[Guide] - M15x with AMD 7970m

[Genetics]

Hiya eastbayrae,

That would be off-topic here but i guess the moderator will understand about it. Yes i ditch the optical for one more HDD. I just bought external CD/DVD-RW for it via usb. Photos below is the work done to replace the optical for secondary hdd.

[Genetics]

Thanks for replying. But from what I have read, you're using a cooper shim. I would rather not use a cooper shim to have the lowest temperatures. So it means grinding down?

1. I used copper-shim before because i stuck with overheating issue before, so i tried with it.

2. Right now i am not using it, just plug & play the default bracket from 7970M , no grinding down too.

3. My fault before is, the thermal pad (Previously i bought 1.5mm). I'm using 0.5mm thermal pad for now and it is great!

4. Me as the newbies, only 1 thing you need to concern about the X bracket and screws. Make sure the copper and gpu die contact properly with no gap at all. Using good thermal paste will help you (I am using Artic Silver 5).

5. You also can use HWiNFO64 to control the fans

Thanks bro.

[Dakeryas]

1.

3. My fault before is, the thermal pad (Previously i bought 1.5mm). I'm using 0.5mm thermal pad for now and it is great!

Ok thanks, that should be the key then! Just to know, is it this kit you bought HD7970M Alienware M17x M18x VGA Upgrade Kit Dell HD7970M 2GB DDR5 CF Ready | eBay and you got 1.5mm thermal pads with it instead of 0.5mm?

I have been using the Arctic Cooling MX4 thermal paste on a few laptops with great results, including repasting my 5850M!

Thanks again for your help!

[Genetics]

I don't bought it from ebay, i just got it from Dell. I tried with 1.5mm and it's really bad idea. Because of the 1.55mm thermal pads, the gpu die don't properly contact with the heatsink. So i tried with 0.55mm its all good.

P/S : You also can use 5850M thermal pad (If it's default stock by DELL), but the layout of the thermal is different, beware about it. Direct metal to your card can *KABOOMMM* your card!

Maybe @svl7 or anyone experts here can verify Index of /support/drivers/zip/Alienware (for the drivers) is good or not.

Cheers

[eastbayrae]

I got the card installed yesterday. The 3dVantage is pretty low 10k ish. Should it be that low with the 720QM?

[svl7]

Just use the latest drivers instead of some eurocom stuff, you might need to mod the .inf but that's it.

And regarding vantage... 10k, is that your overall or GPU score? Do you have some more details?

[eastbayrae]

This is a link to the results:

AMD Radeon HD 7970M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-740QM Processor,Alienware score: X4498 3DMarks

AMD Radeon HD 7970M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-740QM Processor,Alienware score: X1129 3DMarks

[svl7]

Do you have some P scores?

[eastbayrae]

AMD Radeon HD 7970M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-740QM Processor,Alienware score: P10665 3DMarks

[Genetics]

Do you have some P scores?

@svl7 Mine here --> AMD Radeon HD 7970M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-720QM Processor ,Alienware score: P15200 3DMarks

Taken when i was on Windows 7 , do you thing its good for 720QM the score like this?

Thank you for your opinion

[svl7]

AMD Radeon HD 7970M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-740QM Processor,Alienware score: P10665 3DMarks

Your GPU score is way too low. Check Genetics score, that's about what it should be. Make sure you're on a recent driver.

@svl7 Mine here --> AMD Radeon HD 7970M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-720QM Processor ,Alienware score: P15200 3DMarks

Taken when i was on Windows 7 , do you thing its good for 720QM the score like this?

Thank you for your opinion

That looks all fine for your CPU/GPU combo.

[eastbayrae]

I am using the 12.11 beta 11 drivers.

[Genetics]

Clean install bro?

[eastbayrae]

No. I did an upgrade from Win 7 to Win 8 Pro.

[eastbayrae]

@svl7 Do you think this is an driver issue? It runs rather cool, I'm not complaining: idle 40C and after running 3DMark 57C. Also I appreciate the help and this guide.

Anyone that buys the Eurocom card should note that the shoulder type screws that area holding the OEM backing plate down will not work with the X bracket that comes with the Eurocom card. The posts have a smaller thread, looks to be a #2-56 vs #4. I took the C clips off the screws and used the screws that came with the Eurocom kit.

[svl7]

I'm not sure... check stealth mode, also make sure power play is active, and your power plan is something which allows high performance. And of course, you need to be on AC.

[eastbayrae]

I will check when I get home later.

[eastbayrae]

No joy on any of that. It's set to hi-pro and Power Play is on. Where is the stealth mode? Would the power brick be causing this?

[eastbayrae]

I tried 3 different drivers and the score won't go above 11.5k.

[svl7]

Create a GPU-Z and Throttlestop log of a benchmark and attach it to a post here.

[eastbayrae]

Okay here are the two log files.

GPU-Z Sensor Log.txt

2013-01-15.txt

[svl7]

Stealth mode is the little speedometer button in the touch panel. If it's turned on it's a little bit brighter than when turned off, touch it a couple of times to see the difference.

Your GPU doesn't go above 450MHz core, so first of all I'd make sure that stealth mode is off. Also make sure your AC adapter is plugged in.

[eastbayrae]

I think it was in Stealth mode. Look at this log file. It still only hit 10k on just the GPU score.

GPU-Z Sensor Log.txt

[eastbayrae]

I haven't used the vBIOS flashing, should I try that?

[ssj92]

Try the new 13.1 WHQL drivers. Your score should be much higher. Here's mine:

AMD Radeon HD 7970M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-950 Processor,Alienware score: P20221 3DMarks