980m Upgrade Help

Hello all,

I have just upgraded my Alienware 17 r1 or r5 to a 980m.. thanks to @woodzstack
Specs are i7 4700mq, 60hz screen, 16gb ram, 240w power supply and the 980m. I came from a 780m.

Just looking for some input as my initial run of Firestrike scores seem low.

Installed the most recent drivers from the Eurocom site.
I have it set to dedicated only. Everything is set to max performance in Command center and in nvidia control panel. I'm getting around 8700 in graphics score.

Prior to that, when I had the Intel gpu active as well, the scores were low 9000s - I think I had one at 9100 for graphic score at the highest.

Not sure if I'm missing anything setting related in command center or control panel. I feel like it may be due to the driver.

Temps haven't broken 62c on the gpu during any run and the cpu runs equally cool. Utilization shows the cpu is hitting turbo and the gpu shows full usage in the runs.

Any input would be appreciated. Let me know if any additional info is needed.

Thanks!

 

Can you show us a screenshot of the firestrike score page please.
What are your CPU stats, whats it clocked too.
What version of windows ( assume win10 right ?)
Can you show me what configurations you have in the NVidia control panel too.
What is the driver version your using (This could literally be the issue - Eurocom is good at keeping up to date drivers, but no one is perfect - and NVIDIA is far from it, with every driver being so different in performance.).

Do you have any pending windows updates left to install ?

 

hah...I scored 7100 so...stilll higher then me! But I am having power issues that could very well be affecting that

EDIT: Just re did the test, pulling just under 8700 now.

http://www.3dmark.com/fs/10613735

 

I haven't had the chance to upload that information. I will be able to tomorrow. I am on windows 10, it is up to date, and I think the turbo goes up to 3.2ghz or 3.4ghz.

@MogRules
How is your gaming performance? I literally just installed yesterday so I haven't had a chance to try anything yet. Just ran some Firestrike runs. What drivers are you using? I see people with like 9-10k or more gpu scores and makes me feel like ours is low? Granted, I'm not sure how much of an overclock they are running, but from what I have seen 9k range should be easily obtainable stock. What power issue are you having? I don't think I would be having any. My 780m ran a high oc without any issues so I can't see why this card stock would be a problem.

I'll try and update tomorrow.
thanks!

 

Gaming performance seems fine but I have not been doing to much with it. I think my power jack is shot and so I am experiencing VERY high temps on one corner of the motherboard and left hand side of the laptop. I have parts on order and they should be here Monday so I am hoping that will fix it. If that does not fix it I am either looking at a new motherboard or Alienware can replace the computer, it's up to them. I have been trying to fix the problem for a few weeks now , there are even a few threads going here, so I should finally have an answer by Monday afternoon hopefully.

I have a buddy with an ASUS ROG system with the 980m and he is scoring slightly higher then me on the GPU score but I am chalking that up to possibly the vBios. I am seeing a resoable increase in performance over my old 780m so I have not been overly worried about it yet. I also have the 120hz screen so playing with the vBios is not really an option as I can't legacy boot.

 

@woodzstack
Here is the link to the firestrike score page: http://www.3dmark.com/3dm/15721368?

This is with the 375.63 driver from eurocom: http://downloads.eurocom.com/support/drivers/upgradeyourlaptop/Alienware/
It is the second windows 10 option. The first and the third won't install for me (probably due to hardware IDs?)
In the Nvidia control panel, I have power management set to max performance, turned vsync to off, and have it set to single display performance. Everything else was left as-is from driver install.

@MogRules
Your physics score is much better than mine
Hope you get everything sorted out though. It's a bummer when things go bad or aren't working 100%
I saw your threads, and I think your 780m died around the same time as mine.
I'd like to see your results after the fix.
The 120hz screen always sounded appealing, but finding that cable is almost impossible


Overall, I'm still at a loss as to why I would be getting better performance with the intel gpu enabled versus straight dedicated.

 

I am in the middle of purchasing some cables now, when I google searched the part number I got hundreds of results, ended up getting them for $21US + shipping, which I thought was good as I seen some sellers asking $80US+

http://www.yoycart.com/Product/521420756094/

 

With Maxwell you can flash the vbios in UEFI, no need for Legacy.

 

Any idea how? lol....I can't get it to load from a USB at all in UEFI and Windows NVFlash does nothing for me, it just skips a few screens and closes.

 

First, Backup your original vbios, I did it a while back but forgot how to.
This is what I do step-by-step:
1- To avoid issues, I boot in Safe mode.
* I think Nvflash will auto-disable Nvidia adapter, I can't remember.
2- While on desktop, press "Start+X" -> Command prompt (Admin)
I have a folder named "nvflash" it contains nvflash files and the vbios, located for convenience @ c:\ (the path will be C:\Nvflash)
3- Type "cd c:\nvflash"
4- nvflash -6 vBIOS FILE.rom (For example the Vbios I'm flashing is named SVL7.rom) ->>>> the -6 command will allow for subsystem and firmware ID mismatch.
* make sure the vbios you are flashing is tested and fully compatible with your adapter.


5- After checking the info, press "y" to proceed.
6- The flashing will start, DO NOT TOUCH anything , DO NOT DISCONNECT the power , DO NOT interrupt the operation.
7- After flashing is successful you will be instructed to restart your computer.
8- Restart, Check that everything is in order.
9- Enjoy!
***** Flashing the BIOS/VBIOS is risky and could brick your card and/or prevent your computer from booting or working as it should.
This is to show How i Flash the Vbios, FLASH AT YOUR OWN RISK! I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGES THAT MAY OCCUR WHILE ATTEMPTING THIS!**********

 

What version is the Nvflash you're using?

 

those are the instructions I follow unfortunately nvflash won't load for some reason, but I have not tried safe mode so I will give that a shot. I always back up the original vbios just in case. I will give it another go later and let you know what version I am using but I was downloading the newest one I could find.

Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk

 

@Rohr7

http://www.3dmark.com/fs/10652613

Results with Prema's vBios. I honestly don't think the numbers are going to make that much difference in real world performance, maybe a few FPS at most. I wouldn't even have bothered except I am out of ideas with my other problem haha.

 

@andrewsi2012
Did you happen to order that cable? That is a good price. Just wondering if you did and if it was the exact cable needed. The price almost seems to good to be true. Did you happen to find the screen as well? Last time I checked laptopscreens, they were out.

@MogRules
Thanks for the update. That's much better than the original run you posted. You said gaming performance was about the same? Any insight as to fps you were getting in certain games? Just wondering how mine compares. If substantially better, I would consider it. I would also try J95's drivers just to rule out drivers, but I can't download from techinferno yet Which also leaves me unable to get a different bios even if I wanted. Have to wait for those 5 posts.

 

Honestly I didn't get a chance to use it much as the heating issue was scaring me from using it in fear of breaking something. The only game I played any sort of amount of to get a feel for the performance was ARK. In ARK I was running all high/ultra settings with the -dx10 launch option and getting 45-65 FPS stable. It might have been slightly lower without the vBios but not by much , maybe a couple FPS. League of Legends was not enough to even stress the system , and I had it locked at 120FPS.

 

Sometimes when i play my screens go black and i can still hear the game running untill a Windows error sound comes, and i then have to hard boot my machine to get the screen to turn on again, the temps are fine but could it be my PSU or is it software related, i havent overclocked my GTX 980M or my 3940XM at the moment but it still occurs, shouldnt an allmost brand new 240 Watt PSU be enough for my setup?

 

What vbios are you running? voltage ?
High voltage will cause a black screen due to bad design 3 Mosfets out of 6.

 

If your worried about power consumption you could order up a Kill A Watt from Amazon and give that a try. At least that would rule out any power issues and they are pretty cheap ($33 CAD, so less in the US).

 

Its the pre installed VBIOS from CEGHardcorecustoms im using.

 

Yes I did, but the seller cancelled the order 3 days after payment claiming they had none left. So now I'm looking again.

 

http://www.3dmark.com/fs/10730004

980m results with the new motherboard and no more overheating. This is flashed with Prema's vBios.

Slightly higher scores again from when I was having problems.

 

Glad you got it worked out Mog!
You got your 980m from woodzstack, right?
I'm still using his stock vbios that ships with the card. Seeing your benching results with a new vbios is promising.
How are your gpu temps? Now that your machine is up and running back to normal - do you notice better gaming performance with the new vbios?
I'm wondering if it's even worth it to make the change. If it's negligible in real world performance, I'll stick with what I have. I haven't broken 70c at full load yet.

 

My 980m did indeed come from Woodzstack.

Real world performance is hard to gauge because I didn't really get a chance to use it much before the problems started previously and I quit using it for gaming. I only had a few hours before my heat sisues cropped up when I initially installed the 980m.

GPU temps are averaging 68-71 under full load so those are not concerning me at all but those are under minimal sessions so far as I was out of town and have not had all that much time to do a lot with it. Today will be a better test of that.

If your concerned about it but want to try it just make sure you back up Woodz vBios first before you give it a go so you can go back if you choose

I don't think there is anything wrong with Woodz vBios at all and honestly the numbers that 3Dmark is spitting out are just bragging rights IMO. I don't think the difference was enough to really write home about. I have a buddy with the same card in an Asus but a lower CPU and a newer machine and he was wondering why I scored so much higher then him, but he has a slighty slower CPU ( not enough to make any real difference in gaming ) but even that puts me well above him.

My main reason for flashing was the issue I was having with the malfunctioning board and I was willing to try anything at that point to try and fix it. Quite honestly if I didn't have that problem I probably never would have done the flash.

 

Just an update. I reverted back to Woodzstacks original vBIOS as I am having some black screen issues and wanted to eliminate Prema's bios as an issue and the first thing I am noticing is dramatically cooler temps. ARK was running at 75-80 before and now is sitting at 65 steady. I am seeing reduced core clock speeds however, no longer sitting at turbo clock speeds all the time.

 

If you want you can try this vBios http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/release-980m-single-undervolted-vbios.800491/

It's the one I am using and it is based on @woodzstack vBios but undervolted to 0.981 instead of the original 1.035 so the card runs much cooler and faster because you hit the power limit less often.

I don't know how can your card handle low voltage but since the cards from @woodzstack always have nice AISC score I believe you can run stock at low voltage with no problems.

 

It is not based at all on anything @woodzstack has, I used the original Alienware vBIOS from Dell.

 

Ooooooooh ... Because they behave identical I thought this was your base vBios

 

Hello,

Is the heat coming from around the HDMI socket. If it is I'm afraid it's your motherboard. Just had this issue previous GPU shorted my psu. Done some damage to my power regulators on the motherboard. Opposite side of board to where the connector to power jack is.

 

Cheers

Just ordered one myself. Asking $62 on Alibaba

 

Might want to look at this thread on 980M - TL;DR- Double Check thermal pads / TIM job and HS, A hardmod is always welcome for the 980Ms' tho.

 

Heat is coming from the left hand side which is the CPU side of the laptop not the GPU.this indicates it's not GPU fault it's a motherboard fault . Ignore my machine signature Now updated.

 

It was the MB. The board was replaced under warranty and the overheating on that side stopped.

Thermal pads are all covered I think, although I have yet to see an pictures from anyone on correct placement. I thought maybe I had to many on there so I pulled some off that I had stuck on the back side of the card and the black screens continued. In the end I flashed back to Woodzstacks vBios and the issues with blackscreen seem to have stopped but as your post points out the card seems to balck screen at 85c which is what I was probably hitting playing ARK with that card on Prem's vBios. With Woodz vBios on the card I am not pushing pas 67c in the same game so I will just leave the that vBios on the card as the benchmark numbers don't mean anything to me as long as the games are playable.