Why and when should you flash gpu BIOS

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

Under what circumstances should you flash gpu BIOS.?
What does flashing achieve?
Should we all be flashing reguarly?


Sorry i only have the questions and none of the answers.

 

[erocker]

1. If the manufacturer says so. If you are going for ballz out overclocking and you need a bios that has no limits. If there is an inherent flaw with the original bios.

2. Particular things such as above.

3. No, there is no reason to. It's a silly practice.

 

[Jstn7477]

I don't recommend people flashing GPU BIOSes (or any BIOSes for that matter) unless they are encountering a certain hardware issue that is KNOWN to be corrected by a new BIOS revision, and they must know how to do it properly as well as revert from a bad flash. Usually people end up doing it despite this and then they fill TPU with crap threads about how they screwed over their card because they weren't thinking and didn't back up the original BIOS.

 

[Frogger]

and they must know how to do it properly as well as revert from a bad flash. Usually people end up doing it despite this and then they fill TPU with crap threads about how they screwed over their card because they weren't thinking and didn't back up the original BIOS.

If only they would use the 'SEARCH' button FRIST

 

[AlienIsGOD]

I don't recommend people flashing GPU BIOSes (or any BIOSes for that matter) unless they are encountering a certain hardware issue that is KNOWN to be corrected by a new BIOS revision

unless your buying EVGA mobos BIOS updating is a must

 

[the54thvoid]

Over at Overclock.net there are many people flashing the BIOS on their Titan cards. I've flashed mine but flashed it back again. The Titan is artificially restricted to a lower power consumption, it means it would go faster with a little more juice but Nvidia have been very conservative.
For regular gaming though flashing should only be done to correct faults and usually at the vendors recommendation.

 

[Black Panther]

I'd say never do it unless you really know that your card has a problem which can only be solved through flashing.
I had that issue with my 5970. It used to go grey-screen while in 2D mode when it under-clocked. Found on more than one source that bios flashing to a more recent bios which had been developed specifically to solve that problem would solve it (I had bought mine very early on release) so I flashed both gpu's bios and it worked fine since then.

Otherwise, I'd say if it ain't broke don't try to fix it

 

[manofthem]

I bet I'm not the only one who first flashed a VGA bios when the 6950->6970 bios trick came out. Admittedly I was nervous about it, but cards having dual bioses really takes away some of the anxiety and uncertainty.

And always save your original bios before any flashing.

 

[Jetster]

When the warranty covers it

 

[tokyoduong]

Under what circumstances should you flash gpu BIOS.?
What does flashing achieve?
Should we all be flashing reguarly?


Sorry i only have the questions and none of the answers.

1. There are no circumstances where you SHOULD flash gpu bios and manufacturers don't normally recommend flashing. It's very rare that there's a critical bios update for gpus. You should contact customer service first before proceeding. It could void warranties.
You can flash for OC/unlock benefits at your own risk

2. OC benefits or unlocking.

3. No, do not flash regularly. BIOS are not released regularly like drivers. Update your drivers in windows, that is something you want to do on a regular basis.

 

[cadaveca]

There are no circumstances where you SHOULD flash gpu bios and manufacturers don't normally recommend flashing. It's very rare that there's a critical bios update for gpus. You should contact customer service first before proceeding. It could void warranties.
You can flash for OC/unlock benefits at your own risk

Except for right now. We are in a weird transition period with UEFI BIOSes, and many VGAs require BIOS updates in order to be fully compliant with UEFI and Windows8.

Also, Gigabyte has BIOSes on their product pages for many of their current VGAs, precisely because of this UEFI issue, as well as to offer "free" upgrades to older cards to newer "boost" clocks(AMD 7-series GPUS).

As a user, I have contacted three different VGA manufacturers in recent weeks over various issues, and each and every time, BOS flashing to the GPU was the first step taken after ensuring that the system was stable.


Otherwise, I agree, most users don't need to flash BIOSes. As an enthusiast, I'll ALWAYS try different BIOSes for my VGAs, but I know the risks involved, and I know how and have the hardware to recover from a bad flash.

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

Im glad i asked the questions and appreciate the concise nature and quality of the answers.

I think the moral is, If it aint broke dont fix it.

 

[d1nky]

I have a question, can a bios become corrupted through constant crashes?

 

[erocker]

I have a question, can a bios become corrupted through constant crashes?

Yes, but most likely there's another problem if there's "constant crashes".

 

[xvi]

I'd say never do it unless you really know that your card has a problem which can only be solved through flashing.
I had that issue with my 5970. It used to go grey-screen while in 2D mode when it under-clocked. Found on more than one source that bios flashing to a more recent bios which had been developed specifically to solve that problem would solve it (I had bought mine very early on release) so I flashed both gpu's bios and it worked fine since then.

Otherwise, I'd say if it ain't broke don't try to fix it

+1 to everything here, especially the last part.

I have a question, can a bios become corrupted through constant crashes?

No. The BIOS is pretty much read-only unless you're flashing it. A bit like a CD or DVD.
Edit: Erocker says yes. Erocker is probably right.

 

[d1nky]

when overclocking and driver crashes (my own fault pushing too far for benches) then it hangs/restarts and the clocks are stuck on previous clocks. then needs bios switched over and driver sweep to fix problem, usually loops like that.

but im talking near death overclocks 1250/1800.... I had to beat some guy on 3dmark 2013

 

[erocker]

+1 to everything here, especially the last part.


No. The BIOS is pretty much read-only unless you're flashing it. A bit like a CD or DVD.
Edit: Erocker says yes. Erocker is probably right.

Nah, it's a very slim chance. Instability can cause all kinds of weird issues.

 

[d1nky]

im certain its bios as normal clocks are fine, same scores on benches. but soon as it starts getting on this weird crash/clock loop it sticks and any oc crashes. but soon as I switch to the other bios, and driver sweep its fine, till im stupid again

 

[xvi]

Nah, it's a very slim chance. Instability can cause all kinds of weird issues.

Well, that's always true. I suppose it's just that it "shouldn't" write to the BIOS, but there's always that chance.

Something along the lines of unstable memory corrupts the address of a write request to the GPU BIOS, I would imagine? I'll admit I don't know as much as I'd like on this subject.

 

[erocker]

Well, that's always true. I suppose it's just that it "shouldn't" write to the BIOS, but there's always that chance.

Something along the lines of unstable memory corrupts the address of a write request to the GPU BIOS, I would imagine? I'll admit I don't know as much as I'd like on this subject.

Me neither!

 

[d1nky]

makes me laugh how many people probably sign up to this forum (and others) saying ive flashed my gpu and its gone wrong.

 

[EarthDog]

makes me laugh how many people probably sign up to this forum (and others) saying ive flashed my gpu and its gone wrong.

LOL, I feel the same way about people delidding their Ivybridge CPUs...

 

[Frick]

Never. If you have to ask you probably should not do it.

 

[Widjaja]

There are instances where flashing is required.
If the GPU manufacturer states you should.

Or in my situation:-
I have flashed the BIOS of one of my old cards after installing an Acrtic Twin Turbo on it.
Turns out the fans would not spin without Rivatuner due to weak original fan profile.
I did not want to rely on software for fans to work.
So I had to edit the BIOS to have a more aggressive fan profile to make sure the fans kicked in on the new cooler.

makes me laugh how many people probably sign up to this forum (and others) saying ive flashed my gpu and its gone wrong.

Most of these people don't even have the idea to back up their original BIOS.

Never assume everything is going to go ahead smoothly is the number one rule to assume.

 

[D4S4]

there were also the good old days when you could flash your card to unlock moar shaders.

LOL, I feel the same way about people delidding their Ivybridge CPUs...

i really don't get all the fuss about delidding, i did it on an athlon64 3000+ couple of years ago using nothing but a scalpel blade and vice to press the blade through the glue ffs. these new sockets need a shim, boo hoo.