[Guide] Installing AMD Radeon Mobility 6970 / 6990 in your M17x R2 (Single GPU and CrossfireX)

Here is what it shows me and the info on my cards,

 

Hey, that's a good start
So it is either a connector issue or a vbios problem. I use the Eurocom cable I asked them to send with the cards (as per Greywolf's advice in an earlier comment).

If you have still got the unmodified 5870 xfire cable with the sticky tape on it used to tape it down to the system, you'll see the way the connectors are meant to connect to the GPUs. I'll upload a pic in a minute.
I can't stress enough you must make sure they are in the right way and not upside down. That's what caused my issue to start off with and I had no need to flash my GPUs. They were happy from the start, I flashed them for the sake of it and for undervolting.

Second, if you have checked this again and can guaranty me the cable is installed correctly (take a pic of the connectors and post it if you want) I suggest you reflash your cards as per DRs instructions.

If that doesn't work I can't help you much more I'm afraid. My gut feeling is it is a connector issue and although you have checked this before, please check again

 

Ok I have the CF cable from m18x installed right now, And I used electrical tape to tape the whole m18x cable because the cable was taped differently then on the m17x, and to confirm they are flipped the right side, the little arrow on the connecting ends needs to have a arrow on top of it right?

Ok i couldent really see in your pic, but does the top part have a little arrow?

 

Thanks Greywolf.

 

Yeah, bottom is closest to the card and top is furthest. If that's all in place and you've reflashed your vbios and reset the cmos/bios then I don't know what else you can do.
Someone will have the answer!

 

Does it hurt the video card in any way to flash it? For testing different settings and such, does it hurt the card to flash vbios frequently?

 

Really missing my HDMI out now (sound)

Also just got an xbox for chrismas so the ps3 is going (been using my ps3 to play my back up bluray movies) so im stuffed.

Thought this upgrade was popular enough for somebody to attemt a fix for this problem....... for this reason alone I may consider downgrading back to 5870's to get HDMI functionality back (sacrifce some gaming graphics) although I dont want to

 

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thats why my 5870s are still in the box.

 

Just read this, looks like he's using the Dell vBios on a eurocom card and says everything including HDMI audio working?

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/622932-m17x-r3-upgrade-eurocom-6970m-2.html

Anybody tried this? (I know its an R3)

Am I barking up the wrong tree here, I would suppose flashing the stock dell vbios would give me all the problems of having a Dell card? fan control. shut down etc??

Daren't try it lol, cos if it goes wrong I'm a relative amateur and have never blind flashed a card back...........

 

When I had my Dell 6970 master installed, I was able to get Display Port audio and pretty sure I had HDMI audio.

Throughout my quest to solve my throttling, I did confirm that Clevo cards can be flashed to their Dell counterparts. As to whether or not HDMI audio will be enabled on a Clevo card with a Dell vbios, I don't know-I didn't check.

I can't remember off the top of my head, but when i tried it, I think i did find the Clevo card with the Dell vbios to not be completely stable.

But most importantly, because HDMI and Displayport audio works on a Dell card WITH a Clevo vbios, my educated guess is that the HDMI audio is inherent to Dell cards only in this setup regardless of vbios.

 

Sorry for the double post, but it's not really related.

So I've been playing around with my setup for a while, and I can say for certain, that at least in my case, with my clocks, both PSU's are definitely needed. When I'm only using a single PSU, and running furmark or something else that's stressful, the laptop will hard shut down and the breaker on the PSU will trip. If I use both PSU's I won't have that problem. I find this interesting partially due to the fact that I don't have a XM cpu (although I do have my 820qm overvolted).

The second thing is, I think I've finally remedied my 106.5C shader. I added small washers to the posts on the backplate underneath the card. This forces extra pressure onto the gpu die, and while temps on the second card are still high, they aren't critically high anymore.

 

your lucky my gpu's over 800\1000 will start to stutter on benches then the display driver stops working i get no shut downs tho since im on 330 psu. i dont have my cards underclocked.

 

Ok poss solution

My surround sound has and 3.5m audio in for playing my ipod etc

So what about HDMI for picture, and headphone socket for the sound?

might work, but will the sound be in sync to the picture

 

That will work fine, but you won't be getting surround sound. At best you'd be getting 2.1.

Are you saying that your surround sound, doesn't have any other inputs than HDMI, and a single 3.5mm jack? If so that's really strange.

@Stealth55, yeah, anything higher than 830 will crash the display driver for me. I tried to get my memory to 1000mhz, but I'd get stuttering and a guaranteed driver crash in Vantage. I found dropping it to 975 fixed that. I'm really happy the throttling seems to be gone though.

I tried overvolting the cards to see if I could push them anyfurther. They don't like 1.2v - not one bit. I haven't tried 1.15v, but my guess is they won't like that either.

 

No, my surround sound has a few inputs, HDMI, Optical, Phono, USB, 3.5m...... think the point is more my lack of audio out options from the laptop

 

That's without any undervolting right?

 

well in my case i can use my external card and my 5.1 Z5500. the problem is i have to set the speakers and subwoofer near the external TV because in my room i have no external TV

 

That's also my problem, tv is in the next room. I already have a 10m hdmi cable in place though to the tv room but now no sound, so have ordered a 10m 3.5mm audio jack (male to male) to run the audio to the surround sound system it may only be 2.1 sound but got to be better than the laptop speakers

 

The laptop has at least 5.1 audio out in the form of 3 3.5mm jacks though.

@thenzfarmer

Yeah, no undervolting. If I were to undervolt, I wouldn't be able to achieve much more than stock clocsk.

 

I guess you just want better than stock clocks regardless of extra heat? Won't slower clocks @ cooler temps perform better than higher clocks with super high temps?

Also, no one ever answered my question about the Vbios flashing. Does it hurt the cards in any way to flash them? If someone wanted to test settings and flash several times does that cause any issues?

 

Well I have flashed my cards 30 odd times now and the performance is still on par with my initial results
I don't know from experience whether or not it damages the cards in any way.

 

Could i add one of these http://www.adexelec.com/pe-flex16kr-3.jpg (this extender supports 2.0+3.0 pcie) to my 17x and maybe upgrade to a external 6xxx desktop series gpu? obviously with a seprate psu.

 

Nope, as long as it's stable, higher clocks will always perform better. Nearly proportionally better. 830mhz is 16% higher than 715mhz. So a 6990m clocked at 830mhz will perform very nearly 16% better than a 6990 clocked at 715mhz.

You should only worry about heat if it becomes dangerous. Right now I'm flirting with 94C, but that's ok for me - well within 110C limit.

As for your other question, as long as the flash is done correctly there is no harm done. Technically speaking memory has a limited number of read/write cycles, but that number is in the tens of thousands or more. So flashing your vbios even 100 times in one day isn't harmful as long as its done correctly.

Uh, no. That's a PCI-e to PCI-e connector. It's not a MXM 3.0 to PCI-e connector.

 

Is it possible to make a mxm 3.0 to PCie extender? Or do mobile companys got stuff like that locked down because of business

 

Just curious (everything is working fine for me) but, for people who's undervolts are un-stable, what's wrong with keeping the cards @ stock voltage with the standard PSU? The temps aren't as good as the undervolt, but they're within reason. Can the standard PSU not maintain the card @ 1.1 3dclocks?

 

For me, a single PSU can't handle 1.1v @ stock clocks (eventhough I'm using a 6990+6970 combo). That might be b/c I have my ram and cpu overvolted though.

A few people on here have reported being able to run stock clocks and even a bit of an OC at 1.1v with Dual 6990's on a single PSU. It varies from system to system.

The reverse exists, but good luck finding one as most are simply prototypes for inhouse testing purposes. I'm sure PCI-e to MXM 3.0 exists, but who knows. Could only find pictures of a PCI-e to MXM 2.1 interface.

 

yea i know that adapter its mxm to pcie it can be bought here Products - MXM TO PCIE,PCI-E TO MXM II - but im trying to find reverse of this

 

I can run stock voltages no problem. Only issue I have with it is the temps get to about 83-85C. I keep it @ 1.02V because it gives me the best temps and I don't even get any isolated crashing. I ran the full 3dmark experience 10 times in a row with 1.02 (couldn't run it once @ .96 and could MAYBE run it twice with 1V) and I never saw temps get above 78C. To be fair, I'm not overclocking anything in my machine and I'm using a modified Cryo NZXT. I'm sure that makes some difference.

 

well most of us do it because with undervolting we avoid stuttering on maximum demanding games (because power needs reach the psu maximum). Performance is not affected at all as soon as reasonable undervolting doesnt cause crashing. I am running my 6970s at 0.96V. cant even see difference with 1.1V. i could say its even better because stuttering dissapeared even on crysis dx11 maximum settings. Temperatures is not the reason we undervolt. At least not for me. With 0.96V they hardly reach over 70 degres celcius

 

I run my 6970's @ 0.98v as 0.96 creates lots of blue screens for me

 

Just a plain simple question...

Does the DELL 6990m card have the same fan problems as the 6970m when you set it in a R2?

 

Yes 10char

 

Hello Guys!
I need your help!
I bought two graphics hd 6990m at Eurocom Upgradeyourlaptop!
Cards work fine, but only separately-crossfire is not working.
Windows reinstalled, did not help many drivers Tried.-crossfire is not working.
What do I do not know, please help me!
The cable crossfire is established properly.

Dell Alienware M17x r2
17.3 screen (1920 x 1200) LED, glossy/Intel Core i7-840QM (1.86 Ghz)/8 GB RAM/2 x 500 GB HDD/DVD RW/2 x ATI Radeon HD 5870, 1 GB/LAN/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/webcam/Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit

 

Hi neklec, welcome to NBR forum

I would try and reseat the CF cable, if still it does not work, a good try would be to reinstall your 5870's and see if everything works fine. So you can rule out a bad CF cable.

When you install the new cards, did you follow the guide? did yoy also perform a cmos reset (power drain)?

this is performed removing the battery, opening the bottom panel to gain access to the bios battery and disconecting it. Once this is done press and keep pressed the power button for 10 seconds and restore everything back as it was.

Remember to enter bios and reset data, time and hdd settings becouse resetting the cmos you will restore the bios at basic factory default.

 

You might have got the non crossfire flashed 6990's like I got and crossfire was not even an option in catalyst control center. You can check this by downloading gpuz and pulling the vbios currently on your card and then download radeon bios editor and open your vbios in that. If it says something about P150H clevo then you need to reflash them to the x7200 clevo vbios to be able to get crossfire to work.

I was in the same boat as you were trying different drivers and changing crossfire cables trying to get it to work. Then I re-read the main article for this thread again and double checked over my vbios. Hope this helps.

 

Here is a link to the Clevo X7200 Vbios from my card. This should be what you need to flash to get Crossfire working. Flash the Slave vbios to the slave card and the master vbios to the master card.

Link to X7200 Vbios

 

Also quick question. Are you using the crossfire cable provided by Eurocom? Or are you using the one that was attached to your 5870s?

 

Thanks for answers.

CptXabaras I have two crossfire cable-for hd5870s and for hd6990s from eurocom. Tried both of a cable does not work crossfire. Cmos reset
Did not do.

mwally7 Yes RBE has shown Clevo P150HM Blackcomb XT Samsung 2GB.
It means I need to flash vbios http: // ex-185.html*post7976087.
Whether will die after that my cards, never flash vbios and I do not know as it to do?

 

Hi Neklec

Just follow the instructions from Ichime in the first post on how to flash the cards vbios and you should be fine.

You'll need a bootable USB stick (which is covered in the first section of the tutorial)

and then follow the steps :

Part III: VBIOS and Driver Installation

Use the bios's that DR650 has provided and if you have any questions at all please let us know.

Good luck.

 

Make sure you download atiflash.exe and put it on the usb along with the vbios(or atleast I had to, not sure I used the ones linked in this thread, got my bootable files from somewhere in these forums but they work and adding atiflash to the root of the usb by drag and drop worked for me as well). I would use the "atiflash -i" command before and after you flash so you can see that it changed on the cards.

 

Hey guys, I know this would be covered in one of the long threads on here about our gpu's but havent found anything as of yet, anyway what I want to know is I have a 5870m crossfire set up atm, Im looking at moving up to the 6990m crossfire set up.

Can I use the 5870m heatsinks on the 6990m?

Cheers, also can anyone comment on the 4xxx series heatsinks working with other models in case someone else finds this thread looking for that.

 

yes, there is only one type of heatsink for the R2

 

ok sweet as, I was a little skeptical and had to ask seeing as tho the 6xxx series gpu didn't come in the r2 from factory.

dr650 you seem on top of things mate, do you think the r2 will have a good chance of using the 7xxx series when they come out?????

 

We won't know for sure until proper testing is done, unfortunately so let's hope for the best.

 

The amount of testing / tweaking that had to be done to get all the vbios / procedures in order to install the 6990's, I assume, took forever. They've been out for a while and people are still having issues with the 6970/6990's. I personally won't upgrade to the 7 series cards because I'm finally happy and working great with my 6990's. Everything I play works fantasticly on the highest settings. Any more, for me, would be overkill. I can't imagine the headache that the people who try and early adopt the 7x cards are in for. Even the 6970's/6990's aren't as simple as just plug in + go for the r2, so I imagine the 7x cards have the potential for twice the headache. It took time, but my 6990's finally work flawlessly. There was a lot of tweaking that had to be done to find the sweet spot of where to undervolt, and I didn't have even close to the problems that other people on this thread are having.

If I were you, I'd wait until someone brave who really knows their stuff (DR56SE, Greywolf, aarpcard) gets them working (and keeps them working) for a period of time. Honestly, by the time games are out that I'll play that will even require more performance than the 6990's, I'll have another machine.

Just my .02

 

I have a decent level of confidence the 7000 series will be compatible. The 6000 series was just a matter of plug and play for the most part after the correct card/vbios combinations were figured out. It also helped too that ichime got his hands on a ES 6990 and ran tests on it looong before the 6990m was even known to exist publicly. The main problems arose with the use of manufacturer specific pins in the MXM interface - something which PCI-e 2.0 in desktops lack. Dell loves to use manufacturer specific pins where as Clevo tends to leave them alone. This is the main reason for explaining why some gpu's work well in some laptops and others don't. For example, the M15x is best used with Dell 6970's or 6990's. Clevo gpu's will yield the same results in the M15x as Dell gpu's yield in the M17x R2.

I'm still slightly suspicious that this 69XX joyride might only be due to the "updates" that were included in the A09 or A10 bios for the M17x R2. I remember reading one of the technotes which stated something along the lines as "added new lines for graphics controllers." This was all before the M18x was even being considered. I'm only guessing that that bios update was made with Alienware anticipating adding the 69XX series to the M17x and NOT releasing the M18x - an idea which was later scrapped and as a result we now have the M18x and a system bios for the M17x which supports M18x gpu's - this also would explain why GTX 580m's work in the R2, but not GTX 580m SLI - as ichime discovered.

Either way that's just a suspicion and I fully anticipate the 7000 series being just as relatively trouble free as the 6000 series was. Personally I can't wait to get my hands on a pair of 7990m's - although I'm not sure what the benefit would be as there literally isn't a game I can't max currently.

 

aarpcard, If my thinking is correct, the 7990s will be a 75w card which is more efficient. That there will put the 7990+XM CPU well within the power draw limits of the R2 system bios. it will relieve an additional 50W for the system. But if they are a newer tech, I'm skeptical that they will work due to bios compatibility. But I'm really hoping so. If thats the case, I may scrap my warranty, and sell my 6990s and 5870s for the sake of 7990+RGB. Though I'd probably just sell the 6990s and some CPUs so that I can gather the neccessary funds and not dive into the savings.

 

The chances of them being 75 watt cards is probably likely. However, with 100watt gpu's having been around for 2 generations on Nvidias end and this generation for AMD, combined with the fact that most new high performance laptops are being designed around 100 watt MXM specifications, I wouldn't be surprised at all if AMD opts for adding more horsepower at the sacrifice of power.

But as long as they aren't above 100 watts (which i doubt they'll be) there shouldn't be a problem electrically speaking.

 

The 6990's are 100w? Would that mean that the 7990's wouldn't need to be undervolted? Also, I'm using the a10 bios for the m17xr2 (I think). Is there a newer bios that wouldn't allow the use of these newer video cards? Can't the BIOS be modded to allow the use if the 7x series is disallowed? I guess Alienware wants to prevent people from upgrading their old machines so that users who want newer tech will be forced to buy their newer stuff, which is mentally retarded because one of the reasons people BUY alienware is because they're modular. People don't have to buy a brand new desktop everytime they want new video cards or a compatible cpu.

I'd honestly just be nervous to get them because a) they're unnecessary for any games in the foreseeable future, b) I had enough headache with the 6990's to last me a lifetime and I don't want to go through that again to get pretty much nothing better in terms of anything but benchmark scores, c) None of us have any idea how bad the heat will be / what kind of issues will arise.

Also, Dan, haven't you already voided your warranty just by doing everything you've done to your machine? Also, is that your wife in your avatar?

 

Good point. That I wouldn't mind either. Fingers crossed that they work.

EDIT:

Well one can argue that my warranty is void. But if I put everything back to stock, no one is the wiser. Granted putting it back to stock means digging out my Black Chasis, putting the mobo in that, putting the 5870s in, removing the 1TB, installing the blu-ray burner, removing my RAM and installing the old RAM, removing the 940XM and installing the 520M. But I havn’t damaged anything. Yet.

But if the are 100W, they may need to be undervolted a little. But that I would be fine with. My guess is that anything over 6990 crossfire won't be neccessary until the new consoles arrive. And even than they will likely be based on older GPUs, and not real new ones. Although the new consoles will probably be based on some sort of DX11 capable card. Than the 7990s will have a better benefit.

As for my Avatar, if that was my wife, I'd never leave the house In my opinion, that woman is the perfect female specimen.