Calling all i7 M17x R2 Users - The M15x Owners need your help!

OK Heres the deal. I need some data from any i7 M17x R2 user that is willing to help.

Hopefully Joker & Batboy will help me out here..

I need any (even multiple) i7 M17x R2 user that is willing to do so, run the same tests M15x users run to test throttling.
That would be running Furmark (PostFX / Xtreme Burn) + Prime95 (8 cores/small FFTs) at the same time. If you could run it for 10 or so minutes.
Have GPUZ open graphing the GPU data and at the end please take a screenshot of the GPUZ over the Furmark so both graphs can be seen.

The point of this is to prove that throtting with this intensity will not happen just because this is a laptop portable system and that none of thier other products throttle as well. I already seen these models handle this but input from the community would be better.
The reasoning I am working closely with Dell engineers to hopfully fix the M15x throttling problem. This data will help greatly!

Everyone that is willing I Thank you and Im sure many other M15x owners will too.


Here is a link to the thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...e-investigation-stock-clocks-overclocked.html

Instructions are: Get Furmark and Prime95 32bit
- Settings:

• Furmark: Native resolution (for me it's 1600x900), checkmark the stability test box, checkmark the xtreme burn button and also checkmark the post processing button.
• GPU-Z: Have it open with the sensor tab selected so you can monitor the clock fluctuations in real time. Also checkmark the continous refreshing box + the log to file box so you can reference it later.
• Prime 95: Small TFTs, 8 threads.
• RealTemp: Use it to measure and log CPU frequency changes (as well as view the active load). Use the logs from this program and compare them to the GPU-Z log.

 

Well DeeX, I wish I could assist you however I do not have a 17xR2. I will keep an eye on the thread and any OT or flaming posts will be removed (as always)

I'm sure some of the R2 owners will be more than happy to assist.

Anyone?

 

Ok lol.. I see you have changed ur sig. What about the other model, do you have that?

 

My system's PSU can't keep up with furmark + prime95 running at full throttle. My 940xm is a major power hog and having 2 HDD's, RGB LED, Xfire 5870s + everything else in the system active doesn't leave enough power for those two draining programs. However, I think people with single 5870 equipped M17x's should be able to help you out.

 

I didn't keep the programs for too long cause the temperatures of the GPU were getting dangerously high.

I hope those logs will help

The CPU was with 3% BIOS OC (i7 940XM)
GPU 2x 5870 (the furmark I run was v_1.8.2 the multi-GPU @ 1920x1200, MSAA 8 -it didn't have the x16 option-)

 

So what happens in that case? Throttling?

Thank you very much for your input.

 

If you're lucky, yes. My PSU trips and the laptop shuts completely off. Exactly the reason I'm looking into another 240W PSU to run in parallel with this one.

 

Yes and stamatisx logs reflect that if you look at the GPU load. It alternates between 0 and 100% throughout. However, this isn't like the issue faced by the M15x since the limit for the M17x is the PSU. I know when I started the M15x throttling thread nearly a year ago, I tried it with a 240W PSU from the M17x and it didn't alleviate the problem, that's how I eliminated the power draw being a factor. However, for the M17x, in real world use there is zero throttling. You should also keep in mind that running those two programs together does put an unrealistic burden on the system. The only few games I've come across lately that tax all 4 cores and the GPU 100% are GTA IV and Bad Company 2. The latter is a really good way to test your system stability if you are concerned with throttling.

 

Joker, is it possible that the M15x has some kind of component on the motherboard perhaps it does not allow the M15x to take advantage of the 240watt one? I dont really want to go off topic, I was going to PM you but it says ur PM(s) are off.

Thank you all so far for the info.
This helpful for the troubleshooting and to me personally as I am considering purchasing a M17x R2

 

I don't think it was ever a power draw issue for the M15x. If it were, Rivatuner + throttlestop would not have been able to circumvent the throttling. The overload on the PSU would have tripped it to shut off. The fact that it doesn't points directly at the M15x bios and/or vbios being the culprit.

As for the M17xR2, I wouldn't recommend purchasing that right now either. There are some glaring driver issues plaguing the 5870 crossfire setup and until Dell steps up and resolves them, it's not worth the headache. However, if you do decide you want an M17x-R2, PM me (I'll add you to my buddy list so that you can) and I'll sell you mine.

 

Great info. Also great points, I wish I could take this to a PM or a messenger. I have somethings to tell you that I cant disclose here. I also have question which would be off topic for this thread that I think would help to ask.

 

See my edit. You can PM me.

 

OK great thanks

 

My system throttles the GPUs to 300/400 when I use both at the same time. It took a lot of fidgeting and testing to get it to not happen while playing Dragon Age in some scenes.

So if you're asking if it doesn't downclock, mine most certainly does. In fact, I can have a "stable" overclock of both the CPU and GPUs higher than this, but if I run both of those I can actually bring the system to a point that it simply shuts down.