CSM compatible NVidia graphics cards ?

NewToSSD

n00b
Joined
Mar 1, 2021
Messages
8
I am trying to plan an upgrade for my very very old motherboard.

I have read that the 500 chipset series and presumably the 600 chipset series Intel motherboards from Asus etc. will not allow CSM to be enabled if using the CPU's internal graphics processor.
So, I would have to have a discrete graphics card installed because all of my bootable hard drives are MBR-NTFS and all of my bootable USB drives are FAT32.
Can anyone tell me which of the current NVidia based graphics cards from Asus / Gigabyte are capable of booting and working in legacy BIOS (CSM mode) ?
Thanks for any guidance.
 
Um just change your drives to GPT? Am I missing something here?

Don't believe you'll have a problem with the GPU but this is 2021. UEFI is the way.
 
Pretty sure all the reference ones do, at least. My reference 3080ti boots into legacy mode just fine, and shows the legacy mode VGA BIOS screen on first boot.
 
Um just change your drives to GPT? Am I missing something here?

Don't believe you'll have a problem with the GPU but this is 2021. UEFI is the way.

I have 5 bootable hard drives. All are MBR - NTFS.
I also have numerous bootable USB flash drives. They are FAT32.
Converting the USB flash drives would be a major pain and I am not sure that many of the programs I have them setup for would even work.
I do intend to convert the 5 SSD drives to GPT, but I would need to be able to boot them into BIOS first to begin that process. I would need to start in BIOS. Run the utility. Shut down. Re-boot into UEFI. Confirm it is functioning. Shut down. Switch off the first drive. Swithc on the second drive. Reboot to BIOS on the second drive. Convert that one. Etc.

My current motherboard does not support UEFI. I would have to upgrade it to a Beta BIOS. I would not dare try this on a 9 year old motherboard.

So I need to be able to boot and run a new motherboard in CSM in order to be able to convert my 5 SSD's and in order to be able to still boot my USB's.

Pretty sure all the reference ones do, at least. My reference 3080ti boots into legacy mode just fine, and shows the legacy mode VGA BIOS screen on first boot.

Thank you. Not sure which ones are the "reference ones." Could you please specify?
 
Man unless you have the secret to eternal youth installed on those drives just boot off the install disk of your preferred OS and start fresh. Or toss a temp windows install on a spare potato and convert them there if you aren't comfortable with other operating systems. You're trying to build a rocketship to cross the street with.

We understand the new hotness won't boot CSM which was already a legacy band-aid introduced TWENTY YEARS AGO for devices that couldn't boot UEFI. It's about damn time it dies frankly. It's 2021. Move on.
 
I've not had any issues with my 30 series cards in old systems like x58. That being said I would definitely save up and upgrade the rest of your system since it is ancient and you won't get the full benefit from the graphics update.
 
Are you running Windows 10? If so there is a tool to convert MBR to GPT in the OS... MBR2GPT. Have to boot into Safe Mode command prompt to run
Thank you. I know of this utility, but I will need a graphics card that can boot with my legacy drives (MBR+NTFS) in CSM mode before I can set about to update all of them with the utility.

Man unless you have the secret to eternal youth installed on those drives just boot off the install disk of your preferred OS and start fresh. Or toss a temp windows install on a spare potato and convert them there if you aren't comfortable with other operating systems. You're trying to build a rocketship to cross the street with.

My drives are brand new SSD's running Windows 10 64 bit Pro. But they are setup for MBR+NTFS because my current motherboard cannot boot from UEFI. I cannot reinstall all of the programs and data of 5 bootable drives. It would take a long time and risk too much. I just need to know which graphics card is legacy bootable so that I can get going with my old drives and and then use the utility to convert them to GPT.

I've not had any issues with my 30 series cards in old systems like x58. That being said I would definitely save up and upgrade the rest of your system since it is ancient and you won't get the full benefit from the graphics update.
I intend to update my motherboard, cpu, ram, and graphics card, but as I mentioned above, I need a graphics card that is legacy bootable. Thank you for telling me that your 30 series card can legacy boot. Would you please tell me exactly which brand and model of 30 series card you have? Thanks.
 
I have 5 bootable hard drives. All are MBR - NTFS.
I also have numerous bootable USB flash drives. They are FAT32.
Converting the USB flash drives would be a major pain and I am not sure that many of the programs I have them setup for would even work.
I do intend to convert the 5 SSD drives to GPT, but I would need to be able to boot them into BIOS first to begin that process. I would need to start in BIOS. Run the utility. Shut down. Re-boot into UEFI. Confirm it is functioning. Shut down. Switch off the first drive. Swithc on the second drive. Reboot to BIOS on the second drive. Convert that one. Etc.

My current motherboard does not support UEFI. I would have to upgrade it to a Beta BIOS. I would not dare try this on a 9 year old motherboard.

So I need to be able to boot and run a new motherboard in CSM in order to be able to convert my 5 SSD's and in order to be able to still boot my USB's.



Thank you. Not sure which ones are the "reference ones." Could you please specify?
I would not be scared to update to a beta bios. Maybe if it were hot off the shelf but if it's years old imo it's not really "beta" anymore. Also I'm not talking out of my butt I've done it tons of times when repairing boards.

Edit: Also can confirm 30 series boots fine on MBR. I still have a 5+ year old W7 install that I use and have no problems. EVGA 3080.
 
I have an Intel DP67BG MB w/i7-2600 CPU (it has MBR and BIOS is in Legacy Mode) that I'll use to quickly test GPUs before using in permanent rigs. Had Win7 but recently upgraded to Win10 and I just tested an EVGA 3060ti FTW3 on it before I moved that card to my kids PC.
 
Last edited:
I have an Intel DP67BG MB w/i7-2600 CPU (it has MBR and BIOS is in Legacy Mode) that I'll use to quickly test GPUs before using in permanent rigs. Had Win7 but recently upgraded to Win10 and I just tested an EVGA 3060ti FTW3 on it before I moved that card to my kids PC.

D-EJ915

I've not had any issues with my 30 series cards in old systems like x58.

Furious_Styles

Also can confirm 30 series boots fine on MBR. I still have a 5+ year old W7 install that I use and have no problems. EVGA 3080.

Thank you. This helps. The 3060's and 3080's are pretty expensive graphics cards now. I wish I had the discretionary income to get one that pricey. But at least I now know that there are some 30xx series cards that will legacy boot. Appreciate the info.
 
We understand the new hotness won't boot CSM which was already a legacy band-aid introduced TWENTY YEARS AGO for devices that couldn't boot UEFI. It's about damn time it dies frankly. It's 2021. Move on.
The earliest EFI I remember seeing was in 2006 and earliest UEFI was circa 2009 or so, at least on x86 Apple and PC systems, respectively, so more like 12-15 years ago.
However, I do agree - definitely time to move on!
 
Back
Top