How to Upgrade NVIDIA GPU BIOS?

Question

I'm looking for some guidance on how to upgrade the BIOS on my NVIDIA graphics card. I have a GeForce RTX 3080 and want to flash an updated BIOS to potentially improve performance and stability.

From what I understand, the general steps are:

Download the latest BIOS for my specific GPU model from the manufacturer's website
Use a BIOS flashing tool like NVFlash to create a bootable USB drive
Boot from the USB drive and flash the new BIOS

However, I have a few questions:

Is it safe to flash a new BIOS? What are the risks of bricking the card if something goes wrong?
Do I need to uninstall the current GPU drivers first in Windows before flashing?
Are there any best practices to follow or things to watch out for during the BIOS upgrade process?
Will I see much real-world performance gain from a BIOS update or is it mainly for fixing bugs?

If anyone has experience successfully updating their NVIDIA GPU BIOS, I would really appreciate any advice or step-by-step guidance you can provide.

Camera_Paler · Accepted Answer

Upgrading your NVIDIA GPU BIOS can potentially improve performance and stability, but it's important to follow the proper steps to avoid damaging your graphics card. Here's a general guide:

Step 1: Identify Your GPU

Determine the exact model of your NVIDIA graphics card. You can use software like GPU-Z to get this information.

Step 2: Find the Correct BIOS Update

Visit the manufacturer's website (e.g., ASUS, MSI, EVGA) and navigate to your specific GPU model's support page.
Look for a BIOS update that is compatible with your card. Make sure to read any release notes or documentation.

Step 3: Download the BIOS Update

Download the correct BIOS file for your GPU. It will likely be in ROM format.
Save the file to a location you can easily access.

Step 4: Install NVIDIA NVFlash

NVFlash is a utility used to flash the BIOS on NVIDIA cards.
Download the latest version of NVFlash that matches your operating system.
Extract the contents of the ZIP file to a folder.

Step 5: Prepare for Flashing

Disable your antivirus software temporarily.
Open a command prompt (Admin mode) and navigate to the NVFlash directory.
Type nvflash --protectoff to disable write protection on the GPU BIOS.

Step 6: Flash the BIOS

In the command prompt, type nvflash newbios.rom (replace "newbios.rom" with your BIOS file name).
Confirm any prompts and wait for the flashing process to complete. Do not interrupt it!

Step 7: Reboot

Once flashing is done, type nvflash --protecton to re-enable write protection.
Close the command prompt and reboot your PC.

After rebooting, your GPU should be running the updated BIOS. Use GPU-Z to verify the BIOS version.

Caution: Flashing the wrong BIOS or interrupting the process can brick your GPU. Proceed at your own risk and always backup your original BIOS. If unsure, consider seeking assistance from a professional.