Rivatuner-compatible drivers for Gainward 6800GS AGP?

[tamper]

Hi,

I've got the Gainward 6800GS 512Mb AGP, which I'd like to unlock to a GT using the tutorial in this forum.

However, I can't find any Forceware driver version that is compatible with both Rivatuner AND my card.

I've tried 81.98, 82.12, 84.21 and 84.43. The newer ones (84.xx) install fine, but are too new for Rivatuner. The older ones bring up the message:

"The NVIDIA Setup program could not locate any drivers that are compatible with your current hardware."

Is there a magic Forceware version that is compatible with the Gainward 6800GS AND the latest Rivatuner revision?

Cheers,
tamper

[MONKEYMAN]

It may be a case of waiting a while, yours is a new card to the market and as such there is limited support. Have you tried the most recent XG drivers in our files section?

http://files.aoaforums.com/code.php?file=2473

[tamper]

Thanks for that. Those drivers don't seem to be supported by RivaTuner either, but I'll see if they improve performance as is.

[MONKEYMAN]

A lot of people had the same problems when the 7900gt came out, it wont be long before a suitable set comes out, which version of rivatuner are you using? I am running the latest XG drivers and Rivatuner with no problems.

[tamper]

I'm using RivaTuner 2.0 RC 15.8. But perhaps I should be more specific - RivaTuner does run, it's just than on launch it tells me that my drivers aren't recognised.

Now I may be going completely down the wrong path here, but I'm assuming that this is why I don't see the 'NVStrap driver' tab in the Low Level System Tweaks area of RT (see -> Mod your 6800GS AGP to Ultra Extreme with coolermod!). Instead I just see the AGP tab, so I'm unable to proceed with the coolermod instructions.

Can perhaps the NVStrap driver be installed seperately, so that this information appears in RT?

[Favu]

Sorry to interupt, but can the 512Mb 6800GS even be modded to the GT spec? Have there been any 512Mb GTs?

I thought that all the unlocking was done on 256 or 128 Mb GS?

:/

[MONKEYMAN]

No i think you are not seeing the NVSTRAP tab because rivatuner probably doesn't support your card.

[tamper]

Originally Posted by MONKEYMAN

No i think you are not seeing the NVSTRAP tab because rivatuner probably doesn't support your card.

Fair enough. As to unlocking the 512Mb, I don't think it should make much difference should it? The second 256Mb is only accessed when the first buffer is full, so in most regards it's the same...Umm...I think. I appear to have reached the boundaries of my knowledge

[tiamat63]

Are 512mb 6800GS even NV40 based?

[tamper]

I can't find a review of the Gainward card anywhere, but this customer review of the ASUS N6800/TD/512M Geforce 6800 512MB

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...uct_uid=107115

suggests that 512Mb 6800s are unlockable...

[Favu]

That's true

Things are looking up!

However, I don't think you can flash your GS to the GT BIOS unless there is/was a 512Mb version of the GT...

[tamper]

Possibly not, but then I'd be happy just to unlock the extra pipes.

[MONKEYMAN]

What do you mean by unlocking the 512mb memory? as far as I am aware( I could be wrong) the 512mb of memory is available in the same way as a 256mb card, however it would be wise to increase your AGP aperture to at least 256mb and ideally at least 512mb(assuming you have sufficient system memory)
As far as I know the card is NV40 based (certainly similar models do use that core) and as such have the potential(if the remaining pipelines are not defective) to be unlocked.

My advice would be to use the latest TRU/XG drivers from the files section here along with the latest/next version of Rivatuner and follow a 6800 unlocking guide to attempt to unlock the pixel quad and vertex shader, heres mine Overclocking your Nvidia 6800/6800LE DDR graphics card: Overclocking/Unlocking Guide.

[tamper]

Originally Posted by MONKEYMAN

What do you mean by unlocking the 512mb memory?

Sorry - I wasn't being clear, I was simply referring to 512mb versions of the 6800 being unlocked.

Thanks for the advice. I guess I'll wait a while - I've got your tutorial bookmarked in anticipation!

As an aside, I notice in your screenshots that you have the 'Additional Direct3D Settings' section in your driver options. I've been trying to enable this on mine, since I want to change the value of frames rendered ahead. However, even after installing the coolbits reg hack, it doesn't appear. Any ideas?

[MONKEYMAN]

Im not sure on that one, my first plan would be to make sure you have the latest version of DX9.0c installed and the TRU/XG drivers have the coolbits.reg built into them so it shouldnt be necessary to run the .reg file separately

Originally Posted by tamper

Sorry - I wasn't being clear, I was simply referring to 512mb versions of the 6800 being unlocked.

np

[lkomarci]

hey tamper,

i also have the exact same card as yours and also i don't have the NVStrap tab in Riva Tuner.

you've mentioned that it doesn't work with the 8x.xx drivers you tried from nvidia, but what if some older drivers would work such as 7x.xx. if they would work, couldn't we just unlock them while 7x.xx are being used, and then install the newer 8x.xx drivers?

[lkomarci]

MONKEYMAN: how is XFX running?

[MONKEYMAN]

XFX? You mean my 7800gt?

[tamper]

Originally Posted by lkomarci

i also have the exact same card as yours and also i don't have the NVStrap tab in Riva Tuner.

you've mentioned that it doesn't work with the 8x.xx drivers you tried from nvidia, but what if some older drivers would work such as 7x.xx. if they would work, couldn't we just unlock them while 7x.xx are being used, and then install the newer 8x.xx drivers?

The problem I had is that the 7x.xx didn't support the 6800GS.

[dsio]

This would be a good time to consult the vast tome of knowledge that is my own personal GPU database spreadsheet.

Your card, the Gainward 6800GS 512MB, is NOT an NV40.

This is an extremely important piece of information, and means that you have only 12 physical pipes on the card, NOT 16. Not to worry though, because your chip is built on the very sweet 110nm TSMC process, which both overclocks brilliantly, and responds well to volt modding.

The 512MB AGP 6800GS is completely different from the 256MB AGP 6800GS. So whatever you do, do not flash your BIOS with anything, as your card is very unique, and likely to die if it takes a flash from anything. Its not just that its 512MB, its that its core is completely different to every other AGP 6800 (Though it is a distant relative, and shrunk down version of the Version 2.0 6800NU's NV41 core).

As for your overclocking, here is my tip.

Screw Rivatuner, and get Powerstrip. If you don't need unlocking, and in your case, you physically cannot, then Powerstrip is more powerful, and gives better options, and better overclocking choices.

Your card overclocked will be an absolute weapon, and should beat 6800 Ultras.