EVGA GTX 980Ti (Classified) Unflashable!

[FireShock88]

Pn is 10DE 17C8-3842 4997
All packaging says it is a classified Card. When I try to flash this card with my 4998 bios it says the card is unsupported and stops the process. NvFlash works perfectly with my 4998 card, but it does not need to be flashed. The card shows as a reference card under Precision XOC not a Classified. EVGA gave me the following response

"Hello George,

I had a chance to look in to this, and it appears the 4997-KR is a Detuned version of the Classified that did in fact ship with a reference BIOS. Simply flashing the card may lead to instability but that is not to say the card cannot handle the factory OC. We recommend using the 4998-KR as your primary with the 4997 in SLI and not flashing the BIOS. As they are physically the same card but it may be the case the unit cannot handle the factory OC we put on to the unit. We would not be responsible for flashing a different model over the current BIOS. If you have any other questions please let me know.

Regards
Daniel"

I'm actually very annoyed that this card does not show as what it is suppose to be. Seems like false advertisement to me. Is there any other programs out there to flash the card? Thanks any help would be appreciated.

 

[Caring1]

It's hardly false advertising if you buy two different models and expect them to be identical.
Leave it as is or sell one and buy the same version as the one you have.

 

[rtwjunkie]

I think EVGA would know best. It seems that you bought a returned item. Normally when EVGA sells those models, they are normally coded at reduced performance.

I took a look into the BIOS database here on TPU, and could not see one that immediately leapt out to work for your card.

 

[FireShock88]

Ok Thanks.

Came in a retail box with no mention of being a refurbished product or open box or anything.

 

[rtwjunkie]

Ok Thanks.

Came in a retail box with no mention of being a refurbished product or open box or anything.

That number surely is the Classified 980Ti. I’m not sure what the issue is then.

You have looked through the TPU BIOS database?

Edit:

It looks like 4998 is the primary classified:
https://www.evga.com/Products/Specs/GPU.aspx?pn=EBF7FB45-AD5B-473C-BD91-6480BAD23E82

I will keep looking for 4997 to see exactly what model type it is, since it is not in their list of official spec sheets.

Further Edit: I believe I found out your issue. The 4997 is a Classified only certified to run at reference clocks. Why? I don’t know, maybe the chip has a defect?

https://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce...etailBullets_secondary_view_div_1532837241905

Here is the EVGA spec sheet.
https://www.evga.com/Products/Specs/GPU.aspx?pn=892203E3-080A-4BA2-9CBF-BF0C18D810C9

Comparing the two spec sheets above shows the boost clock of 4997 is equal to the base clock of 4998.

Basically, the EVGA rep sounds correct, in that you cannot flash it with 4998 BIOS because quite simply, the 4997 is a detuned or lesser version of the 4998.

 

[FireShock88]

Thanks again. It's an awesome card. Got a second reply back from EVGA saying the same thing as the first person.

 

[Vayra86]

Ok Thanks.

Came in a retail box with no mention of being a refurbished product or open box or anything.

This looks similar to this:

https://forums.evga.com/1080-FTW-DT-m2506026.aspx

And its common in EVGA's overhyped binning ecosystem. Don't get dragged into it IMO. We're talking about minimal actual performance gaps.

This guy gets it

 

[qubit]

@eidairaman1 eidy, one for you.

 

[FireShock88]

This looks similar to this:

https://forums.evga.com/1080-FTW-DT-m2506026.aspx

And its common in EVGA's overhyped binning ecosystem. Don't get dragged into it IMO. We're talking about minimal actual performance gaps.

This guy gets it
View attachment 104590

Thanks. I see by the links that rtwjunkie posted that they now have REF right on the box, mine does not. Must have been enough complaints to change it up. I do love the card and I don't see it going anywhere any time soon.

 

[Vayra86]

Thanks. I see by the links that rtwjunkie posted that they now have REF right on the box, mine does not. Must have been enough complaints to change it up. I do love the card and I don't see it going anywhere any time soon.

Oh yes there have always been complaints about this not just with this card. The DT I linked suffers the same fate. Look at the forum topic Everyone knows it stinks, but somehow people rise to defend EVGA for these practices. Its just misleading, plain and simple, and one of the reasons I won't be going back to this company for my GPUs (the other being that they suck at building proper cooling solutions, their recent history is littered with failures - not your 980ti classy though don't worry).

 

[FireShock88]

Can't complain about these stats and I don't OC my cards.

 

[Vayra86]

Can't complain about these stats and I don't OC my cards.

Temps are below throttle point so if this was on a hot summer day you can push it further for sure. 1341 isn't stellar for core clocks (still good tho), 1500 mhz may be a good clock to work towards. Quite sure there's some more to be had for you at this point

 

[eidairaman1]

@eidairaman1 eidy, one for you.

It seems @rtwjunkie has this one under control

White stickers from back of card and white label barcode box info posted here helps.

Just to add here.

I will tell you though that it might be worthwhile to just sell the card. Also Afterburner or evgas tool should be able to oc the card which is safer than putting a bios on with a wrong device id attached to it.

 

[rtwjunkie]

+1 to ^

@eidairaman1 speaks the truth. While it may not technically meet EVGA standards for the 4998, the possibility is good of being able to overclock that card to match the other one’s speeds. It seems the easiest solution since you are otherwise pleased with the card.

 

[FireShock88]

I'm just going to keep the card. Not going to worry about over Clocking till a game comes out that needs it, so far nothing slows these bad boys down. Thanks for all the great info. I will post both stickers off the back of the cards next time I have them out to clean. Interesting note that the second set of bios on the Reference card is yet another bios number. The one that has a 01 in it instead of 00.

 

[eidairaman1]

I'm just going to keep the card. Not going to worry about over Clocking till a game comes out that needs it, so far nothing slows these bad boys down. Thanks for all the great info. I will post both stickers off the back of the cards next time I have them out to clean. Interesting note that the second set of bios on the Reference card is yet another bios number. The one that has a 01 in it instead of 00.

On AMD cards that were dual bios were CSM/UEFI, others that tri switch were Silent, Gaming, Turbo.

Take a screenshot of gpu z of the card in question with the switch in both positions and post both screens here

 

[FireShock88]

On AMD cards that were dual bios were CSM/UEFI, others that tri switch were Silent, Gaming, Turbo.

Take a screenshot of gpu z of the card in question with the switch in both positions and post both screens here

Will do.

Here is the 2 bios from the card in question. Let it be known that Nvidia control panel will not even open with the card in LN2 mode. Of course LN2 is Liquid Nitrogen.

There may be another switch on here for normal bios. Have to do some research.

 

[eidairaman1]

Will do.

Here is the 2 bios from the card in question. Let it be known that Nvidia control panel will not even open with the card in LN2 mode. Of course LN2 is Liquid Nitrogen.

There may be another switch on here for normal bios. Have to do some research.

LN2 i do know of, I dealt with LOX in the USAF.

Both are UEFI compatible, Definitely leave it in regular mode unless if you want to POT it.

@Mr.Scott is a pretty good Teacher on LN2 ocs.

 

[FireShock88]

LN2 i do know of, I dealt with LOX in the USAF.

Both are UEFI compatible, Definitely leave it in regular mode unless if you want to POT it.

@Mr.Scott is a pretty good Teacher on LN2 ocs.

We moved away from LOX on my acft and then struts, centering cylinders and snubbers were all serviced with a Nite cart.

 

[Johan45]

Most times with EVGA the LN2 BIOS has a much higher power limit or none at all, removes OCP/OVP.

 

[eidairaman1]

We moved away from LOX on my acft and then struts, centering cylinders and snubbers were all serviced with a Nite cart.

Lox converter bottle for survival.