AMD Radeon R9 M290X Overclock and Results with Catalyst 14.6 drivers

As some of you may have read, I had some CPU overheating issues. After a repaste, things are back to normal so I decided to run some benchmarks with the new driver. Here are my current OC frequencies:

R9 M290X:
Core Clock: 1025 MHz
Memory Clock: 1325 MHz

i7-4700MQ:
Base: 2.4 GHz
Max Boost: 3.6 GHz

Ok, now to the stock to OC benchmark comparisons.

3DMark11 Stock:
View attachment 112851

3DMark11 OC'd:


That's an 11% increase overall. And as you can see my physics score jumped as a result of my 200 MHz increase as did my combined score.

Fire Strike Stock:
View attachment 112853

Fire Strike OC'd:


6.7% increase overall. I accidentally cut off the combined score but it was basically the same result as the 3DMark11 benchmark.

Heaven Stock:
View attachment 112855

Heaven OC'd:


Got 3 extra FPS, which translates into an almost 13% improvement. Score was also almost 13% better.

My temperatures on my GPU never exceeded 76 degrees during benching and my CPU during the physics load never exceeded 85 degrees. I tried pushing the R9 M290X up to 1050 MHz core clock, but I had 3DMark11 freeze on me, so I went down to 1025 MHz and things were stable once more. At this point, I've been able to push the R9's core clock up 125 MHz and the Memory clock 75 MHz. I'm not going to push my CPU anymore because I don't trust this Haswell processor completely. So far, I'm pretty satisfied with my results!

EDIT: Here are my Star Swarm Results (These are OC results tested with the DX API and then Mantle API. This is not a stock to OC comparison):

DX:

GPU: Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600
CPU: GenuineIntel
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4700MQ CPU @ 2.40GHz
Physical Cores: 4
Logical Cores: 8
Physical Memory: 17055113216
Allocatable Memory: 140737488224256
===========================================================


== Configuration ==========================================
API: DirectX
Scenario: ScenarioFollow.csv
User Input: Disabled
Resolution: 1920x1080
Fullscreen: True
GameCore Update: 16.6 ms
Bloom Quality: High
PointLight Quality: High
ToneCurve Quality: High
Glare Overdraw: 16
Shading Samples: 64
Shade Quality: Mid
Deferred Contexts: Disabled
Temporal AA Duration: 16
Temporal AA Time Slice: 2
Detailed Frame Info: Off
===========================================================


== Results ================================================
Test Duration: 360 Seconds
Total Frames: 7978

Average FPS: 22.15
Average Unit Count: 3759
Maximum Unit Count: 5437
Average Batches/MS: 420.48
Maximum Batches/MS: 772.57
Average Batch Count: 21184
Maximum Batch Count: 159936
===========================================================

Mantle:

GPU: AMD Radeon(TM) HD8970M
CPU: GenuineIntel
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4700MQ CPU @ 2.40GHz
Physical Cores: 4
Logical Cores: 8
Physical Memory: 17055113216
Allocatable Memory: 140737488224256
===========================================================


== Configuration ==========================================
API: Mantle
Scenario: ScenarioFollow.csv
User Input: Disabled
Resolution: 1920x1080
Fullscreen: True
GameCore Update: 16.6 ms
Bloom Quality: High
PointLight Quality: High
ToneCurve Quality: High
Glare Overdraw: 16
Shading Samples: 64
Shade Quality: Mid
Deferred Contexts: Disabled
Temporal AA Duration: 16
Temporal AA Time Slice: 2
Detailed Frame Info: Off
===========================================================


== Results ================================================
Test Duration: 360 Seconds
Total Frames: 13794

Average FPS: 38.31
Average Unit Count: 4392
Maximum Unit Count: 5544
Average Batches/MS: 764.66
Maximum Batches/MS: 7676.56
Average Batch Count: 22362
Maximum Batch Count: 152966


That's a whopping 73% increase in FPS using Mantle. I know Star Swarm is "best case scenario" but it does show you there is definite potential with the Mantle API.

 

Here is my OC'd result on the latest beta 14.6
AMD Radeon HD 7970M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3720QM Processor,Alienware M17xR4

 

Nice! I really wish I had your Ivy Bridge instead of this Haswell...

 

Its a wash lol. I have a crappy 7970m that can't even reach 1000mhz core.

More power: http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/8397277

 

I haven't jacked with my voltages yet, but I'm sure it's on the horizon. Nice little bump you got! And yeah, I've heard that the 7970m doesn't overclock very well. Seems like my 3rd gen 7970m overclocks well enough, but we will see how it goes as I play more...

 

Definitely give it a bump, though I wouldn't go over 1.1V just to be on the safe side.

 

The cards tend to get finicky at that voltage anyway.

 

Good info, thanks guys!

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I managed to OC my 7970M to 975/1375 and bench in 3D Mark 11 and get P7908 with my 3940XM at 4.1GHz... But in games my 900/1300 clocks have minor artificats so I'll stick with 900/1250...

 

Man...I'd love to get the 4700MQ to 4.1 Ghz, but I think it would catch on fire and burn my house down instantly...

Good numbers my friend!

 

i know this is off topic but does your hdmi in port work??? i have the same laptop you do(same config and everything) but the hdmi input goes to a primer gray scren when anything is connected, tried everything from $5 hdmi cables-$200 hdmi cables and nothing... also tried everythign from tablets to the xbox one and ps4

 

I honestly haven't tried it yet. I'll plug up my 360 later tonight and see if it works.

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Ivy Bridge is a better CPU than Haswell, but you can improve it a lot with XTU. I just mentioned this in another thread (see Problem #2)...

Spoiler

Check your CPU max clock speed during benching. You can use HWiNFO64 like is shown in Branzy's screen shot above. If it is not running 3.7GHz under load, you will need to use XTU to tweak the power settings so that it does.

 

Yeah, some love and you should not be at a disadvantage to ivy at least.

 

Thanks Mr. Fox. Looks like my multipliers are pushing my turbo boost to 3.4 GHz, which is correct with my current settings. I'll do some tweaking at some point and see if I can at least get 4 cores running at 3.6 GHz. I'll need to do some research as to what power settings I should tweak and as always I appreciate the info! You guys, and this forum, have been great!

 

My R4 is almost burning down tbh... My gaming temps are 90C in BF4 and I have to keep it at 3.8GHz.. Should be repasting soon with IC Diamond..

 

Sorry I forgot to post this up! No problems with HDMI input here.

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What you running there ?? You can play xbox on aw?

 

The HDMI port is also input so yes, you can play xbox on your Alienware's display. Nifty, no?

 

Omg so cool!! Is there a way to play titanfall on my tv? I hooked up my tv to it and it showed but the sound is coming from laptop and a bit of lag from laptop to tv.. Shoot if I get a console that will be awesome.. Though doubt it since I don't need it lol

 

I haven't tried it, but it should work without any issues. I connect into a 23 inch touchpanel via HDMI at work and have no issues at all.

 

I mean I tried it and it worked but is there a way.. To make the tv my main display so sound and everything is ran there vs it being a mirror image of the laptop??

 

Yes... You have to go into your display settings in control panel and theres a little box to check that says make main display or something to that affect.

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I have done this too on my new alienware m17 with the r9 m290x it works well but I can't get any sound still working on it so how do you oc the CPU I have the 4700mq

 

Have you went to support.dell.com? You need to go there and put in your service tag and then download any missing drivers. And if you want to OC your CPU you should check out Intel's XTU (Extreme Tuning Utility). You can also turn some "Extreme" features on in the BIOS and change the multipliers. So far, I've only gotten mine to OC 200 MHz.

 

Thanks for the reply I have no missing drivers sound on laptop is fine it's just when I connect to a tv via hdmi no sound going to have another bash tomorrow I love playing on my big tv via hdmi amazing performance. I think it may be a hdmi sound driver in the amd catalyst centre not sure.

 

Fire Strike7970m/oc/ov

 

necroing your post hope its fixed but if not you need to much like the enduro 7970m play in catalyst control to select sound output infact might be the intel.. i cant remember tbh its very simple to sort though...