AaronD

It finally works! Thank you! I still have the USB installer for the Ubuntu Studio 24.04 system that I'm currently running, and I found the exact version of Mint that you used (18.3 Cinnamon) and put that installer on a different USB. Took a while to find it, as it's not on the front page anymore, but it can still be had if you look a little more. Then I saved all the relevant info including the page that you linked here, to a third USB drive ("Netac" below) so I could do everything offline, and swapped hardware one more time. The fully modern installer didn't like the original vBIOS any better than the already installed version - it also got stuck as soon as it got control, and was still stuck after letting it sit for far longer than it needed when I first installed from it - but the old Mint did work. The update went flawlessly, and then the modern installer ran too, as does the already installed version. Then install the latest driver (580), reboot, see that my display management scripts need different ID's and fix that... Anyway, here's a terminal dump, composited across the two systems, in case anyone's interested: mint@mint ~ $ cd /media/mint/Netac/GPU-Upgrade/vBIOS_Upgrade mint@mint /media/mint/Netac/GPU-Upgrade/vBIOS_Upgrade $ nvflash_5.867_linux/x64/nvflash NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.867.0) Copyright (C) 1993-2024, NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. -- Primary Commands -- Update VBIOS firmware: nvflash [options] <filename> Save VBIOS firmware to file: nvflash [options] --save <filename> Display firmware bytes: nvflash [options] --display [bytes] Change the start address: nvflash [options] --offset [start] Display firmware bytes in ASCII: nvflash [options] --string Check for supported EEPROM: nvflash [options] --check Display VBIOS version: nvflash [options] --version [<filename>] List adapters: nvflash [options] --list Compare adapter firmware: nvflash [options] --compare <filename> Verify adapter firmware: nvflash [options] --verify <filename> Verify adapter IFR firmware: nvflash [options] --verify --ifronly <filename> Display GPU ECID/PDI: nvflash [options] --ecid Display License information: nvflash [options] --licinfo <filename> Generate a License Request File: nvflash [options] --licreq <filename>,<reqType> Provide a HULK license file: nvflash [options] --license <filename> List out all the PCI devices: nvflash [options] --lspci Access PCI Configure register: nvflash [options] --setpci Display tool building information:nvflash [options] --buildinfo Display GMAC MCU version: nvflash [options] --querygmac Update GMAC MCU firmware: nvflash [options] --proggmac <filename>.rom Save GMAC MCU firmware to file: nvflash [options] --savegmac <filename>.rom List GMAC MCUs: nvflash [options] --listgmac Write protect EEPROM: nvflash [options] --protecton Remove write protect: nvflash [options] --protectoff Press 'Enter' to continue, or 'Q' to quit. mint@mint /media/mint/Netac/GPU-Upgrade/vBIOS_Upgrade $ nvflash_5.867_linux/x64/nvflash --list NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.867.0) Copyright (C) 1993-2024, NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. NVIDIA display adapters present in system: ERROR: You need to be a superuser to run this program mint@mint /media/mint/Netac/GPU-Upgrade/vBIOS_Upgrade $ sudo nvflash_5.867_linux/x64/nvflash --list NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.867.0) Copyright (C) 1993-2024, NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. NVIDIA display adapters present in system: <0> Quadro P5000 (10DE,1BB6,1028,15CD) S:00,B:01,D:00,F:00 mint@mint /media/mint/Netac/GPU-Upgrade/vBIOS_Upgrade $ sudo nvflash_5.867_linux/x64/nvflash --save P5000old.rom NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.867.0) Copyright (C) 1993-2024, NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. Reading EEPROM (this operation may take up to 30 seconds) Build GUID : 00000000000000000000000000000000 Build Number : 21053405 IFR Subsystem ID : Blank Subsystem Vendor ID : 0x1028 Subsystem ID : 0x07B1 Version : 86.04.3A.00.25 Image Hash : DB6566F7D5A86FCE3CCB2D24F254DA83 Hierarchy ID : Normal Board Build Date : 08/16/16 Modification Date : 10/13/16 UEFI Version : 0x30004 ( x64 ) UEFI Variant ID : 0x0000000000000007 ( GP1xx ) UEFI Signer(s) : Microsoft Corporation UEFI CA 2011 XUSB-FW Version ID : N/A XUSB-FW Build Time : N/A InfoROM Version : No Version Found InfoROM Backup : Not Present License Placeholder : Not Present GPU Mode : N/A CEC OTA-signed Blob : Not Present mint@mint /media/mint/Netac/GPU-Upgrade/vBIOS_Upgrade $ sudo nvflash_5.867_linux/x64/nvflash --protectoff NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.867.0) Copyright (C) 1993-2024, NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. Setting EEPROM protection complete. mint@mint /media/mint/Netac/GPU-Upgrade/vBIOS_Upgrade $ sudo nvflash_5.867_linux/x64/nvflash --overridesub P5000v3.rom NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.867.0) Copyright (C) 1993-2024, NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. Checking for matches between display adapter(s) and image(s)... Reading EEPROM (this operation may take up to 30 seconds) WARNING: Firmware image PCI Subsystem ID (1028.07B1) does not match adapter PCI Subsystem ID (1028.15CD). You are intending to override PCI Subsystem ID. Are you sure you want to continue? Press 'y' to confirm (any other key to abort): y Overriding the PCI Subsystem ID mismatch. Current - Version:86.04.3A.00.25 ID:10DE:1BB6:1028:07B1 GP104 Board (Normal Board) Replace with - Version:86.04.2E.00.0D ID:10DE:1BB6:1028:07B1 GP104 Board (Normal Board) Update display adapter firmware? Press 'y' to confirm (any other key to abort): y Reading EEPROM (this operation may take up to 30 seconds) [==================================================] 100 % Reading EEPROM (this operation may take up to 30 seconds) A reboot is required for the update to take effect. Reading EEPROM (this operation may take up to 30 seconds) mint@mint /media/mint/Netac/GPU-Upgrade/vBIOS_Upgrade $ sudo nvflash_5.867_linux/x64/nvflash --protecton NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.867.0) Copyright (C) 1993-2024, NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. Setting EEPROM protection complete. mint@mint /media/mint/Netac/GPU-Upgrade/vBIOS_Upgrade $ <reboot to other OS> aaron@aaron-M6800:~$ sudo apt install nvidia-driver-580 <output not captured> aaron@aaron-M6800:~$ reboot aaron@aaron-M6800:~$ nvidia-smi Mon Sep 8 15:49:58 2025 +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | NVIDIA-SMI 580.82.07 Driver Version: 580.82.07 CUDA Version: 13.0 | +-----------------------------------------+------------------------+----------------------+ | GPU Name Persistence-M | Bus-Id Disp.A | Volatile Uncorr. ECC | | Fan Temp Perf Pwr:Usage/Cap | Memory-Usage | GPU-Util Compute M. | | | | MIG M. | |=========================================+========================+======================| | 0 Quadro P5000 Off | 00000000:01:00.0 On | N/A | | N/A 57C P8 6W / 100W | 80MiB / 16384MiB | 0% Default | | | | N/A | +-----------------------------------------+------------------------+----------------------+ +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Processes: | | GPU GI CI PID Type Process name GPU Memory | | ID ID Usage | |=========================================================================================| | 0 N/A N/A 2576 G /usr/lib/xorg/Xorg 69MiB | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ aaron@aaron-M6800:~$

If it's not too much trouble. Thanks! Just want to see if a known working configuration reports itself the same as mine. I'll have to wait until after the weekend to do that, but it does sound promising... I also found an A26 version of the BIOS on Dell's website, compared to my A23, and downloaded it. Haven't installed yet. Any risk to that? Or possible benefit? https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=nr58c

BIOS Version A23: I also have a Firmware Updater app that came with this flavor of Ubuntu, that seems to say that there isn't an automatic one available: And of course, there's still the BIOS's own update utility that I would guess requires a USB flash drive with a file on it.

I tried another P5000, Version 86.04.3A.00.25: With Switchable Graphics turned off, this one appears as "Unknown video card", whereas the previous attempt didn't even get that far: Regardless of the Switchable Graphics setting, Ubuntu stalls as soon as it gets control: The first try had a black screen with no drive activity and no response from anything, so I pushed the power button. Still nothing, so I held it until it powered off. All subsequent tries had a GRUB menu, I guess because it didn't have a clean shutdown and so the other menu entries might be useful, like memory checks and so on, or even a different OS if it were configured for one, which this one is not. GRUB works normally, but Ubuntu still stalls with the same behavior, except it has the partially dismantled remains of the GRUB menu instead of all black. Never got an Ubuntu splash screen, until I swapped back to the old K5100M. Then everything works as it did. I only got one system log from all that, which I've also attached here as debug.log. (normally, there's one for each boot) Not entirely sure what I'm looking for in there, or if it says anything useful anyway. Is there something I'm still missing? Not asking @DynamiteZerg to take a working machine apart to get *that* picture, but could you possibly post a BIOS shot of how a working one appears there? debug.log

I ended up sending the P5000 back for a refund. (scroll up for details) The original listing said something about a 15% restocking fee, but I said it was defective and didn't even try to work, and it appears that I got a *full* refund instead. Nice! Except for the hassle of course. I still want something that works for as much of the future as possible, but I'm a little bit disillusioned now, because of that experience. Is this something to be expected? Or was it really just a dud card and the next one probably *will* work?

Finally got back to this again. I had some things I needed it to work for, so I wasn't going to risk breaking it by taking it apart and missing something right in front of an important job. Anyway: With the original K5100 in there, and switchable graphics disabled, the BIOS can see it just fine. With the P5000, it power cycles a few times with a black screen, and by the time it shows a logo and allows the menu entry, it has automatically re-enabled switchable graphics and can't see it.

Good thing the thermal grease cleans off easy...and I'm getting good enough at taking it apart that I can *almost* do it without the manual now. But I also have a new touchpad cable and keyboard cable in the mail, in addition to more grease... Good to know. If I end up sending the Pascal one back, I might try a Maxwell then. Don't try to stretch the support quite as far.

And since it's out now, here's my own picture of the P5000: So the seller did send me what the listing was for. Anything else to try before I accuse him of selling me a dud card? (I checked the white spot on the edge connector after I took the picture. It's not there now, so it's probably a reflection.)

I swapped back, with pictures of that BIOS page both ways. Neither card appears there: P5000: K5100: But the DVI outputs are back, with the original K5100, and nvflash sees it: aaron@aaron-M6800:~$ sudo ~/Downloads/0_Keep/NVFlash/nvflash_5.867_linux/x64/nvflash --list [sudo] password for aaron: NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.867.0) Copyright (C) 1993-2024, NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. NVIDIA display adapters present in system: <0> Quadro K5100M (10DE,11B8,1028,15CD) S:00,B:01,D:00,F:00 aaron@aaron-M6800:~$ I'm not sure how it could not be inserted properly, with the slots and tabs around the connector itself and the screw holes both requiring it to be in the exact spot that works. So I'm a little curious about the K5100 not appearing in the BIOS either, but still (kinda) showing up in the OS proper. The OS doesn't want to *use* the K5100, but it does at least appear in nvflash above and in lspci, where the P5000 didn't at all. aaron@aaron-M6800:~$ lspci 00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor DRAM Controller (rev 06) 00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor PCI Express x16 Controller (rev 06) 00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 06) 00:03.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor HD Audio Controller (rev 06) 00:14.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family USB xHCI (rev 04) 00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family MEI Controller #1 (rev 04) 00:19.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation Ethernet Connection I217-LM (rev 04) 00:1a.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family USB EHCI #2 (rev 04) 00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset High Definition Audio Controller (rev 04) 00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #1 (rev d4) 00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #3 (rev d4) 00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #4 (rev d4) 00:1c.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #5 (rev d4) 00:1c.6 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #7 (rev d4) 00:1c.7 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #8 (rev d4) 00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family USB EHCI #1 (rev 04) 00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation QM87 Express LPC Controller (rev 04) 00:1f.2 RAID bus controller: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile SATA Controller [RAID mode] (rev 04) 00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family SMBus Controller (rev 04) 01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation GK104GLM [Quadro K5100M] (rev a1) 01:00.1 Audio device: NVIDIA Corporation GK104 HDMI Audio Controller (rev a1) 03:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation Wireless 7260 (rev bb) 11:00.0 SD Host controller: O2 Micro, Inc. SD/MMC Card Reader Controller (rev 01) aaron@aaron-M6800:~$

Looks like no, it can't see it. I got the Linux version from https://www.techpowerup.com/download/nvidia-nvflash/ , and then: aaron@aaron-M6800:~$ sudo ~/Downloads/0_Keep/NVFlash/nvflash_5.867_linux/x64/nvflash --list [sudo] password for aaron: NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.867.0) Copyright (C) 1993-2024, NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. NVIDIA display adapters present in system: No NVIDIA display adapters found. aaron@aaron-M6800:~$ I'm not too eager to get it back out again if I don't have to, but here's some pictures from the seller's listing: If I'm reading the right thing, it's BIOS Ver:86.04.3A.00.15

I ended up getting a Quadro P5000. The hardware swap went well enough...though I do recommend a dremel over a scroll saw. I thought the saw would make bigger chips that are easier to clean up, but it didn't, and it insisted on clapping against the table, so I finished with the dremel. Anyway, I don't see the new card at all, and the DVI outputs on the dock are dead. The VGA output on the dock still works, as do the built-in screen and USB adapter. Any ideas? $ lspci 00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor DRAM Controller (rev 06) 00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor PCI Express x16 Controller (rev 06) 00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 06) 00:03.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor HD Audio Controller (rev 06) 00:14.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family USB xHCI (rev 04) 00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family MEI Controller #1 (rev 04) 00:19.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation Ethernet Connection I217-LM (rev 04) 00:1a.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family USB EHCI #2 (rev 04) 00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset High Definition Audio Controller (rev 04) 00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #1 (rev d4) 00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #3 (rev d4) 00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #4 (rev d4) 00:1c.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #5 (rev d4) 00:1c.6 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #7 (rev d4) 00:1c.7 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #8 (rev d4) 00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family USB EHCI #1 (rev 04) 00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation QM87 Express LPC Controller (rev 04) 00:1f.2 RAID bus controller: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile SATA Controller [RAID mode] (rev 04) 00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family SMBus Controller (rev 04) 03:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation Wireless 7260 (rev bb) 11:00.0 SD Host controller: O2 Micro, Inc. SD/MMC Card Reader Controller (rev 01) $ Operating System: Ubuntu Studio 24.04 KDE Plasma Version: 5.27.12 KDE Frameworks Version: 5.115.0 Qt Version: 5.15.13 Kernel Version: 6.8.0-62-lowlatency (64-bit) Graphics Platform: X11 Processors: 8 × Intel® Core™ i7-4940MX CPU @ 3.10GHz Memory: 31.3 GiB of RAM Graphics Processor: Mesa Intel® HD Graphics 4600 Manufacturer: Dell Inc. Product Name: Precision M6800 System Version: 00

Huh. That looks a lot easier than changing hardware! I wonder how long *that* support is going to last? Excellent summary too. Thank you!

Hi guys! This thread has gotten pretty long and I'm not looking forward to reading all of it. Is there a TL;DR for what to upgrade the GPU in my M6800 to in 2025? Ubuntu Studio 24.04 (the latest LTS) seems to have completely dropped my Quadro K5100M (it needs something newer than NVIDIA's 470 driver, which is the latest that still supports that card), so I'm looking for something with long-projected support, and hardware video encoding. Single boot, no Windows. If it makes a difference, the screen appears in the display manager as "eDP-1", and includes a touchscreen that appears as "Wacom ISDv4 4001 Finger touch". In addition to the built-in screen, I regularly use both of the DVI outputs and the VGA output on the dock, and the HDMI output on the notebook itself. Thanks!