[GPU overclock] - Latitude E6400 Quadro NVS 160 - (optimize: gaming)

There is a simple work-around:
You can run this command from a command prompt:

C:\>net stop nTuneService

Once the service is stopped you can use hibernate or sleep!

 

Just got my E6400 at the door, and wanted to try this, downloaded the 190.40 drivers from laptopvideo2go, and overclocked my NVS 160 to 800/595/1700, the specs are: P8700 2.53 GHz, 2gb ram and 120 gb 7200 rpm hdd, well I only score about 1500 points in 3dmark06? :S my gpu scores are at about 500-600... why? :S tried many of the 185 and 186 drivers too, with no luck


Regards
Jacob

EDIT: Okay it seems my graphic score is pretty decent, well then it must be my CPU that is throttling anyway to solve this?

 

Before overclocking anything, make sure your system doesn't have any problems, of course.

Ensure that your system is not overheating (monitor the thermal sensor with a software like Everest (trial version should be good enough), and that you have the latest drivers for everything. Before installing any new drivers, make sure you uninstall the old one first.

Ensure that your system power option is set to "Balance" or "High performance". If you have a dock station, undock it and try.


What OS are you using? Is it the 64-bit version? What is the full specs of your system (what wireless card you have, do you have bluetooth?, etc...)

 

Got my E6400 about a week ago. After getting everything just how I like it, and after extensive testing, I'm very happy with it. My WEI is a bit weird though.

I originally got 3.3 for Aero Graphics and 4.6 for 3D Gaming Graphics. After using the 190.xx GeForce Drivers I could overclock:

Core Clock: 700mhz
Memory Clock: 500mhz
Shader Clock: 1670mhz

I am stable after gaming for around 2 hours (no artifacts), with a gpu temp peaking at 89 degrees C for a couple seconds. I can definitely go higher, especially with a cooling pad. I've been using HWMonitor and GPUz.

At these clock speeds, I get a WEI of 3.3 for Aero, and 4.9 for 3D Gaming.

What's going on here? I haven't done a 3DMark test yet, but plan to do one soon. Is this normal, for the Aero rating to be so low? My other notebook (with an onboard Radeon X1200) rates about the same for Aero.

On another note, I LOVE the profiles. On default settings the card throttles to 169mhz core and 100mhz memory, which makes windows stutter when I minimize/restore them. Boosting the memory to 150mhz (for a low power profile) fixed it.

Specs:
Vista Ultimate 32-bit
Core 2 Duo P9600 (2.66Ghz 6MB L2 Cache)
4.0 GB Ram (3.5 Accessible)
Nvidia Quadro NVS 160M
7200rpm 250gb HDD
LG 1440x900 LED-Backlit Display
Intel Wifi Link 5300 AGN
Backlit Keyboard
Mic (no webcam)

I did a clean install of Vista Ultimate 32 and installed all drivers myself.

Thanks for the great guide, btw!

 

Aero rating is affected by GPU Memory speed. The Dell Lat. E6400 has DDR2 memory, 64-bit memory. The solution is either double the speed of the memory (which is really hard to do especially that you have nothing to cool it off, and consume twice the battery life (aprox)), or go with 128-bit memory, but then it eats up double the battery life that it normally takes. Upgrading to DDR3 GPU memory (which we can't do for a GPU), but let's assume we can, it increase Aero score but not by much. Also you have memory size. More memory means more windows open without reduction in speed.

Remember that Windows Experience Index is not great benchmark. I use it just to ensure that the overclock was successfully applied (as it's faster then 3D mark 06). Aero experience should be smooth at 3.3 for a 1900x1200 display. Not super ultra smooth when you have a lot of windows, but but, I think, it would be usable (I don't have such display to test this).

If you want increase performance, swicth to 64-bit OS. This will already give you a free small overclock on your CPU as, 32-bit programs will be able to run a little but visibly faster, and 64-bit games and software. Moreover, you will be able to use your 4GB of RAM.

 

I seriously wanted 64-bit, but I could get Ultimate 32-bit for $10 from my college (key only works with 32-bit, believe me, I tried), and I don't think it's worth paying an extra $200 or so for a retail license. I'll just wait for Windows 7 before I switch to 64-bit. Piracy isn't my thing, and I don't have time to deal with drivers in the RC.

I had noticed it had terrible memory speed, but I think a 25% clock increase (memory) should have at least brought it up to 3.4? I know it isn't a reliable benchmark, it just bothers me that it's so low. I noticed earlier in this thread it being brought up to 4.0 by a couple people (though with a more significant overclock), I'm just surprised it didn't change at all.

Just curious if it was normal. Thanks for the explanation.

 

I'll try dualbooting with the Windows 7 RC 32Bit, so I start from fresh Give me a minute

 

Nope didn't really make that big of a difference My temps are at about 60C at full load with Orthos, and my GPU is at 75C overclocked with Furmark :S Right now it actually seems like I get lower fps in 3dmark06 with the overclocked profile, than the default one? :S I'm used to overclocking as I have my desktop overclocked too... dont know why this is so weird? :S Would a BIOS update help? I got the A12, but there is a A14 it seems...


Regards
Jacob

 

Okay new info At first when I set my clocks, my driver would stop responding, and it would recover... "meh?" I thought, but just read that it would go to default clocks until you restarted, so I restarted and set my clocks fairly low (650/500/1550) and it seems I get a little more frames in 3dmark06, ooooh I hope this will turn out with a pretty decent score But still this is with Windows 7, so its normal that I will get higher scores...

 

Hmmm in GPU-Z my GPU core never exceeds 500MHz, but my core clock is set at 700 right now? :S

EDIT: See screenshot