Hello guys, I successfully moded my bios thanks to Revlaay's automated tool, and my computer(ZOTAC EN1070) works well with 9400f cpu and GTX1070 (MXM3.0B version) together. The only problem is that the vbios I'm using for 1070 is a MSI official version which enable only 1 (out of 2 in total) DP output port works, and also some important information about the graphic card, such as chip temperature, can't be correctly shown in tools like HWinfo. The reason I use MSI version vBios for my original ZOTAC graphic card is the original vBios will lead to Nvidia driver failure together with 9400f CPU, while it works with no problems when I use 7700t. I was trying to figure out the reason of this situation but seems like it can't be solved on software level because I checked the Device ID and INF file in Nvidia drivers, which match well with each other, no matter what CPU is being used.

In summary, my situation can be list like this:
7700t + zotac vBios = works well
9400f + zotac vBios = Can be powered on, but Nvidia driver stop working(Error Code 43) as soon as entering the windows system
9400f + MSI vBios = works well
The mother board BIOS I'm using comes out from Revlaay's MOD tool

I firstly think the MOD tool integrated PCI fixing step (enable Coffee Lake CPU to work on a 100/200 series motherboard, many thanks to Mov AX) has some problems lead to the driver failure, but since the MSI vBios works well, I arbitrarily guess that ZOTAC original vBios has some restrictions or errors lead to the graphic card not able to work with Coffee Lake CPU (or the moded motherboard SKU Z370). So I hope someone can help me to figureout if the Zotac vBios can be fixed through HEX editing or the problem was caused by any other problems, Thank you!

Both the original and MSI vbios are affixed in the appendix, please check them out if necessary.

@kenarp - MSI has UEFI Version 30003 and Zotac has 30004, not sure if this matters, but I noticed this. Also, MSI Has InfoRom present and Zotac doesn't, and also no IFR/IFR Subsystem on the Zotac either. MSI has EFI Rom, and the Zotac does not.


Neither are updated to latest GOP version, this may help with both, but certainly might with the Zotac. With no EFI Rom, you'll need to boot using Zotac on legacy/CSM not UEFI/Secure boot mode

Thank you for reminding me these differences. I noticed the difference in GOP part and updated the Zotac vBios through the GOP update tool then burned the moded vBios back with a programmer. But still, the Nvidia driver doesn't work when 9400f being used. Sorry, I don't really know the function of EFI ROM( I thought it's identical to GOP), do you think the lack of EFI ROM is a potential reason of driver failure? The most thing I want to figure out is which part in the Zotac vBios doesn't fit Coffee Lake CPU while it works well with Kaby Lake ones. I have no idea about some items you mentioned above, like Info rom, IFR subsystem and EFI rom, I'll appreciate if you can explain a little bit more on them, and how they can possibly influence the Nvidia driver. Thank you!

@kenarp I probably described some of that wrong/backwards, vBIOS is not my thing I think the MSI has legacy vBIOS image and the Zotac doesn't, that was main thing I see there.
@lordkag @Sylar76 maybe @hellm and some others I can't think of right now can help with this if they have time, I think you need legacy image added to Zotac (or from 9400f boot EIF/UEFI/Secure boot only), maybe some other things need changed too as I mentioned this is not my thing

I too updated the GOP as a test, and it all still looked the same, the other stuff I pointed out, all still same, no IFR filesystem, no InfoRom

I'll give it a try as soon as possible. Stay tuned.

I appreciate your help so far. I'll keep reporting my problems and new findings back as long as I get anything new.

Thanks, I'll be ready to do any kind of works related to vBios and Bios since I have stocked several more flash chips, programmer, soic socket and solder iron, basically all the items will be potentially needed.

@kenarp - get SOIC8 test clip, then you wont need to desolder/solder anything

Thanks @Sylar76 !! Do you think maybe it's due to legacy rom missing, or whatever the IFR Filesystem etc stuff that's missing?

@kenarp

Try this please.

@Lost_N_BIOS

There are slight differences between MSI and Zotac (like PCI Subsystem ID for example) via hex editing.

Now the Zotac rom should match nvidia info required.

Thanks so much for your help on this for kanarp, and the info on this @Sylar76 - Was I correct in that the MSI has legacy image and the Zotac one does not, or both only EFI/GOP?

Yes.

Did you, or is it possible, to copy/put a legacy image into the Zotac too, and is/was that also possibly part of the issues.
Thanks again for the help, I don't edit vBIOS often, need to always try and learn more about this so I can hopefully help with vBIOS one day like I know regular BIOS now.

Hi Sylar76, thank you for responding so quickly. I burned the moded vbios in but unfortunately, Nvidia driver still doesn't work with 9400f. I went for 7700t then and it worked well as always. Please let me know if any other kind of feedbacks would be helpful /useful to you.

I think there is a lack of compatibility between Zotac PCI subsystem IDs and 9400f. I haven't any other solutions yet.

Yes, I do have a test clip but the issue is that I have to spend considerable time on making sure the clip has successfully connected to the chip. I'm actually thinking if there are more test on vBios to run, I'll solder a sop8 test socket on the board to substitute the solder fixed flash chip.