GeoCake

This is insane.

Can't svl7 edit the vbios to incorporate a throttle fix? Isn't that what had to be done for the Clevo one?

Trust Dell to gimp Nvidia cards again, idiots

So... what's the highest stable core clock possible? Anyone taken it to 1075/1100 yet?

Just wondering, been out of the loop for too long.

svl7, I don't suppose you could sort this brightness issue out by changing settings in the vbios? I know many people would much appreciate it.

Here is the best temp fix: http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/678968-7970m-dim-screen-fix-r3-sort.html#post8732198

Yeah, I was really busy at college the past few weeks, but I'm now done until September (will be starting my top-up year at Uni then).

The main reason for my absense is that my 7970M died a while ago lol, same symptoms as graz'zt from NBR. Quite a big downer there, hence me being quiet and keeping my mouth shut. I did manage to make it work after loads of attempts, but whenever the gaming clocks kick in, it crashes to a black screen. After that the BIOS just didn't detect it. Luckily for me a replacement will be here in 2-3 days, and it will be a nice OEM card. I've also ordered an AMD heatsink for it... guess using the Nvidia one was a massive mistake, I was too stubborn to bother changing.

What sucks even more is that after 100+ hours of pure Diablo 3 addiction, my 580M which I've been using in the meantime passed away, just black screens after 30 seconds (pretty sure the game killed it, because people have been complaining). But that didn't stop me, so I have been using my old laptop w/ a 5870M. I can tell you now, going from a 7970M to a 5870M is painful.

Buttttttt, honestly no need for this thread.

All I know is that GPU-Z sometimes displays 0.92v incorrectly (when using 0.87v)... might be something to do with the beta drivers. Glitched/bugged GPU-Z as usual

I've been happy on HyperX 1866Mhz RAM for very long time now, not a single issue. R3 doesn't support anything higher

Good luck man ^__^

I think I have set some targets for you already...

You should have bought it with the cheapest Ivy if you plan to go Ivy XM in the future. Chances are the 3920XM will not be overclockable for a long time. Even if the R4 does get an unlocked bios how can you adjust the multipliers?

Only Intel XTU 2.1 can adjust them, and it probably won't even support Ivy since it is an old version. Maybe it will, I dunno. Here are some of my bench records with the 7970M (I don't need to push 'cause no competition yet hehehe).

AMD Radeon HD 7970M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2920XM Processor,Alienware M17xR3 score: P25806 3DMarks

AMD Radeon HD 7970M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2920XM Processor,Alienware M17xR3 score: P6847 3DMarks

AMD Radeon HD 7970M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2920XM Processor,Alienware M17xR3 score: P7658 3DMarks (Tessellation off, it's an AMD card, why not).

Haha, since then I flashed my HyperX 1600 PnP to HyperX 1866 PnP. Working flawlessly.

Since you have an M18x you should be able to run at 2133, johnksss confirmed it somewhere on NBR. Have fun.

Someone please post a GTX 675M vbios?

Would be cool if we could flash our GTX 580Ms.

You lose Optimus with the 3D screen. There's no way I would settle for 2 hours unplugged use! I can pull off 5 hours on battery power using integrated graphics (will not be able to power the 120hz screen).

6990M comes with switchable graphics which is just as good, especially when you have more control over switching.

@mw86 That's very interesting. Thanks for posting that!

I just wonder why half the options are missing on the unlocked M17x R3 BIOS, I'd prefer if all the options were there.

Also;

I noticed you can increase flex with "non turbo flex support" disabled.But it's not doing anything with flex then correct?

Yes, after enabling it the first time, and after enabling extreme edition... it can then be disabled, But then the Extreme edition option disappears and the Flex VID Override remains. After that, just set the multipliers on Intel XTU again... Having "non turbo flex support" enabled or disabled makes no difference whatsoever cause we are missing the rest!

Gosh, it's confusing.

Yes, I understand perfectly well what you mean. But you're not understanding me!

The "Non-Turbo Flex Support" has to be enabled to see the "Extreme Edition" option. The "Extreme Edition" option has to be enabled to see the "Flex VID Override" option. I should have stated this clearer, it's my fault.

The only thing "Non-Turbo Flex Support" does when enabled is show is the extra options. If it is not enabled, the "Flex VID Override" option will not be visible. It's true function probably does not even work because the rest of the options are missing. It could actually be an error in the unlocked bios itself, e.g. the text entry could be something different. That's the only explanation that I can think of.

I was only referring to the "Non-Turbo Flex Support" option as a way of actually getting to the "Flex VID Override" option, not to its true function.

HAPPY!!! :nevreness:

Ok, some photos like I promised earlier;

How to adjust PriPlane:

7th tab -> Advanced CPU Control -> Scroll all the way down.

How to adjust Flex:

5th tab -> Performance Options Menu -> Top

bench!!!!!!!!!!!!

I didn't say that was my photo. I leave the first 3 options enabled and the VID is set at 0 for normal use. It is 6 for benchmarks. I have XMP PnP HyperX so I do not touch the memory settings (first option is disabled, second is default).

Furthermore, we have already told you countless times what we have and what we use AND how to set it (I PMed you)... but for the last time;

45 across all cores on Intel XTU, restart and in the BIOS set:

6 Flex

1000 PriPlane

100.1 BCLK

99W Long Boost, Short boost disabled, 56 seconds

Now, stop asking silly questions, set the above settings, set fans to max and BENCH. DO NOT post without results. Don't even DARE.

What I am saying is you have to have that option enabled so that you can adjust the Flex VID Override setting in the BIOS. This is what it looks like on the M17x R3:

@usmc362 If you want to run at 4.5Ghz you have to have the VID on 6. For 4.6Ghz you have to have it on 12. It could be different for your CPU. It hasn't caused any havoc for me...

By doing that you're just keeping the setting saved in the memory, nothing is going to happen if it's disabled..

Enabled, otherwise you won't get the option to adjust Flex?

The Clevo guy's CPU score is still higher and it doesn't even look like he's pushed his GPUs... I'm sure he can push his CPU much higher as well.

You can get a free code for vantage off YouTube easily. Anyways, would love to see your score. Akaik it's M18x vs Clevo x7200, doesn't matter about specs (you get a sexy design with the most powerful mobile CPU or an ugly body with a desktop CPU and 6 cores...). 6 cores desktop would be great for rendering lmao ^.^ if you can keep them clocks for long periods.

It all depends on the chip, I've seen 2920XMs overclock better than 2960XMs and vice versa. A QS should overclock as well as an OEM, but some don't.

http://softnology.biz/work/CMSX8GX3M2A1866C10.zip - Corsair 1866Mhz improved *.thp profile

Guide to flashing it:

The Corsair Vengeance 1866 are beast and can be flashed to CL9 thanks to Thaiphoon Burner. No heatsinks though, just stickers.

Also I'll take a few pics to answer Ops question about Flex/PriPlane later, already PMed him answer but this thread could do with pics.

From what I have seen on the M17x R3, to run on 4.5Ghz or higher, one needs to increase the Flex (voltage). By run, I mean literally run at 4.5Ghz all cores, so that Throttlestop would report a constant 45 FID. The BSODs you are getting indicate that the CPU needs more voltage.

From my experience @ 4.5Ghz I needed 6 Flex, 4.6Ghz I needed 12 Flex. The Vantage score on 4.6Ghz was the same as 4.5Ghz 'cause temps on 4th core was 100C, chip was just not coping. 4.5ghz seemed the max possible I could push it as the cooling in the M17x R3 is just not as good as the M18x - mw86 - you should borrow someones M17x R3 and give yourself a challenge, it's very different to the M18x.

1000 PriPlane, 6 Flex, 10019 BCLK... 4.5Ghz - http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z92/chaotic_george/VantageTemps.png

1000 PriPlane, 12 Flex, 10019 BCLK... 4.6Ghz - http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/4352/98361236.png

@OP. I can guarantee you that with stock cooling you will not be able to run the 2 Vantage CPU tests at 4.6Ghz. You will get a thermal shutdown.

Also OEM vs QS comparison, when set at the exact same settings I noticed the OEM chip getting a better score (but then again that was probably a better chip in general). It would be fun to do a more in depth comparison though.

A08 is regarded as the best because it actually allows you to use SATA III 6GB/S transfer rates; great for compatible SSDs. However A09 reverts both slots to SATA II 3GB/s =/

The modded bios is great for overclocking the CPU (BCLK, adjusting turbo settings, as well as XM options for adjusting PriPlane and Flex), enabling the C7 state, plus possibly other things.