With the term vBIOS refers to the firmware that controls and manages the basic functions of a device’s graphics card or GPU. It is responsible for communicating between the operating system and the graphics card, as well as controlling parameters such as le clock frequenciesthe tensionsvideo memory settings and other configurations.
In the series of video cards GeForce 900 based on Maxwell architectures, NVidia has introduced a new security function which among other things prevents the GPU from booting with unauthorized firmware. The system is implemented on-die and is in charge of carrying out a check on the company digital affixed to the code used to operate the vBIOS. This type of control ensures that thefirmware update is issued by NVidia or a reputable source and has not been tampered with or altered in any way.
After 10 years discovered a system to force the change of vBIOS in NVidia graphics cards
In the last decade, changing the vBIOS has actually proved impossible precisely because of the security measures introduced at the time by NVidia engineers. The developers of two utilities distributed free online have thought of causing a real earthquake in the environment: OMGVflash e NVflashk.
Developed independently, the two software perform the flashing of almost all vBIOS on graphics cards NVidia GeForce, bypassing the barriers that the hardware manufacturer had set up in the past. According to the developers, the “bypass” of the signature check vBIOS works with almost all NVidia products, up to GPU Turing of the RTX 20 series.
Applications like OMGVflash e NVflashk open to scenarios once possible but excluded for years for any end user. In addition to the clock speed, the vBIOS modding allows you to increase the powers in play with an even more significant impact on performanceespecially on boost frequencies.
What can you do with applications like OMGVflash e NVflashk
Then there is the possibility of intervening on the tensions graphics card performance, cooling performance, and fan curve. This way you can make the card quieter as long as the system heat dissipation can keep the GPU away from thermal limits (also adjustable).
The procedure of cross flashing (therefore without the need to modify the BIOS or disturb the signature verification system), moreover, it allows you to reset the voltage to 1.1V on the latest versions of RTX 4090 GPU-based video cards, which only run at 1.07V.
The author of OMGVflash presented the plans for the future on the same page containing the download link. The creator of NVflashk has published his software on GitHub: it is possible to download it directly from the same platform.
It should be noted that tools for modifying the vBIOS are reserved for users only expert users. Meanwhile, tampering with the firmware invalidates the warranty of the graphics card; secondly, there is always the possibility that rash changes to GPU settings could lead to malfunctions or cause actual damage to the card.
a vBIOS bricked or that complains of a problem during loading due to a procedure of flashing incorrect, it is usually recoverable: just boot the system from the GPU integrated in the processor (iGPU) then restore a working firmware. The important thing is to always remember to carry out the vBIOS backup: for this purpose you can use the new tools presented above or, better still, use the established and reliable GPU-Z.
