Changing G400 DualHead to G400 MAX through pins

[Pegasus_gr]

Okay, I get the point about the fan, it's pretty obvious anyway. Can someone explain me the process to do it?!(Not how to install a fan but change my G400-->G400MAX)
Will I see any performance gain? Usually I'm playing games at 1024X768@16bit with most of the other settings set at highest level. In games like MOHAA for example, it was very dificult to aim or do anything (at the end of the game).

Thanks

[George YS]

First, u need to run this command to extract the pins of ur card:
progbios.exe -d>mypins.txt

Pins will be saved in mypins.txt, then use any text editor to edit it.
After u edited the file, flash it back to video bios using this command:
progbios.exe -i auto -s mypins.txt -k

The flash should be safe as I tried it a lot of times to overclock my MAX, and there's a recover ultility at Matrox's website in case if u fail.

[Pegasus_gr]

Originally posted by George YS
First, u need to run this command to extract the pins of ur card:
progbios.exe -d>mypins.txt

Pins will be saved in mypins.txt, then use any text editor to edit it.
After u edited the file, flash it back to video bios using this command:
progbios.exe -i auto -s mypins.txt -k

The flash should be safe as I tried it a lot of times to overclock my MAX, and there's a recover ultility at Matrox's website in case if u fail.

Thanks for that.......... can you also give me a list of all the pin values I have to change?!
Thanks

[OZZIE_NO_GOOD]

hhmm why is the -k I dont use that one and works for me to zo what dos the -k do ???

[George YS]

Originally posted by OZZIE_NO_GOOD
hhmm why is the -k I dont use that one and works for me to zo what dos the -k do ???

Well, I don't remember the meaning of a -k parameter well, but it seemed to perform a forced flash, so it may be useful for modified pins such as change in clock frequency or even susbsys_ID.

To Pegasus:
Extracted Pins is actually long and I afraid I can't post it here, if u don't mind u can post ur email address and I can send the file for my MAX to u together with a little but very useful documentation.

[OZZIE_NO_GOOD]

ok heres my email ozzie_no_good@hotmail.com its not to big i think because hotmail acconut isnt that big and else you can
find me whith icq 65144799 thnx



hoop i can push my g400 a little futher hehe jusat for the fun


an onother question how can i see how much my ramdac is running because i a justed my pins now my info tab says max ramdac is 400 ???

[ALBPM]

It's also easy to HOSE your cards up by messing with the PINS File.

Gregg, you better get ready for the - "My G400 is Dead" threads.....LOL

Paul

[OZZIE_NO_GOOD]

Originally posted by ALBPM
It's also easy to HOSE your cards up by messing with the PINS File.

Gregg, you better get ready for the - "My G400 is Dead" threads.....LOL

Paul

hhmm the thread will be @#%^$^ my G400 is dead thank god the next matrox card is in my system now heheh running 5 times faster then the old g400 hehe


and after 3 year good servers he may go and burn out hehe hhmm hope not am hoping to put him in my girlfriend computer so she has some good picture qualty it is one blurry mess now hehehe

[Admiral]

can you also give me a list of all the pin values I have to change?!

you have to change positions 65, 66, 75 and 76 for clock settings:

65 1 150
66 1 75
.
.
.
75 1 150
76 1 75

for RAMDAC 38, 39, 40, 41,42 and 43:

38 1 90
39 1 90
40 1 90
41 1 90
42 1 90
43 1 90

And for the driver installer to detect your card as a G400 MAX you'll have to change:

:SubsystemVendorId 0x2179102b to :SubsystemVendorId 0x217D102b


Here's the Bios Restore utility from Matrox in case you screw it.

[OZZIE_NO_GOOD]

yeah thnx m@ that pin i knew was wondering abuot the other pins and the 150 75 i dont make it that high hehe hes geting corrupted display

only thing i was wondering why is it 150 and 75 what is 150 and what is the 75


and the ramdac is running at 100 does it make any different in the screen display beter ore less ore is it only for very high resolutions ???

[George YS]

Well, my experience on MAX is overclocked RAMDAC produces sharper image, and actually I overclocked mine to 400MHz.

And I uploaded the extracted pins of my MAX as an attached file, download if u guys need it. Remember to edit the card serial# in line 12.

There's some extra info to admiral's post.
In addition to line 38-43 for primary DAC, line 44 and 45 are the secondary DAC frequency, DAC frequency was set as DAC freq/4, so 90 means 360MHz.
While core speed in line 65/75 and 66/76 are set as core speed/2 and /4 respectively.

[Wombat]

Well, my experience on MAX is overclocked RAMDAC produces sharper image, and actually I overclocked mine to 400MHz.

Psychosomatics. RAMDAC speed doesn't have an effect on image quality. If anything, your quality will get worse as the RAMDAC is pushed beyond its operating range. Oh yeah. you're shortening the life of your card, too.

[OZZIE_NO_GOOD]

Originally posted by George YS
.
While core speed in line 65/75 and 66/76 are set as core speed/2 and /4 respectively.

ok what happens when i put the a nummer off for example 140 and the other not 70 but 75 will there be any differents in preformance ???

[George YS]

Originally posted by Wombat
Psychosomatics. RAMDAC speed doesn't have an effect on image quality. If anything, your quality will get worse as the RAMDAC is pushed beyond its operating range. Oh yeah. you're shortening the life of your card, too.

Yes, I know my idea do not seemed radiculous. But it's what I found actually.

[OZZIE_NO_GOOD]

yo hi all old g400 users i got question why don't i get my pinfile
it says this \


MGA Bios Programming Utility v2.18.000d
(C) Matrox Graphics Inc. (2001)


- WARNING: No MGA Board found !


why is that what am i doint wrong i have done the trik before but forgot him pleaze help


i used the comand in the run under start c:\mgafold\sysutil208\progbios.exe -d>testpins.txt


whats wrong ??