OFFICIAL: Alienware M17x R3 / R4 - Owners Lounge

[hidz7]

See if this chart helps, you can customize what video cards to compare with what games. At least it will give you good idea.

Computer Games on Laptop Graphic Cards - Notebookcheck.net Tech

Thanks for sharing the links, I knew about notebookcheck gaming benchmark, it is just it would be better if I could verify it from any forum member in Tech Inferno.

Anyway thanks.

[Michael]

I noticed that anytime i am on my descrete 6970m card, it's temps are around 60 degrees idle.

So after a short investigation i discovered that it's clocks are modulating between

100/150 which is what it should be in windows, to 680/900.

This is with PowerPlay enabled, once i disable it clocks drop back to 100/150 and stay there.

What's up with that ?

Anybody esle seen it ?

P.S - Running stock Dell drivers.

[svl7]

That's exactly what I experienced when I flashed the Dell vbios on my card... after flashing back the original vbios of my card everything is back to normal. My card is a little different from yours of course, but it could be an issue with the vbios. I can give you my vbios if you want.

Let's hear what other M17x r3 users experience...

[Michael]

I don't think i want to flash a different bios than dell's, don't feel like experimenting like that. All i did was turn off powerplay, any downsides to that ?

[svl7]

I can understand this...

Do you still get 3d clocks when gaming after disabling PowerPlay?

[Michael]

Funny that you asked

I was testing just that.

So, with powerplay disabled the card sits at 150/100 even with furmark running.

Enabled powerplay again, now on 11.5 drivers, and in 2d clocks seem to be ok on 100/150 and they jump to 680/900 as expected.

So to sum up - on stock dell drivers there's a problem with PowerPlay and 2d clocks, 11.5 fixes that completely.

[DaneGRClose]

Yeah I noticed the same Michael, I'm starting to wonder if maybe turning off the Aero portion of the desktop may be causing it. I fixed it by changing from High Performance to Balanced in the battery settings.

[Michael]

@DaneGRClose, great, but since 11.5 totally fixed it i won't bother.

BTW, i tried balanced mode plugged in and i still saw those jumps.

Plus, what the hell is this card idle temps ?! They hover around 55-57, idle@150/100. Do you see it too ?

EDIT : Dane, please if you got a moment, help a brother out - http://forum.techinferno.com/alienware-m17x/529-r3-owners-i-need-your-help-10-seconds-your-time.html

[svl7]

@Micheal: That's what I thought... no 3d clocks without PP.

Good to hear 11.5 solves the issue, in this case it's not a vbios issue. If I remember correctly I had actually the Dell driver installed when I experienced this issue with my card...

[DaneGRClose]

I have no idea man, my card idles at about 50 after a repaste(no aftermarket pads yet) but it did idle a bit higher in the mid 50's with stock paste. So no you're not dreaming and you don't have a bad card. The nice part is I'm running flashed clocks at 775/1100 and the temps only go up like 2-3 degrees. I'll try that out later tonight, I've done a lot of benching today and my wife is feeling neglected lol.

[iloveb00bs]

saw this today, but not sure how safe it is but still worth mentioning

M17xR3 Bios mod released

Insyde bios mod requests. - Page 665

[Michael]

saw this today, but not sure how safe it is but still worth mentioning

M17xR3 Bios mod released

Insyde bios mod requests. - Page 665

lol

no one wants to try it

I'll try it before DHL picks my laptop for return.

[iloveb00bs]

that would be sweet,, i'm a little hesitant to try it myself, plus the guy didn't provide any flashing instructions.

[Michael]

Seems that one of NBR users tried it already, i asked him to show some screenshots of new screens, he didn't yet..

[iloveb00bs]

just read it, hmmm wonder if it unlocks the multies for xm chips, would make buying an xm worth it.

[Michael]

I hope he posts, if he won't i will flash it before the laptop goes back to the factory and make some screenies

[iloveb00bs]

that would be awesome. but reading that thread make it sound like he flashed it back to stock already.

Thanks bud

[kune]

Biosmod fail

same issue with powerplay, Michael

[Michael]

one more annoying thing that keep happening is that when I leave the rig alone it will turn off the screen.

now when I come back, theres a 50% chance it won't turn on again and the only way to bring it back to life is a hard reset.

good thing it's going back

[iloveb00bs]

yeah sending that one back is the right thing to do. mine has been great so far, no problems at all. except for the rised media bar but i fixed that too.

[Brian]

yeah sending that one back is the right thing to do. mine has been great so far, no problems at all. except for the rised media bar but i fixed that too.

Glue FTW?

10char

[iloveb00bs]

no its actually the cable connector, I just used those twisty ties to make it more compact so when you push the buttons it doesn't make contact with the cable. ever since the media bar has been sitting perfectly flush.

on another note i almost hit 21.8k cpu vantage, not bad for a 2720

Edited May 25, 2011 by iloveb00bs

[Brian]

Nice, thats slightly more than I get with my OC'd 2720qm.

[mw86]

Nice scores guys keep pushing the limits, that's just awesome!

[iloveb00bs]

looks like uk peeps can order the 3d bundle with a 580m now. i wonder why uk is getting all the upgrade first this time around.