How to unlock Pipelines and Vertex Shader on a 6800 (nu/le/gs)

[2Xtreme21]

Just realized the image server was down. They're now back up and running-- sorry for any inconveniences.

Also CKXP, most PCI express chips are manufactured with the NV41 core. The NV42 core was part of the first batches of 6800 GS's that are able to be unlocked, albeit with a BIOS mod.

 

[CKXP]

Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
Just realized the image server was down. They're now back up and running-- sorry for any inconveniences.

Also CKXP, most PCI express chips are manufactured with the NV41 core. The NV42 core was part of the first batches of 6800 GS's that are able to be unlocked, albeit with a BIOS mod.

say what?!!! post a link, i have to see this, and when did this happen?

edit: also i thought NV41 and NV42 were identical except for the 110nm process(NV42)

 

[2Xtreme21]

Originally posted by: CKXP

Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
Just realized the image server was down. They're now back up and running-- sorry for any inconveniences.

Also CKXP, most PCI express chips are manufactured with the NV41 core. The NV42 core was part of the first batches of 6800 GS's that are able to be unlocked, albeit with a BIOS mod.

say what?!!! post a link, i have to see this, and when did this happen?

edit: also i thought NV41 and NV42 were identical except for the 110nm process(NV42)

http://www.beyond3d.com/previews/nvidia/68gs/

There's a writeup on the NV42's. However, I mistook NV42 for the early NV43 cores in that they can be unlocked. Sorry .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeForce_6

 

[Babaoube]

Hey, sorry for renewing a slightly old post but I've recently pruchased the Xpertvision 6800GS 512mb AGP card, and have tried unlocking the pipelines using the method described on this thread but have found it impossible to proceed past step 4, as there is no NVStrap tab in low level system settings.

Im using RivaTuner 15.8, and on the initial menu it recognises my card as NVIDIA GeForce 6800GS / LG FLATRON ez T910B, but beneath that it says no additional information availaible in the place where it is supposed to tell you how much ram the card has etc...

I have the latest driver from the nvidia website installed (84.21) and am unable to figure out why.....

If this has already been covered I apologise, but the thread is quite lengthy and I havent read the whole thing, any help would be appreciated...

Thanks

 

[2Xtreme21]

Hey Bab, sorry for the late response to your question.

After a bit of research I found out that your card isn't supported by RivaTuner at this time. The good news is, however, that on a 6800GS 512mb card there are no extra pipelines and vertex processors to open. So you have a 16x6 card and there's nothing to unlock!

It's a shame that you're unable to use the other features though. My guess is because it is such a rare card.

 

[Babaoube]

Ahk, thanks alot for the info, as long as it is being used to its full potential I'm happy.

I should've guessed it might be unsupported considering the card has only been around for about 2 months....

 

[CZroe]

OK, I gotta ask: How would you "undo" this second method if it were not successful? Can you even confirm that it unlocks a pipe? The author calls the vertex unit a "pixel shader" so I'm not entirely sure that he knows what he's talking about or whether the unlock ever really happened.

Also, I find it unusual that this is referred to as the "Batch file method" when it's just a command that runs RivaTuner with commandline switches. Indeed, you could copy/paste it right into the RUN command and it'll work just the same with NO batch file. What was the author implying?

 

[2Xtreme21]

Originally posted by: CZroe
OK, I gotta ask: How would you "undo" this second method if it were not successful? Can you even confirm that it unlocks a pipe? The author calls the vertex unit a "pixel shader" so I'm not entirely sure that he knows what he's talking about or whether the unlock ever really happened.

Also, I find it unusual that this is referred to as the "Batch file method" when it's just a command that runs RivaTuner with commandline switches. Indeed, you could copy/paste it right into the RUN command and it'll work just the same with NO batch file. What was the author implying?

To undo it you'd simply need to run the same command but change the following to d's instead of f's:
RivaTuner.exe /wrc020,0 /wrc024,0 /wrc028,0 /wrc02c,0 /wr1540,13f0f /rr1540

And yes, you can achieve it by opening it up in run. However you can also copy/paste that thing into notepad, save it as something.bat and double click it. Easier for noobs?

Edit: Although after further research, that method rarely works if the GUI (normal) method doesn't. It's more risky too, so I'd be more careful if you're attempting it.

 

[Poofy]

Thanks for terrific guide, it truly helped me out since I was clueless as a chimp on how to exactly unlock the pipes through Guru3D's GS review.


I pose this query though - I bought an eVGA 6800GS CO Edition (400/350 & 1100/1000), and I unlocked all the pipes and the last vertex successfully (3DMark05 went from 4900 to 5600), so does that technically make my card a 6800 Ultra now?


400GPU
1100Memory
16 pipelines
6 vertex processors

Other than the cooling/heatsink, is there anything else that sets the 2 cards apart?

 

[2Xtreme21]

Originally posted by: Poofy
Other than the cooling/heatsink, is there anything else that sets the 2 cards apart?

I guess technically nope. Congratulations!

 

[2Xtreme21]

*BUMP* for RivaTuner RC 16 update.

 

[vanjalolz]

Ermm... my 6800GS AGP comes up as an 128bit NV41 (A2, 12pp, 5vp) with 128mb ddr... did i screw my self by getting the 128 instead of the 256 version?

Edit: fruck!!! I thought the 128 would be faster, turns out the damm card is only 128bit (as opposed to 256). Gonna see if i can exchange it now :S:S

 

[2Xtreme21]

It should still work even if you don't get an exchange.

 

[Ika]

Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
It should still work even if you don't get an exchange.

he has the NV41; supposedly it doesn't unlock right?

 

[vanjalolz]

I got an exchange for the 256meg 256bit version, and its STILL nv41 :S

On the up/down side I'm gonna have to get it exchanged because theres constant crashing with the card (screen goes black for a few seconds, sometimes everything freezes except for moues, sometimes signal doesn't return after screen goes black etc) and this was before I did any tweaking (actually I did no tweaking, but you know what i mean ).

This means ill be getting another video card (3rd replacement in as many days -.-) to test on.

But whats the deal with nv41s on agp 6800gs? FYI its a Palit brand 6800GS

Edit, turns out all 6800GS are dud -.-

Check this link for a break up of what and what isn't an nv40
http://www.aoaforums.com/forum/364708-post6.html

edit2: Hold on, but there are people in this thread that managed to unlock their 6800GS AGPs... Must be the newer models that are sucking or something.

 

[2Xtreme21]

It's worth a try to see if you can still unlock it bud.

 

[vanjalolz]

I did, i loaded up riva tuner and it didnt list anything as being hardware masked :/ I'm considering trying to batch file method. Curious to know if its an actualy NV41 chip or if the driver is reporting it wrong (For whatever reason).

Card is playing up though, so i'll be getting yet another palit gf6800gs, maybe ill be luckier this time.

 

[whosey]

Great guide. Have seen a lot of them but this is the best as far as being able to understand it.

Now on to my quesitons. I have an XFX GeForce 6800 XTreme 256 GDDR3. I have used Riva to unlock to 12/5. I would like to be able to get it to 16/6 if possible. If not it is running fine as is. I have noticed that if I continue to scroll down the list I have a 4 items checked off that do not have any information next to them such as enabled/disabled or pixel/vertex. First off, are the addition pipes? Second, if they are then why aren't they labeled? And just out of curiosity, as all the other unchecked spots are the same way would checking any addition uninformed spots be beneficial. I have not seen anyone else with a similar quesiton on any of r the multitude of boards I have read through, and from reading the posts figured this might be the best one to try for an answer. Unfortunately, I am not at home or else I would supply a picture, if I have the time later I will definately post again with one.

 

[2Xtreme21]

Yeah whosey, try and post a picture of what you mean. It seems like the 6800 XTreme comes with 8 functional pipelines and 4 vertex shaders, as in any typical 6800LE. There should be 2 unchecked rows (respectively) as in this pic (though the pic obviously shows one unchecked row respectively). Make sure you check both rows as each is a QUAD of pipes-- meaning each row is responsible for four pipes.

I wouldn't mess with any of the other rows that don't have info on them. If your set up is different, please post a screenshot.

 

[kickerf1]

does it apply to me??? I have a XFX 6800XT 256MB DDR ....

 

[2Xtreme21]

Originally posted by: kickerf1
does it apply to me??? I have a XFX 6800XT 256MB DDR ....

If your sig is true, then no. It's a PCI Express card.

 

[ltfc1988]

Hi i unlocked the pipelines a while ago and had a few problems which was unrelated to that so i had to format it.. does the pipelines close once formatted or stay open cos now im getting the bsod.

 

[2Xtreme21]

Erm, they should close assuming it was a complete format (drivers gone and everything).

 

[kotix]

i just got an xfx6800xt 256AGP, however, in rivatuner 2.0 16 under the H/W masked column, both the enabled and disabled shader are showing "N/A", so i went from the 91.xx to 84.21 forceware drivers, uninstalled, reinstalled rivatuner, but they're still showing up as "N/A". any ideas? thanks

 

[2Xtreme21]

Originally posted by: kotix
i just got an xfx6800xt 256AGP, however, in rivatuner 2.0 16 under the H/W masked column, both the enabled and disabled shader are showing "N/A", so i went from the 91.xx to 84.21 forceware drivers, uninstalled, reinstalled rivatuner, but they're still showing up as "N/A". any ideas? thanks

Post a picture please, if you could.