M17X R4 GTX980M Upgrade

I Modded my 7970m Heatsink for the GTX 980M, running Full UEFI (non legacy rom)

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Max GPU temp reached while benchmarking is 66C with "stock power", max measured power watt draw is 205watts stock CPU clocks stock GPU power

For those looking to upgrade How To (unlocked system Bios required for dedicated, not for optimus):



1. Ensure you are able to run TRUE UEFI (partitions will need to be formatted to GPT) (if you plan to "ONLY" run optimus then you dont need to GPT partitions)

(WARNING: BEFORE YOU MESS WITH THE VIDEO SETTINGS "FIRST SET THE BOOT OPTION OR YOU WILL RECIEVE A MESSAGE STATING "NO MXM CARD DETECTED" AND YOU WILL RECEIVE THE 8 BEEPS)

2. Boot Option: UEFI, legacy rom: DISABLED or ENABLED -- Video Config: PEG, Integrated graphics: DISABLED (Dedicated Only)

"or"

2. Boot Option: UEFI, Legacy rom ENABLED or DISABLED -- Video Config: SG, Integrated graphics: AUTO. (With Optimus)


FYI: you cant use the same drivers for Optimus if you are running dedicated you will need to use DDU to clean all drivers!

Oh sh$t moment: If you screwed up one of your bios settings and got the 8 beeps, simply remove the 980m and place your old card back in (you dont need to add the heatsink and fan since you will only be entering bios) then switch back to the config that was previously working and place the 980m back in.


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Update 10Dec2014: Due to GPU throttle, i have switched to Optimus/980m until we can get our hands on a Dell vBios. Optimus enabled will not hinder actual game performance, but it will result in lower pure benchmark scores in 3DMark, 3DMark11, etc If you plan to run Optimus, avoid DELL drivers, download the latest HD Intel Graphics drivers from intel, since the Dell ones are buggy.

Update 18Dec2014: For those running UEFI legacy ROM disabled, if you are looking to dump/flash your GTX980m vBios you will need to first turn legacy rom back on and switch to SG then go to "device manager" and disable the display adapter (980m) before you will be able to save/flash the bios to a .rom file using "nvflash" latest version which supports 980m *you will need the latest version of nvflash*

Update 23Dec2014: Update to 347.09 Drivers, they remove throttling at stock, you will not be able to OC them. With a modded vBios the driver still cripples the GPU, it will not allow a OC to hold, causing a revert back to stock core boost.

Update 26Dec2014: It appears that my 240w PSU is not able to handle any sort of OC over x43 CPU all core & anything above +150 core/ 400 memory. I have just ordered a OEM DELL M18x 330W PSU.

Update 27Dec2014: I seem to have figured out most issues with the vBios, the issues still exist, i just had to find a workaround until better drivers are released. I got the "Max power" under control. Clocks hold solid, view pics.

 

can u run a 3dmark...temps...something more...I want also to get the gtx 980m...
how come your score is bigger then NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M - NotebookCheck.net Tech
gpu max 65?
cpu like 75?

 

View the attached picture, everything is in there.

 

Nice!! BTW, how did you mod your AMD heatsink? I have a 7970M so if I were to upgrade it would give me some idea...

 

Thanks for sharing, lol.

I love how new tech. works perfectly in last generation machines, and our new machines are basically trash in comparison.

Goes on eBay and buys an M17x R4, 3940XM, and 980M.

 

Heres how i look at it. the New 17 and 18 are beta builds. while the R4 had 3 other revisions before it. eventually you get it right! and some of it is software timing, the R4 came about when when alot of good tech was mature.

 

Fairly simple and straight forward, rip off that black tape on the copper heat plate, use a polishing brush ( with proper polish ) with a dremel and polish until that plate is shinny once again! Leave the small thermal strip around the outter thin lip and place corresponding thermal pads where required to cover vrams.

Dirty (7970m Heatsink)
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Polished (7970m Heatsink) ** you will need new screws that fit the 980m
You really only need the thermals placed in the same locations as i have mine to include directly placing thermals over the vrams that are in the corner, the card runs ice cold, it's max temp is 66C while playing crysis 3 on "very High" settings. The idle temps seem to hang around 57C which is slightly higher than the 7970m.
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7970m & 980m

 

Nice!! I'm getting my 980m sometime this week from HidEvolution for my AW 17. By the way, I can't help but notice that the 3dmark11 score is much lower compared to the 12k ones from other machines. Firestrike benchmark is otherwise fine.

 

It does not matter, its a benchmark, means nothing in game. Also you are seeing other machines that have applied a decent OC and or have a better CPU, i am running on stock clocks, so it is no different really.

HIDevolution is where i ordered from, they are fairly quick with shipping and well packed :thumbsup:

 

Yeah I know that its just a benchmark but as a fellow enthusiast I can't help but feel slightly underwhelmed that there is one particular area that its underperforming compared to other laptops with similar specs at stock performance. Those machines have similar specs excluding their i7 4710/4700 CPUs and runs on stock performance 1038/2500 http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GTX-980M.126692.0.html

Then again, I could be wrong


Nevertheless, massive upgrade over my previous 680m and while you're at it, could you run a few benchmarks on never games and see how it performs?

Can't wait for my gpu which is due sometime this week

 

I updated my pics with some "OC" once there is "official" support for the AW systems we should see a change, but who knows if that is going to happen. Its a real nice upgrade over the 680m and has been very easy to use so far! good luck, and post your benchmarks once you get it.

 

Nice... Where did you get those screws for the 980M from?

 

It will come with the upgrade kit, just ensure you mention you need them.

 

Edit applied to OP reflecting current issues.

 

A new score with your new procesor?

 

I will shortly, currently figuring out solutions to creating the most stable experience with the 980m. Currently i am experience throttling issues and such, due to a lack of vbios support, until i fix this i will not be updating new benchmarks. I hope to have it up and running by Sunday at the latest.

 

Here you go, with a slight OC on the card x40 on all cores, i will do a heavy bench on it soon, hoping to get around a 9300 score.

 

zuper, verry good

 

Update for those running Optimus

 

CPU x43 all cores

 

Hi Mike,

I'm thinking of getting the 970M.. Hopefully it should have much less issues then the 980M and it will be a massive upgrade tbh.. I'm looking at Hidevolution but do you have any other idea if anyone has them cheaper?

Also about these screws, I'm a bit confused but where are these screws for? Is it for the screws holding the GPU down to the Mobo or the screws which connect the heatsink to the laptop? Do you have any idea how the screws are different...

Edit: Mike sorry for the barrage of questions however what is this black tape your talking about on the AMD heatsink? Also this polishing etc, is it really needed and what did you use? Can you give me some links on amazon so I can look for something similar?

Lastly, could you make a guide for R4 owners for what you did to make it work i.e, how did you install it etc. I'd be very grateful as I'm coming from a AMD 7970M like you did.. You know info like what steps you did to you know to install the drivers after installing the card etc... A bit more of a walkthrough...

 

RJTech is cheaper as fox mentioned, you just dont get the warranty. I will update my OP to reflect a complete walk through.

 

OP updated with step by step. If you are confused by the steps please post here and i will adjust the instructions.

 

Mike you pointed out in your 1st post that unlocked BIOS is required.. Is this true? I'm sure that it will be ok if I'm in optimus mode anyways...

 

For optimus it is not required, ill update that to reflect correctly. Just switch your boot option to UEFI, legacy rom can be enabled or disabled does not matter. If your partitions are not GTP then you can not disable legacy rom.

UPDATED-----------------------

Updated the OP

 

Mike sorry for being so much trouble! Thanks for confirming this! My Windows 7 disk (SSD) is GPT and I have UEFI enabled... my 1TB HDD is MBR but it shouldn't be a problem right? After all, I guess GPT has to be on the windows 7 disk..

Thanks again, confirming this all makes my decision even easier.. I should be ordering my 970M tomorrow...

 

Yes that is fine, your OS is on the GPT.

 

Hey Mike, what drivers are you currently using and what has worked best for you? Been reading through all the driver stuff in the threads on the 18x forum but getting really confused from what everyone is saying.. Can you please confirm this?

I.e for both optimus and dedicated mode

 

The 347.09, work best. Unfortunately finding any other AW user in here with experience seems to be slim these days and we got to many Clevo users confusing the masses (not intentionally), lol. With that being said i have been tweaking my vBios in an attempt to get a OC on the card. I have achieved a stable OC on the Memory side of the GPU, but as for the Core no matter what OC i put on it, the card still drops back to stock Core boost of 1126, and reports i am hitting max power... ( i have edited the power tables to allow up to an extra 50w. It seems the newest driver are lacking the support so the core clock never holds, even though i created new limits within Bios.

 

Yeah I have a few drivers ready here.. I've read up about how to mod inf so I'm not totally going to get stuck if anything happens..

Now Mike, my last and real worry is the damm pad layout nonsence.. How did you do your thermal pads? I was thinking of firstly screwing down the new GPU and put the pads on top of the components.. You've done the upgrade in the R4 with a AMD heatsink so I was wondering how thick did you need to do the pads etc? This is the main bit that scares me as if your pad layout is too thick, you might compress the GPU components and break them when you screw done the heatsink...

 

i was going to lay them the same configuration that they are currently are for my 780m.

 

Config is not the problem.. it's the damm thickness that's making me worry...

P.S: I do have OCD about stuff like this do worry a lot

 

worrying doesn't help but being prepared does

 

.5mm Pads, once you place your pads on go ahead and do a test press once all are in place to ensure you are getting contacts on areas you want contact. As for me i only provided Pads on the areas i felt were the most important.

 

i wonder if there's a risk to padding everything that isn't the processor chip?

 

To play it safe just pad the vRAM chips and be done with it.

 

OP updated to reflect whats need to run OC. And how to maintain an OC if you do not have a 330w PSU. :thumbsup:

 

how much did it cost?

EDIT: Though it should be fine if left at stock speeds till it's unlocked?

 

Yep stock is perfectly fine. As for those planning to get the 970m you should be fine with the 240w PSU

 

ok good! will definitely consider a 330W PSU when i get a 980M.

 

Also another thing to note is it appears that the Power table within the vBios is unmoddable so i am unable to add additional power to the card, i had Godfafa test this with his 330w PSU. This could be something that is locked on the driver side, because i cant even force it in the vBios.

 

Wait what? It pulls over 240W with vSync off? Mike, have you tried lowering your CPU OC which was 4.3GHz to 4.0GHz and seeing if the same thing happens?

 

Updated progress:

 

It turned out being a issue with the vBios, i fixed it for the most part, with a OC on the CPU and a light OC on the GPU i will get up to 225w so i cant push the GPU any more. But there are so many issues right now it is taking me a long time to work out these bumps. Getting there tho, view my latest pics in the post above.:thumbsup:

From what i understand when it comes to "Utilization limit" (view pic) it refers to under utilizing current clock set.

 

what's the best way to measure power consumption by the GPU? i am wondering if the high voltage i have set is causing higher clocks to crash because it's drawing too much power that the 240W PSU can provide.

 

I will assume you are using the 780m, since that is what your sig shows? Purchase a kill a watt ez from home depot it will show your consumption. Here are some pointers also. Monitor your values in MSI afterburner. Watch the "Power limit" "Voltage limit" "OV Max limit" (run Heaven benchmark) if you notice any of those hit max please report back and ill provide advice based on what you report. The crash can be due to lack of power, meaning your power level is not set high enough and your GPU is not able to draw what it needs causing the driver to stop responding.

 

Update: OP updated with new pics on current vBios mod, progress is coming along nicely.

 

so far it's OK at the current clocks but anything higher and it crashes. will have to get a wattage monitor and see what it's pulling.

EDIT: anyone trust ebay sellers for buying the PSU or should i just go straight to dell for this?

 

hey mikecacho,

where can i get your modded Vbios for 980m? which tool are you using to tweak it?

someone has asked about 970m in R4 - i must say it works perfectly and overclocks nicely without issue, up to 1100 3dmark 11 score and +800 on memory. at least the sample i had o hand!

 

btw, i had an AW17 r5 machine just a few days ago which i upgraded to 980m. and while with 180psu it had locked the 980m in power saving mode, which was possible to avoid by forcing K-boos and editing memory clock in Inspector, but it can't beyond the stock, with 240w psu all the problem on AW17 r5 were gone. and no trottling like on r4!