Video BIOS modding possible again thanks to new tools from Nvidia
Two new tools make it possible to change the BIOS of Nvidia graphics cards through the back door. This should not actually be possible, as the manufacturer installed a security mechanism ten years ago.
Since 2013, video BIOS modding has no longer been possible with Nvidia graphics cards. The manufacturer has achieved this through so-called "signature checks". Since the GeForce 900 series, an additional security processor called "Falcon" ensures that the GPU does not boot with unauthorised firmware. With the new tools OMGVflash and NVflashk from the tinkerers Veii and kefi, almost all video BIOSes can now be flashed on almost any Nvidia GeForce graphics card. This is reported by Techpowerup.
Thanks to the tools, you can, for example, flash the BIOS of a premium card onto a budget card of the same model. This allows you to benefit from the settings and overclocking. Up to the RTX 20 series, you can increase the power limits with BIOS modding. This has a greater effect on performance than increasing the clock rates. Or with the newer RTX 4090, you can reset the voltage from 1.07 volts to the original 1.1 volts by cross-flashing without changing the BIOS. This also leads to more performance.
You should be aware, however, that tinkering with the video BIOS will invalidate your card's warranty. So if you tamper with it, you should know what you're doing. AMD graphics cards have a similar lock, by the way. This cannot yet be bypassed.
Cover image: Shutterstock / Hairem
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