[GUIDE] How to remove bios GPU throttling for M17X-R3 580m with or without 120Hz screen

Just wanted to confirm that this does work on newer systems! There shouldn't be any problems with the step to install BIOS A04, even if you have a newer CPU like my 2670QM. Also, 3D Vision still works perfectly.

I'm so relieved that this worked, because I was seeing the throttle in the stupidest places (Pixperan??? Oblivion... only 5 years old!) so I was seriously considering a call to Dell to either return the laptop outright, or demand a GPU swap for the 6990... but that would have been messy because of the lack of 3D Vision support.

I'm aware of widezu69's VBIOS fix, which is a decent workaround but I noticed the graphics would stutter every 5-10 seconds as the BIOS was forcing the GPU to switch P-States. With the BIOS throttling completely removed, the stutter is gone! My M17x is finally perfect!

 

Eeek. My machine is arriving today, and I've only just found out about this issue!

A few questions if you don't mind...

1) How do I check the temp/find out if the machine is throttling?

2) How can I tell if the video card has the old or new heatsinks as mentioned in the video above?

And while I'm at it,

3)is the motherboard on these the same for all? I'm asking as I'd like to SLI the 580m when I get a chance but if the motherboard is different for the SLI versions then I guess I'll have to send it back or just live with one card.

4) I'm thinking about the Zalman 3000 cooler to avoid the throttling entirely but it looks quite big! Any other suggestions? Ideally I'd want one that sits on my lap, not a desk.

Thanks so much!

 

The M17x R3 does not have SLi. For that you need the M18x. This method is good, I'm using it but for others, you can check out the link in my sig. You can check fro throttling by running furmark.

 

D'oh! I saw all the old revisions on Dell outlet and they had SLI so I just assumed....

One more favour, can you give me an indication of the HeavenDX11 score I should be seeing? I ran it and got 730. On another forum someone else said his was about 690 yet someone responded he got 20098 for 3DMark06 and a Heaven Benchmark of 1604! My 3DMark06 result seems fine though - 22K+ so I'm wondering about the HeavenDx11 one...

The specs are:- 2gb 580m, 2.5ghz 2860, 4GB 1333 RAM, 720gb 7200 HD.

 

Have you checked throttling?

 

EDIT: Yes, it is throttling but only the power throttle. I'll try one of the solutions, but still don't know a genuine HEavenDX11 figure to be aiming for.

I'm already on Bios A08. I'm assuming I can go backto A04 for the fix to work, and that I can flash a stock BIOS later if needed? If not I'll go for the WideZu69 fix.

I'd still like to hear HeavenDx11 scores!

 

"6. While holding the END key plug in the power cord in the back. You need to keep holding the END key till the laptop shuts down after beeping for a while. (60 seconds or so total time). It will start up and shut down once or twice after that automatically, just wait for this to finish."

"7. When this cycle is finished and laptop stays shut down, just put the battery back in, and hit the power button. Once the system boots remove USB stick and test throttling and 3D if you have it."

Hey there, i'm a total Noob at this stuff but I'm learning as I experiment with my M17x R3. I'm loving all the help on these forums. I've spent the last week trying to figure out this throttling thing.

I looked and review all the options and decided to go with the blind flash method. I followed it to the "T". Everything went well and I believe the throlle is removed BUT... When I held the end key and plugged in the power chord the computer beeped for a while and then shut off and on for a while like 7-10 min. By then I just let the end key go and the computer shut down.

I put the battery back and pressed the power button it turned on and off a couple of times and then booted up like normal with the A08 Bios installed. I believe the Flash went well BUT I just want to know if that was normal that it didnt shut down completley when holding the end Key like you mentioned it would.

Thanks

 

Thanks for that fix! +rep. Now that the FPS is fixed I have the 78 degree throttle..

Not my lucky day.