Flash BIOS on GPUs running in SLI?

[Mike Rollins]

I have a quick question. I just completed an upgrade on my system, and I have 2 cards running SLI. I had an EVGA GeForce GTX 780 Ti Superclocked and I bought a second card, an EVGA GeForce GTX 780 Ti Superclocked w/ an ACX cooler. The stock coolers are removed and both are watercooled. However, when I run GPU-Z, I noticed that each card has a different BIOS. I'm assuming it's because one had an ACX cooler. The BIOS on the cards are as follows:
GPU1: 80.80.34.00.80 (P2083-0030
GPU2: 80.80.30.00.80 (P2083-0030)

Will this create a problem running these in SLI? Should I flash the BIOS on GPU2 to match the BIOS of GPU1 or does it even matter?

 

[neatfeatguy]

You shouldn't have any issues. I ran same model 8800 GTS 512 in SLI and they both had a different BIOS - I had no issues running the cards in SLI.

Only time to really change/flash a BIOS is if there is a obvious problem and updating the BIOS fixes it or if you wanted to mod voltage/clocks and not rely on software (afterburner) to be running to apply overclocks.

 

[eidairaman1]

They both have same clock rate?

 

[Law-II]

Hi

Welcome to TPU

Will this create a problem running these in SLI?

No; running these cards as they are should be no problem

Should I flash the BIOS on GPU2 to match the BIOS of GPU1 or does it even matter?

No for the reason below
[If it is not broken do not fix it]
ask your self this; do the vga cards work as intended by the manufacturer in SLi? [*If Yes]
*leave well alone
Don't forget to make a backup of each Vbios image; label them and keep copies in a safe place for a time they may be required

atb

Law-II

 

[Mike Rollins]

Yes, the cards are running fine in SLI now. I realized that one of the power connectors wasn't connected securely.

With both cards installed, the 780 Ti SC that came with an ACX cooler, runs slightly faster than my 780 Ti SC that didn't have the ACX cooler. The card that had the ACX cooler also has, what I would think, is a more recent BIOS. Would I be able to get more out of these cards if I flashed them with a different BIOS, and one that would be the same for each card? The EVGA Precision software limits me to a 106% increase in power, so I was wondering if I flashed them with a different BIOS, if I would be able to tweak them more. I've never flashed a different BIOS on a GPU, but I do have a different firmware flashed onto my router, which does allow me to tweak it more and get better performance from it. I just don't want to risk bricking my cards, especially if I'm not going to see any benefit from a different BIOS. Any suggestions? What would you do if you were in my position?

 

[Law-II]

Hi

The card that had the ACX cooler also has, what I would think, is a more recent BIOS

Triple Check the PCB revision, components and component layout; just because a Vbios image is newer dose not automatically make it the correct version for the vga card. Manufacturers reserve the right to change specifications: including but not limited to components, PCB layout, Vbios instructions, voltages, memory timings and other.

Would I be able to get more out of these cards if I flashed them with a different BIOS, and one that would be the same for each card?

This has been done; not to say that it should be and in most cases only done when a card has been out of warranty; for stability or force flashed due to being bricked as a workaround.
Note: Flashing the vga cards will not improve the asic quality of the chips; they have already been binned for quality by the manufacturer

Research into the power management architecture of the 780 chipset would be a good place to start; understand that the core is relative to the output. Nvidia uses throttling voltage and core to control heat and output by way of a predetermined boost table that ensures that the vga cards work at their max output.

If you absolutely must flash the vga cards
Make two backups of each of the current Vbios images and edit a copy [use Kepler BIOS Tweaker v1.27] DO NOT mix the images up.
flash edited copies of the original Vbios image back to each vga card

Note: : Before flashing ensure the OC is stable in all applications; games and OS
[use MSI Afterburner or Other to test the vga cards for maximum stable OC]

side note: EVGA's latest incarnation of ProcessionX sucks

Note: in an ideal world the cards would have been tested individually for max OC

I've never flashed a different BIOS on a GPU

research flashing; blind flashing and vga card recovery

What would you do if you were in my position?

As the vga cards are on H2o it would make it awkward to recover from a bad flash; as the system would need to be drained water blocks removed and fan sinks/coolers fitted, if happy with this and do not falter at the extra work this would entail go for it, after all this is an enthusiast site.

If get a chance go here fill in full system specs include hardware manufacturers, make, model numbers and OS

atb

Law-II

 

[Mike Rollins]

Thanks a lot for the info. Isn't there a part of this website where I could run a performance benchmark, with pre-determined settings, and compare the numbers with others who have a similar setup? Sometimes, I feel like I could tweak these cards and get a little more power out of them if I were able to adjust the voltage up a bit, but if I could see someone else's benchmarks with a similar setup, but maybe with a modded BIOS, then I could compare my benchmark numbers with theirs and determine the risk/reward of flashing my BIOS. If someone only sees a 5% improvement, then obviously, the risk/reward isn't in my favor and I'm better off not messing with anything.

 

[Law-II]

Hi

Isn't there a part of this website where I could run a performance benchmark, with pre-determined settings, and compare the numbers with others who have a similar setup?

Not that I am aware of maybe refer to 3D Mark hall of fame here would need to sign up or reference the site for details on systems

Things to keep in mind
The system is only as good as the hardware within; {the hardware is only as good as the binning allows / overclocking aside}
bench the system with generic default clocks
next
bench the system with overclocks / tweaks
[compare against the system not other user builds] ~ keep in mind resolutions aa, af, & vsync

Some of the TPU community have Unigine Heaven 4.0 benchmarks here

TBH: benchmarks only represent highest fps with no v-sync; not real world gaming [rwg is all about minimum fps]

atb

Law-II