The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Overclocking the 980m Help

    Discussion in '2015+ Alienware 13 / 15 / 17' started by gschneider, Mar 31, 2015.

  1. gschneider

    gschneider Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    248
    Messages:
    568
    Likes Received:
    166
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Hey all,

    So I finally downloaded NVidia's latest driver and also EVGA X 16. Things don't seem right through

    precsion x seems strangled clunky? I can't adjust temp or power targets. Everything seems like its running on a pentium 2 lol.

    Has anyone got any tips they have gained from over clocking there 980m

    Thanks all
     
    gschneider, Mar 31, 2015
    #1
  2. Game7a1

    Game7a1 ?

    Reputations:
    529
    Messages:
    3,159
    Likes Received:
    1,040
    Trophy Points:
    231
    Have you tried Nvidia Inspector? It has voltage and power targets that can be changed.
     
    Game7a1, Mar 31, 2015
    #2
  3. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

    Reputations:
    3,658
    Messages:
    6,874
    Likes Received:
    969
    Trophy Points:
    281
    Just wanted to jump in and say that if you plan to overclock you should always watch the temperatures. We do not have a tutorial for this because we don't officially support overclocking unfortunately.
     
    Alienware-L_Porras, Mar 31, 2015
    #3
  4. gschneider

    gschneider Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    248
    Messages:
    568
    Likes Received:
    166
    Trophy Points:
    56
    L_Porras thanks for the advice. I watch my temps like a hawk to ensure its safe. I don't intend an extreme overclock just a little more go can always be a good thing
     
    gschneider, Mar 31, 2015
    #4
  5. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

    Reputations:
    9,436
    Messages:
    58,194
    Likes Received:
    17,909
    Trophy Points:
    931
    The standard vbios comes with fairly limited controls.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Mar 31, 2015
    #5
  6. gschneider

    gschneider Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    248
    Messages:
    568
    Likes Received:
    166
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Is there a vbios out for the 980m in the AW15?
     
    gschneider, Apr 1, 2015
    #6
  7. Game7a1

    Game7a1 ?

    Reputations:
    529
    Messages:
    3,159
    Likes Received:
    1,040
    Trophy Points:
    231
    Doubtful, but you should be able overclock the core by +135, which provides a good boost.
     
    Game7a1, Apr 1, 2015
    #7
  8. T2050

    T2050 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    280
    Messages:
    1,699
    Likes Received:
    93
    Trophy Points:
    66
    Would it be safe to say overclocking the 970M would be no problem at all for the systems, if it is using the same heatsink and fans as the 980M, whilst the 970M is drawing lower power overclocked vs a 980M that is running stock?
     
    T2050, Apr 3, 2015
    #8
  9. bnosam

    bnosam Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    65
    Messages:
    578
    Likes Received:
    133
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Overclocking either is fine, the laptop handles the heat from them well enough.
     
    bnosam, Apr 3, 2015
    #9
  10. T2050

    T2050 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    280
    Messages:
    1,699
    Likes Received:
    93
    Trophy Points:
    66
    Just that with 980M then 240W power supply is most certainly going to be an absolute requirement. Where as the 970M likely will still manage with the stock provided 180W power supply.
     
    T2050, Apr 3, 2015
    #10
  11. bnosam

    bnosam Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    65
    Messages:
    578
    Likes Received:
    133
    Trophy Points:
    56
    I can't comment on the functionality of the hybrid solution, but if it works the way it should, then a 240W supply isn't an absolute requirement.
     
    bnosam, Apr 3, 2015
    #11
  12. T2050

    T2050 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    280
    Messages:
    1,699
    Likes Received:
    93
    Trophy Points:
    66
    If someone want to overclock with the 980M then they are going to need more power delivery under certain circumstances. That hybrid (I'd call it a work around, rather then solution) BIOS will be working fairly hard with on the battery once the 980M is overclocked, the poor battery will be lucky to receive a trickle of power.
     
    T2050, Apr 3, 2015
    #12
  13. bnosam

    bnosam Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    65
    Messages:
    578
    Likes Received:
    133
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Even with the 240W and you overclock the 980M, you'd still draw more power than the 240W bricks provide. From what someone at Alienware explained to me: 180W + 90W = 270W. I don't have any data on this so I can't say anything more than this. I would like to have some data but I'm not updating my bios and I have a 330W PSU anyway.
     
    bnosam, Apr 3, 2015
    #13
  14. T2050

    T2050 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    280
    Messages:
    1,699
    Likes Received:
    93
    Trophy Points:
    66
    Sounds excessive, in that case why bother overclocking, that kind of draw to way to high for anything useful. Where did you get the 330W from, and how much approx does that cost?
     
    T2050, Apr 3, 2015
    #14
  15. bnosam

    bnosam Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    65
    Messages:
    578
    Likes Received:
    133
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Some people want to overclock to provide more performance for their $$$. I don't see how that kind of draw would be too high to be useful...if the machine uses it then it's useful. I had it around, it cost nothing.
     
    bnosam, Apr 3, 2015
    #15
  16. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

    Reputations:
    9,436
    Messages:
    58,194
    Likes Received:
    17,909
    Trophy Points:
    931
    That kind of draw can be cooled in a tweaked system, you just have to be careful. It can make a lot of difference when going beyond 60hz or 1080p.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Apr 4, 2015
    #16