Latest and/or best vbios for dell rtx 3080?

[pf100]

Edit: The "NVIDIA GPU Firmware Update Tool for DisplayID" linked at the bottom of this post fixed my "black screen before windows loads while using display port" issue.

What's the best vbios for a dell/alienware rtx 3080?

I bought a used dell rtx 3080 off of ebay which surprisingly works great and I'd like to flash the vbios to the latest one because it has a black screen in uefi until you get into windows and the newer bios's are supposedly a confirmed fix for that.

The card only has a single bios so I'd like to flash it only one time and be done with it to avoid issues.

Here's the latest vbios 94.02.59.00.E1 with a date of 2021-08-11 which is unverified: https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/238450/238450 and here is a post on a dell forum with someone using that bios https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-Desktops/RTX-vBIOS-1-0-0-3/td-p/8082044 so there is at least some verification that it won't make my card explode and kill my dog.

Here's the latest verified vbios 94.02.59.00.A2 with a date of 2021-04-21 https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/234087/dell-rtx3080-10240-210421

I'm assuming the latest vbios is best even though it's unverified?

Any info is appreciated.

Edit: this seems to be a "DisplayID monitor with display port" issue that has a fix provided by Nvidia and I probably am going to use that fix since the card works fine otherwise.
"Without the update, systems that are connected to a DisplayPort monitor using DisplayID could experience blank screens on boot until the OS loads."
Sounds like I need to switch to HDMI temporarily to fix this because any time I try to do anything with any bios tool the screen goes black. I've never even heard of this issue before. Either I'm an early adopter without knowing it, or this is just another case of dell being dell.

NVIDIA Support

nvidia.custhelp.com

 

[pf100]

As a followup, after doing some more digging on this issue, it appears to be nvidia's fault and not dell's. The rtx 3080 along with lots of other nvidia cards had problems with display port 1.3 and 1.4, but not display port 1.2, where it wouldn't show a screen until windows loaded the nvidia driver. It's baffling to me how this could have gone unnoticed by nvidia since a fix was released in 2018 for lots of older cards https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/drivers/nv-uefi-update-x64/. I'm glad I had this problem though because it's why I got this 3080 so cheap and now it's fixed. I hopefully won't have to upgrade for years now. These dell/alienware 3080's are surprisingly good with an undervolt and custom fan curve in a good airflow case.

 

[pf100]

Best bios for Dell/Alienware RTX 3080 found!
It's this one here and as of the time of writing it's unverified on techpowerup but I have verified it myself: https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/238450/238450
Bios version 94.02.59.00.E1 build date 2021-08-11

Dell released 94.02.59.00.E1 as NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series Firmware Update Utility v1.0.0.3, A00

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series Firmware Update Utility | Driver Details | Dell US

* Fixed the issue where the Dell logo does not appear while booting on monitors that are connected through DisplayPort or HDMI
* RTX3060_RTX3060Ti_RTX3070_RTX3080_RTX3080Ti_RTX3090_VBIOS_Update.exe
* October 13, 2021
* Windows 10/11
* Before updating the VBIOS, you must update the Nvidia graphics driver to version 457.71 or later

This bios fixes several issues:
1) having no display until the driver loads in windows using display port
2) the fan curve is far superior and it also gives it zero rpm below 50c. I don't have to make a custom fan curve in afterburner anymore
3) the voltage/frequency curve is better and the way it should have always been. Someone actually put some effort into it
4) resizable bar

It took me a month to figure this out because I'm paranoid about flashing vbios's and there was zero information about this anywhere.

TLDR: if your dell/alienware rtx 3080's bios isn't version 94.02.59.00.E1, stop what you're doing and make it be that version and you can thank me later.

P.S.
The Dell firmware update utility that I linked, 1.0.0.3, works with all these Dell cards so I suspect it completely fixes all of them but I only tested it with the 3080
RTX 3060 12GB
RTX 3060Ti
RTX 3070
RTX 3080
RTX 3080TI
RTX 3090
Quadro RTX6000

 

[pf100]

I forgot to mention in the last post that I did a hex compare between bios version 94.02.59.00.E1 as installed by the nvidia firmware update provided by Dell, and the one I downloaded from techpowerup's bios repository, and they are identical. The links to both of those are in the previous post.
I thought I should mention it since I claim to have verified bios version 94.02.59.00.E1 that is listed by techpowerup as unverified.

 

[eidairaman1]

Gpu z screenshot would be nice

 

[pf100]

Gpu z screenshot would be nice

I tried to dm you before I started this thread but I'm too much of a n00b to have those permissions yet. Thanks for the reply.

https://imgur.com/YDPI7wQ

 

[eidairaman1]

Why is your current clock speed so low?

 

[pf100]

Why is your current clock speed so low?

I undervolt by putting the core clock slider in afterburner to -291, then slide the voltage dot up to the frequency I want in the voltage frequency curve editor, and doing it that way you only have to manipulate one dot in the editor, which in my case is 895mv at 1875mhz.
It sounds nuts if you've never done it that way, and it makes the frequency appear lower in gpu-z which doesn't matter in real-world usage, but if you watch wccftech's video "How To Undervolt RTX 3080 For Huge Efficiency Gains" on youtube you can see how it's done and it makes more sense (to me) than any other method because it's the easiest with the least screwing around with those damn dots.
Undervolting the Dell 3080 to keep the temps in check with its anemic 2 fan cooler is the only sane way to run this card in my opinion.

 

[eidairaman1]

Use latest verified first then use the unverified if you continue having an issue, update your motherboard bios even

 

[pf100]

Use latest verified first then use the unverified if you continue having an issue, update your motherboard bio is the latest official release from nvidia for the Dell 3080.

That was my first thought, and then I found a newer official bios released by nvidia specifically for the Dell 3080. If my digging into this issue and my subsequent findings aren't wanted or needed, just delete this thread and call it a day. Thanks for your time.

 

[eidairaman1]

Well I say your question is answered, if dell has it, use it

 

[pf100]

Well I say your question is answered, if dell has it, use it

I was hoping there would be more information on these specific cards but apparently there's almost zero interest in Dell 3080's. I can understand that, but then again they can be a lot cheaper than any other model 3080 if you don't mind buying used, and they are real 3080's, so I was hoping there would at least be some interest in them. They're great 3080's if set up correctly.

 

[eidairaman1]

I was hoping there would be more information on these specific cards but apparently there's almost zero interest in Dell 3080's. I can understand that, but then again they can be a lot cheaper than any other model 3080 if you don't mind buying used, and they are real 3080's, so I was hoping there would at least be some interest in them. They're great 3080's if set up correctly.

Yeah its because they are OEM (Dell) which only get support system by Dell

Bios that came on your card

Dell RTX 3080 VBIOS

10 GB GDDR6X, 1440 MHz GPU, 1188 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

Resizable BAR

Dell RTX 3080 VBIOS

10 GB GDDR6X, 1440 MHz GPU, 1188 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

The other 2

TechPowerUp

Extensive repository of graphics card BIOS image files. Our database covers submissions categorized by GPU vendor, type, and board partner variant.

www.techpowerup.com

TechPowerUp

Extensive repository of graphics card BIOS image files. Our database covers submissions categorized by GPU vendor, type, and board partner variant.

www.techpowerup.com

Yours is claimed to be non LHR and there are some which are LHR.

TechPowerUp

Extensive repository of graphics card BIOS image files. Our database covers submissions categorized by GPU vendor, type, and board partner variant.

www.techpowerup.com

Thats all the data on the Dell 3080 10G card

There really isnt any other dual fan 3080s and if you put a trifan bios on you may thermalsoak the card...

 

[pf100]

That's all the data on the Dell 3080 10G card

Thank you!

There really isnt any other dual fan 3080s and if you put a trifan bios on you may thermalsoak the card...

You can say that again. When I got the card, it had bios 94.02.59.00.A2 and the fans were at 40% at 70c and ran hot, and the one I have now, 94.02.59.00.E1, runs the fans at 60% at 70c and the temps are better controlled like it should be. It behaves so much better now including a better voltage/frequency curve. I never really thought about tri-fan versus dual fan bios's because it's not immediately obvious that there's a difference, or at least it wasn't to me, but in retrospect it makes a lot of sense that there's a difference. From this experience I learned to check for the latest bios by the OEM if it is an OEM card, and then it's probably a good idea to check the techpowerup bios collection and compare the bios release dates and ask around, but if in doubt go with the OEM latest bios. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks for the help. These cards are a little weird but great.

 

[pf100]

A couple of things and rewordings:

1) The earlier bios's aren't custom tailored for this specific card which causes them to run hot for no reason.

2) Not bios related but important, so while I'm here: Dell gave very little thought about cooling vram since it runs at 100c stock. With the thermal paste mod shown in the pic below, you can lower the vram temps to 80c.

 

[tsxfire]

Any idea what could be causing the graphics card to be giving the attatched error? The card doesn't have any issues with running like normal but I can't update the flash. running on a r9 5900x asus b550 wifi 2 mobo and the gpu is the dell one listed above. I've tried changing the bios to other versions from what I found on the dell site but no change....just trying to get resizable bar on win11 and none of the dell direct ones seem to work for whatever reason.....

 

[pf100]

Any idea what could be causing the graphics card to be giving the attatched error?

Try flashing it in dos with no other gpu/onboard graphics. Have you tried this specific file mentioned below?
Run this official firmware update utility and it'll update the Dell/Alienware RTX 3080 to the latest (last) released custom Dell/Nvidia bios (94.02.59.00.E1) made specifically for this card that is actually great and you'll have resizable bar and a lot of other improvements too that I go into more detail about in a somewhat rambling manner earlier in this thread:

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series Firmware Update Utility | Driver Details | Dell US

 

[tsxfire]

Try flashing it in dos with no other gpu/onboard graphics. Have you tried this specific file mentioned below?
Run this official firmware update utility and it'll update the Dell/Alienware RTX 3080 to the latest (last) released custom Dell/Nvidia bios (94.02.59.00.E1) made specifically for this card that is actually great and you'll have resizable bar and a lot of other improvements too that I go into more detail about in a somewhat rambling manner earlier in this thread:

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series Firmware Update Utility | Driver Details | Dell US

so I ran that, it still doesn't have resizable bar, looks like the version updated though, my bios on my motherboard has it enabled and it worked with my 6800xt so I'm not sure what could be causing it

 

[pf100]

so I ran that, it still doesn't have resizable bar, looks like the version updated though, my bios on my motherboard has it enabled and it worked with my 6800xt so I'm not sure what could be causing it

View attachment 276835

No idea. Here's my same card with that same bios with resizable bar. I have a 5800x and x570 motherboard if that matters.
I have mine undervolted so ignore the frequency difference.

 

[tsxfire]

figured it out - so for anyone who may experience this -
I went into bios, disabled resizable bar
then i re-ran the update
then I re-enabled bar in the bios ( it disabled csm)
after that I saved and rebooted it was enabled without issues

 

[NurgleTheUnclean]

So I just bought a used Dell/Alienware 3080 on ebay and it appears that the bios is even newer 94.02.71.80.c3. I was looking for a source for the update but can't find one. I did the memory thermal paste mod and I do like the way it's performing. I am running it at 70% power with a +200mhz curve mod, and it's getting 27500 passmark @ 225w. Temps have been gpu 66c, mem 82c with 40% fan speed with furmark.

edit- available here

Dell RTX 3080 10 GB VBIOS

10 GB GDDR6X, 1440 MHz GPU, 1188 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

 

[pf100]

So I just bought a used Dell/Alienware 3080 on ebay and it appears that the bios is even newer 94.02.71.80.c3. I was looking for a source for the update but can't find one. I did the memory thermal paste mod and I do like the way it's performing. I am running it at 70% power with a +200mhz curve mod, and it's getting 27500 passmark @ 225w. Temps have been gpu 66c, mem 82c with 40% fan speed with furmark.

94.02.71.80.C3 is dated 2021-08-05
94.02.59.00.E1 is dated 2021-08-11 - 6 days newer. This is the bios provided on dell's website that I linked to in the first and third post https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/...-vbios-for-dell-rtx-3080.300285/#post-4887618
The reason for the third post is because I cleaned up the first post since techpowerup has a very short time limit on how long you can edit your post which made this thread a little messy but I couldn't do anything about it. I put a bold title in the third post to try to bring attention to that post. I wish this thread didn't have to be left in this state.