fake How to flash the bios from Fake GTX 960 4GB GDDR5

[AlexanderGR]

Hi,

I recently got a fake gtx 960 4gb. I'm trying to identify the card with no luck. I read around that the fake 960s are usually gts450 but the gpu isn't the gf106 or the gf116 (second rev gts450).
The only thing i confirmed was the memory. There are 8 memory chips, from Samsung, 1gb of gddr5 total. The gpu has a weird name on it "PFU261.M00" also "12C2B433 1207A1 - S TAIWAN"

I also have a CH341A programmer because nvflash didn't work.

My question is, what bios to load in to the bios chip? (it's a PM25LQ020)
Tried to find by matching the bios version i saw in the fake bios, tried to find by matching the board id number, tried to find by matching all of the above, plus the outputs that the card has.

Also, on the board, there is a spot where a 6pin connector could be soldered but there no connection going to these solder points.

Btw, when a flash the card with a bios, most of the times, the pc boots up but the screen is FILLED with vertical and horizontal lines and a few seconds later i get a bsod about nvlddmkm(i think?).

Other times, the pc just wont boot and stays on a black screen just before the windows login screen.

 

Can anyone help me flash the card to the original?

Thank you so much in advance!

 

Alex.

[airdeano]

what code was on the GPU processor?

 

[AlexanderGR]

You mean the white letter as show in the picture? There are none. The only things that it's written are what i already wrote in the OP.

 

So far, i 've managed to load a bios from OEM GTS 450 2GB but the card doesn't actually have 2 gb of vram so it crashes. All other are fine.

99% it's the gf116 processor, GF106B board (10600050).
I used the CH341A programmer to load the original gtx960 bios, booted up the pc using another card as primary and the fake960 as secondary. Windows didn't start properly the device but this allowed me to test many bios files with nvflash.
I just wish i could edit the bios myself and make the correct adjustments!

[-rascal-]

52 minutes ago, AlexanderGR said:

You mean the white letter as show in the picture? There are none. The only things that it's written are what i already wrote in the OP.

 

So far, i 've managed to load a bios from OEM GTS 450 2GB but the card doesn't actually have 2 gb of vram so it crashes. All other are fine.

99% it's the gf116 processor, GF106B board (10600050).
I used the CH341A programmer to load the original gtx960 bios, booted up the pc using another card as primary and the fake960 as secondary. Windows didn't start properly the device but this allowed me to test many bios files with nvflash.
I just wish i could edit the bios myself and make the correct adjustments!

 

You won't be 100% certain whether or not it is a GTS 450 / GF106 unless you can find out what the ACTUAL GPU processor is --- aside from trial-and-error.

It could be something like a GT 240, too...

 

vBIOS for 1GB GTS 450's exist.

https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/?architecture=NVIDIA&manufacturer=&model=GTS+450&interface=&memType=&memSize=&since=

[AlexanderGR]

I actually tried alot of bios files. I got some info by opening the bios file that was in the card when it came (the fake960 bios). And you're right i can't be sure but since i got the OEM bios to work (except the vram issue), i'm pretty certain that the card has a gf116 gpu, 1gb samsung gddr5 vram and a gf106b board, 10de 1245 device id.

Based on these things, the only card that turn up, is the GTS 450 Rev 2 but no bios work

 

[Srnewbee]

take a picture of the card

[AlexanderGR]

Sorry about the quality. I can upload better ones tomorrow.

[AlexanderGR]

Screenshot of gpu-z when i plug in the fake card after i erased the bios completely.

 

[AlexanderGR]

Anyone?

[-rascal-]

Wow, just an aluminum fin block for the heatsink.

Can you remove the Aluminum heatsink, and grab a picture of the chip and the PCB?

Even if the CPU code is missing, we might be able to identify it by looking at the circuit board design.

 

Oh..right...the first generation GTS 450 used the GF106 core, but some of the later revisions used GF116 instead.

[AlexanderGR]

7 hours ago, -rascal- said:

Wow, just an aluminum fin block for the heatsink.

Can you remove the Aluminum heatsink, and grab a picture of the chip and the PCB?

Even if the CPU code is missing, we might be able to identify it by looking at the circuit board design.

 

Oh..right...the first generation GTS 450 used the GF106 core, but some of the later revisions used GF116 instead.

 

[-rascal-]

1 hour ago, AlexanderGR said:

 

 

Ahh! We need the numbers on the chip! It's right there!

Can you clean off the thermal paste, and focus on the center chip, so we can see the numbers?

 

In the meantime, I will look for a matching PCB design.

Given it has 8 VRAM chips, depending on the size of each chip, it COULD be a 2GB card.

 

Your video card doesn't have a PCI-E 6-pin header.

It might not be a GTS 450...could be something lower, like a GT 440, or GT 240...

[AlexanderGR]

4 hours ago, -rascal- said:

 

Ahh! We need the numbers on the chip! It's right there!

Can you clean off the thermal paste, and focus on the center chip, so we can see the numbers?

 

In the meantime, I will look for a matching PCB design.

Given it has 8 VRAM chips, depending on the size of each chip, it COULD be a 2GB card.

 

Your video card doesn't have a PCI-E 6-pin header.

It might not be a GTS 450...could be something lower, like a GT 440, or GT 240...

Those number and letters are in the OP but here they are again.

12C2B433 1207A1

S TAIWAN

PFU261.M00

 

I search the memory chips and they are samsung k4g10325fe-hc04, 8 of them are 1GB and 16 of them are 2GB of GDDR5.

 

It has a socket to place a 6pin connector but i didn't see any connections of the board connecting the socket to the rest of the board but the card does have some power issues when i overclock it (stock 780MHz - OC 1000Mhz). When at full load with FurMark, the fan speed is reduced VERY much (like they don't get enough power, not like it's not stable), and then the system shuts down completely. I tried bios from GT 440 and 240 and some 550 and others from a variety of vendors.

 

The original bios that the card came with was v70.26.26.00.01

and when i plug in the card with no bios, GPU-Z says GF116 with GF106B board 10600050.

Also it said that the Device ID is 10DE 1245 0000 0000.

Bios chip is PM25LQ020, flashed with CH341A programmer.

 

Tried to search for a bios with these parameters but the none of the resulted files did something. Only one bios didn't hang my system but with that bios, i'm having the said power issues and more vram is detected then it's actually installed on the memory.

 

I also sent nvidia an email but the only thing that they told me is that the card probably is a gts 450 but didn't say anything else.

 

Even if it's a lower card, i really need to get it working properly because right now i'm on a 8400GS (yeah, THAT old)

[-rascal-]

21 hours ago, AlexanderGR said:

Those number and letters are in the OP but here they are again.

12C2B433 1207A1

S TAIWAN

PFU261.M00

 

I search the memory chips and they are samsung k4g10325fe-hc04, 8 of them are 1GB and 16 of them are 2GB of GDDR5.

 

It has a socket to place a 6pin connector but i didn't see any connections of the board connecting the socket to the rest of the board but the card does have some power issues when i overclock it (stock 780MHz - OC 1000Mhz). When at full load with FurMark, the fan speed is reduced VERY much (like they don't get enough power, not like it's not stable), and then the system shuts down completely. I tried bios from GT 440 and 240 and some 550 and others from a variety of vendors.

 

The original bios that the card came with was v70.26.26.00.01

and when i plug in the card with no bios, GPU-Z says GF116 with GF106B board 10600050.

Also it said that the Device ID is 10DE 1245 0000 0000.

Bios chip is PM25LQ020, flashed with CH341A programmer.

 

Tried to search for a bios with these parameters but the none of the resulted files did something. Only one bios didn't hang my system but with that bios, i'm having the said power issues and more vram is detected then it's actually installed on the memory.

 

I also sent nvidia an email but the only thing that they told me is that the card probably is a gts 450 but didn't say anything else.

 

Even if it's a lower card, i really need to get it working properly because right now i'm on a 8400GS (yeah, THAT old)

 

I was hoping there was a 4th line, after the PFU261.M00, but either the seller made it disappear before shipping it...or...it never existed. Damn.

 

Right, at least we know a bit more about the VRAM.

K4G10325FE-HC04

• G = GDDR5
• 10 = 1G densities
• H = again, GDDR5 package type
• 04 = 5000 Mbps speed

Keep in mind, even though the GDDR5 memory chips are rated for 5GHz effective (1250 MHz actual), the could either be downclocked, or overclocked from "factory."

 

The reason I am suspecting it would be a lower tier / power card than the GTS 450 is due to the missing 6-pin connector.

Hence, why I thought it could be a GT 440.

 

Alright, we'll keep looking into this.

 

EDIT: 

Looks like a bunch of 400 and 500 series GPUs used these K4G10325FE-HC04 memory chips.

It ranges from GTX 480, GTX 460, and such, all the way to GTX 560 and GTX 560 Ti.

Could it be a lower end 500 series card instead?

 

EDIT2:

GF116 would point to a GTX 550 Ti, GT 545, GT 545 (OEM), GT 640 (OEM), and GTS 450 Rev2 and Rev3.

GTX 550 Ti and GT 545 (OEM) both uses 1GB GDDR5 memory.

 

GF106 really just points to the GTS 450, GTS 450 (OEM), GT 440 (OEM), Quadro 2000.

Non-OEM GT 440 appears to use GF108 instead...

 

[AlexanderGR]

3 hours ago, -rascal- said:

 

I was hoping there was a 4th line, after the PFU261.M00, but either the seller made it disappear before shipping it...or...it never existed. Damn.

 

Right, at least we know a bit more about the VRAM.

K4G10325FE-HC04

• G = GDDR5
• 10 = 1G densities
• H = again, GDDR5 package type
• 04 = 5000 Mbps speed

Keep in mind, even though the GDDR5 memory chips are rated for 5GHz effective (1250 MHz actual), the could either be downclocked, or overclocked from "factory."

 

The reason I am suspecting it would be a lower tier / power card than the GTS 450 is due to the missing 6-pin connector.

Hence, why I thought it could be a GT 440.

 

Alright, we'll keep looking into this.

 

EDIT: 

Looks like a bunch of 400 and 500 series GPUs used these K4G10325FE-HC04 memory chips.

It ranges from GTX 480, GTX 460, and such, all the way to GTX 560 and GTX 560 Ti.

Could it be a lower end 500 series card instead?

 

EDIT2:

GF116 would point to a GTX 550 Ti, GT 545, GT 545 (OEM), GT 640 (OEM), and GTS 450 Rev2 and Rev3.

GTX 550 Ti and GT 545 (OEM) both uses 1GB GDDR5 memory.

 

GF106 really just points to the GTS 450, GTS 450 (OEM), GT 440 (OEM), Quadro 2000.

Non-OEM GT 440 appears to use GF108 instead...

 

I will try right and find a GT 545 OEM bios but i don't think i'm gonna find any.

I did try 550ti, gts 450rev2 (gonna try the rev3) and i'll also try to find gt 640 OEM bios.

 

The only thing that Nvidia told me was that they came across these kind of cards before and they seem to be manufactured by non nvidia partners so, they can't help.

I also ask them if there is a software or hardware that lets me modify the bios. I don't think they are gonna tell me anything new but its worth a shot.

 

EDIT:

There is a bios that "kinda" works. BIOS

Edited September 7, 2018 by AlexanderGR
adding info

[-rascal-]

23 minutes ago, AlexanderGR said:

I will try right and find a GT 545 OEM bios but i don't think i'm gonna find any.

I did try 550ti, gts 450rev2 (gonna try the rev3) and i'll also try to find gt 640 OEM bios.

 

The only thing that Nvidia told me was that they came across these kind of cards before and they seem to be manufactured by non nvidia partners so, they can't help.

I also ask them if there is a software or hardware that lets me modify the bios. I don't think they are gonna tell me anything new but its worth a shot.

 

EDIT:

There is a bios that "kinda" works. BIOS

 

Okay, thanks for the update.

I'd assume nVidia would be able to help given the serial number / number codes on the GPU die...

 

12C2B433 1207A1

S TAIWAN

PFU261.M00

 

Are you able to find a similar vBIOS, but 1GB of VRAM instead?

I think the 2GB is throwing it off, since your card is 1GB...basically confirmed.

[AlexanderGR]

1 minute ago, -rascal- said:

 

Okay, thanks for the update.

I'd assume nVidia would be able to help given the serial number / number codes on the GPU die...

 

12C2B433 1207A1

S TAIWAN

PFU261.M00

 

Are you able to find a similar vBIOS, but 1GB of VRAM instead?

I think the 2GB is throwing it off, since your card is 1GB...basically confirmed.

Can't find similar bios with 1GB. And not, they can't help at all.

This is gonna be a dump question but, is OEM a company like Sapphire or it mean the original manufacturer(Nvidia)?

 

[-rascal-]

34 minutes ago, AlexanderGR said:

Can't find similar bios with 1GB. And not, they can't help at all.

This is gonna be a dump question but, is OEM a company like Sapphire or it mean the original manufacturer(Nvidia)?

 

 

OEM means these version(s) of GPUs are only available in pre-built systems.

Like DELL PCs, Acer computers that you from Wal-mart of Best Buy, Alienware ... etc.

They cannot be purchased as a stand-alone in-stores.

[AlexanderGR]

1 hour ago, -rascal- said:

 

OEM means these version(s) of GPUs are only available in pre-built systems.

Like DELL PCs, Acer computers that you from Wal-mart of Best Buy, Alienware ... etc.

They cannot be purchased as a stand-alone in-stores.

thanks...

No luck so far.

I'm gonna try now some 550ti that i found with same board id (but slightly different device id)

Edited September 7, 2018 by AlexanderGR
More info

[AlexanderGR]

Nothing works. I just sent an email to Asus as well because the bios version pointed me there but i don't think they will/can help me.

[-rascal-]

33 minutes ago, AlexanderGR said:

Nothing works. I just sent an email to Asus as well because the bios version pointed me there but i don't think they will/can help me.

 

Damn...this seems a bit more difficult that it usually is...

Usually, the GF- or GK- number is one the die, but for some reason, it is not there for yours.

 

I am still having no luck finding a PCB that has the same white silk-screen outline, and correct part locations.

I'll try check EKwb's PCB database, and see if they have anything (chance is slim since they usually make stuff for high-end cards, but worth a shot).

[AlexanderGR]

Okay, so, i contacted Asus too but help (surprised? not really)

What the f@#$ is wrong with this card? Do these company actually even try to help? I honestly don't think so because i'm fairly certain that they could easily at least tell me the actual card is just by reading the bios file. Don't tell me that they can't when they write their own bios for their cards. And if the card it's and OEM edition, doesn't that mean that Nvidia should be able to help me???

[Lyu]

Hi, thanks for starting the topic and researching the "kinda working BIOS"

I took it from there, and managed to identify the area where the memory size is defined.

Then I  crafted 1024 G version of it.

https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/204082/204082

 

Apparently, the only way to upload to techpowerup is via the GPU-Z.

However,  the rom I flashed to my bios chip is 254kb but the GPU-Z extracted only the 122 or something kb of it.

Here is the full flashable rom: in my drive

 

 

 

hope this helps you and other scammed people.

Cheers, Lyu

 

 

 

[marcoan]

Hello to everyone, i'm following this post with interest,

I purchased a ''gtx 960 4gb'' too, and i am looking for the real card to upload the bios. I use a CH341A  programmer removing aluminium cooler i found a GF116-110-A1-K1 chip and 1Gb VRam, it should be a gt 545 but no one of these card is on a GF106B Board - 14280000 as i found on original bios, i tried a lot of bios gf116 found on techpowerup.com but no one works. Maybe someone can help me.

 

When i bought this card i knew it was fake but i was curious of what was, real problem is that original-fake bios does the card unstable. 

[cromalhao]

On 10/1/2018 at 1:04 AM, Lyu said:

Hi, thanks for starting the topic and researching the "kinda working BIOS"

I took it from there, and managed to identify the area where the memory size is defined.

Then I  crafted 1024 G version of it.

https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/204082/204082

 

Apparently, the only way to upload to techpowerup is via the GPU-Z.

However,  the rom I flashed to my bios chip is 254kb but the GPU-Z extracted only the 122 or something kb of it.

Here is the full flashable rom: in my drive

 

 

 

hope this helps you and other scammed people.

Cheers, Lyu

 

 

 

Hey Lyu!!! You almost got it right!!!! you did the right changes but forgot to recalculate the 8 bit checksum and include it in the VBios.

I have the card that requires this bios and have made this change and now works!!!!!

I will contact other users about this finding!

Thank you for your work!

Best regards

FABIO MOD-lyu-working-fake960fgb.rom