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 Softmod Geforce4/FX to Quadro4/FX

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TSAlgojo
post Jan 6 2005, 08:20 PM, updated 19y ago

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Due to several PMs regarding this topic even i told them to look around at guru3d forum.And here info i ripped from clokkevi@forum.guru3d.com.All credit goes to him/her
Quick Tip 1:
Are you using Win9x? Then this how-to will not work (I guess)

Quick Tip 2:
I have been using RivaTuner v2.0 RC 15.0 with Hotfix for all my tests.
I will update to RC 15.1 soon to test with that version also.
Highest version of workable driver is 42.51.Currently i'm using 44.03

REMEMBER...:
Using this procedure (or any other) to make your GeForce card become a Quadro card,
WILL make all your games SLOWER!
Yes - you read that right:
You will LOOSE gaming FPS's with SoftQuadro..!!

The reason for this is simple:
The features you're about to unlock are not used by any game.
(Heh - you think NVidia would have made all their gaming cards work SLOWER..??!)
By locking these non-game-features, the drivers can ignore those
and concentrate on the features that ARE used by the games.

If you're still sure you want to make your GeForce a Quadro,
then... let's start!


GETTING THE FILES, UNINSTALL OLD DRIVERS, INSTALL CLEAN DRIVERS

1a. You want the latest drivers that WORK STABLE for your card:

(For an explanation of this, why these are the latest drivers, see the bottom of this post.)

For a GeForce FX 5200/5600 -> Quadro FX 500, that's 42.51 !!!
http://whitebunny.demon.nl/download....51_w2k_wxp.zip

NB! The Whitebunny site is NOT down! You have to left-click this link, not right-click.
Also, do not use a download manager.
When you click this link, you will come to a new page.
And there it will be a "real" download link
- which you may right-click / use a download manager on / whatever.

FX 5200/5600 owners also need to do an extra little trick,
go down to the very bottom of this "how-to"

For all other GeForce FX 5xx0 -> Quadro FX x/x00, that's 45.28
http://download.nvidia.com/Windows/....28_win2kxp.exe

For a GeForce Ti 4x00 -> Quadro 4 xx0 XGL, that's 42.51
http://whitebunny.demon.nl/download....51_w2k_wxp.zip

(As mentioned above - left-click this link. Do not use download manager!)

Then you also need the RivaTuner program itself, of course
- the latest version is a.t.m. "RivaTuner 2.0 RC 15 + SoftR9x00 + SoftFireGL"
Get it from Guru3D - it's under "Most Downloaded" at
http://downloads.guru3d.com/

1b. Now uninstall your old NVIDIA drivers (if this is not a fresh Windows).

1c. Install the new NVIDIA drivers, the ones that you downloaded.
Do NOT delete those packages afterwards - you will still need them...!

INSTALLING RIVATUNER

2. Install it - start it - stop it - and reboot the PC
Now Windows begin to know about *.rts files as "RivaTuner patch script files"

(You will use RivaTuner to patch
"nv4_mini.sys"
- a file INSIDE the driver package.
Most of the files inside are first COMPRESSED each on it's own
(e.g. "nvoglnt.dll" is compressed to "nvoglnt.dl_")
- then they have all been zipped,
either to a *.zip file,
or to a self-extracting *.exe)

UNZIPPING AND EXPANDING "NV4_MINI.SYS"

3. To get hold of the "nv4_mini.sys" file, you must
unzip the driver package ( yes, also 45.28_win2kxp.exe)
- unzip it to e.g.
C:\45.28_patched\

4a. Then you must
"expand" all the *.??_ files
copy "C:\Program Files\RivaTuner\Tools\expand\expand.exe" "C:\45.28_patched\"

4b. Then start Notepad, copy this text and paste it in:

expand -r *.??_
ren *.cf *.cfg
ren *.cp *.cpl
ren *.dl *.dll
ren *.ex *.exe
ren *.hl *.hlp
ren *.sy *.sys
ren *.tv *.tvp

Save the file as
File name: "C:\45.28_patched\ unpack.bat"
Save as type: "All files"

4c. Then double-click
C:\45.28_patched\ unpack.bat
- you should see the expanded versions of the files come in at the bottom

PATCHING "NV4_MINI.SYS"

5. Now you're ready for the patching.

5a. (SoftQuadro4 patch)
Double-click
"C:\Program Files\RivaTuner\PatchScripts\NVIDIA\SoftQuadro4\So
ftQuadro4 w2k.rts"
Click "Continue" button.
Browse to
"C:\45.28_patched\"
Double-click
"nv4_mini.sys"
(If patching 45.28 (not 42.51) you'll get a "Warning: This file is not certified.." Click "Yes" button)
Click "OK" on the "Information. Patch script has been successfully executed. Read log for details"
Click "Close" button.

5b. (NVStrap antiprotection patch)
Double-click
"C:\Program Files\RivaTuner\PatchScripts\NVIDIA\NVStrap antiprotection\NVStrap antiprotection w2k.rts"
Click "Continue" button.
You should already be in the folder
"C:\45.28_patched\"
..double-click
"nv4_mini.sys"
Click "OK" on the "Information. Patch script has been successfully executed. Read log for details"
Click "Close" button

(Now you have a working driver ready to installed, after you've changed your
"Graphics adapter identification" to "Quadro")

USING RIVATUNER TO INSTALL NVSTRAP DRIVER,
USING NVSTRAP TO CHANGE "GEFORCE" TO "QUADRO"

6. To do that, start RivaTuner again.
On the "Main" tab,
in the "Target adapter" field,
click the little button with an arrow, just to the right of
".................. Customize..."
Click the left-most icon on the pop-up toolbar;
"Low-level system settings"
In the new window called "Low-level system tweaks",
choose the "NVStrap driver" tab.
Click "Install" button.
Now the previously "greyed-out" roll-down menues become available.
In the "PCI DeviceID settings" field, there is one roll-down menu
- "Graphics adapter identification".
Select "Quadro".
(If there's no "Quadro" setting available, you must use "Custom" instead.
Tell me about this, and I'll help you find the correct DeviceID number)
Click "Apply" button
Click "OK" button.
Now the PC need to reboot, click "OK" on the reboot dialog box.


CANCELLING THE DETONATOR AUTO-INSTALLATION

7. When Windows after reboot comes up with
"Hey, new hardware found! Starting Add New Hardware WIZARD"
- press "Cancel".

FINDING AND REMOVING ALL OLD DETONATOR FILES

8a. Then - when in standard 640x480 (or 800x600) VGA mode,
I would locate and delete all files that were used to install the un-patched Detonators.

8b. There *may* be a "C:\NVIDIA\" folder, if so, delete it.

8c. In the "C:\Windows\inf\" folder, there are some files named
"oem2.inf" or "oem3.inf" or "oem[some_number].inf",
one of these is the old inf file used by the NON-patched Detonators.
The easiest way to get rid of it, is to search
"All files and folders"
"All or part of the file name" -> oem
"A word or phrase in the file" -> nvidia
"Look in:" -> C:\Windows\inf\
Then delete the file found.
Now you're 100% sure that Windows can not find any files belonging to the old, un-patched drivers.

USING DEVICE MANAGER TO TELL WINDOWS YOU'LL UPDATE THE DRIVER

9. Then, start the Device Manager:
Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> System
In "System Properties" window, select "Hardware" tab, then click "Device Manager" button
There should be a yellow question mark, at the sub-level of "Display adapters"
Right-click the question mark, and select "Update Driver..."

FORCING WINDOWS TO USE YOUR PATCHED DRIVERS

10a. At the first page of the "Hardware Update Wizard", select
"Install from a list or specific location (Advanced)"
Click "Next >" button

10b. At the "Please choose your search and installation options" page, select
"Don't search. I will choose the driver to install."
Click "Next >" button

10c. Now Windows don't know of any drivers at all (you removed the old ones, right)
- click "Have Disk" button,
browse your way to the
"C:\45.28_patched\" folder,
double-click the
"nv4_disp.inf" file

10d. That's it! Now you just click "OK" or "Next >" or whatever
(I don't remember the precise words)
- but now you've made sure Windows are using your patched drivers.
Just reboot the PC after the finish.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

X. Extra trick needed for FX 5200/5600owners:

X1. Unzip the vid_nvidia_42[1].51_w2k_wxp.zip file.

X2. Open (2x click) the nv4_disp.inf file.

X3. Find the line - almost at the bottom - where it says:

NVidia.Nv31GL.1 = "NVIDIA NV31GL "

X4. Change it so it says:

NVidia.Nv31GL.1 = "NVIDIA Quadro FX 500"

X5. Save the nv4_disp.inf file.

X6. Now go back to step 2 - but when in step 3, it says:
"..unzip the driver package.." - you have of course now already done that step - in advance...! :-)


(These extra step is needed because the 42.51 driver was released
before the NV31GL got its "Quadro FX 500" name)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why 42.51 / 45.28 are the latest drivers.

You may try using a much later driver - a ForceWare driver - 6x.xx
- you may get your PC showing "Quadro FX xxxx" in the Display Properties.
You may run your PC "as usual" - start it, surf internet, play Direct3D games - everythings fine.

But that won't help you!

The moment you start using an OpenGL application
- which will actually use the patched nv4_mini.sys file...
...it will not work.

It may crash, it may corrupt the display - it will not work as its suppposed to.

The safest way to find out if your nv4_mini.sys file is good or not,
is to download and run any of the SPECviewperf tests.

However - if you verify that all the tests run without errors
and that they give better results
- by using a patched nv4_mini.sys file of a version above 45.28
- then you'll probably be a hero...!
StarNet
post Jan 10 2005, 07:56 PM

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aiks.... GeForce MX 440 kenot softmod ?
TSAlgojo
post Jan 11 2005, 10:29 AM

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can la my bro
i'm using dat card oredi mod to Quadro4 XGL 550
see my sig down there
WebMaster07
post Jan 12 2005, 11:40 PM

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alareadi softmod to Quadro4. Thanks!
adzley
post Jan 13 2005, 02:56 AM

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yeah...also can softmod to quadro NVS...:-)
MoonlitBay
post Jan 13 2005, 11:10 PM

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"Using this procedure (or any other) to make your GeForce card become a Quadro card,
WILL make all your games SLOWER!"

Then why u guys still wanna mod it???
TSAlgojo
post Jan 14 2005, 09:20 AM

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Increase performance in CAD and 3D modelling thats why ur game become slower.
adzley
post Mar 23 2005, 08:10 PM

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my gc used in CAMcad & solidwork...thats why la...
cantona7
post Mar 26 2005, 10:31 AM

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y it will make u play game slower??
while increase the 3D editing performence??
can explain details..
WaiM
post Mar 26 2005, 10:36 AM

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whats the use of this softmod ah ??

increase points at benchmarks and increase performance for 3d rendering ??
badon
post Mar 26 2005, 01:19 PM

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if i try n problem occurs, then can i transfer it back to geforce 4 aaa ???...


fendii
post Mar 27 2005, 06:53 AM

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anyone here knows which brand of 6800GTs have the most success rate in modding them into Quadro4000s ?
bullet
post Apr 16 2005, 06:06 PM

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algojo....

im about to by a graphic card for 3d use, planning to get
either quadro 1100. seems softmod can save me tons of money... i would like to know,...

which geforce FX can mod to Quadro FX 1100 or/and Quadro FX 3000?
bullet
post Apr 16 2005, 08:05 PM

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is there any site/info that define,

which geforce can softmod to what quadro? n
which radeon can softmod to what firegl?
TSAlgojo
post May 5 2005, 11:00 PM

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owh logon tu forum.guru3d.com
aaeem
post May 19 2005, 09:27 AM

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softmoded my fx5200 to quadro fx 500 with opengl settings...but using 45.28...can't got it to work with 42.51...
lex
post May 19 2005, 10:07 AM

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Article at RivaTuner's website concerning the usage of SoftQuadro4 for modding GeForce to Quadro and its results: http://www.nvworld.ru/docs/sq4e.html As can be seen from that page, its not 100% perfect due to hidden PCI ID and GPU detection code within the drivers themselves. Still requires some registry and driver tweaks using RivaTuner to enable certain features. Some features however are somewhat "locked" thanks to some clever driver optimization and selective hardware blocking. tongue.gif

The problem is the latest drivers have been coded to prevent "modding" by modifying the driver codes. Thus you have to use older drivers for this purpose. It does also mean hardware modding is sometimes the better choice (or alternative). blush.gif

There's another recent article on modding GeForce to Quadro. Reference: "6800gt/ultra to QuadroFX4000" http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=157217 Anyone ready to modify their 6800GT? sweat.gif

Lastest hardware modding on GeForce 6800GT to QuadroFX4000, refer to "Perfect modify the 6800GT to QuadroFX4000" at http://www.newbietech.net/eng/qtoq/nvidia/6800/6800mod.php cool.gif

Some olde guides on "hard-modding" Geforce/GeForce2 to Quadro/Quadro2 can be found at http://www.geocities.com/tnaw_xtennis/ Requires soldering tiny surface mount resistors only. wink.gif

There's still "life" in those olde cards.. Anyway I have done these modding many moons ago laugh.gif
lex
post May 19 2005, 01:22 PM

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From one of my previous post at http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=157217 ...
QUOTE(lex @ May 19 2005, 01:27 AM)
Just fired up one of my old machines with my "Quadro" and a fresh install of Windows XP... flex.gif

Here are the screenshots... cool.gif

On a note of caution.. Do these modifications at your own risk..  whistling.gif
Please note that this is a "hard-modded" Quadro, not "soft-modded" one... cool.gif

Good luck to all modders! May the GeForce be with you.. thumbup.gif


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POYOZER
post May 22 2005, 11:57 PM

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if i softmod to quadro
can i revert back to default??
thefryingfox
post May 23 2005, 12:01 AM

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you can
jus reinstall the software
how ever, theres not much point really
better performance in opengl. just slightly better
because the chip itself does not have open gl optimization.
technically, its just a geforce chip working like a quadro chip

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