[GUIDE] Installing and Overclocking the AMD Mobility 7970 in the M17x R3,an illustrated guide

This is not Enduro. Enduro is when your system switches from the AMD card to the integrated graphics. It is just simply downclocking itself to conserve energy. All cards do this (to my knowledge).

I am running the modded A10 bios and all I did was under advanced settings, change my settings from enabled integrated graphics to disabled and from SG to PEG. Very simple. The only issue you'll run into after that is having a dimmer screen. I've found a fix by installing an older version of HWiNFO (check my sig). After running that, the screen is back to 100%.

 

Since Slickdude was one the first people to install a 7970M ever, and in his R3. It's an unofficial upgrade, meaning that it is not supported by Alienware.
There have been zero cases of Enduro issues simply because the feature doesn't work at all.

It's because there is no driver support for both the iGPU and 7970M working together so the former has to be disabled in the BIOS.

 

So I swear I had asked a couple of times in this thread what the issue was... All I had to do was reduce my turbo with throttlestop and my gpu is perfect.

-_- month wasted.

 

lol well at least u figured it out now! good info for other ppl as well

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

what had you asked and what was the issue. I dont' remember so perhaps you can refresh my memory.

One of the first things that i say is to disable the integrated graphics. No iGpu...no enduro. The guys on Clevo's are getting a raw deal cause they can't do this. Lots of complaining over there...it is sometimes hard to see if there is a significant issue or not because everyone jumps on the bandwagon and takes it as truth eventhough very few probably know what the truth is.

So you lowered your CPU turbo and your 7970m is perfect now? I'm failing to see the relationship. perhaps it is a power thing...lower turbo, less power to the CPU and more available to the gpu

 

I guess that really was it. Yes, I lowered my cpu from Turbo to a 29 multiplier, and I STARED AT THE CLOCKS for nearly two hours last night. It hasn't downclocked from 800/1200 once during prototype 2 or BF3. I no longer have the 30-40 second intervals of lag. I do now occasionally get what I've always known to be cpu lag (split/half second lag every once and awhile), but it pales in comparison to what I had before.

I found a post in the m15x forums that said he flashed his 7970m with the .975v undervoltbios and that worked for him to end throttling, but i'm afraid of bad flashes and throttlestop works well enough. Can we adjust voltage with MSI Afterburner? (so that it needs to be applied at startup)
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m15x/658295-7970m-m15x-why-yes-24.html

 

the only way to lower the voltage is to do a vbios flash. So if you're not comfy doing that, i'd just go with your current method as it is easier

 

Appreciate all your answers, thank you. +

 

Hey iv been thinking about this dim issue (yes still) and i was wondering because it fixes when we sleep and then open the lid, surly this means it is a small set of instruction turning something off and back on. Could someone make a small .exe for startup that runs these instructions? or is it more complicated than that?

 

You could run an older version of HWiNFO. It's a minor fix for now. I've tried setting it up to run at start up, but for some reason, it just wont work. I've done everything possible to get it to work, but no luck so far.

Check my sig for the download links for the correct version.

 

the newer versions don't fix the screen brightness issue anymore?

 

Nope, I found the only one that works for me is version 3.96. Just give it a try. You're not missing out on anything with an older version.

 

Thanks for the guide! Very helpful! I finally got around to test OCing on my notebook for the first time and I got ~6500 on 3DMark 11. I suppose that's a decent improvement. I did notice though that I could move the sliders in MSI Afterburner only just after changing the OC EULA statement in the config file, without making the registry changes.

 

ya, you don't have to change the registry settings...but ULPS stands for ultra low power state. You don't want this enabled if you are overclocking. What you'll find is that with this enabled, you might get spike bounces while you are overclocked.

 

I see.. Thanks a lot! And I take it that's not a bad OC score??

 

Prasad, what are your clocks? 6500 is a very decent score stock voltage

 

OCed the CPU (w/ Intel XTU) to upto 4GHz with Turbo Boost ON.
Multipliers-
1 core : 37x -> 40x
2 cores: 36x -> 39x
3 cores: 35x -> 38x
4 cores: 35x -> 38x

OCed the GPU (w/ MSI Afterburner) as follows-
Core Clock : 850MHz -> 950MHz
Memory Clock: 1200MHz -> 1350MHz


Sounds good? Can you please also explain to me if, how and the voltage has to be increased along with the clock?

 

My 3dMark 11 score with 12.8 drivers was 6180.

Over clocked to 950/1350.

AMD Radeon HD 7970M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2820QM Processor,Alienware M17xR3 score: P6180 3DMarks

 

6500 for those clocks is pretty good. I don't think you need to increase any voltages at all unless you're not getting stability. Some 7970's need 1.075 (stock is 1.05v) volts to be stable even at a mild overclock, but it doesn't appear that you need that.

If you want to read about voltage tweaks on the 7970m, go here:

AMD 7970m - modified VBIOS

i'll try the modded 12.8's later this weekend with your same clocks and see what get

 

Thanks! Do the drivers make that much of a difference on OC capability? I thought it had more to do with the hardware interface itself and the vBIOS.

 

the drivers might make some difference because of GPU utilization. The newer drivers (i.e., 12.7 beta - 12.8) really make a difference in 7970m gaming performance because they are more optimzed for the 7970m in the popular games. So more utlization means it will be harder to get the really high overclocks stable...but games still run better and are more stable with the newer drivers

 

Hello guys!

So, I found another fix (easier) for the switch (m17xR3) between the IGP and 7970m, however I had noticed sometimes if you put the system on standby when you awake the system screen will be black. To come out of it you have to press the combination of FN+F7 and enter.

How to make the switch work? Enable from bios both the cards, install the mod 12.8 mobility (that's what I had tried) and download this version of Intel 3000 (it is the driver from Dell with the 7970m) Drivers and Downloads | Dell [Canada].

Once you had installed the AMD mod driver, remove the driver for the intel 3000 card from device manager until will show installed as standard vga. Run dell driver and install manual from device manager by selecting the card manually from C:\Dell\Drivers\N3GM1\Packages\Drivers\Display\W76A_INF\C7140860.inf. After installation, restart and voila, you will have the switch work. I hope I am not the only one with this fix working again...

 

Will give this a try once I get some free time.

Edit: Just followed your mini guide step by step, but I'm getting a BSOD (atikmpag.sys) shortly after the Windows splash screen. Perhaps you just have a magical R3 that allows switching, or perhaps your CPU might be the key? Not sure why though. I just got my 2920XM today, I'll give this another shot after I install it tonight.

 

Is it the same method to overclock the R2 this way? i just tried this and i can't move the sliders at all, they just stay all the way to the left. However i am on the latest version but that .dll file installed itself

 

I had no luck finding the atipldxx.dll file. I tried downloading previous Afterburner versions, but I couldn't find it. Can someone point me in the right direction? Thanks.

EDIT: I found it.

 

Can't wait to get my card and install when I get home this weekend. Hopefully the install is as easy as described.

 

Just search google with the key word being "atipldxx.dll"

 

gotta be careful for .dll files you find online

 

No luck. Was told the 580M heatsink would work with it but it doesn't. Have to get one for the 7970 ASAP.

 

...and only download from trusted sources. Thats being careful

 

Just installed my 7970m into my M17xR3 and I'm having an issue when the battery is installed. Even though it reads all white lights pushing on the button, in Win7, it'll start of 100%, and plugged in, then show running on battery and a. Few minutes later show the battery almost empty and just shuts off. If I take out battery and run off AC only, no issues. Any ideas? Never had this with my 580m installed

 

Hey guys,
all of you are running on the modded drivers or has anyone successfully overclocked with one of the official drivers?
Still can't OC my system, i'm stuck in afterburner with the sliders pinned to 0/0 already tried different drivers, versions of afterburner&kombustor and added 2 ati files someone posted on the forums here.
no success

 

Whoa, it sounds like you are on the iGPU?

Try FN+F7 and see if you are on the dedicated one

 

not working for me as i own a clevo, but the strange thing is that all the clevo users following this guide were successful :/
i'm sure it'S running on the dGPU as i've started running kombustor at first to put some load on the card. leaving the settings with Eula = <blank> and unnofficial support = 0 it shows 850 / 1200 as supposed... after changing the values i'm @ 0/0

 

Core2 is the "atipdlxx.dll" in the MSIafterburner folder? If not that is what you need for it to enable.

 

yeah, thats what i wrote in the post before.. all that there's left might be a clean reinstall of windows but i'm not very keen on doing that...

 

is there guild like this for the 6990m installing next week going from 560m to a 6990m?

 

i suppose the 6990M is supported by afterburner without any mods....?

 

Should be no different that installing the 6990. Just make sure you have the proper heatsink for the 6990 and thermal pads needed.

 

Yea my heatsink is on its way from UK and GPU should arrive today hopefully... just bit worried about seeing people had issues with drivers and un installing nvidia drivers and installing new drivers on top of old ... never done it so just bit worried but nothing couldnt handle.. been nvidia fan most of my life haven had much luck with ATI lol .. so it raises concerns ..

 

I just did a fresh install of Win 7. Took me an hour while watching the telly.

 

good idea going to do that easiest all my games on the other SSD anyways so wont take long..

cheers addict.

 

My screen sometimes flicker when I OC to 950MHz core and 1375MHz memory. Is this something to be concerned about? I would it say it happens around 40% of the time when I apply those OC settings. Any method to stop the flicker at all?

 

Lower the overclock on the memory gradually till the flicker is gone.

 

How do we overvolt these cards? What temps should they run at overcooked to be safe.

 

You don't need a new heat sink, just remove the black sticker attached to the copper plate and use an 6990m x-bracket.

I originally had the 560m and upgraded to the Dell 6990m.
I had some over heating issues until I bought 1mm, 1.5mm, and 2.0mm pads and did a bunch of test fits until I was satisfied that
I had good contact with all important parts of the card and the heat sink. Now I rarely go over 80c.

As for the drivers I just uninstalled the Nvidia drivers, Intel drivers, did a driver sweep, deleted all Nvidia files. Then installed the stock Dell 6990M drivers.

 

Hey guys...I haven't been around in the last month or so, so i just want to thank all those who have answered questions on this thread in my absence. Its good to see this thread still going strong after all these months

hopefully things slow down at work a little so I can breath...unfortunately, bigger job = more responsibility = less time for forums lol

Keep the fire lit guys!

 

overvolt via a hex editor..you need to mod the vbios

alternatively, you can use what others have already done:

AMD 7970m - modified VBIOS

 

Thanks found it and overvolted with the 900/1300@ 1.075v. Just curious what the upper limit of the temps are on the overclocked 7970m

 

With the current over clock you listed Ht_addict 66 celcius on the GPU and with a 1000/1600 OC at 1.075v i got 68C, all good temps for sure.