690 GTX Club/Overclocking/Benchmarks!

[Veteran]

UPDATED INSTRUCTIONS!!


Flashing bios instructions for any Nvidia Keplar GPU.
YOU DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK

I wrote this guide as i couldnt find one anywhere.

First of all, You then need to download these files.

GPU-Z (This is used to grab the original Bios from the Gpu wether multi or single)
http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/2181/mirrors.php


KGB - Kepler BIOS Editor/Unlocker. (This is used to modify the Bios that you just grabbed from your Gpu using Gpu-z)

KGB supports: GTX690, GTX680, GTX670, GTX660Ti, GTX660OEM and GTX660

New version 0.6.1 (Adjustable Boost control)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/d6dimgnx8cxvlca/kgb_0.6.1.zip

Old version 0.5
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vrunxuq03vj0m5y/kgb_0.5.zip

NVFLASH (This is used to reflash or reinstall the new modified bios)
Make sure this is version 5.127, An older version will not work.
http://www.softpedia.com/progDownloa...oad-16133.html

Steps 1-10.

1.Ok what you need is firstly to make a USB dongle bootable into DOS, To do this read this very easy to follow guide.
http://www.bay-wolf.com/usbmemstick.htm

2.Run GPU-Z and and click on the icon that allows you to grab your bios from the Gpu and save it to your PC.

Each Gpu has 1 bios that belongs to it.

Then also at the bottom of the picture were it is circled in red and labelled 2, If you have more than 1 gpu then you will need to change this to gpu 2,3 or 4.

Then grab bios no 2 from your Gpu and save it to your PC the same way that you did with bios 1

The picture below shows how.....





Also make sure you have a copy of your bios, Put the original(s) in a safe place!!

3.Once you have grabbed your bios put it into C:\Users\ (yourname) and rename it 1.rom

For example the bios from the GTX 690 Gpu 1 is called GK104.rom, I renamed it to 1.rom and the bios from Gpu 2 also named GK104.rom I renamed 2.rom.

The reason why you should put the bios in C:\Users\ (yourname) is because the default path will be set here from KGB.exe so if you are not familiar with the CMD (Commandline) then this is the easiest way of doing it.



5.Take the KGB.exe as well as the KGB.cfg file and also place both of these in C:\Users\ (yourname).
You should now have KGB.exe, KGB.cfg and 1.rom files in C:\Users\My.

If you have more than 1xGpu then you will have 1.rom and 2.rom respectively in C:\Users\ (yourname).


6.The next thing to do is open up the CMD (Commandline) which im sure you all know how to do.
Once you have the CMD open, Copy and paste in this command.

kgb 1.rom unlock (press enter).

It will now save the new values (i.e. from kgb.cfg) in your bios then print out the new values in the bios.

Do the same again for 2.rom if you have a 2nd card/Dual gpu and have extracted the bios file from the Gpu(s).

Copy and paste in this command into the CMD (Commandline)

kgb 2.rom unlock (press enter).

It will now save the new values (i.e. from kgb.cfg) in your bios then print out the new values in the bios.




7.Now all we need to do is put the new modified 1.rom and possibly 2.rom back onto the gpu, To do this we need to use the USB DOS bootable Dongle that we created in step 1.

Take the nvflash files once you have extracted them and place them onto the USB DOS bootable Dongle, There should be 2 files.

Then place the 1.rom bios also on the USB DOS bootable Dongle.


8.Now the Dongle is ready to be booted from so reboot the PC and go into the bios.
Once you are in the bios make it so the PC boots from the dongle, Once this happens you will then have a flashing cursor telling you that you are in DOS mode.


9.Type in nvflash --list (press enter)
This will then tell you what gpu(s) that you have installed on your motherboard.

10.Type in nvflash -i1 1.rom (press enter)

It will then say flashing Gpu and press Y to confirm, so press Y and the flashing will commence which takes a few seconds.

If you have a second gpu with 2.rom.

Type in nvflash -i2 2.rom (press enter)

It will then say flashing Gpu and press Y to confirm, so press Y and the flashing will commence which takes a few seconds.



Once this is done reboot the PC go into the bios and reset your boot so it boots from your hardrive with the Windows OS on.

Once you get into windows you can see from MSI afterburner or EVGA precision that the power target can be raised from 130 to 150.

When gaming the boost clock should be higher depending on your GPU.

I achieved around an increase of 30 on the core clock on boost alone on both GPU's which is very good.

It will differ for each person and each GPU(s), You can also try other peoples bios as long as iyts the same GPU as your own.

You can also modify the KGB.exe and tweak power settings for even more results but I wouldnt advise this unless you know what you are doing, I would just leave it at stock and use that for the time being.



The original Creator of KGB.exe can be found here.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...Unlocker/page4



Common problem that may arrise.
Sometimes when you flash your card(s) you may get this problem were you card is write protected and it wont allow you to flash it.

Picture here of problem...

The Solution
Type in the CMD....Nvflash --protectoff....then try again with the flash. to enable it again do....Nvflash --protecton.

This should enable you to write/flash the bios to the card with no problems.


Additional Information,3rd Feb 2013

v0.6.1 has adjustable Boost clock which are coded into the KGB.

The Boost clock adjust can be found in the .cfg file.

Here is the table with which you should set your boost clock too which are increments of 13mhz.

This is a list of valid frequencies that have been coded in KGB.

771.0
784.0
797.0
810.5
823.5
836.5
849.5
862.5
875.5
888.5
901.5
915.0
928.0
941.0
954.0
967.0
980.0
993.0
1006.0
1019.5
1032.5
1045.5
1058.5
1071.5
1084.5
1097.5
1110.5
1124.0
1137.0
1150.0
1163.0
1176.0
1189.0
1202.0
1215.0
1228.5
1241.5
1254.5
1267.5
1280.5
1293.5
1306.5
1319.5
1333.0
1346.0
1359.0
1372.0
1385.0
1398.0
1411.0
1424.0

Set your Boost clock ,flash and then test for stability.

Everything you do is at your own risk

I hope this guide has helped.

Good luck.

[Denial]

Are you putting your card under water or just using the sweet chrome plated awesome to cool it?

[Veteran]

Originally Posted by Denial

Are you putting your card under water or just using the sweet chrome plated awesome to cool it?

Dunno yet,i think ill enjoy it for a bit until the water blocks become available which will be about 3-4 weeks.

I already have all my wc gear i just need blocks,but tbh i dont really want to rip all of my existing hardware out of my case and put it in Caselabs,i may wait for Haswell to come first before i do,cause if im gonna do a wc build i will want to do it right!

[Denial]

Originally Posted by Veteran

Dunno yet,i think ill enjoy it for a bit until the water blocks become available which will be about 3-4 weeks.

I already have all my wc gear i just need blocks,but tbh i dont really want to rip all of my existing hardware out of my case and put it in Caselabs,i may wait for Haswell to come first before i do,cause if im gonna do a wc build i will want to do it right!

I bought the signature edition so my card won't ship till end of this month. The EK blocks are supposedly coming out start of June, so I'm debating whether to even use it until then. I may just stick it in one of the other slots and use it with the fan until then, dunno.

[A M D BugBear]

cant wait till waterblocks are ready.

my evga normal one is being shipped out today.

[Veteran]

Originally Posted by Denial

I bought the signature edition so my card won't ship till end of this month. The EK blocks are supposedly coming out start of June, so I'm debating whether to even use it until then. I may just stick it in one of the other slots and use it with the fan until then, dunno.

TBH i really like the design on it as standard,ill most definitely leave it until later on next year,not as if cant play anything maxed out on air anyhow,it runs real quiet anyhow on stock settings,one reviewer reported 44 degrees on full load!

Ill probably buy a block but wont install it till next year.

@AMD Bugbear u lucky git you should have it tomorrow,i really wish scan.oc.uk would get some ****in stock in before thursday,im normally a patient kind of person but this waiting is like being 7 years old and Christmas day is coming,the anxiety is almost unbearable!

[Agent-A01]

44c on stock cooler??

[Veteran]

Originally Posted by Agent-A01

44c on stock cooler??

Tessmark Benchmark.....4:52 in video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy36l...layer_embedded

[BarryB]

Are all the 690's the same card just boxed up per vendor specific packaging and whatever extras they throw in hence the price differences?

[Denial]

Originally Posted by BarryB

Are all the 690's the same card just boxed up per vendor specific packaging and whatever extras they throw in hence the price differences?

What vendor isn't selling the stock card for $999? Both ASUS and EVGA are, I mean EVGA has the signature edition for $50 more but it's just a tshirt and a mousepad included. But so far all the major companies I've seen are for $999.

And yeah, Nvidia is enforcing certain design rules for the card.

[Veteran]

Originally Posted by BarryB

Are all the 690's the same card just boxed up per vendor specific packaging and whatever extras they throw in hence the price differences?

Yes,only reason i went for the EVGA is because of the 10 year warranty and the step up program(GK110 possibly).

You get a 10 year warranty if you pay a small fee and register with EVGA within 30 days of purchase i think its about 30 quid.

[Anfield82]

Why is it so expensive here in the UK? I thought it would have been much cheaper, 999 dollars is around £600?

[Denial]

Originally Posted by Anfield82

Why is it so expensive here in the UK? I thought it would have been much cheaper, 999 dollars is around £600?

From actual vendors or retail stores and such? Companies like Amazon, Newegg, and probably EU equivalents have automated systems that raise the price dynamically when they sense that the item is in high demand, low stock.

[BarryB]

@Veteran: But you can only Step-Up within 90 days of purchase and GK110 isn't going to be out in the next 90 days so the Step-Up option is rather pointless and paying for the 10 year warranty is again not worth it as I doubt you'll have that 690 in 10 years time, maybe not even 1 or 2 years if Maxwell is all it's cracked up to be

[Veteran]

Ahh i didnt realise that with the step up program,thanks,the 10 year warranty is good because when you sell your card it carries over to the the buyer of your card....a major selling point!

Not only that,if i get problems with this card in say 3 years and they repair it and i get problems again etc,then they have to either offer me a replacement or upgrade me to the next best available thing.

[Anfield82]

Originally Posted by Denial

From actual vendors or retail stores and such? Companies like Amazon, Newegg, and probably EU equivalents have automated systems that raise the price dynamically when they sense that the item is in high demand, low stock.

Yeah, I've been looking at online retailers. Price is too high for me to even consider buying one.

[BarryB]

Just ordered mine, Gigabyte GV-N690D5-4GD-B @ £827.99 with Free Delivery!!

[---TK---]

anybody here actually have 1 yet?

[BarryB]

I virtually have one

[Weecka]

Originally Posted by Denial

From actual vendors or retail stores and such? Companies like Amazon, Newegg, and probably EU equivalents have automated systems that raise the price dynamically when they sense that the item is in high demand, low stock.

I'm pretty sure that's not the case. It's the difference in VAT + all the tax that most countries outside US add.

[Veteran]

Originally Posted by Anfield82

Why is it so expensive here in the UK? I thought it would have been much cheaper, 999 dollars is around £600?

Heavy tax/vat,inflation,Remember its rip off Britain,we always get ****ed over here with prices on everything,if the 690 prices were the same as what they are in the USA i woulda bought 2 right of the bat without even considering it.

Originally Posted by BarryB

Just ordered mine, Gigabyte GV-N690D5-4GD-B @ £827.99 with Free Delivery!!

Nice one,where did you get it from and when is it going to be delivered?
Is that Aria by any chance?

Originally Posted by ---TK---

anybody here actually have 1 yet?

Will have one in my hands on friday i have been told by the retailer.

[sovietdoc]

For me, it was either this or a 12Tb NAS. I chose the NAS because my "old" 470's are still running all new games at full eye candy and 4xMSAA/16xAF on 1920x1200

Plus unless they make a 4Gb version of 690, it's not even worth it as for the same price you can get 2 680's with 4gigs

[Veteran]

Originally Posted by sovietdoc

For me, it was either this or a 12Tb NAS. I chose the NAS because my "old" 470's are still running all new games at full eye candy and 4xMSAA/16xAF on 1920x1200

Plus unless they make a 4Gb version of 690, it's not even worth it as for the same price you can get 2 680's with 4gigs

You can build a NAS by using Freenas(download) and spare PC parts just to let you know.

[BarryB]

@Veteran: Place called Taylor Made Computers, they had 2 available but some git has already bagged one

I'm half expecting an email that says they have got the price wrong tbh or the free delivery is not next day but 'whenever' meaning no Friday jizz fest gaming sessions

@sovietdoc: I already have a Synology DS212+ NAS so can't use that as an excuse to not buy

[Veteran]

Originally Posted by BarryB

@Veteran: Place called Taylor Made Computers, they had 2 available but some git has already bagged one

I'm half expecting an email that says they have got the price wrong tbh or the free delivery is not next day but 'whenever' meaning no Friday jizz fest gaming sessions

@sovietdoc: I already have a Synology DS212+ NAS so can't use that as an excuse to not buy

Once they advertise the price and you have paid for it they have to acknowledge it.

Yeah seems that 10/5/2012(Thursday) is the day right across the whole UK when the big shipment seems to be coming in as most if not all retailers have this date confirmed which will mean a friday delivery hopefully.