Leo14

Oh I ran DDU and did another clean install of the drivers too

True, although I just realized I may have accidentally forgot to put layers of thermal pad on the thinner top parts... But it's a dell card, had the bracket pre installed and everything. I haven't really gotten to play around with the game, but the crashing worried me so I did take some pics but I didn't really get to show much.. But ill post them. Also, any reason why my CPU won't stay unparked..? when I try to manually do so in regedit nothing happens.

Post pics first.

I never took any, what do you want to see? If I were to take it apart again, which would mean re pasting twice more correct? I'm honestly not sure as to how much paste I have left.

Correct, set windows power options/NV control Panel and uninstall Game Booster, under the card check that the big thermal pad is properly placed/black isolating plastic + thermal pad placement - take pics, new card ?

Uninstalled Game Booster, everything set to high performance, will check to see if the big thermal pad is properly placed (pretty sure I just left it on the back of the card when I took it out to repaste before) and thermal pad placement is probably the issue, well not as much placement but the amount of thermal pad(?) I mean, I did the two big black strips.. the two square ones, a thin strip above those, and to the right there was like a square.. I think that sums it up, but IIRC NOW... I may or may not have used the correct amount of layering for the thermal pads.. I'll have to go back to your guide, then double check again on the card, but then this will mean I have to repaste again right..? Hopefully I still have paste LOL

Okay now I have another concern, as I don't know what the hell is going on nor can I find an answer. Black screen/freezing has happened twice/3 times. With some purple pixels (?) Please don't tell me I fucked something up real bad..

Just did an hour of BF4, still got some chop but overall it seems to be way better. I did lower some settings though half way through (not sure if you know/play BF4, but I'm having trouble finding a perfect balance between performance/quality... not sure what my framerate was throughout that, but most settings on high/medium, SSAO.. not sure why I'd be getting chop/framerate chop.. my ping was 11, temps were dramatically improved (in my eyes) peaking at just 70 degrees, 50-55ish when idling/not in game. It was running smoother though.. Even when the skyscraper fell (after that I turned down textures from high to medium) and was pretty good. The only thing I can think of is that it is my cpu. Max temps around 75, now I did not repaste my CPU (I know, why?) So maybe doing that will help with the chop? As I think its because when I turn, it loads in a buncha crap and since I have a basic ass i7 it glitches? Is that because of heat, or because it's weak? Or maybe it's because I don't have a SSD?

edit: did a "analyze" in Razer Game booster, came up with this. Should I be concerned?

1201 - Time : 11/25/2013 11:21:40 AM

1202 - Source : Application Error

1203 - Description : Faulting application name: Explorer.EXE, version: 6.1.7601.17567, time stamp: 0x4d672ee4

Faulting module name: powercpl.dll_unloaded, version: 0.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x4ce7c981

Exception code: 0xc0000005

Fault offset: 0x000007fee7432ecc

Faulting process id: 0x890

Faulting application start time: 0x01cee98871549855

Faulting application path: C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE

Faulting module path: powercpl.dll

Report Id: b28aa5e9-5580-11e3-9bf6-7ce9d3bf5d3a

1201 - Time : 11/25/2013 10:46:59 AM

1202 - Source : WinMgmt

1203 - Description : Event filter with query "SELECT * FROM __InstanceModificationEvent WITHIN 60 WHERE TargetInstance ISA "Win32_Processor" AND TargetInstance.LoadPercentage > 99" could not be reactivated in namespace "//./root/CIMV2" because of error 0x80041003. Events cannot be delivered through this filter until the problem is corrected.

1201 - Time : 11/25/2013 10:46:03 AM

1202 - Source : Application Error

1203 - Description : Faulting application name: STacSV64.exe, version: 1.0.6314.0, time stamp: 0x4cf34402

Faulting module name: STacSV64.exe, version: 1.0.6314.0, time stamp: 0x4cf34402

Exception code: 0xc0000005

Fault offset: 0x000000000001e70c

Faulting process id: 0x478

Faulting application start time: 0x01cee9886b7b56c8

Faulting application path: C:\Program Files\IDT\WDM\STacSV64.exe

Faulting module path: C:\Program Files\IDT\WDM\STacSV64.exe

Report Id: b8deb738-557b-11e3-9bf6-7ce9d3bf5d3a

1201 - Time : 11/25/2013 7:50:58 AM

1202 - Source : Bonjour Service

1203 - Description : Task Scheduling Error: m->NextScheduledSPRetry 47347021

1201 - Time : 11/25/2013 7:50:58 AM

1202 - Source : Bonjour Service

1203 - Description : Task Scheduling Error: m->NextScheduledEvent 47347021

1201 - Time : 11/25/2013 7:50:58 AM

1202 - Source : Bonjour Service

1203 - Description : Task Scheduling Error: Continuously busy for more than a second

1201 - Time : 11/24/2013 6:41:58 PM

1202 - Source : Bonjour Service

1203 - Description : Task Scheduling Error: m->NextScheduledSPRetry 7004

1201 - Time : 11/24/2013 6:41:58 PM

1202 - Source : Bonjour Service

1203 - Description : Task Scheduling Error: m->NextScheduledEvent 7004

1201 - Time : 11/24/2013 6:41:58 PM

1202 - Source : Bonjour Service

1203 - Description : Task Scheduling Error: Continuously busy for more than a second

1201 - Time : 11/24/2013 6:41:57 PM

1202 - Source : Bonjour Service

1203 - Description : Task Scheduling Error: m->NextScheduledSPRetry 6006

Windows power management -> RUN > type powercrg.cpl -> Set high performance

Nvidia Control Panel (look for the driver version) -> Manage 3D settings > Program Settings > Power management mode -> Set all games to high performance.

Re-paste every time the heatsink is removed, mine R3/580M max temps 65C.

Install v331.82 then try GeForce 314.22 Driver if the problem persists.

Battery mode I always have set to high performance/game booster plan (I've been using Razer Game Booster, which takes over the battery plan for it's own) I have installed the v331.82 drivers when I first put the card in, I re-pasted, re thermal padded, haven't been able to join in a game yet and test temps.. but it started and didn't blow up on me:excitement:

Thank you guys for all of your input and help, it is really appreciated, I can't express my gratitude enough.

edit: not sure what you meant by windows power management > run > type powercrg.cpl > set high performance. Were you talking about the battery icon performance options? balanced/high performance etc?

I'm not sure. I'll try those tho, as I still get some chop and framerate doesn't seem to be where it should.. Temps sometimes peaking 76 degrees highest. Is that of concern? Should I check my thermal paste/thermal pads job?

580M supported card (Clevo still 04901028)...modding is not required, clean install try (safe mode recommended) Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) V9.6.1 / first uninstall option - single step.

Hmmm, what signs would I look for if the drivers weren't installed successfully the way I did it? (just a clean install of the current drivers from the website, once I did that everything recognized the 580m) I'm concerned right now about this mouse lag when I look around, nt all the time but often.. GPU is performing well though, at least to my standards. Temps haven't gone above 69 degrees with Realtemp

I think you need a modded .inf in order to install the drivers.

[ATTACH]9630[/ATTACH]

Extract the drivers you want with winrar - open display.driver folder - extract the archive I uploaded and place the file named nvdmn in display.driver folder - click back and run setup.

Thanks, but my system recognized that it has the 580m in it now. I believe the clean install worked fine, as nvidia GeForce Experience says 580m, so does system information, also now curious about overclocking..

Well, finally I installed my 580m, of course I finish at 4 am so I am very tired, but I have a quick question as I'm going to sleep in a few minutes and was hoping someone could just answer this real quick for me... It doesn't seem as if my computer is recognizing the fact it has a 580m now, in device manager it isn't even listed. I'm doing a clean install real quick of the drivers, or at least I think I am doing a "clean" install.. and hopefully this will work, but I'm under the assumption that I need to use an unlocked bios??? If someone could chime in and help that be much appreciated, also I wanted to thank you guys again as I would have never been able to do this without this forum

IC diamond is fine, thermal pad placement [Guide] Alienware M17xR3 GTX 780M installation

Cool, thank you again. Didn't even find that guide, was going to use the repasting guide as a reference as well, but will take that into consideration as I have found this, can you verify for me if this is accurate?

Fujipoly Extreme System Builder Thermal Pad - 1/4 Sheet - 150 x 100 x 0.5 - Thermal Conductivity 11.0 W/mK

Gelid Solutions GC-3 Extreme Thermal Compound - 3.5 Grams (TC-GC-03-A)

Thank you so much, can't believe I just saw this now >< I already got IC diamond 7 carat thermal compound.. should I not use that?

No one knows FOR SURE which thermal pads I need? I mean i saw that video that shows where thermal pads are needed, so i got that.. just dont know which size!!! I dont wanna run into problems, might just order .5-1 mm pads... idk

Guess I should ask this before running into problems later.. What size? IIRC they are 1mm, but then again.. I could be wrong.. someone please verify if possible, will keep searching regardless.

You'll need thermal pads on all the things touching the heatsink.

The thickness of the thermal pads is rather important, too thick and there will be loss in cooling performance plus the heatsink might get bad contact with the die. Too thin and the heatsink might not make good contact with the vrams etc.

Measure your current thermal pads and get ones at the same size, my guess is 1mm would work nice.

You should buy high performance pads like phobyas with 7w/mk.

Thank you, I will be picking up some good thermal pads/making sure they're the right size

The black squares are the VRAM chips. Depends on your heatsink, if they will make contact with your heatsink then probably yes you should have some thermal pads. I'd figure since it is an Alienware the heatsink is probably nice, so I'm leaning toward a definite yes to thermal pads on your VRAM.

And yes, that stuff is thermal compound smeared around.

--

I'm probably not the best to answer this however since I don't have a removable graphics card for my laptop. I just saw your post in the recent list lol.

-atn

Mmmmm okay thank you for your input though, I do appreciate it as I think I should wait and see until I can get a definite answer on this, as I do not want to jump into it if I don't know as much as I possibly can, and at this point this is the one thing I need to know, as I think it could potentially fry the card (?)

Title says it all, do I need to get thermal pads for the black squares ( sorry no idea what they're called, but don't worry I know I'm capable of installing this myself) I'm also pretty sure thats some thermal compound smeared all around, which I will remove before adding my thermal paste. I went with IC Diamond 7 carat, but I tried to contact the seller and ask/look around online but couldn't really find a definite answer. Videos weren't helpful either, but I just really some quick help on this as I want to install this soon.

Damn I don't think I'm ready to give up all the basic commodities just for the best card which I can't afford lol, I know a 580m will sustain long enough.. For me at least

Also I just did a quick search for a 680m.. Can't seem to find one for sale or even a price

Disable sound? As in never having sound,.?

@Leo14 Why are you going to a 580m? Anything except the 780m should work, and even the 780m will work if you disable sound. 7970m, 675mx, and 680m are all better options than a 580m assuming you aren't getting the 580m very cheap.

Well I read somewhere that the 580m will deff work no problem, but the 680 etc could possibly not work if I didn't have the 120hz screen or something. I just wanted to be sure and couldn't get an answer, plus a 680m isn't very cheap either.

Yes of course, that I did notice.. People handling it carefully only grabbing it from the sides, does it take some force to be put into the slot itself? Is there a certain way to do it or is it pretty simple/not something to worry about when worrying about things going wrong? I just want to know what can go wrong and where that way I'm ready and know where to just take my time and work carefully. If I don't know I may do something foolish, my apologies on the over-bearingness of this

Oh wow okay didn't know that. So if I use ESD protection I can just use my bare hands then huh, going to look into how to do ESD protection. Thank you

Ah thank you that makes me feel a lot better about doing the install myself, as for the power drain I haven't heard anything about that.. Ill probably wear rubber gloves so no oils or anything get anywhere on the card. I'm pretty sure the heat sink is fine to be used. It's an nvidia card, and I think dell even told me it was okay to use.

Thank you for the info