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

Douse, yeah I'm glad it didn't get stolen, I'd be hurting right now hahaha.

I'll check out Mythlogic and see what they got, thank you

 

@ichime yea, it would be grateful if you can upload your bios file, I've got 1 dell 7970m, but for some reasons, it shuts down everytime when the gpu temp reaches 87 degrees, I'm wondering whether if this is bios related problem?

 

i really want to know if there is real games performance improvement in current high end games in comparison with 69xxs

 

I will have it sent to svl7 later tonight hopefully.

Trust me, there is. BF3 and Crysis 2 run pretty smooth when I turn down the CPU TDP. The fans don't even max out when I play Dirt 2, DC Universe, HoN, DotA 2 or Team Fortress 2 and in those games, I have vsync disabled.

I also notice that my system feels a bit snappier with this setup than with my previous setup with a single GTX 580M (i.e boot times are quicker, chrome loads my videos a bit quicker etc), but that could be due to the amount of "programs" installed by nVidia's driver package in the registry.

Also, even with Crossfire enabled, I get better battery life than a single 580M, which I find kinda strange. And lastly (and obviously), the system feels much cooler and produces less heat when running high end games (i.e. Crysis 2 benchmark) even in single card mode.

So those are my observations and this looks like a keeper. The only thing is the HDMI issue and if that is fixed, these cards are golden.

For those looking to buy these cards, I think I saw some vendors selling them for $450 each, which is basically a steal.

 

ichime you use the 240W AC Adapter in the system?
And if HDMI doesn't work you mean can't connect the external monitor?

 

Sounds great ichime!
Now all you need is a proper driver to support the cards and things might get even better!

Really $450 where where lol???

Cheers.

 

Well I managed to boot into windows @ 0.96v just now... Will return with a more accurate response after a Vantage run...

I just want this machine to work with both GPUs @ 100% and not BSOD...

EDIT:
Seems to be stable:

AMD Radeon HD 6970M / 6990M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-950 Processor,Alienware score: P17594 3DMarks

 

Any luck on the Eurocom 7970M vBIOS upload? My 2 Clevo cards came in today and looks as though I'm going to have to flash them to get them to work in my R2.

Thanks in advance.

 

@Greywolf22, no dice so far. I can't get the second card to work. I did get a response out of the guy on eBay and he is escalating. I am hoping to get this resolved soon. I'm getting to the point of considering sending these cards back, demanding a refund and finding some 7970's to buy. This is really getting irritating.

 

When ichime posts his vbios (or anyone with the Eurocom vbios) I would like to hear if anyone is brave enough to flash the dell cards and see if you can regain fan control. However, if Eurocom is using a different eprom I wonder if that will be enough (and of course I know nothing about electrical engineering )

 

@ichime since it has been a while, just wondering how's it going? any luck on the vbios dump? is cf working alright when the cards are undervolted?

 

I second that. Hopefully the HDMI audio iissue will be resolved.

 

Hey PWn3R,

Any luck?

 

Can't speak for anyone else that has the 7970M, but mine are not functioning in my R2 - no display whatsoever. I was able to hear Windows start up through the speaker and the cards have been confirmed to work in my wife's R3.

I'm currently stymied by the flex cable from the MB to the power button/touch control panel that's keeping me from taking it apart and continuing my efforts to get the 7970M going. That part should be in my hands by next week sometime. Until then, my 7970 project is on hold.

 

Which model of 7970M did you get? Clevo, Dell, or Eurocom?

 

i can only guess he got dell ones.

 

I'm hoping he got a Clevo card. I really want Dell's 7970M version to work. I don't have the cash to buy one from Eurocom but I do have my Dell Preferred Acct.

 

I got 2 x Clevo based cards. I flashed them through the R3 to the same vBIOS that ichime had to successfully get his cards working in his R2.

 

So there working now?

Sent from my Samsung Captivate/ICS using Tapatalk 2

 

@WhapAChow what vbios are you using for you 7970m, dell's? is it possible for you to upload it here?

I'm getting quite frustrated as my dell 7970m shuts the machine down when it is reaching 87 degrees, and I don't really see the reason why it is happening?

Any help would be grateful!

 

They're not currently working in my R2. They are, however, operational in my wife's R3 - there is one installed in there now. I'm waiting on a flex cable replacement from the motherboard to the power button/touch control panel above the keyboard before I venture into my system again.

I'll try to get them uploaded tonight - nowhere near my computer right now.

 

So it's not the card, the VBIOS (or incompatibility with the EPROM).

 

Hi all,

Rapid enquiry:
Whether I start-up my computer or resume from sleep mode, the second card activates and stabilizes at 65 degrees and it just stays that way unless I disable and then re-enable crossfire.
I have tried the two latest drivers, 12.6 and am currently on 12.7.
No external monitor, no OC and EnableUlps set to 0.
Has anyone else here experienced this?

Cheers.

 

yes!
i have the same problem.
if you use gpu-z you'll notice that the card is clocked higher than the other one.
so far i start furmark (multi gpu) at fullscreen and immediately close it. that way the card goes to the same clock speeds as the primary one.
i dont know how to fix this.
i remember there was a fix for the 4870s back in 2010 but i cant find the wiki for the m17x anymore

 

so Eurocom ones are the only 7970s confirmed working in crossfire on R2 ? At least till now

 

You didn't mention if the clocks are high or not when it reaches these temps. Do they drop to 150/100 for the second card? Those temps seem like when I have a second monitor connected which increases the clocks to something like 350/900. I know you already mentioned that there is no monitor attached but if the clocks are not dropping something may be keeping the second card in that particular clock profile.

I know that things like web browsing for me can cause my clocks to jump a little (flash etc).

 

Hey hey Douse

Clocks on primary are 100/150 @ 45 degrees @ idle
Clocks on secondary are 250/900 @ 65 degrees @ idle

This happens whether I boot with Xfire enabled or disabled.
Might need to flash the vbios... and I lost the USB dedicated to that... long days... -_-

 

i dont think the vbios has to do anything with it!
try what i told you.
there was a fix in the old days that would start and close rivatuner or something like that.
i need to figure this out too.
as soon as my rgb led arrives along with the new SSDs, i'll get to it.

 

Hey Thenzfarmer

That's the clock I was thinking of. So it is basically not dropping to 150/100

I also do not think it is the vBios. The cards clock up and down based on the profile that the use. So you open a 3D game, it will jump to the 3D profile etc.
I think that something in Windows is making the cards stay in a particular profile which is why it is sitting at 250/900.

As tb303 said, opening and closing something may 'refresh' the card so they change to the correct clock profile. Much like he is doing with Furmark.

When I get home tonight I will check my cards out. I normally have an external monitor plugged in so I haven't noticed it.
I am running Dell cards so it may be different.

Also, just brainstorming here, maybe trying closing all unnecessary open applications that may be running in the background? Also, have you had this problem since a fresh install of Windows? When did it begin happening? Just trying to see if it is an application causing this

EDIT:: I vaguely remember someone mentioning that a specific driver messed with the clock profile, so it may be driver related. 12.4's were pretty stable.

 

EDIT:: I vaguely remember someone mentioning that a specific driver messed with the clock profile, so it may be driver related. 12.4's were pretty stable.[/QUOTE]

Yup you nailed it man!
I uninstalled the latest application profiles and problem fixed,
Aaaaaah. Not such a bad day after all!
Grazie mille!

 

Awesome!

So are you running without CAP's atm? Or did you install one version back?

 

No caps at the moment. Until they fix max payne 3 on amd cards I'll avoid cap 12.7

 

LOL fair enough Although, you may need the caps for other games....

BTW I have had no luck with Max Payne 3. Crashes as soon as the intro to the game starts...

 

(appologies if this is against the rules for the double post in a second thread)

I think for the course of these modding threads dealing with m7970 cards, each person needs to declare up front what card and bios they are using:

m7970(Dell)(BIOS=Stock)
m7970(Clevo)(BIOS=EurocomCopy+Overclock)
m7970(Eurocom)(BIOS=unknown/from NBR member)

Good Idea?

 

OK, so tooday i got my 7970m From eurocom -

YES, YES YES, YES OH YES

I will be instaling it in 8 hours from now, eurocom included a CD with ''7970 driver''

And free X-bracket is there as well , i'm in heaven

Updates to come as soon as i come back from my work, FINGERZ CROSSED !

 

Good Luck BuD! Eager to see how you go.
Happy Days!

Will be interested about automatic fan control as well.


Cheers.

 

How did you uninstall the latest application profiles? I'd like to see if that fixes my problem too. I am running 12.6 I think.

What do you mean by CAP's ?

 

i think they mean that you have to push Caps Lock when installing the drivers

i dont know either LOL

 

Haha no.
CAP = Catalyst Application Profile
i.e. Profiles are required in some instances to add crossfire support for some games (for example, cap 12.7 has added improved xfire support for diablo 3. All you need to do to uninstall is select 'uninstall a program' in control panel and select Application profiles.
Cheers

 

i go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Programs and Features but i cant find what you say

 

Well actually the problem still remained until I went back to driver 12.4 as suggested by Douse. So uninstall the ATI driver in programs and features, restart, run driver sweeper in safe mode, reboot and run c cleaner for the sake of it. Then re-install 12.4 this is how I do it anyway
cheers

 

yes! this is what i do to setup new drivers, except the ccleaner bit. so i have to go back to 12.4 then huh?

 

So the CAP's weren't responsible?

TBH I have not noticed much difference going from 12.4 to the 12.7 beta's so I dont think you will be loosing anything by going back to this version.

Just putting it out there, is it really a big deal to have the right card running at semi clocks? Personally, I would just leave it!

 

Odd, I'm running 12.7 and haven't noticed the right card clocks running any differently. Although to be honest I installed them only a day or so before I left for the UK and haven't been back home to check it out. So I don't think I'd take my word for it

 

Dang i though it was just me and since i'm at work back in the sahara i'm unable to post so often here...

I'm also on 12.7beta + cap1 and my secondary card after windows start up run @250/900 instead of 150/300 Mhz. Running a 3D app will fix it. (i usually run for a split second furmark)

 

Well it's just the buzzing of the not so quiet fans that get to me after a long day working nearby dozers and what not. The quieter the betterer
Receiving my R4 monday, time to see what that 680 can do

 

After a solid two months of use, I've isolated the source of the lockups and shutdowns.

It's not heat related at all since the temps are between 75-85*C depending on the load. It's the PSU. Got a hold of a wattage meter and Crysis 2 was pulling 250w when the PC locked up. It held at 250w for a while but after about an hour or so the game froze up and on came the BSOD.

So it's either me getting a 7970M, which is what I would prefer to do, or get a second 240w PSU and hotwire both together to get a 480w PSU. I've got a bad tendency to royally screw things up when it involves wiring and all that... >.< Tis frustrating. I've limited the CPU to drawing only 50w via throttlestop and that helps a LOT, but it only prolongs the inevitable...

 

Hi Imglidinhere,

One other option you might consider is purchasing a new power supply and trying it instead of your current one. I know the PSU's are only rated at 240W, but some are a bit more robust than others, so if you plan to attempt the 480W PSU mod anyway, you might just buy a new one and see how it works.

I haven't had any issues, even when mine has run over 240W, so it might be that your current PSU is marginal and a new one might just do the trick.

Just something else to consider.

Good luck to you!

 

^^^ Agreed. Every PSU is slightly different, perhaps yours cannot handle much over 240 without causing issues.

Got any mates with an Alienware that you could temporarily swap PSU's with?

 

Hello guys,

Someone could answer a question for me? I got a dell 6970M i intend to use it in my M17X-R2 could i flash it with the clevo bios or just better to return the dell card? Planning to upgrade to cfx later.