GeoCake

I got the Creative Suite 5.5 installed. Made sure to disable all adobe related startup entries via Run -> Msconfig -> Startup so my boot ups are as fast as always.

Working great with no effect on overall laptop performance.

The battery just can't provide a 100W GPU, 40W CPU, etc, with that much power... therefore the GPU and CPU downclocks itself. Of course it will run on battery, but not on full clocks.

Review Alienware M17x R3 GTX 580M i7-2820QM Notebook - Notebookcheck.net Reviews

Go to battery life and read.

These are the max turbo ratios for your CPU:

As you can see, with 1 core you will be at 3.1Ghz, 2 cores at 3.0Ghz, and 3-4 cores at 2.8Ghz.

1ghz core see the M17x R2 benchmark here he has the sickest mobile gpu overclock in the world via dry ice cool stuff i like the 5870m's i had too

Saw the 1Ghz core benchmark - jizzed in my pants!

I always find myself viewing this thread after every new windows install, thanks so much for the icons. They are ammaaaazing.

Thermal Compound Roundup - January 2012 | Hardware Secrets

Anyone ever tried some Mayo?

The result for me was simple: I use the better paste. Who wants a free cookie to guess what that was?

Oh, and this is what Skinnee had to say:

IC Diamond will only be tested after this testbed is ‘retired.’ Due to its severe polishing effect, ICD is not something I can test 15 mounts of and guarantee that the testbed will perform the same after as it did before (it permanently alters the CPU IHS and the block bases). That said, I did briefly test it while pre-testing for this testbed and procedure and I can say it’s really good with Poor Contact but does not improve much as contact improves, making it just an ‘okay’ paste when you have at least moderate contact, which most CPU blocks, most GPU blocks, and most heatsinks do. In the old testing, the Apogee GTZ used makes good contact and ICD just can’t keep up with Shin-Etsu X23-7783D (and wouldn’t keep up with Prolimatech PK-1).

You can keep using ICD, but I am afraid PK-1 is superior.

Woah, someone feels butt hurt.

I tested both TIMs intensively on my 2920XM at 4.4Ghz across all 4 cores (880 Priplane and 0 Flex). PK-1 was always lower, always that one degree. I'm just not bothered in posting my results; firstly, I didn't exactly record them for a massive essay or comparison and secondly, I'd rather link to a more reputable source, e.g. Skinnee. Maybe if you actually read the article and some of comments, you'd post a bit more than oh 'common knowledge' this and oh 'proper knowledge' that.

Disclaimer: No google or wikipedia article contributed to this post. Just common and proper knowledge, folks.

Don't they send out refurbished cards?

I read somewhere that spare parts are never brand new.

Besides, these cards are pretty robust. I've been pretty forceful with mine, never had a problem. Could be the static on your hands?

Are you using the correct backplate?

Good amount of thermal padding?

The thing that makes me mad is that the 6990M can't be overvolted (on a safe software/vbios level) like the 580M, that's just not fair. The 5870M when overvolted to 1.2v could achieve like 900Mhz +++ on the core? That was pretty sick.

If AMD continue doing this they can piss off from my laptop ¬_¬

Indeed.

2011 Thermal Compound Roundup – Results Compilation | Skinnee Labs

On top of being one of the best already, it's easy to work with (ensure you apply it properly) and since the core will remain in good shape, contact shouldn't be an issue. Personally, I have used both and I can say PK-1 is superior in every aspect.

"ICD-7 does well in bad contact situations, but does not improve when contact improves...so unfortunately, it becomes just an average paste overall. plus I keep telling people to avoid using ICD-7 in laptops because laptop CPU and GPU dies are lidless. The ICD-7 has particles in it that will scratch your dies with repeated applications and it will have a severe polishing affect on the copper heatsink contact which will affect your temps over time. ICD is more meant for desktop CPU's that have metal lids on the CPU dies" - SlickDude, Ph.D Mobile Cooling

Admin note: Insults removed.

Why risk disappointment, bleeding or anything else? Just get IC Diamond. Well known, performs well and won't disappoint.

PK-1 is better.

I'll swap my 6990M for your poor 580M?

@mw86 Me and widezu need ~ 0 Flex and 880 Priplane for 44x, 10 Flex and 930 Priplane for 45x

I tried 16/17 Flex and 1000 Priplane for 46x but I could not do a CPU Vantage run without a thermal shutdown.

Just proving it can be done. The 4.5Ghz 30k Vantage CPU score barrier has been broken. Dell are coming tomorrow with my new 580m GTX (3rd one LOL!) and I look forward to rocking out and maybe breaking that 21k overall mark

To all AMD users, try this in Display Color.. pretty much same as the 'vivid' video color setting. Is naise

Indeed, that does sound like the card is bitching out .. xD Nothing much you can do there to be honest! Anything 16k on GPU is beast if you ask me

Try it later/tomorrow from a cold boot.

Usually if you push the clocks right up you will see artefacts and mini stutters meaning that it's too much for the card to handle.. then you will get the ATI driver has failed/crashed message in Windows. The crashing I was getting was somehow related to the flash player =/ where Vantage would just freeze and then go to black, weird stuff

Anyhow, your card should do 850 minimum!

thanks so much man! it worked as you said!!! onlything is that it shows catalyst version 11.10 instead of 12.2, and i did it exactly in the order you said. i will post a pic tomorrow, as i will catch some zz right now =) the driver is 8.59 though =D

sooo, talk to you later and thx a lot again!

CCC showing 11.10 is just a bug - I've had it before. It's clear from the rest of your screenshot that you're running the latest version of everything

Also if Vantage freezes (just hangs and/or goes to black screen) for you, trying re-installing the latest Adobe Flash Player. It sorted my freezing problems believe it or not !

Ramp the fans to full on HWINFO and then wait till the card is about 35 degrees then run the bench, good luck

12.2 preview has older drivers, but has some other components that are updated. The latest drivers/ccc will be left, but all the old components will be updated

Try going from Stock Dell to -> http://www2.ati.com/DriVeRs/mobile/11-10_mobility_vista_win7_64_dd_ccc_ocl.exe and then to -> AMD Catalyst 8.95 17 January - BenchmarK3D and then -> AMD Catalyst 12.2 Preview 8.940.0 Driver - BenchmarK3D

12.2 preview gives you some newer components, basically latest everything and you should end up with:

EDIT - yes it should find the oldest possible drivers that came with windows, that's fine. try sweeping from safe mode as well.

1. driver sweeper

2. ccc install remove with windows install clean up

3. uninstallation from device manager

4. restart.

yup, you may need to do driver sweeper multiple times and restart in safe mode, etc. Just make sure they are gone completely. This is pretty much the stage after a clean windows install.

then install stock dell - should give you switching - use the installer. Restart, confirm it works

I couldn't upgrade to 12.1 straight away so I had to use the mobility 11.10 or 11.11. Restart to make sure it all works. After that I could install 12.1

always always use the installer/ccc installer/setup w/e it is called. and select custom and tick everything

if you get a bsod, just restart and re-launch the setup, and re-install via custom selection, tick all boxes

remember to constantly restart

so how i predicted...f@cked up the installation. can't get the original dell driver installed correctly anymore...it will install the driver, but no switching graphics haha...

sooooo, doing the 9th clean install if i count the ones from the weekend.. this time i will install the dell one and then right away the new one which @GeoCake suggested. will keep you posted.

I always start with an intense clean with Drivers Sweeper (and remove any CCC installations with Windows Install Clean Up, uninstall from device manager, restart to make sure they are all gone), then install the stock dell ones, then I think 11.10 mobility drivers, then the ones above... Just make sure you are always on the dedicated GPU.

@svl7 I don't think I am That hardcore

a 30k cpu score would be pure awesomness! do the bench in the freezer, that should cancel the termal problems ;-)

yeah 18k is sweet, i can't even get anywhere near that atm! i'm using a 2760 cpu though, so that's one of the probs i run into anyways..

nice job!

btw: just saw you can hit 870 with your 6990 for cclk. mine will freeze @ anything over 837. will do a repaste and then check if that helps a little.

Atm I am using these ones (latest leaked I think), check them out: AMD Catalyst 8.95 17 January - BenchmarK3D So far they have been the best

Another trick is to do a benchmark after you wake up, when your laptop and heatsinks are completely cold, then just max the fans in HWINFO and run vantage.. my results are always better that way

AMD Radeon HD 6970M / 6990M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2920XM Processor,Alienware M17xR3 score: P18141 3DMarks

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z92/chaotic_george/PersonalBest.png

Getting 30k CPU is something I'd love to achieve (afaik I haven't seen an M17x R3 with such a score). For me to boot on 4.5ghz and higher, core voltage needs to be increased, and when the CPU is being raped by Vantage CPU test I get a thermal shutdowns from insane temps

On 4.4ghz it's fine with default voltage, hence the 29ks +1 for PK-1

And my Clevo 6990M ain't that great unfortunately but I am happy with 18k