Re: Is it possible to mod a Geforce GTX 560 graphics card into a Quadro?

["Singapore Citizen Mr. Teo En Ming (Zhang Enming)" <singapore.mr.teo.en.ming@gmail.com>]

On 01/08/2013 03:20, Gordan Bobic wrote:
> On 07/31/2013 06:56 PM, Singapore Citizen Mr. Teo En Ming (Zhang 
> Enming) wrote:
>> Dear Gordan,
>>
>> I have a Gigabyte Geforce GTX 560. Is it possible to mod it into a 
>> Quadro?
>
> It isn't. There is no equivalent Quadro model to modify it into.
>
>> If it is possible, please give me the link with the list of steps to mod
>> it into a Quadro. Is it a simple process?
>
> Cards that can be modified using a BIOS modification only:
>
> 1)    From:    GTS450 (only 192-shader 1GB GDDR5 model!)
>     To:    Quadro 2000
>
> 2)    From:    GTX470 (448 shaders, 1.25GB)
>     To:    Quadro 5000
>
> 3)    From:    GTX480 (480 shaders, 1.5GB)
>     To:    Quadro 6000
>
> 4)    From:    GTX580 (512 shaders, 1.5GB, 3GB)
>     To:    Quadro 7000
>     Note:    Quadro 7000 isn't supported for "MultiOS" and VGA
>         passthrough will not work with it (tested, Quadro
>         [256]000 work fine, but a GTX580 modified to Quadro
>         7000 does not work with Xen VGA passthrough. So don't
>         get this one.
>
> The 6xx series requires hardware modification (soldering 0402 type 
> surface mount resistors - not for the faint of heart, but doable, I 
> have successfully modified a GTX680 last weekend)
>
> 5)    From:    GTX680, GTX690, also reported to work with GTX670
>     To:    Grid K2
>
> Untested, but should work similarly to the other 6xx series mods with 
> resistors:
>
> 6)    From:    GTX650Ti/GTX650Ti Boost
>     To:    Grid K1
>
> If you only want a low end card for virtualization testing, the price 
> gap between a real Quadro 2000 on eBay and a GTS450 has shrunk to the 
> point where it's probably not worth the hassle modifying the BIOS 
> unless your time really is worthless, so my advice would be to just 
> get a Quadro 2000.
>
> If you are interested in higher performance (e.g. for gaming), GTX480 
> to Quadro 6000 mod works very well (~$120 on eBay for a GTX480 vs. 
> ~$900 for a real Quadro 6000, spending an hour doctoring the BIOS is 
> certainly worth the difference).
>
> It depends on how much effort you want to put in, and what you plan to 
> do with the card (a real Quadro has some extra uncrippled GL 
> functionality in the silicon which makes it faster than a modified 
> GeForce in some CAD apps, but it makes no difference in gaming and 
> general purpose number crunching). See here for some benchmarks 
> between GTS450 and a Quadro 2000:
>
> http://www.altechnative.net/2013/06/23/nvidia-cards-geforce-quadro-and-geforce-modified-into-a-quadro-for-virtualized-gaming/ 
>
>
> If you want something cheap enough that requires no extra effort, a 
> real Quadro 2000 is probably your best option.
>
> Gordan
>

Dear Gordan,

I am disappointed that I cannot modify my Gigabyte Geforce GTX 560 into 
a Quadro.

I have checked the prices of Quadro 2000. It costs at least US$385 on 
Amazon.com and US$570 on cnet.com.

It looks like I may go the ATI way.

-- 
Yours sincerely,

Singapore Citizen Mr. Teo En Ming (Zhang Enming)