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

[iwearnosox]

These are great instructions and a very helpful guide. I would just add that for me it was easier to flash the bios of my card and make them permanently unlocked once I qualified them using the rivatuner method. Also, if you're runnig SLI and you're trying to unlock both rivatuner does not work.

 

[aj58]

I don't this this was really answered. Does this work for 6800GT?

Awesome Guide Btw, Thanks!

 

[BillyBobJoel71]

no, it already has the physical 16 pipelines enabled, silly! on the 6800nu, you are not fully utilizing 16 pipes, it just creates the illusion that they are there. the architechtirure os physcially different. but it still works to an advantage!

 

[2Xtreme21]

Originally posted by: iwearnosox
These are great instructions and a very helpful guide. I would just add that for me it was easier to flash the bios of my card and make them permanently unlocked once I qualified them using the rivatuner method. Also, if you're runnig SLI and you're trying to unlock both rivatuner does not work.

You can't unlock PCIe ones anyway.

 

[iwearnosox]

Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21

Originally posted by: iwearnosox
These are great instructions and a very helpful guide. I would just add that for me it was easier to flash the bios of my card and make them permanently unlocked once I qualified them using the rivatuner method. Also, if you're runnig SLI and you're trying to unlock both rivatuner does not work.

You can't unlock PCIe ones anyway.

I assume you mean using rivatuner.

 

[Chode Messiah]

just a question, but do the 6800nu s have the sli port? (2xunlocked 6800nu sounds like killer cheap sli rig!)

 

[iwearnosox]

Originally posted by: Chode Messiah
just a question, but do the 6800nu s have the sli port? (2xunlocked 6800nu sounds like killer cheap sli rig!)

Some of them do, yes. Depends on the manufacturer. I have two Dell 6800 GTO's that are really 256mb quadro 3400's in disguise. Cost me $540 for the pair, both unlock to ultra pipes and speeds.

 

[2Xtreme21]

I don't even think with a BIOS flash you can unlock them as the core physically only has 12 pipes. This is unlike the AGP version where the core has 16 pipes, but nvidia chose to mask 4 of them.

 

[iwearnosox]

Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
I don't even think with a BIOS flash you can unlock them as the core physically only has 12 pipes. This is unlike the AGP version where the core has 16 pipes, but nvidia chose to mask 4 of them.

The 6800 GTO PCIE is masked. A flash opens the extra pipes. You are mistaken.

 

[Miklebud]

Yay! My BFG 6800 OC unlocks with no problems.
Weird thing is, when I went to unlock the Vertex shader, IT WAS ALL READY UNLOCKED. There was only 1 "yes" to check off. I bought it used, is there a possibility that the previous owner flashed the BIOS?

EDIT- here's a picture of my 'custom menu'
PICTURE

 

[2Xtreme21]

iwearnosox, I was referring to the PCIe 6800nu.

 

[Bullhonkie]

Thanks for the guide. Easy to use and very helpful in guiding you through step-by-step. Unlocked a BFG 6800 OC that I picked up for $149 AR from Fry's. No artifacts or problems whatsoever at 16x1/6vp at clock speeds of 390core/840mem. Awesome performance for less than what some 6600GTs are going for. Now that's value!

 

[xtabi]

Great post thank you so much for the guide. My EVGA 6800 will be here tomorrow and this is the first thing i'm going to test out

 

[DaFidj]

Nice post, worked great for me. Unlocked the pipelines and vertex shader with no problems.

 

[HopJokey]

Firingsquad just posted some benchmarks a few days ago on a unlocked and locked eVGA GeForce 6800nu. The performance gain is not a tremendous amount, but good nonetheless, especially considering the amount of effort put into softmodding is relatively low. Check it Out:

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/geforce_6800_unlocking/

 

[Culvin]

Do you have to repeat the process when you update or change Nvidia's drivers?

I'm curious how exactly this works if the BIOS isn't modified and the program doesn't have to be actively running. If it changes Nvidia's drivers, it would seem that updating your drivers would cancel out the unlocking.

 

[2Xtreme21]

Originally posted by: Culvin
Do you have to repeat the process when you update or change Nvidia's drivers?

I'm curious how exactly this works if the BIOS isn't modified and the program doesn't have to be actively running. If it changes Nvidia's drivers, it would seem that updating your drivers would cancel out the unlocking.

No you don't have to repeat it even when you install a new version of RivaTuner. This is because it changes system registry keys rather than tweaking the drivers. Though it definitely works in conjunction with the drivers and is "optimized" for those in RivaTuner's database (which gets really obsolete real fast ).

 

[proxopspete]

Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
No you don't have to repeat it even when you install a new version of RivaTuner. This is because it changes system registry keys rather than tweaking the drivers. Though it definitely works in conjunction with the drivers and is "optimized" for those in RivaTuner's database (which gets really obsolete real fast ).

Nice to know!! Just when I thought that this thread couldn't get any better!!

 

[mkbt]

Real nice work! I followed your guide and everything seemed to be ok. At first I thought I'd succesfully unlock all vertex shaders and pipelines on my Asus 6800LE. The Asus Smartdoctor verified and reported everything was fine. But then while performing 3dMark05 I met the disappointment :-( After the first gametest 3dMark shut down and returned me to desktop. What could be wrong? I mean no matter what, I should be able to run the entire 3dMark05.

btw. In default mode I got 7054 in 3dMark03.

 

[2Xtreme21]

Try locking up pipes and shaders until you're back at default or it works.

 

[mkbt]

Hope your still there 2Xtreme21...I went back to default and tried running a game (Battle for MiddleEarth). And neverr have I seen that much flaws, glitching etc. I've upgraded from a Asus TI4400 which never failed (within its capabilities of course) and ran stable on 300/600. I'm getting desperate and very confused...

 

[2Xtreme21]

Uninstall the NVStrap Driver, RivaTuner, and your display adapters. Run Driver Cleaner and install the latest nVidia Drivers.

 

[mkbt]

So you don't think I should return the card and try my luck with a new one? Cause if I understand it right the prospects for opening pipelines and shaders seem a bit far away.... or what? Are the mentioned problems due to something I might have done wrong or a weak card and if last mentioned would it be better to get another card?

 

[mkbt]

Decided to send back the Asus and ordered the Leadtek instead. hopefully that will be satisfatory. ...

 

[mkbt]

So now I've got the Leadtek and have "played" a little, After checking the boxes for ppl and vs using Rivatuner, it says 16,6 - so all is open? I was allowed to clock to 375/875 before running 3dMark. The results were: 3dMark03: 10695 and 05: 4162. Isn't that ok without hardmod?

My ram are set to 320 (1gb) and my Pentium4 2,8mhz is set to run 3,0mhz. So now as I see it the cpu is a bottleneck. The cpu tests in 3dMark are extremely poor with only 1-2 fps. Anything to do about this?