the bios on your C drive (not neccessary, but makes the rest easier)
- Run cmd prompt which should default to the C drive:

CD kbgfoldername
kbg.exe biosname.rom unlock

That should be done. Then use a bootable USB drive with the latest NVflash plus your unlocked bios and flash it. (--index=0 -4 -5 -6 biosname.rom, your index number might be 1 instead).

---

Where did you find the info? I dont see a link to a guide.

Flashed my EVGA 660TI SC with new moded bios using KGB tool.

GPU Boost went from 1,175Mhz to 1280Mhz

Time to test it with BF3.


Edit:

GPU Temp seems to be a tad higher now(81C), and fan only hovers around 46%. GPU Speed hovers around 1,150Mhz.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KGB7

Where did you find the info? I dont see a link to a guide.

---

Sorry, heres the link to the article I used, this was for the flashing side of things:

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=119955

And I just followed Crazynutz OP for modding the bios.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fgw

so max possible boost voltage is 1.2150V ?

---

Yes thats the maximum the voltage goes up to. With 1.215v, and <70 degrees temperature, my GPU's max speed is purely crap :(

Another update.

Fan speed needs to be set to a higher speeds, so it runs at faster speeds as temp goes up.

Before the temp hits 70C GPU, speed is running at 1280Mhz.
At 70C GPU speed drops to 1200Mhz.
When temp hits +80C GPU speed drop to around 1188Mhz-1150Mhz.

In BF 3, at 80C, GPU Speed wont go over 1150Mhz. I have to use MSI Afterburner to manually set the fan speed to lower the temp enough to see GPU Speed at 1280Mhz.

I also had to increase Power Limit to 125% with msi Afterburner to see a constant GPU Speed at 1,280Mhz But the game crashed after 3min. I ran in to same issue with Heaven Benchmark.

Yes the clock speed droop at 70 degrees is a lot worse than the original bios was.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CrazyNutz

KGB (Kepler Golden BIOS) Is an Nvidia Kepler BIOS Editor/Unlocker program I have written. Enjoy :)

KGB supports: GTX680, GTX670, GTX660Ti, and GTX660 for now.

Usage Example 1: kgb.exe your_bios.rom
This will display info from the bios.

Usage Example 2: kgb.exe your_bios.rom unlock
This will unlock your BIOS. Make sure you have a backup of your original BIOS file!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Right now that is it. It will unlock to 150% Power, Voltage 1.1875v (1.2125v On Boost), and Fan Range to 30% - 100% (Future versions will allow you to define these values)

Don't ask me to tweak the values (i.e. voltage, power etc.) because this version is just Alpha, and I will be adding the ability to change the values yourself.

WARNING: KGB works on all the bios files I have so far. However that's not to say it will work on yours. Make sure to look at the output of KGB after you unlock,
If something looks fishy do not flash it. If something goes wrong I take no responsibility. Use at your own risk!!!

Download:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3wiuizftusj2rcy/kgb_a0.4.zip

Version a0.4
Added support for 660 OEM
Added extra error checking

---

Congratulations mate for programming this tool i have 2 GALAXY GTX680 SOC do you think it will work ? GPUZ shows loaded 1,175 but a friend used mulimeter and said it was 1,19 and target is shown till 120...

Cheers !
Sergio

I would have thought that card would already have an unlocked bios, especially if it comfortably hits over 1300 Mhz. Sometimes they run at 1.21v, but still only show 1.175 in afterburner. I wouldnt bother with modifying the bios if you're already running over 1300 Mhz, I'd say this is a good tool for cards with weak overclocks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by andressergio

Congratulations mate for programming this tool i have 2 GALAXY GTX680 SOC do you think it will work ? GPUZ shows loaded 1,175 but a friend used mulimeter and said it was 1,19 and target is shown till 120...

Cheers !
Sergio

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Hey Sergio mate you can run example 1 against a GPU-Z save of your bios & it will display the voltage, power limit & fan range so you can make your own mind up.

I also believe from reading a few posts on the net that software is reading the load voltage incorrectly on the 680 so best check with a DMM.

P.S Your cards are the don dada anyway so might not gain much before cooling kills the boost.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bhavv

Yes the clock speed droop at 70 degrees is a lot worse than the original bios was.

---

Original BIOS is better because the fan speed goes up higher.

Im using different EVGA BIOS right now(forgot to save my stock bios), and at 75C, fan speed is at 50%.

I think that might just be a problem with your card? With the unlocked bios my fans went a lot louder at 100%, so it worked fine. I set a profile with the fan speed 10% higher than the temperature (eg 70% speed at 60 degrees), and that keeps it below 70 degrees, but it gets noisy at over 70% fan speed.

The voltage and clock droops at 70 degrees are a terrible thing, thankfully my Vram keeps running at silly speeds. I decided to increase my 24/7 Vram clock to 7400 Mhz, and the maximum stable without artifacts is 7529 MHz ... More than enough to compensate for my lousy GPU clocks.

But then the awesome Galaxy / KFA2 GTX 680 white PCB does 1300 / 7800 clocks, and now I wish I had one of those instead.

Looks very interesting. Any support for the gtx690 in the future?

I tried already and it said unsupported.:(

So to get past the 1.215v limit means hard mod and removing the correct resistor (on Asus DCII) right?

:(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bhavv

If I managed to figure it out, you can too! Took me like 2-3 hours of reading to figure it out, but heres a summary:

- Use GPUZ to extract your VGA bios, and make a copy into the KGB folder, and a backup elsewhere.
- Put KBG folder including the bios on your C drive (not neccessary, but makes the rest easier)
- Run cmd prompt which should default to the C drive:

CD kbgfoldername
kbg.exe biosname.rom unlock

That should be done. Then use a bootable USB drive with the latest NVflash plus your unlocked bios and flash it. (--index=0 -4 -5 -6 biosname.rom, your index number might be 1 instead).

---

Error - can not open bios file - what does this mean?

Moded another(different) BIOS with the KGB tool, and the fan speed once again is being set too low. Fan speed needs to be at 50% once GPU hits 60C.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by C-N

Hey Sergio mate you can run example 1 against a GPU-Z save of your bios & it will display the voltage, power limit & fan range so you can make your own mind up.

I also believe from reading a few posts on the net that software is reading the load voltage incorrectly on the 680 so best check with a DMM.

P.S Your cards are the don dada anyway so might not gain much before cooling kills the boost.

---

Thanks C-N i can only put volts to mem and they go +900 over stock wich is 1502mhz an core just +20 as its already boost to 1293 without those +20

Cheers !!!
Sergio

that's still crazy that you can go up to +900 on the memory! Mine starts artifacting at +775, with +760 being the highest stable. All GTX 670 and 680s use the same 1500 Mhz hynix chips. The only thing that would help on the Galaxy OC version for the memory is the thin ramsink and extra fan.

I know that Galaxy / KFA2 are binning their GPUs very tightly. Any chip capable of doing 1200 Mhz goes on the dual fan custom design. Then with the triple fan white PCB 680, they are cherry picking all their 1300 MHz GPUs for that. This also means that if you buy the dual fan GTX 680 from galaxy, you won't get a 1300 Mhz capable chip because those are being saved for the triple fan version.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bhavv

that's still crazy that you can go up to +900 on the memory! Mine starts artifacting at +775, with +760 being the highest stable. All GTX 670 and 680s use the same 1500 Mhz hynix chips. The only thing that would help on the Galaxy OC version for the memory is the thin ramsink and extra fan.

I know that Galaxy / KFA2 are binning their GPUs very tightly. Any chip capable of doing 1200 Mhz goes on the dual fan custom design. Then with the triple fan white PCB 680, they are cherry picking all their 1300 MHz GPUs for that. This also means that if you buy the dual fan GTX 680 from galaxy, you won't get a 1300 Mhz capable chip because those are being saved for the triple fan version.

---

This are samsumg chips inside binned as gpu i will show u inside later
Cheers
Sergio

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by aussie-revhead

Error - can not open bios file - what does this mean?

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This means you probably provided a bios file name that does not exist.

You have to get the bios from your card with GPUz, then run kgb on that file, then use nvflash to put the new bios on your card.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MrTOOSHORT

Looks very interesting. Any support for the gtx690 in the future?

I tried already and it said unsupported.:(

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Post your bios and I will add support.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KGB7

Moded another(different) BIOS with the KGB tool, and the fan speed once again is being set too low. Fan speed needs to be at 50% once GPU hits 60C.

---

Soon I provide full options that allow you to define fan speed, and the other options. Please be patient.

Also I am fully aware of the GPU's throttling when the temps are in the 60 - 70c range. I've tried and Changing the fan speed range does little to help this. For me I had to set the fan speed range to %70 - %100. I suspect there is a fan profile in the bios (other than the range) that tells the card to start ramping the fan up a given temp.

There are two options right now:
1). Use a software controlled fan that can set a fan profile. using this you can tell the software (EVGA Precision, etc..) to ramp the fan up at a lower temp.
2). Water cool.

And possibly a third option is, well let me explain: If I set the voltage to 1.21250 ( MAX ) It seems to stop the throttling. However I have had some reports of instability.

Anyhow Like I said I will have a new version soon that will allow you to change the values. So you can test and reply back with your findings.

Thanks to everyone, the feedback is very helpful.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by andressergio

This are samsumg chips inside binned as gpu i will show u inside later
Cheers
Sergio

---

Thats interesting to know. I've looked up pictures of all of the Galaxy models that I could find online, and their entire range of GTX 670s and 680s showed the same hynix chips that I got.

Thanks for the update dude.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CrazyNutz

Post your bios and I will add support.

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Thanks!:)

http://rapidshare.com/files/1731931034/gtx690bios_.rar

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bhavv

But then the awesome Galaxy / KFA2 GTX 680 white PCB does 1300 / 7800 clocks, and now I wish I had one of those instead.

---

yes and that its stock for the Galaxy SOC GTX680 i can game at +20 =1300 core and +700 = 7850 mem

this are the clocks i game at, boost is 1299

http://i.imgur.com/HR7rd.jpg

this is my Galaxy thread
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...ts-here/page15

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bhavv

Thats interesting to know. I've looked up pictures of all of the Galaxy models that I could find online, and their entire range of GTX 670s and 680s showed the same hynix chips that I got.

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yes see here tough

http://www.madboxpc.com/foro/topic/1...e-pcb-edition/

I managed to play games all day yesterday at 1280 Mhz, but both heaven and kombuster will crash fast at that much.

I'm still drooling over those white PCB galaxies, but the price difference over the 670 isn't worth it to me. They are still ?450 for that model in the UK, vs ?320 for a decent 670. I'm going to try and refrain from getting a second 670 now because I likely won't get another that runs all day on 7400 MHz ram.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bhavv

I managed to play games all day yesterday at 1280 Mhz, but both heaven and kombuster will crash fast at that much.

I'm still drooling over those white PCB galaxies, but the price difference over the 670 isn't worth it to me. They are still ?450 for that model in the UK, vs ?320 for a decent 670. I'm going to try and refrain from getting a second 670 now because I likely won't get another that runs all day on 7400 MHz ram.

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yes thats the dif bhavv i can pass furmark kombustor etc they have binned chips and temps are awesome

Oh well, back to 1250 Mhz I go :(

By the way, your +700 on the memory / 1852 Mhz in GPU-Z is 7408 Mhz, not 7850 Mhz. For 7800 Mhz you need to be able to do +900.

Thats the same that my memory runs at, but I can go up to +760 before I start getting artifacts.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MrTOOSHORT

Thanks!:)

http://rapidshare.com/files/1731931034/gtx690bios_.rar

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What does your max power go up to right now? Is it 150% ?

Bios has been modded for 150% power target, stock is 135%.

That's all that has been modified.

Here are the actual non modified gtx690 bios':

http://rapidshare.com/files/21007503...os_1_and_2.zip

Thanks again.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MrTOOSHORT

Bios has been modded for 150% power target, stock is 135%.

That's all that has been modified.

Here are the actual non modified gtx690 bios':

http://rapidshare.com/files/21007503...os_1_and_2.zip

Thanks again.

---

No problem. I was just trying to make sure I found the correct offset for power target. I'll check your non-modded bios to make sure it is 135% then I'll know for sure it's the correct offset.

310.64 great drivers 290+ points increase

http://i.imgur.com/zEvka.jpg

this is with mem at +750

http://i.imgur.com/8TBLS.jpg

this is with mem at +800

http://i.imgur.com/aAKJ6.jpg

NOT a single artifact till now :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bhavv

Oh well, back to 1250 Mhz I go :(

By the way, your +700 on the memory / 1852 Mhz in GPU-Z is 7408 Mhz, not 7850 Mhz. For 7800 Mhz you need to be able to do +900.

Thats the same that my memory runs at, but I can go up to +760 before I start getting artifacts.

---

question is can u game at 1300 core +700 mem ? without mods etc ? thats why i got this cards and yes i can bench +800+

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CrazyNutz

The two voltage tables for GK104 bios are always the same values. The boost logic automatically boost the voltage up 2 levels.
You have notice i'm sure that your stock volts 1.150v will go to 1.175 on boost.

1150000
1162500
1175000
1187500 < my tool sets the voltage tables to this
1200000
1212500 < The boost logic will bring it here, (if the GPU is cool, and not drawing too much power))

---

Hi CrazyNut,

First of all, thanks for putting together this tool! :clap::clap::clap: I really appreciate initiatives like this and happy to give you my feedback to make the tool even better.
I was able to put my hands on an ASUS GTX660 vanilla version (DC2-2GD5) this week and modded the BIOS with KGB 0.4a. After modding, everything looked fine except the voltages in practice. I read the relevant threads on the forum and according to you the Vcore should rise automatically from 1.187 to 1.212 when the card boosts. Apparently, this is not happening and Vcore is constantly at 1.187V. I thought this might be due to my settings in AfterBurner 2.3 but even after playing with the settings I can't make Vcore go higher. If I recall someone else already raised the same issue in this or another thread. For your reference, I added the original BIOS.

Would you be able to mod the bios or add functionality to KGB so that we can set a custom Vcore?

Regarding fan settings, the ASUS DCUII runs with a 10-100 setting and after mod the temp/RPM slope didn't change. It's just starting at 30 as it's expected.

Original BIOS of the card:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/dxexxdbiwm...5_original.zip

Quote:

---

Voltage table of original BIOS:
1212500
1212500
12125000

1150000
1150000
11500000

After modding:
1187500
1187500
11875000

1187500
1187500
11875000

---

Lastly, many people have asked how to do the flashing itself. I suggest adding nvflash to the package including a little readme:

With a single graphics card:
nvflash --protectoff (turn off BIOS protection)
nvlash [rom file] (flash BIOS)

With multiple graphics cards:
nvflash --list (lists graphics cards indexes/IDs you have in the system)
nvflash --protectoff --index=[ID]
nvlash --index=[ID] [rom file]

I have been using nvflash 5.118 without any problems.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/geu3lg36q5...flash_5118.zip

Thanks,
trayton

CrazyNutz, the observations made by trayton brougt up my doubts regarding voltagetables again.

you said kgb will flash all tables to the same value and boost voltage simply will be selected by stepping up the voltage two steps in the standard table:

The two voltage tables for GK104 bios are always the same values. The boost logic automatically boost the voltage up 2 levels.
You have notice i'm sure that your stock volts 1.150v will go to 1.175 on boost.

1150000
1162500
1175000
1187500 < my tool sets the voltage tables to this
1200000
1212500 < The boost logic will bring it here, (if the GPU is cool, and not drawing too much power)

first question here: is this the complete table or are there any lower or higher steps available?

there are six voltage values displayed when running kgb. could you elaborate what this six voltage values relate too?
from a logical point of view it would make sense, that some levels relate to standard voltages and some other relate to boost voltage.

need to think a bit about this and see how i can verify this with my lightning. but as you know, lightning cards have their own voltage control
and simply add some offset voltage on top of the voltage delivered by the standard nvidia voltage controller. at least thats how i understand this.

so the most interesting question to me is: what is the meaning of this six voltages displayed and modified by kbg? may be we come to the conclusion
it would be best to change all this voltages independently. than we can check with the multimeter whats really going on ...

anyway, great tool! thanks for your work!

same GPU clocks but 5GHz HT chip

http://i.imgur.com/FgaGX.jpg

one more thing before I forget, Crazynut. could you add the functionality to KGB to only fix the checksum of rom file? :)

Any progress on the tool?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fgw

CrazyNutz, the observations made by trayton brougt up my doubts regarding voltagetables again.

you said kgb will flash all tables to the same value and boost voltage simply will be selected by stepping up the voltage two steps in the standard table:

The two voltage tables for GK104 bios are always the same values. The boost logic automatically boost the voltage up 2 levels.
You have notice i'm sure that your stock volts 1.150v will go to 1.175 on boost.

1150000
1162500
1175000
1187500 < my tool sets the voltage tables to this
1200000
1212500 < The boost logic will bring it here, (if the GPU is cool, and not drawing too much power)

first question here: is this the complete table or are there any lower or higher steps available?

there are six voltage values displayed when running kgb. could you elaborate what this six voltage values relate too?
from a logical point of view it would make sense, that some levels relate to standard voltages and some other relate to boost voltage.

need to think a bit about this and see how i can verify this with my lightning. but as you know, lightning cards have their own voltage control
and simply add some offset voltage on top of the voltage delivered by the standard nvidia voltage controller. at least thats how i understand this.

so the most interesting question to me is: what is the meaning of this six voltages displayed and modified by kbg? may be we come to the conclusion
it would be best to change all this voltages independently. than we can check with the multimeter whats really going on ...

anyway, great tool! thanks for your work!

---

It's not like I have documentation from Nvidia, so I do not know everything about the bios. I only know what I have learned, and what others have shared.
As far as the tables go I have to assume there are multiple entries because there are different power states. Also you must understand that these entries may
be enabled, or disabled.

Now that being said. I only have a GTX660Ti (GK104) to test with, therefor I have to rely on you guys to provide feedback, and thanks the feedback has been great :)

It look's like the GK106 GPUS may not boost the voltage like the GK104 GPUs. However It's nothing to worry about because I'll have a new version within this week that will allow you to set it
to what you want.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by trayton

one more thing before I forget, Crazynut. could you add the functionality to KGB to only fix the checksum of rom file? :)

---

Good idea. Yes.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nuno_p

Any progress on the tool?

---

Yes. I have been working on it.

Ok new Version 0.5
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vrunxuq03vj0m5y/kgb_0.5.zip

Added support for GTX690
Added fix_checksum option (if you only wan't to fix the checksum and not change any other values supply "fix_checksum" as the parameter rather than "unlock")
Added kgb.cfg file. You can change the values in this file to customize your unlock values fan, voltage, power.

@ CrazyNuts, thanks for the update mate. Please see below for my findings

Playing with the cfg file I appear to be able to change fan speed & power limit in the mod bios however I can only change all the voltages to one value rather than 2 groups of 3 at different voltages like the original bios file.

# Fan settings
Fan_Min = 30
Fan_Max = 100


# Board power settings
Max_Power_Target = 150


# Voltage table
# Voltage = 1212500
# Voltage = 1200000
Voltage = 1187500
# Voltage = 1175000
# Voltage = 1162500
# Voltage = 1150000

Using the above cfg it will set the one without the hash (bold) for all 6 voltage levels
If you just use one voltage line it will set all six to this value

# Voltage table
Voltage = 1150000

I think it will run fine with an across the board voltage & I'll probably try it tonight after playing with the fan speed & power limit but I think this is something that needs a bit more looking into.

That was quick! Will give it a go later tonight. Thanks!

After reading more reviews about GTX660 it seems that the voltages are locked indeed and not being increased during boost. My guess is that NVIDIA made this change because of the lowered default available power target (+10%) and to stay within specified TDP (they're quite serious about it). If they hadn't disable the voltage boost, the gpu would have reached the 110% limit sooner and prevented reaching current boost frequency (~1083).
Having said that, I'm wondering if there is a setting in the BIOS somewhere which controls voltage boost :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CrazyNutz

Ok new Version 0.5
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vrunxuq03vj0m5y/kgb_0.5.zip

Added support for GTX690
Added fix_checksum option (if you only wan't to fix the checksum and not change any other values supply "fix_checksum" as the parameter rather than "unlock")
Added kgb.cfg file. You can change the values in this file to customize your unlock values fan, voltage, power.

---

Guy's I wan't to clear up the voltage table misunderstanding.

The table that you see:
1150000
1150000
11500000

1150000
1150000
11500000

As far as I can tell, and from my research these are for 3D, and only 3D, Yes all six values!!! So changing them individually will not do what you expect, they need to all be the same value.
I only print them out this way so I can verify that I am reading the correct offset.

Now the only exception that I have seen is in GK106 bios where the default looks like this:
1212500
1212500
12125000

1150000
1150000
11500000

However it only runs at 1.15, so it appears that the bottom three values are the only ones that matter.


Anyhow I may release a version later that will allow you to tweak the two sets independently. But for now the Voltage setting in kgb.cfg will set the whole
table to the same voltage. So you only need to un-comment a single Voltage value.

Have not had time to fully test however my card runs way better now the bios has been modded with v0.5 allowing me not to use more voltage.... maybe my card hates it!!!

I changed only fan speed to min 50 & power target to 160% left voltage @ 1150000 & the card runs fine on stock 1085 core. The fan speed min was 50% in windows however it did not rise as the card got hotter & the card sat at 1085 as it looks like the extra power target max was not applied.

I then used Afterburner to increase the target to 160% & the card boosted up to about 1160 ish using about 130 ~135 TDP @ 1.175v until it got upto 70oC + & began to throttle voltage down to 1.16 something & speed down a little maintaining 74oC. Voltage was measured just using GPU-Z/Kombustor

I also v quickly tested adding more core speed/boost up to 1250 & the card ran until it throttled & I also moded & flashed a bios with lower voltage 1.135 & it ran however I have not fully tested whether it boosts correctly etc. Interesting thing is the boost logic only looks to add about 2 voltage clicks i.e set 1.15 & it boosts 1.1675 then 1.175 according to software anyway.

Thanks for the feedback.

Yeah some cards do not like the extra voltage, I have seen this.

And yes the fan ramping is obviously not effected by the min/max as I have stated. I have bashed my head trying to figure out the ramping, There has to be a value in the bios that
effects this, I just have not found it yet :shrug: I'll keep trying.

With the bios tweaking we are doing I would say we are getting to the point where Liquid Cooling may now be justifiable for these cards. Perhaps some LC company may send me a block for my card :wasntme:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CrazyNutz

Thanks for the feedback. Yeah some cards do not like the extra voltage, I have seen this.

---

Looks like mine's one of them & tbh the extra voltage is no good to me anyway on stock cooling as the card just throttles anyway.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CrazyNutz

And yes the fan ramping is obviously not effected by the min/max as I have stated. I have bashed my head trying to figure out the ramping, There has to be a value in the bios that
effects this, I just have not found it yet :shrug: I'll keep trying.

---

I appreciate the work & progress of KGB...... we got to learn to walk before we can run ay....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CrazyNutz

With the bios tweaking we are doing I would say we are getting to the point where Liquid Cooling may now be justifiable for these cards. Perhaps some LC company may send me a block for my card :wasntme:

---

Yup looks like it, temps are the limiting factor for me.

Maybe lapping the heatsink & some liquid metal on the core would help..... :rolleyes:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by C-N

Yup looks like it, temps are the limiting factor for me.

Maybe lapping the heatsink & some liquid metal on the core would help..... :rolleyes:

---

I have coollaboratory liquid pro on mine. It did not help lower temps much. I think water cooling is the way to go.

Thanks for the heads up that saves me a job, I figured it would not help much at low ish temps as it made hardly any difference to my 3570K for 24/7 use. The massive 20+oC gain was up at high oc & temps 80+ under heavy load which aint where u want to be with a 680.

With the newer version of KGB 0.5, my card doesnt get OCed past stock speed. The fan speed stays low as before, and the card gets hotter as before; with last version of the tool. But now it wont even reach stock speeds.

Im using manual fan controller to keep the temp around 60C, but the clock speeds hover around 1084Mhz

Stock speed on factory BIOS was/is 1162Mhz.



Can you post the last version of the tool?? I think it was 0.4a.

Thanks.



Edit.

I changed the Max_Power_Target = to 175 in cfg file, and my card still wont go past 1162Mhz (stock speeds).
Set the fan speed to 45%, but it still starts of at 30%.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KGB7

With the newer version of KGB 0.5, my card doesnt get OCed past stock speed. The fan speed stays low as before, and the card gets hotter as before; with last version of the tool. But now it wont even reach stock speeds.

Im using manual fan controller to keep the temp around 60C, but the clock speeds hover around 1084Mhz

Stock speed on factory BIOS was/is 1162Mhz.



Can you post the last version of the tool?? I think it was 0.4a.

Thanks.



Edit.

I changed the Max_Power_Target = to 175 in cfg file, and my card still wont go past 1162Mhz (stock speeds).
Set the fan speed to 45%, but it still starts of at 30%.

---

The only real difference between the 0.4 and 0.5 is the the added config file. The config file with the default settings is the same as what 0.4 was doing to your bios, as a matter of fact you can just delete the config file, and kgb will use the default hard coded values.

Anyhow here is 0.4
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3wiuizftusj2rcy/kgb_a0.4.zip

Let me know if there is any improvement

EDIT: Post your bios so I can check it out. include your stock, and modded.

No change with 0.4.
No change with 0.5 with out cfg file.

Here are my BIOS. EVGA 660 TI SC 2GB

1. Stock BIOS
https://www.dropbox.com/s/q39qvq72lb...GB%20GK104.rar


2. KGB 0.5 BIOS
https://www.dropbox.com/s/fthy37ozwi...20SC%202GB.rar

3. KGB 0.4 BIOS
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ildblwv5da...20SC%202GB.rar


Thanks.

Awesome.
Msi 660Ti PE OC are running at 1402MHz core in Kombuster on std cooler, 1500mhz should be easy on water now..
Measured voltage under load is 1,275 with multimeter, at +40 mV in afterburner, std volt shows 1,25volt on mm with 0% powerlimit.

+100mV (max) and 0% powerlimit gives 1,32 under load.
+100mV and 150% powerlimit gives 1,35v load.

I think i found a bug.

KGB 0.5 ignores the kgb.cfg file. I have set the Max Power Target between 100 and 180 in CFG file, but the KGB.exe always sets the Max Power Value to 160.
It also ignores Fan settings in CFG file and the Voltage Table.

KGB 0.4 looks exactly the same as well.

I have also tried different BIOS that i downloaded from Internet, and i get same results, CFG settings are being ignored.

Am i missing specific commands that i need to use with kgb.exe to force it to use CFG file??



http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/2500/kgb05.png

@ KGB7 .... Yes ........ easiest thing to do is edit & save the CFG file then just copy it over to the KGB folder then when u run KGB it will run with the CFG parameters.

I set my power target to 200%/400W & 200% was available in afterburner although the card only pulled about 135TDP max so maybe the cards have limits.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KGB7

I think i found a bug.

KGB 0.5 ignores the kgb.cfg file. I have set the Max Power Target between 100 and 180 in CFG file, but the KGB.exe always sets the Max Power Value to 160.
It also ignores Fan settings in CFG file and the Voltage Table.

KGB 0.4 looks exactly the same as well.

I have also tried different BIOS that i downloaded from Internet, and i get same results, CFG settings are being ignored.

Am i missing specific commands that i need to use with kgb.exe to force it to use CFG file??



http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/2500/kgb05.png

---

I found the bug. It was you :rofl: j/k

I looked at all three bios files and they all are stock, you never unlocked them!!!\

YOU have to supply the parameter unlock, to unlock your bios. Like this:

kgb gk104.rom unlock

If you do not tell it to unlock it just prints out the current values in your bios.

If you tell it to unlock, it will save the new values (i.e. from kgb.cfg) in your bios then print out the new values in the bios

:slapass:

Folks,
I've been playing all night modding an ASUS GTX 660 and I don't have good news. It seems like the GK106 GPU (or this specific card) has a hard limit of 115% on the Power Target, which is 115x1.15 = 132.5 W exactly. Now it makes sense why only 110% is the maximum allowed by default. I tried everything with BIOSes from multiple vendors, etc... believe me. Details to follow later on. Would be nice to have somebody else with a GTX660 to confirm my findings.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by trayton

Folks,
I've been playing all night modding an ASUS GTX 660 and I don't have good news. It seems like the GK106 GPU (or this specific card) has a hard limit of 115% on the Power Target, which is 115x1.15 = 132.5 W exactly. Now it makes sense why only 110% is the maximum allowed by default. I tried everything with BIOSes from multiple vendors, etc... believe me. Details to follow later on. Would be nice to have somebody else with a GTX660 to confirm my findings.

---

So are you saying you cannot set > %115 power target via software? (i.e. afterburner, or precision)

:shakes:

Stupid me. I did forget to use unlock command. I dont even remember using it in the first place the last time.

Edit;

Moded the BIOS with unlock command and everything is working perfect. Now you can shoot me.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KGB7

:shakes:

Stupid me. I did forget to use unlock command. I dont even remember using in the first place the last time.

Edit;

Moded the BIOS with unlock command and everything is working perfect. Now you can shoot me.

---

Glad to hear it's working :)

The setting is available in AfterBurner/Precision there and the scale reflects the unlocked max target (150). But even if you're set it above 115 (eg. 140 or 150) you still see maximum of 115 when benchmarking and throttling of Vcore and frequency occurs if the card tries to go beyond that. I also tried modifying the default target/board power but same effect. Power doesn't go higher than that magical limit (132.5). I think this rules out the option that the issue is with afterburner or precision.
Btw, the Afterburner can't set the voltage properly for this card. Precision is the way to go. But since throttling is the main issue here, it is better start with a normal (1.15) or even lower voltage and see how far you can increase the clock before thottling occurs.
Regarding the voltage tables, I found for GTX660 the first table sets the maximum voltage the GPU can throttle to or what you can set manually in Precision and the second table sets the base voltage for 3D. Base voltage is not a strict setting, the card might use a lower voltage in 3D.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CrazyNutz

So are you saying you cannot set > %115 power target via software? (i.e. afterburner, or precision)

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by trayton

The setting is available in AfterBurner/Precision there and the scale reflects the unlocked max target (150). But even if you're set it above 115 (eg. 140 or 150) you still see maximum of 115 when benchmarking and throttling of Vcore and frequency occurs if the card tries to go beyond that. I also tried modifying the default target/board power but same effect. Power doesn't go higher than that magical limit (132.5). I think this rules out the option that the issue is with afterburner or precision.
Btw, the Afterburner can't set the voltage properly for this card. Precision is the way to go. But since throttling is the main issue here, it is better start with a normal (1.15) or even lower voltage and see how far you can increase the clock before thottling occurs.
Regarding the voltage tables, I found for GTX660 the first table sets the maximum voltage the GPU can throttle to or what you can set manually in Precision and the second table sets the base voltage for 3D. Base voltage is not a strict setting, the card might use a lower voltage in 3D.

---

On my GTX660ti it never reaches the maximum power limit either. It will throttle down too, However this is due to temps getting high. Are you sure it's not your temps causing you to throttle, this is very common.

Try to keep your temps in the low 60's or less, and see if that stops your throttling.

thanks for the tip. will try pushing clocks with the fan on max then. however, ASUS DCU is best in class so it hovers around 60-62 under load currently with Auto fan. I'm still used to the previous generation - it was normal to see the cards go up to 90 with the reference blower fan.

it rarely reaches 115% for me too. I only saw that when I tried with 1.212V. Currently with a fixed 1.15V and with a clock in 1150-1200 range the power hovers between 100 and 110 with an average of 105. as an overclocker, I'm a bit frustrated that I can't use max voltage and check the clock limits that way as I don't think that a temp like 70 should be an issue for the GPU die.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CrazyNutz

On my GTX660ti it never reaches the maximum power limit either. It will throttle down too, However this is due to temps getting high. Are you sure it's not your temps causing you to throttle, this is very common.

Try to keep your temps in the low 60's or less, and see if that stops your throttling.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by trayton

The setting is available in AfterBurner/Precision there and the scale reflects the unlocked max target (150). But even if you're set it above 115 (eg. 140 or 150) you still see maximum of 115 when benchmarking and throttling of Vcore and frequency occurs if the card tries to go beyond that. I also tried modifying the default target/board power but same effect. Power doesn't go higher than that magical limit (132.5). I think this rules out the option that the issue is with afterburner or precision.
Btw, the Afterburner can't set the voltage properly for this card. Precision is the way to go. But since throttling is the main issue here, it is better start with a normal (1.15) or even lower voltage and see how far you can increase the clock before thottling occurs.
Regarding the voltage tables, I found for GTX660 the first table sets the maximum voltage the GPU can throttle to or what you can set manually in Precision and the second table sets the base voltage for 3D. Base voltage is not a strict setting, the card might use a lower voltage in 3D.

---

Same problem here with msi 660 ti pe oc. Have modded the bios for 300% and 1,18 volt, the slider goes to 300% but the limit you talk about is also present here, about 130.. Volt can be set with Afterburner, just not all versions, the latest don't work...
Next step will just be hardmodding the card, pretty easy on this card.

I have also tried on water with 10C load, so temp isn't a problem :) ( It's cold in Denmark atm)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by noxon

Same problem here with msi 660 ti pe oc. Have modded the bios for 300% and 1,18 volt, the slider goes to 300% but the limit you talk about is also present here, about 130.. Volt can be set with Afterburner, just not all versions, the latest don't work...
Next step will just be hardmodding the card, pretty easy on this card.

I have also tried on water with 10C load, so temp isn't a problem :) ( It's cold in Denmark atm)

---

Interesting. I'll do some investigating. There are other sections in the bios that have to do with power limits

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by trayton

thanks for the tip. will try pushing clocks with the fan on max then. however, ASUS DCU is best in class so it hovers around 60-62 under load currently with Auto fan. I'm still used to the previous generation - it was normal to see the cards go up to 90 with the reference blower fan.

it rarely reaches 115% for me too. I only saw that when I tried with 1.212V. Currently with a fixed 1.15V and with a clock in 1150-1200 range the power hovers between 100 and 110 with an average of 105. as an overclocker, I'm a bit frustrated that I can't use max voltage and check the clock limits that way as I don't think that a temp like 70 should be an issue for the GPU die.

---

I'm on to something. Send me your bios, I want to manually mod a section. I found what I think may be the limiting factor. If it works for you, i'll add changes to KGB.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CrazyNutz

I'm on to something. Send me your bios, I want to manually mod a section. I found what I think may be the limiting factor. If it works for you, i'll add changes to KGB.

---

I can also confirm temp is definetely not the issue. I can make the card stay below 50 degrees and same problem. Looks like the GTX660 reviews are true and there isn't much juice in the GK106 above 1200MHz. See below my results.

1.100 V - 1137MHz, +126 stable, static clock
1.150 V - 1202MHz, +150 stable, static clock
1.175 V - 1254Mhz, +170 hang/error, small throttling/downlock sometimes
1.200 V - 1267Mhz, +180 hang/error, need to force voltage level to 1.2V otherwise it's starts on 1.18 which creates instability, large and frequent throttling/downlock/downvoltage

Reviews worth reading about GTX660 overclocking in practice and about power target:
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2012/...ocking_review/
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum...-review-5.html

My original BIOS: https://www.dropbox.com/s/dxexxdbiwm...5_original.zip
Further BIOSes are available here: http://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios

I hope you can have a crack on it CrazyNut but I'm afraid this power limit is in the GPU itself in the form of current sensing or something similar. Moreover, if you think about TDP this limit puts vendors into a better position as they don't need prepare/design the board in a way to handle extra extra loads due to overclocking as it was in the old times. "Without this, board partners would have one hell of a time designing their cards so they wouldn?t overheat, pull too much power from the PWM or overload a PSU?s rails."

***
Regarding the BIOS, I found the section 7f28 > 7f70 very interesting where the power target is also defined. What I found here that the GTX660 is different from what I see in the BIOS of GTX670. Looks like the GTX660 has a more simple setting defined here since the second part is mostly zeros. My only hope was the MSI GTX660 Hawk which has a special BIOS (plus a higher board power by default) and this section was similar to the GTX670. However, copying over this section into my BIOS caused Power Target not available to set in Precision/Afterburner. In the end, I tried using the full original 660 Hawk BIOS but even with that I hit the TDP limit. What's also interesting is that it seems like there are two sets of power target settings in 660Hawk/670 BIOS. The KGB tool finds this second pair. So, what is the first pair then?


7f28 > 7f70 section (gk106)

ASUS GTX660
01 02 40 19 01 00 80 32 02 00 50 3A 02 00 02 03 00 00 58 1B 00 00 01 02 9C E0 00 00 38 C1 01 00 24 EE 01 00 04 05 00 00 58 1B 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 1C

MSI GTX660 Hawk
04 02 70 94 00 00 98 34 01 00 74 53 01 00 01 01 00 00 58 1B 00 00 01 03 40 19 01 00 40 0D 03 00 E8 6E 03 00 02 03 00 00 58 1B 00 00 01 03 9C E0 00 00 98 AB 02 00 40 0D 03 00 04 05 00 00 58 1B 00 00 01 01 00 10

Same section in Gigabyte GTX670 OC Windforce 3X
04 02 30 75 00 00 F0 49 02 00 40 0D 03 00 01 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 01 03 A0 86 01 00 90 D0 03 00 B0 1E 04 00 02 03 00 00 88 13 00 00 01 03 A0 86 01 00 40 0D 03 00 E8 6E 03 00 04 05 00 00 88 13 00 00 01 01 00 10

Values:
70 94 00 = 38000 (hawk660)
30 75 00 = 30000 (windforce3x670)
40 19 01 = 72000 (asus660)

98 34 01 = 79000 (hawk660)
f0 49 02 = 150000 (windforce3x670)
80 32 02 = 144000 (asus660)

74 53 01 = 86900 (hawk660)
40 0d 03 = 200000 (windforce3x670)
50 3a 02 = 146000 (asus660)

01 01 (hawk660)
01 01 (windforce3x670)
02 03 (asus660)

01 03 hawk (hawk660)
01 03 hawk (windforce3x670)
01 02 asus (asus660)

40 19 01 = 72000 (hawk660)
a0 86 01 = 100000 (windforce3x670)
9c e0 00 = 57500 (asus660)

Power Target
40 0d 03 = 200000 *** (hawk660)
90 d0 03 = 250000 *** (windforce3x670)
38 c1 01 = 115000 *** (asus660)

Max Power Target
e8 6e 03 = 225000 *** (hawk660)
b0 1e 04 = 270000 *** (windforce3x670)
24 ee 01 = 126500 *** (asus660)

02 03 (hawk660)
02 03 (windforce3x670)
04 05 (asus660)

58 1b = 7000 (hawk660)
88 13 = 5000 (windforce3x670)
58 1b = 7000 (asus660)

01 03 (hawk660)
01 03 (windforce3x670)
00 00 (asus660)

9c e0 00 = 57500 (hawk660)
a0 86 01 = 100000 (windforce3x670)
00 00 00 (asus660)

??? another power target setting ???
98 ab 02 = 175000 *** (hawk660)
40 0d 03 = 200000 *** (windforce3x670)
00 00 00 (asus660)

??? another power target setting ???
40 0d 03 = 200000 *** (hawk660)
e8 6e 03 = 225000 *** (windforce3x670)
00 00 00 (asus660)

...

end
01 01 00 10 (hawk)
01 01 00 10 (windforce3x670)
01 00 00 1c (asus)

guys are you reading those volts with software or multimeter cauz my Galaxy SOC GTX680 says 1,17ish and its real 1,19

software here...
more juice can't hurt :D as long as you have proper cooling to dissipate that additional heat you should be fine. and the numbers are relative, right? so if I need to raise the voltage to gain stability and/or reach higher clocks anyway, then it really doesn't matter if it's 1.17 or 1.19 - it's just simply the next available step on the voltage adjustment scale in software. of course, it is a different story if you want to hard mod the Vcore.

Trayton I'll work on your bios.

I think the way it works is there is a global board power limit (gpu + mem combined), and then there is the GPU power limit. I've seen two current sense resistors on the boards, one near the
pcie power input (likely for the total board power sense), and one closer to the GPU (gpu power sense).

So my thought is that the two power tables in the bios top set is for total/global board power, and the bottom set is for just GPU. Right now KGB just changes the bottom set.


BTW: The KGB offsets are offset from the bios start offset:

Your bios start is 0x0600
Your power offset is 0x7f48 from the bios start offset down

so if you open you bios in your hex editor and you want to find your power offset you have to do:
0x0600 + 0x7f48 = 0x8548


EDIT: Try this one. Also please note if its unstable, back your clocks down until it's stable. Upping the voltage, and power can make the card boost past the stable point.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/19ylvbv71k...0660%20mod.zip

Let me know.

CrazyNutz


I have a request that i hope you can implement in to exe and cfg file.

What i would like to see, is be ability to modifie fan speed based on Temp. For us to create and set our own fan speed based on temp. Lets say at 50C fan speed will be at 40%. At 56C, fan speed is at 45%, at 70C fan speed will be at 65%, etc etc. So we can wright our own settings in the CFG file as we need to based on our needs and cooling.

This will eliminate the need to run a 3rd party software to control fan speed manually.

Thanks.


Another question that i have; is it possible to lock the Core Clock at specific Mhz when GPU Core is under full load, so it doesnt Boost up and down on its own? I dont benchmark, but when i play the only game BF3, the Core Clock constantly goes up and down. On older Architecture/GPUs, the core clock was always constant, and with new cards, its all over the place. Even with moded Bios, the best i see in BF3, the core speed around 1060Mhz, give or take a dozen Mhz.


Thanks again mate.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by noxon

Awesome.
Msi 660Ti PE OC are running at 1402MHz core in Kombuster on std cooler, 1500mhz should be easy on water now..
Measured voltage under load is 1,275 with multimeter, at +40 mV in afterburner, std volt shows 1,25volt on mm with 0% powerlimit.

+100mV (max) and 0% powerlimit gives 1,32 under load.
+100mV and 150% powerlimit gives 1,35v load.

---

definetely a proof for overvolting... lucky you! no need to hard mod the Vcore ;)
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/MSI...ion,18013.html

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CrazyNutz

Trayton I'll work on your bios.

EDIT: Try this one. Also please note if its unstable, back your clocks down until it's stable. Upping the voltage, and power can make the card boost past the stable point.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/19ylvbv71k...0660%20mod.zip

Let me know.

---

CrazyNut,

thanks for the custom mod! I tried it and there is no difference. works the same way. I might got the wrong end of the stick originally as playing more with different voltage tables/clocks I see that it's not the power limit we see in monitoring software is the real limit - that hovers around 105-110 and rarely reaches 115. the time when the downclock/voltage drop happens doesn't coincide with the time of reaching the power limit. there is either another power limit like you're saying what we don't see and/or it's down to the logic of boosting. I guess the boost logic is somehow defined in relation to tdp/voltage steps/clock steps in the BIOS as I can see voltages appear multiple times in the BIOS, like 54 80 12 (1.212V). I also found that the voltage table 2 affecting the scale of boosting, its swing behaviour and also the default 3D clock. so there must some complete profiles in the BIOS.

In the end, I realized that a lot more settings come into play if you want to achieve overlock over 1200Mhz which opened up a whole new playground to me. previously I just used the standard output of kgb which sets both voltage tables the same and I haven't been tweaking the voltage further in software. after trying many combinations I was able to find that one single sweet spot and also the dos and dont's. I'll provide the details later but my point is that boosting pretty much ruins the overclocking close the gpu limits since it's currently not possible to achieve the highest overclock without suffering from large swings - you can either have the highest boost with a high swing (1050-1300) or a lower boost clock with a small swing (1200-1250) which ensures better performance due to a higher minimal base clock. to get the max out of overlocking, it would be great if we could find a way to control the minimum clock somehow.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CrazyNutz

So my thought is that the two power tables in the bios top set is for total/global board power, and the bottom set is for just GPU. Right now KGB just changes the bottom set.

---

I have to believe there is another power limit we don't know about currently. Let me explain why. I've been thinking about the K-Lock feautere of Precision which can lock the GPU to constant clock. When I apply the lock and raise the GPU to a high clock which I know is stable, the GPU starts downlocking while power shows 105-108%. Vcore is static. if we could eliminate this first that that would be great. However, K-Lock is not a preferred option on the long run since it's locking the clock for 2D as well and makes the GPU running on top speed at all times :(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by trayton

CrazyNut,

thanks for the custom mod! I tried it and there is no difference. works the same way. I might got the wrong end of the stick originally as playing more with different voltage tables/clocks I see that it's not the power limit we see in monitoring software is the real limit - that hovers around 105-110 and rarely reaches 115. the time when the downclock/voltage drop happens doesn't coincide with the time of reaching the power limit. there is either another power limit like you're saying what we don't see and/or it's down to the logic of boosting. I guess the boost logic is somehow defined in relation to tdp/voltage steps/clock steps in the BIOS as I can see voltages appear multiple times in the BIOS, like 54 80 12 (1.212V). I also found that the voltage table 2 affecting the scale of boosting, its swing behaviour and also the default 3D clock. so there must some complete profiles in the BIOS.

In the end, I realized that a lot more settings come into play if you want to achieve overlock over 1200Mhz which opened up a whole new playground to me. previously I just used the standard output of kgb which sets both voltage tables the same and I haven't been tweaking the voltage further in software. after trying many combinations I was able to find that one single sweet spot and also the dos and dont's. I'll provide the details later but my point is that boosting pretty much ruins the overclocking close the gpu limits since it's currently not possible to achieve the highest overclock without suffering from large swings - you can either have the highest boost with a high swing (1050-1300) or a lower boost clock with a small swing (1200-1250) which ensures better performance due to a higher minimal base clock. to get the max out of overlocking, it would be great if we could find a way to control the minimum clock somehow.

---

Overclock using nvidia inspector and the performance level 2 setting.

Unfortunately my card cant handle a constant load at 1280Mhz, my PC crashes and freezes after 5min or so, even if i kept the temps in low 60C. So i had to flash stock bios back in to my card.

1280Mhz is Boost speed that the only time i would see if i had several things running at the same time that would put constant load on the GPU. Playing BF3 and watching a movie at the same time would keep the card at constant 1280Mhz and cause my PC to crash. No driver error crash, no DirectX crash, just a black screen and everything would freeze.

Whooops! I managed to edit a wrong setting in the BIOS which made my PC not even reach POST. I believe this is a warning sign that I shouldn't modify things until I'm absolutely sure what it is... luckily, I was able to POST/boot after I changed it to a secondary video card and was able to reflash it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by STEvil

Overclock using nvidia inspector and the performance level 2 setting.

---

thanks for the tip! however, I lost on the GUI with all those profiles/unlocks/relocks, etc. it didn't make sense to me how to lock minimum clock but finally I found the solution on a forum which is very simple: command line!

nvidiaInspector.exe -setBaseClockOffset:0,0,0 -setpowertarget:0,150 -setVoltageOffset:0,0,120000 -setGpuClock:0,2,1270 -forcepstate:0,2

your clock will be locked to the value in red. still, downlocks can still happen but happens lot less times. with this setting I could see spikes in power to 120%, so forcepstate switch definietely helps breaking the 115% barrier.