dv6000 gpu upgrade challenge

[rookieme]

Happy new year.
New year, new challenge.
The goal is to upgrade my dv6000 motherboard [with gpu failing] from 8400m to 8600m GS and from 128MB to 512MB vram.
There where motherboards of dv9000 with 8600 & 512MB but for dv6000 the limit was 8400 & 256MB.
So I have replaced at the DV6000 m/b the chip with G86-771-A2 and removed 4 vrams and placed 8 of them from a old DV9000 m/b.
Next step is to fix the RAM configuration straps and the PCI device straps.
As you can see the two schematics are identical although they have different part numbers.
I copied the configuration from the dv9000 m/b and fixed the resistors like that.
Currently I have 2 issues.

Main is that it cannot detect hdds [also at bios menu], non from sata connector, non from hdd caddy. It is able to boot from dvd at the same time so something blocks it from working.
I booted at parted magic and was able to see the gpu configuration was recognized as 8600m GS but only 256MB.
So I guess system is not happy yet with the gpu and that's why won't see any hdd.
Bios programing also tested with no luck.
any guess will be helpful

[Dan81]

Re: dv6000 gpu upgrade challenge

Maybe take a look at the VBIOS integrated into the main system BIOS? IIRC both 6000 and 9000 are Phoenix based so I'd guess it's just a matter of replacing the BIOS ROM inside the main system BIOS file with one made for 8600M GS 512MB. Saying this because it might be possible the BIOS is hardcoded for only 256MB max with the original vBIOS ROM?

[rookieme]

Re: dv6000 gpu upgrade challenge

they also both share the very same bios rom, I just flipped the bios chip from the 9000 to dv6000 but nothing changed
This covers the vbios check you mention?

[Dan81]

Re: dv6000 gpu upgrade challenge

Not quite. I meant the ROM file present in the main BIOS file - as in opening the DV6000 BIOS inside Phoenix BIOS Editor. You should see it there.

Here's a guide on what I am talking about:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/thre...d-work.729560/

Basically the option ROM is integrated into the main BIOS ROM file. What you would want to check and test is replacing the video option ROM for 8600M GS 256MB, using PBE, with a 512MB 8600M GS HP OEM'd BIOS (IIRC the dv9790ea might have a 512MB vBIOS) and see if it boots.

[rookieme]

Re: dv6000 gpu upgrade challenge

that looks promising
as I'm not familiar with it, can I use the rom from mxm acer card found here: https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/...ize=512&since=

?

[Dan81]

Re: dv6000 gpu upgrade challenge

Could be worth a try, but I doubt it as the BIOS will likely reject any other type of ROM that isn't HP branded, more specifically the VID and PID of the card.

But as I said first, it may be worth a try.

[rookieme]

Re: dv6000 gpu upgrade challenge

just found the boardview so I upload if anybody ever needs it
it'a a pain in the ass to find a random resistor with the onboard print