Multiple Variants of RTX 2060/2070 SUPER GPUs Spotted: Flashing to 2070/2080 Possible?

Source: TechPowerUp Multiple Variants of RTX 2060/2070 SUPER GPUs Spotted: Flashing to 2070/2080 Possible?

Is there a full RTX 2070 or RTX 2080 hidden within your SUPER?

TechPowerUp has noticed something about SUPER versions of RTX 2060 and RTX 2070 cards while working on the next version of their GPU-Z tool: multiple device IDs in the driver. RTX 2060 SUPER cards can be 1F06, 1F42, or 1F47, while RTX 2070 SUPER are 1E84, 1EC2, or 1EC7.

Multiple Variants of RTX 2060/2070 SUPER GPUs Spotted: Flashing to 2070/2080 Possible? - Graphics Cards 2

In reference to their list TechPowerUp offers this explanation:

“While the first SUPER entry in each group has a device ID matching the NVIDIA Founders Edition, provided to us by NVIDIA for our reviews, there are two more entries for each SKU. If you take a close look at the device IDs, you’ll realize that each one just differs by a value of 40 Hex from the another models (that’s what the red arrows indicate). Why would NVIDIA create those SKUs, based on existing models? It seems that in order to protect existing inventory in warehouses of their board partners, NVIDIA has created a method to turn existing RTX 2070 non-Super cards into RTX 2060 Super; and RTX 2080 non-Super to RTX 2070 Super, respectively. This also explains why there’s two new IDs for each card: both non-A and -A GPUs can be converted.”

So can RTX 2060 or 2070 SUPER owners flash their cards up to the original RTX 2070/2080? Not necessarily, as TPU also notes “the method employed could be a bit more sophisticated than simply changing the video-BIOS and slapping on a new sticker”. This could be done via addition/removal of a resistor, or a proprietary method:

“We’re not sure exactly how the board modification is performed, whether solder rework and BIOS flash are done at the AIC factories, or whether NVIDIA does it in-house to protect their methods.”

Check out TechPowerUp’s full article on this for more information and some of the possible motives behind this (think supply chain and existing RTX 2070 and 2080 inventory), as well as speculation about how NVIDIA might be offsetting some of the lost revenue – if indeed these more expensive cards are being modified and sold as lower-cost SUPER versions.

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About The Author

Sebastian Peak

Editor-in-Chief at PC Perspective. Writer of computer stuff, vintage PC nerd, and full-time dad. Still in search of the perfect smartphone. In his nonexistent spare time Sebastian's hobbies include hi-fi audio, guitars, and road bikes. Currently investigating time travel.

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