VBIOS and firmware - Revision history

ImportBot: CMP 170HX VBIOS facts, the vix no-flash loaders, the bogus "unlocked VBIOS" repos, SPI flasher voltage, GSP-off and vGPU; flashing risks as warnings. Discord Oct 2026 and the repos.; sources: @petrikrohn_26497, @rrickk420, @ghostinthedatacenter_87281, @lxtend, @scallion_9883, @xanthefin, @bigptoughneigh, @c133, @globalapathy, @supasnipa360, @wakeupmbrc1, @youngju10000 (+6 more); GitHub Consensus-Protocol/cmp170hx, Panchovix/nvidia-linux-vbios-vix-loader, Panchovix/nvidia-vbio

2026-10-30T10:02:42Z

CMP 170HX VBIOS facts, the vix no-flash loaders, the bogus "unlocked VBIOS" repos, SPI flasher voltage, GSP-off and vGPU; flashing risks as warnings. Discord Oct 2026 and the repos.; sources: @petrikrohn_26497, @rrickk420, @ghostinthedatacenter_87281, @lxtend, @scallion_9883, @xanthefin, @bigptoughneigh, @c133, @globalapathy, @supasnipa360, @wakeupmbrc1, @youngju10000 (+6 more); GitHub Consensus-Protocol/cmp170hx, Panchovix/nvidia-linux-vbios-vix-loader, Panchovix/nvidia-vbio

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:02, 30 October 2026
Line 46:		Line 46:
	lxwx tested the Linux loader on a 170HX 10 GB and reports it works and let him tweak TDP to 300 W on 610/615 drivers,		lxwx tested the Linux loader on a 170HX 10 GB and reports it works and let him tweak TDP to 300 W on 610/615 drivers,
	together with the gen3 unlock. {{Source\|lxtend\|2026-10-20\|https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518692084729511967/1562103260490240172}}		together with the gen3 unlock. {{Source\|lxtend\|2026-10-20\|https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518692084729511967/1562103260490240172}}
	But the override is applied in GSP, which is '''too late in boot''' to ~~change~~ anything still locked, so for the unlock		But the override is applied in GSP, which is '''too late in boot''' to touch anything still locked on the 8 GB card, so
	it adds nothing new; ~~it should reach~~ clocks and ~~power only~~. {{Source\|scallion_9883\|2026-10-19\|https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518691940646781070/~~1561743172554588171~~}}		for the unlock it adds nothing new; clocks and similar settings should be reachable through it, little else.
			{{Source\|handle=scallion_9883\|date=2026-10-17\|link=https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518692084729511967/1561103147215224983}}<br />{{Source\|handle=scallion_9883\|date=2026-10-19\|link=https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518692084729511967/1561816073844555929}}<br />{{Source\|handle=scallion_9883\|date=2026-10-19\|link=https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518692084729511967/1561816657788276867}}<br />{{Source\|handle=scallion_9883\|date=2026-10-19\|link=https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518691940646781070/1561841116603621527}}
	The 300 W power-limit bytes sit outside the VBIOS signature section, implying the power limit is editable without the		The 300 W power-limit bytes sit outside the VBIOS signature section, implying the power limit is editable without the
	signing key. {{Source\|xanthefin\|2026-10-18\|https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518692084729511967/1561368219657179187}}		signing key. {{Source\|xanthefin\|2026-10-18\|https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518692084729511967/1561368219657179187}}
Line 64:		Line 65:
	involves no VBIOS change. When members compared the file to the original in August there was no difference.		involves no VBIOS change. When members compared the file to the original in August there was no difference.
	'''Do not flash it.''' {{Source\|c133\|2026-10-18\|https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518692084729511967/1561390399283535955}}		'''Do not flash it.''' {{Source\|c133\|2026-10-18\|https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518692084729511967/1561390399283535955}}
	{{Source\|globalapathy\|2026-10-18\|https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518692084729511967/1561391210906517565}}		{{Source\|handle=xanthefin\|date=2026-10-18\|link=https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518692084729511967/1561391210906517565}}<br />{{Source\|handle=globalapathy\|date=2026-10-18\|link=https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518692084729511967/1561391800818733068}}<br />{{Source\|handle=c133\|date=2026-10-18\|link=https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518692084729511967/1561392232370806855}}

			{{Status\|Contested}} An "unlocked VBIOS" for the 10 GB card is also said to exist, "a harder find it seems due to legal
			concerns"; this was hearsay, with no file or result shown. {{Source\|handle=supasnipa360\|date=2026-10-18\|link=https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518692084729511967/1561388811123167233}}
			The answer in the same thread applies to both variants: the unlock makes no VBIOS change, and someone able to write a
			VBIOS would not have stopped at 64 GB. {{Source\|handle=xanthefin\|date=2026-10-18\|link=https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518692084729511967/1561391210906517565}}<br />{{Source\|handle=globalapathy\|date=2026-10-18\|link=https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518692084729511967/1561391800818733068}}

	== SPI flashing (if you must) ==		== SPI flashing (if you must) ==
Line 83:		Line 89:
	* '''GSP disabled:''' applying the unlock, building a dual-stack driver that persists the unlock kernels, then loading		* '''GSP disabled:''' applying the unlock, building a dual-stack driver that persists the unlock kernels, then loading
	the proprietary driver with <code>NVreg_EnableGpuFirmware=0</code> let certain register changes survive the reload		the proprietary driver with <code>NVreg_EnableGpuFirmware=0</code> let certain register changes survive the reload
	with no GSP panics (works well on the 90HX). ~~Most people think~~ it ~~adds little~~ since everything ~~software-unlockable is~~		with no GSP panics. GreenDam replied that it works well on the 90HX. matstatman doubts it helps, since everything
	~~already~~ found. {{Source\|zarknoth\|2026-10-27\|https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518695328008638516/1564547690019160145}}		software can unlock has been found and the fuses cut off the rest. {{Source\|zarknoth\|2026-10-27\|https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518695328008638516/1564547690019160145}}<br />
			{{Source\|handle=matstatman\|date=2026-10-27\|link=https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518695328008638516/1564575816010965024}}<br />
			{{Source\|handle=green_dam\|date=2026-10-28\|link=https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518695328008638516/1564799215874474065}}
	* '''vGPU:''' close to working in cmpunlocker on the <code>vGPU-and-others</code> branch (three patches:		* '''vGPU:''' close to working in cmpunlocker on the <code>vGPU-and-others</code> branch (three patches:
	vgpu-kvm-build, vgpu-ga100-host, vgpu-umd-version). {{Source\|_j3ns\|2026-10-26\|https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518692084729511967/1564421429703737355}}		vgpu-kvm-build, vgpu-ga100-host, vgpu-umd-version). {{Source\|_j3ns\|2026-10-26\|https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518692084729511967/1564421429703737355}}

ImportBot: CMP 170HX VBIOS facts, the vix no-flash loaders, the bogus "unlocked VBIOS" repos, SPI flasher voltage, GSP-off and vGPU; flashing risks as warnings. Discord Oct 2026 and the repos.; sources: @petrikrohn_26497, @rrickk420, @ghostinthedatacenter_87281, @lxtend, @scallion_9883, @xanthefin, @bigptoughneigh, @c133, @globalapathy, @wakeupmbrc1, @youngju10000, @zarknoth (+3 more); GitHub Consensus-Protocol/cmp170hx, Panchovix/nvidia-linux-vbios-vix-loader, Panchovix/nvidia-vbios-vi

2026-10-30T08:49:32Z

CMP 170HX VBIOS facts, the vix no-flash loaders, the bogus "unlocked VBIOS" repos, SPI flasher voltage, GSP-off and vGPU; flashing risks as warnings. Discord Oct 2026 and the repos.; sources: @petrikrohn_26497, @rrickk420, @ghostinthedatacenter_87281, @lxtend, @scallion_9883, @xanthefin, @bigptoughneigh, @c133, @globalapathy, @wakeupmbrc1, @youngju10000, @zarknoth (+3 more); GitHub Consensus-Protocol/cmp170hx, Panchovix/nvidia-linux-vbios-vix-loader, Panchovix/nvidia-vbios-vi

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 comes from the driver patch ([[Driver unlock|cmpunlocker]]). Most VBIOS work on these cards is either identification,
 power-limit editing, or dead ends. Treat anything that writes the flash chip as high-risk.
 == Stock VBIOS inventory ==
@@ Line 76: / Line 87: @@
 * '''vGPU:''' close to working in cmpunlocker on the <code>vGPU-and-others</code> branch (three patches:
    vgpu-kvm-build, vgpu-ga100-host, vgpu-umd-version). {{Source|_j3ns|2026-10-26|https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518692084729511967/1564421429703737355}}
-   A longer build note by @arabus_74064 (declaring the vgpu patches in <code>constants.yaml</code>) exists; see Discord.
+   arabus's build note: clone with <code><nowiki>git clone --branch vGPU-and-others --single-branch https://github.com/amoghmunikote/cmpunlocker.git</nowiki></code>;
 == Fuse RE references ==

ImportBot: CMP 170HX VBIOS facts, the vix no-flash loaders, the bogus "unlocked VBIOS" repos, SPI flasher voltage, GSP-off and vGPU; flashing risks as warnings. Discord Oct 2026 and the repos.; sources: @rrickk420, @ghostinthedatacenter_87281, @lxtend, @scallion_9883, @xanthefin, @bigptoughneigh, @c133, @globalapathy, @wakeupmbrc1, @youngju10000, @zarknoth, @_j3ns (+1 more); GitHub Consensus-Protocol/cmp170hx, Panchovix/nvidia-linux-vbios-vix-loader, Panchovix/nvidia-vbios-vix-editor, a

2026-10-30T08:05:15Z

CMP 170HX VBIOS facts, the vix no-flash loaders, the bogus "unlocked VBIOS" repos, SPI flasher voltage, GSP-off and vGPU; flashing risks as warnings. Discord Oct 2026 and the repos.; sources: @rrickk420, @ghostinthedatacenter_87281, @lxtend, @scallion_9883, @xanthefin, @bigptoughneigh, @c133, @globalapathy, @wakeupmbrc1, @youngju10000, @zarknoth, @_j3ns (+1 more); GitHub Consensus-Protocol/cmp170hx, Panchovix/nvidia-linux-vbios-vix-loader, Panchovix/nvidia-vbios-vix-editor, a

New page

The 170HX VBIOS is '''signed''', and the memory/compute unlock does '''not''' come from flashing a modified VBIOS; it
comes from the driver patch ([[Driver unlock|cmpunlocker]]). Most VBIOS work on these cards is either identification,
power-limit editing, or dead ends. Treat anything that writes the flash chip as high-risk.

== Stock VBIOS inventory ==

{| class="wikitable"
! Version !! Card !! Notes
|-
| 92.00.67.00.01 || 8 GB || stock production (2021-05-14, 250 W)
|-
| 92.00.6D.00.0A || 8 GB || 300 W OC image, memory OC allowed
|-
| 92.00.6D.00.09 || 8 GB || 300 W, no memory OC
|-
| 92.00.66.00.02 || 10 GB || the only 10 GB image
|-
| 92.00.6D.00.01 || 8 GB (ES) || PG199 engineering-sample 170HX, unlocks to 32 GB only
|}

The VBIOS version does not decide whether the unlock works. {{Source|rrickk420|2026-08-22|https://github.com/Consensus-Protocol/cmp170hx}}
92.00.6D.00.0A is an 8 GB image. {{Source|ghostinthedatacenter_87281|2026-10-17|https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1534370835220004885/1560857113105010820}}
Board part numbers: 900-11001-0108-000 (8 GB), 900-11001-0105-000 (10 GB); an ES/32 GB card uses a
699-xxxxx-xxxx-RCx number. See [[Which card do I have]].

== The vix no-flash loaders (Panchovix) ==

[https://github.com/Panchovix/nvidia-linux-vbios-vix-loader nvidia-linux-vbios-vix-loader] (Linux) and
nvidia-windows-vbios-vix-loader load a modified VBIOS at boot in memory by patching the 615.x open modules so GSP starts
with the override image; the flash chip is never written, and the companion
[https://github.com/Panchovix/nvidia-vbios-vix-editor nvidia-vbios-vix-editor] edits power limits, voltages and fan
curves. {{Status|warning}} '''These do not support the CMP 170HX today''': the device table has no
<code>0x20C2</code>/<code>0x2082</code> entry and GA100 GSP firmware is explicitly unaudited.

lxwx tested the Linux loader on a 170HX 10 GB and reports it works and let him tweak TDP to 300 W on 610/615 drivers,
together with the gen3 unlock. {{Source|lxtend|2026-10-20|https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518692084729511967/1562103260490240172}}
But the override is applied in GSP, which is '''too late in boot''' to change anything still locked, so for the unlock
it adds nothing new; it should reach clocks and power only. {{Source|scallion_9883|2026-10-19|https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518691940646781070/1561743172554588171}}
The 300 W power-limit bytes sit outside the VBIOS signature section, implying the power limit is editable without the
signing key. {{Source|xanthefin|2026-10-18|https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518692084729511967/1561368219657179187}}

An older method: before the vix loader, the 10 GB card's VF offset and 300 W limit were reached by giving the driver
the 8 GB unlocked VBIOS, truncated, instead of normal operation; Mr Pec got 300 W max on a 10 GB card this way.
{{Source|bigptoughneigh|2026-10-04|https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518692084729511967/1556320331457761301}}

== The "64 GB unlocked VBIOS" repos (bogus) ==

{{Status|warning}} The repos '''344303947/CMP-170HX-64GB-Unlocked-VBIOS''' and its mirror
'''justin-kk-coder/CMP-170HX-64GB-Unlocked-VBIOS''' (git author "Thaurock") present a 1 MB ROM
(sha256 <code>2e8961ac518924cebd52363555c875071e6a58ece1ef494e192e42d5c1dcd5a2</code>) as a "64 GB unlocked" VBIOS with
<code>nvflash -6</code> instructions. By version, date and IDs it is the '''stock''' 8 GB production VBIOS
(92.00.67.00.01); the 64 GB readout in its screenshot is what the driver-side unlock produces, not the ROM. The unlock
involves no VBIOS change. When members compared the file to the original in August there was no difference.
'''Do not flash it.''' {{Source|c133|2026-10-18|https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518692084729511967/1561390399283535955}}
{{Source|globalapathy|2026-10-18|https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518692084729511967/1561391210906517565}}

== SPI flashing (if you must) ==

Flashing a different VBIOS (e.g. A100) means opening the card and programming the flash IC. {{Status|warning}} Be
careful which programmer you buy: flash ICs are 1.8 V or 3 V and a 3 V programmer fries a 1.8 V flash; some "3.3 V"
CH341a units are really 5 V. Prefer a CH347-based flasher (its software selects the voltage).
{{Source|wakeupmbrc1|2026-10-13|https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518695328008638516/1559582577503899649}}
The 170HX VBIOS is signed, so flashing a modified image is a separate (unsolved) problem; and
{{Status|warning}} a VBIOS TOCTOU test was reported to brick a card permanently, unrecoverable even after restoring the
original image. {{Source|youngju10000|2026-10-08|https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518692084729511967/1557647494417088513}}

A dead-on-arrival 10 GB card whose VBIOS ROM reads <code>0xFFFF</code> and fails GSP init is likely a bad SPI flash;
see [[Troubleshooting]].

== GSP-off and vGPU ==

* '''GSP disabled:''' applying the unlock, building a dual-stack driver that persists the unlock kernels, then loading
the proprietary driver with <code>NVreg_EnableGpuFirmware=0</code> let certain register changes survive the reload
with no GSP panics (works well on the 90HX). Most people think it adds little since everything software-unlockable is
already found. {{Source|zarknoth|2026-10-27|https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518695328008638516/1564547690019160145}}
* '''vGPU:''' close to working in cmpunlocker on the <code>vGPU-and-others</code> branch (three patches:
vgpu-kvm-build, vgpu-ga100-host, vgpu-umd-version). {{Source|_j3ns|2026-10-26|https://discord.com/channels/1518634379604136178/1518692084729511967/1564421429703737355}}
A longer build note by @arabus_74064 (declaring the vgpu patches in <code>constants.yaml</code>) exists; see Discord.

== Fuse RE references ==

The GA100 fuse / RIR architecture is reverse-engineered read-only in
[https://github.com/ahnguyen17/ga100-fuse-re ahnguyen17/ga100-fuse-re] (FF instruction layout, RIR macro, the
corrected Gen3 burn list, the 80 GiB fold). Use it as a cross-check before trusting any burn list; the repo's own verdict
on burning a working card is NO-GO. {{Source|exile_1ck|2026-10-07|https://github.com/ahnguyen17/ga100-fuse-re}}

== Status ==

VBIOS editing can change power/clocks (reported); it cannot do the memory/compute/PCIe unlock (that is driver-side).
Flashing modified or third-party ROMs is a warning, not a recommendation.

== Related ==

[[RIR fuse burn]], [[Which card do I have]], [[Driver unlock]], [[NVLink]], [[Troubleshooting]], [[Tools]].

{{ImportFooter}}
[[Category:Unlocks]]
[[Category:8 GB]]
[[Category:10 GB]]