And another.. 7970m in M17x R2..Installation with photos

Hey guyz, just finished installing 7970m in my R2 ( Currently Running 7970M CrossFire )



Currently ON 13.11 Beta V8 Drivers
http://support.amd.com/en-us/kb-articles/Pages/latest-catalyst-windows-beta.aspx

I am on A10 Unlocked bios

Fans are working auto, HDMI works with Beta 13.6 AMD drivers, but only Video, updates to come about audio

On the back of my card you can see white label with a mark v1.2G which is the card version. I strongly recommend to get this one, also, you will need to flash the card with this VBIOS

Modified CLEVO 7970M vBIOS Pack (Non-Enduro)-> in there you will find stock Vbios and some modified voltage vbioses for overclocking.->
http://zaladuj.to/530wkx9s3yu7/Clevo_7970M_vBIOS_-_P270WM_-_Mod_pack.zip.html

ALL Credits for providing this VBios Files goes to:

Nospheratu, svl7, test2013, kahboom, Aikei


Also to note ! - DELL branded cards -> fans will work constantly on around 2500 rpm (low profile), you will have to use HWinfo program to controll the fans, if you won't use HWinfo then you may end up on frying your card GG no RE, so i got myself a CLEVO CARD from Eurocom.

VGA port is working OK, Display Port is NOT

Card is running at 33-37'C idle, and ok 69'C in diablo 3, 85'c in Metro 2033, about 79 in Crysis 2, ( all temps are measured WITHOUT using cooling Pad ) fan have a strange profile, it is not aggresive at all, but this is good i think.

CRYSIS 2, Hardcore preset 1920x1200 >50 FPS constant

I could overclock the card from standard 850/1200 to 1000/1400 on standard voltage !


some quick tips

1. 6970m has the same x-bracket as 7970m, ...4870m and 5870m have different shape X-Brackets and are NOT compatible. so if you have 6970m already, you don't need to worry, you will just swap x-bracket from 6970m to 7970m. If you have 4870m or 5870m, you will have to ask your preferred seller to include new bracket with your card, as they often may sell the card without any additions.


If you are upgrading to nVidia 780m, you will be happy to see that x-bracket from 5870m card fits 780M, i will be upgrading to 780m soon, at least attempting to upgrade. Updates to come around mid JULY - UPDATE on 780M - The card refuses to work in R2 so for now DO NOT BUY IT .....BUT, it has been proven that 680M IS WORKING OK. LINK -> http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...-2gb-4gb-680m-work-m17x-r2-2.html#post8776296


2. clean your R2 from all AMD drivers and use Driver sweeper, reboot, and install newest AMD drivers ..link
http://support.amd.com/en-us/kb-articles/Pages/latest-catalyst-windows-beta.aspx These are 13.11 v8 BETA Drivers

3. you will need Phobya (or any other brand ) 1mm thermal pads, good thermal paste like IC Diamond 7, Philips screwdriver, isopropanol

4. you probably need to watch this before you start and never done this before
M17x Teardown Video1 of 2 **READ SAFETY PRECAUTIONS PRIOR TO REPLACING PARTS** (Official Video) - YouTube

5. you can see this for reference as well
http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...-6990-your-m17x-r2-single-gpu-crossfirex.html

6. Bought my card from Eurocom Canada, this card have Hynix memory chips,i will strongly recommend to get Eurocom Cards, as i have no problems with them.

To get the cards priceing you will have to contact Eurocom trough their website, or get it trough ebay listing, their ebay username is: upgradeyourlaptop

7. Default 240Watt adapter is more than enough for OC'd 920XM and single 7970m

8. If you want, you CAN also upgrade to 8970M without any problems as 8970M is just a rebranded 7970m with double the memory (4GB) and slightly rized Core clock (by 50MHz)

check this out, enjoy the power










3d mark 11 run at stock settings (just cpu 25@4 cores 90/75 TDP/TDC)

7970M http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/6843550 VS 780M also in my laptop (Via External screen Only) http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/7013278 (links may not work)

3d mark vantage

AMD Radeon HD 7970M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-950 Processor,Alienware score: P20732 3DMarks WITHOUT OC
http://www.3dmark.com/3dmv/4796472 WITH OC 980/1420

Fire Strike http://www.3dmark.com/fs/830127 OC 970/1420

Fire Strike in CrossFire http://www.3dmark.com/fs/1138741

 

Congrats on the new cards!!

 

Such a sexy card. Let us know how it runs in games.

 

A.W.E.S.O.M.E.

Two questions:

1. You say dispatched in your sig? Is that just another name for I bought the card from Dell? If so, how much?

2. How's it running? Any issues with sleep, shutdown, HDMI Audio, etc.?

 

Games are running great !
No Sleep issues
HDMI Video is working OK
HDMI audio NOT

 

From what you mentioned, my stock 5870M X bracket is compatible with 7970M card from eurocom? can you provide a link to the site you bought your card please? thanks

 

Ahh, just read you got your from Eurocom. I will hope and pray that someone gets the HDMI fully functional. That's the make-or-break point for me.

 

Sorry, i was rushing the guide , 4870/5870m x-brackets are not the same as 6970/7970m ones

Card bought directly from eurocom

Thank you

 

Flingin,
I congratulate on updating
You can check display port works?

 

i dont have the correct cable.... anybody using this lol ??

 

Also congrats! And to reconfirm for others out there:

the m5870 X-Bracket is NOT compatible with the m7970. You need a new X-bracket and you NEED the screws to come with it.

the m7970 x-bracket will work ONLY if you perform the retaining screw mod (i.e. remove the retaining washers from the screws)

flingin - Correct cable? Power cable or Crossfire cable?

 

Where would you get the 7970m compatible bracket for the R2 or does it come with the Eurocom card?

 

As far as I know Eurocom will provide all the correct parts if you contact them directly and state your intention to run it with the R2.

I personally have a great reseller (thanks pau1ow!) who has been running around Europe trying to get all the parts together for my Dell version of the m7970. In the end I will have:

a dell m7970
a Sager m6990 X-Bracket
and the matching screws

all three items came from different locations. So, if you know a reseller like Eurocom, or another trusted source like pau1ow, use them well.

 

A kind request for all M17xR2 users to post your temps here during load and idlle, i know there may be not loads of us there but i would like to know where i am standing right now.

My temps atm are 34 idle, 65 - 77 gaming, 84 in furmark

I dont know if i can improve it, and dont really want to do a repaste if this not really needed,

Temperatures you are getting while overclocked would make me happy as well

Thank you in advance guyz !

 

congrats man! give us some more benchs if possible and see if there is any need for undervolting?

 

tell me what you want to see exactly bro, i'll run it for you no problem asap

3dmark 11 run with temps max 69'c

 

this will probably be my next upgrade. anyone ran them in crossfire yet?

 

yes, @ichime did it

3rd post

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...nware-m17x-benchmark-thread-part-4-a-321.html

 

Nice work flingin

Must be awesome to have it working!

2nd that query regarding DisplayPort! This will make or break eyefinity depending on the outcome.

 

Oh i see you're using a single card. Any plan of getting a second one?

 

I really dont want to buy another 7970 as single card is enough

I will check the display port this week, maybe on friday..

 

True dat! Unless you do an embarassing amount of gaming, one card is enough.
I am still holding our hope the HDMI (and audio) gets fixed so I can get this card. Anyone know of any heatsinks other than the Sager 6990m one that will fit the 7970m and the R2?

 

Dude, I am jealous. RGB LED with that card, whoa!

 

You can see in the photos that flingin is using the 7970m back plate for his 7970. Since the x-brace is thinner eurocom used padding to sit the card correctly. So you can still look for the 7970 x-brace, but it might take a bit of modding to fix it up.

 

What's the hangup with the 5870m bracket not working with the 7970m card? I'm just curious, the fabricator in me wants to see if I can modify my 5870m heatsink to make it work?

 

Short answer, is that the square in the x-bracket of the 5870m is too small.

On the back side of the MXM cards, little resistors and chips (an electrical engineer can describe it better) or "electric stuff" pokes out of the back of the card. The card layout decides where these "bumps" are placed. The x-bracket fits in-between these raised dots to mount the heat sink on the other side. The central square in the x-bracket helps to provide structure and support. This central square is much smaller on the 5870m compared to the 7970m. This forces metal contact with the electrical protrusions on the 7970m if using the 58070m x-bracket.
What I tried to do is to use thermal strips (the stuff used on ram chips) to protect the electronics while trying to use the 58070m x-bracket. Unfortunately, it elevates the card so high that it no longer properly connects to the MXM port. So, we really do need the right bracket.

 

Alrighty I think I got this. So as I understand it, the 7970m card needs the correct X-bracket on the bottom of the card as to accomidate the circuitry layout and still provide a foundation for the heatsink to screw into it from the top. And because the 7970m's x-bracket is larger than the 5870m's, the screw holes 5870m's heatsink will not line up with the correct x-bracket for the 7970m? Yes?
Also, how does the Sager heatsink for the 7970m compare to the 5870m heatsink used in the R2? I only ask because I've seen photos of the top plate of the R4's 7970m heatsink and it doesn't look as solid as the heatsink for the 5870m.

 

no my friend, screw holes will line up just fine, it has dif diameter of the square

please see below

6970 and 7970m x brackets shape



5870m x-bracket shape



so if you will try to put 5870m x-bracket on 7970m you will damage the cards resistors

 

For my 6990's I just cut off each of the four corners and disposed of the x-bracket completely. So each screw is just anchored by the lip.

If that makes sense? See picture

Just make sure that the metal where you made the cut is smooth and does not have any burr's which may dig in to the card.

 

I like the idea Douse, but wouldnt that put more strain (or possibly less contact) on the die than normal? I mean there must be a reason why Dell/Cleavo/AMD didnt do this approach already. It costs more in development time and materials to make the cross bracket and to fit it correctly.

 

I wouldn't say it would cause more strain as the pressure would be at the 4 points already. And the contact would be the same.

They would have gone down the bracket approach for ease of installation\production as one unit is easier to work with rather than 4 little fiddly bits, plus it sticks to the bottom of the card.

The card wont flex in the area between the 4 screws and that bracket is very flimsy itself, so I personally don't think it would add much support.

But, I understand if you want to have a proper bracket.

 

Douse you're right, he can do this. Eurocom sells 6970m's with soldered posts, this is just almost the same concept...

Only thing is..if you still have warranty, you dont want to cut it into small pieces

 

I have a m17x r3 with OEM DELL 5870 x-bracket and heatsink on my Dell 7970m. No issues besides the Enduro downclocking. I replaced the thermal pads of course.
widget/temp/clock

 

Ahh, got it. X-bracket has no chance of fitting on properly. But if the screw holes line up, what's to stop the 5870's heatsink from being used on the 7970, other than needing the correct screws?

 

OMG OMG OMG

Ahh got it..NOT!

look at this simple photo, red color is represented by 5870m x-bracket, you see, the square is smaller, and it will touch the resistors - wich you DONT WANT



got it ?

i would never do this, but this is just me.

 

radji, you CAN and MUST use your m5870 heat sink for the m7970, but you need the correct screws and backplate. Most of the backplates are coming from Clevo cards, and therefore need Clevo screws.

 

My x-bracket doesn't look like yours . Mine was silver and thin. In fact I think my x-bracket may have been a 6990 x-bracket because I bought my m17x-r3 refurbished. It fit really well.

It looks identical to this one, groves and all

AMD Radeon 6970M / 6990M MXM 3.0b GPU Spreader / X-Bracket M18x | eBay

edit: My wife walked in and corrected me. She said quote on quote, " You had the 6870m you d-bag." Technically I had both...just the 5870m was in my m17x r2 and I slipped up.

 

Easy Flingin. You didn't read my initial question correctly. It was can I re-use the HEATSINK (not the x-bracket) from my 5870m again on the 7970m on my R2 or do I need a different HEATSINK. Thank you rsgeiger for your clarification. Where's the best site to buy the clevo backplate and screws?

 

no worries bro

you can buy it on ebay from seller ''upgradeyourlaptop''

 

The only thing I worry about when they're going to load up the diffferent templates. I can barely see the posts. I need ilght text on a dark background. Can't see darrk text on white backround..

 

LOL yeah my warranty on the heatsinks went out the window when I started to modify them.

If i had to do a claim, I would have to buy new ones and fit them to my 5870's

 

flingin:

Any issue you found with this card after while?

I believe right now there is no HDMI working, and you did not check the VGA port.

All other is perfectly intact, e.g. dim screen, hibernation, fans speed, stability ...

 

no issues, only hdmi is not working at all, dim screen, hibernation and all other stuff is perfect, stability is great.

i wanted to check the vga port, but i really don't have this freakin' vga cable :/

i could get it from local shop but it is a waste of money and time for me ) hehe

 

I know that I would need new brackets but would I need a different heatsinks if I upgrade from 4870ms?

 

4870m and 7970m heatsinks are the same, you dont need a new one

 

I was wondering for anyone reading this thread has successfully flashed a Eurocom bios to a Dell card?

 

I did - with the Eurocom/Clevo vbios (Enduro ON) resulting in a blank screen obviously. It will be fine but not so sure that will sort out the fan issues.

 

Where is the cheapest place to get 7970's that work in the R2? Is Eurocom the only option? I'm back in the market for some cards since i'm back down to my 5870s. (Sold 6990s). Wish 7970's were cheaper

 

Ya I would like to know also. I might change from 5870x2 to a single 7970

 

I got mine from here. Be aware however, that I had to flash these cards in my wife's R3 with a vbios I got from svl7 to get a display on my R2. Otherwise, no display on my R2 after initially installing them.