M17XR2 Overclocking Guide

I'm talking about comparing the Ati 5870 (17k) vs. 4870

 

You know it's all about the proc with 06...we still used the same processor.

 

Just found it on the second last page a guy got his 720qm to 3.0ghz. I wish i could do that D: Not sure if thats one core or 4 cores..

 

one core more than likely.

 

And Im assuming you cant tell by a CPU-Z photo how many cores are running? I guess i could ask him..

 

You can ask him to use argus, or Hwinfo, to see if its more than one core

 

Can't say I didn't warn ya. Welcome to the Asus hate club.

 

Can i join too?

And yeah i'll ask him.

 

How is your system running joker, with benchmarking and all?

 

yeah sometimes you just got to learn the hard way.

 

Nice guide.

 

It's too bad we don't have regular (non-turbo mode) multiplier overclock options in the BIOS or via tools. I'd love to just switch off Turbo mode and overclock all four cores to a certain amount.

 

you do, what to you think the 5% is?

 

A QPI overclock.
I would like to see actual non-turbo mode multiplier overclock options for the 920 XM CPU.

 

I think you mean, disabling turbo mode, and increasing the multipliers using E-LEET. I think Rengsey did that when benchmarking, not much of a difference if you ask me.

 

QPI is a desktop term. A non turbo mode OC is the 1%-5% OC. It's a CPU bclk OC which overclocks the cpu/memory bus.

 

It doesn't work that way. E-Leet only allows adjustment of the Turbo Mode multiplier, not the regular multiplier.

Well yeah, QPI might be the wrong term. BCLK is likely the proper term.
I'd like to see a non-turbo-mode multiplier overclocking option, however, keeping the bus speed the same.
I can do that on my Core i7 extreme desktop CPU/mainboard/BIOS, I'm thinking it should be possible on a laptop as well - as long as the BIOS supports it, or maybe some kind of software.
I know it's not likely to happen and it's just wishful thinking. But I'd love to have the option to do so nonetheless.

Of course, freely adjusting the BCLK to a higher value than "5%" with SetFSB or a similar tool would be great as well.

 

Mandrake, what will come from testing the system, we might find out what causes it to use less multipliers, but how is that going to help? Can we edit the bios, and increase the TDP and TDC? Are there any tests you want me to run today?

 

The mission is simple, how high can you get all 4 multipliers working at? All you have to do is keep inching up the lowest multiplier. Find out how cooling/voltages can help.

 

Is there a program that can display real time CPU/Core temperatures in an on-screen display? Might help when looking for those multipliers.

 

I have been running different stress tests, Prime, Stability test and Load tester. The multipliers react to each test differently, they might use more or less depending on the program. All of the tests that i am runnning are on the same settings, 5% + 25 multi+ 75Mv Vcore.
This one is running one load tester.
http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/6545/5loadtester75mv25multi.png .

and this one is with more than one load tester.
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/2027/5loadtester75mv25multim.png

This one is running prime.
http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/1029/5prime75mv25multi.png

Running stability test, at normal
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/1816/5stability75mv25multino.png

This one is running stability at the cpu warming feature.
http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/2817/5stability75mv25multi.png

I do not know if you noticed, but the temps are not affecting the multipliers, so heat is definitely NOT the issue. I did notice that if the stress test was more stressful, it would decrease the multipliers. and in 3dmark06, the cpu test obviously stresses the cpu more than the gpu test, and this is why i have been getting lower scores on the cpu test, but the for the gpu tests, it would increase the score because it is not as stressful on the cpu. This maybe caused by the new A02 bios, or it might be my system, or this could be the biggest BS i ever came up with. Can other memebers try these tests, hopefully someone kept the A01 bios? The reason i think it might be the bios is because dell probably wanted the easy way out of the situation.

 

I'd rep ya again but I can't, nice.

Try a program called i7 turbo. That program reports the core usage as a percentage. See if that looks any different.

 

I used i7 turbo and here is what i got. They probablyput a limit to the cpu at 99.85 and that is why it never gets to 100%
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/1998/i7turbob.png

 

My memory is fading me. There was a program out there to stop cpu throttling. Anyone remember the name?

 

throttlestop?

 

Nice work. I see you cleaned up your desktop I'd rep you but I can't

Try Crystal CPUID. There is some stuff in there to play around with such as voltages and things of that sort. I think it probably won't work since it's an older program if I recall. Didn't work for the M11x anyhow. But it's worthy seeing if you can pull anything useful from it by toying around in the menus.

 

I don't remember what the program does but you can see how it works with i7.

 

I need to spread it around first

 

LOL this one is my benching partition.

I tried throttlestop, but the limit to the multipliers in throttle stop is 16, either that is a weird coincidence or dell locked the multipliers at that when the CPU reaches Maximum load, or considering the tests on different %s of when it is under stress. I don't think it is possible to even know those percentages, without a program that will increase the stressing each minute because prime stresses the cpu at all times.
Here is a stress test using prime with turbo enabled
http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/1135/throttle1.png
Here is another with turbo disabled
http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/629/throttle2.png

With it disabled, it can use all non-turbo multipliers. With it enabled, it will only provide 16.

Is there anyone with a A01 bios?

 

Unfortunately you're discovering what I established a while back. When CPU load gets closer to 100%, the multipliers fall back closer to the 15-17x range on all 4 cores. Also, heat does affect turbo mode at 100% load or close to it. Once you reach that threshold, a TDP unlocker is needed (similar to the one Asus G73 employs) to bypass the Intel limit. Unless Dell puts that TDP limit unlocker, we probably won't get around it (I asked their engineers already, not a chance in hell was basically the answer). The only other possibility is to raise the bclk but that depends on the setfsb author. One final thing to consider about the R2 is that the system with a 920xm + dual card config + RGB LED at default clocks gets very close to the system's power trip point (around 235-240W). If the 920xm was able to be OC'd to 25x-27x mult (all 4 cores@100%) combined with a GPU OC, it would likely flicker like crazy because the bios power trip point would be reached. I'm surprised the regulars in this thread already forgot about all this...

 

Might be time to do the disable the proc driver trick.

 

How does that work? I have tried disabling ACHI using the same trick R1 owners did to get around stuttering but it failed.

 

It was used to stop the BSOD with a high OC on the C2D systems.

 

I disabled it a while back, when i was benching, 3dmark06 still crashed but i will try it again with a stress test. By disabling the proc driver, i am assuming you mean editing it through the registry

 

Yes, it's in the post above.

 

Beat me to it Mandrake
I tried it, it did not work, do you think there might be anything else we can try out?
Still no reply from Moo.

 

Didn't work:

 

Seems like you got the clock generator. Any luck with setfsb?

 

He replied saying that he needed the SLG8SP585V datasheet. From http://www.silego.com/index.php?page=desktopnotebookclocks . i sent them an email, still no reply, i sent you a PM with what he replied.

 

Maybe you'll have to wait until after the weekend. It would be great to have SetFSB working with the M17x-R2.

 

The guy over there replied with this " Thank you for inquiring about our product.
I would be glad to help you, but I need some additional information.
Can you provide the project name in which you are using Silego
product and application so we can recommend you the right product
configuration? "

I replied saying it was an M17xR2 and the application was SetFSB.

 

hmmmmm......

Open source coding for Dell systems? Sounds more professional. lol

 

hahaha. Thats awesome. I'd rep you for that but I gotta spread the wealth.

 

I use this

http://gallery.live.com/liveItemDetail.aspx?li=8496a28a-107a-4f0f-90c4-747dfa53ce7d&bt=1&pl=1


I have everest as well and it works with the ATIs and all but I like that sidebar gadget.. It shows cores and threads and temps with overall clock speed.. Not bad for free.


Nice guide btw.. +rep

 

The guy replied with the following " Thank you.

You can buy datasheet for SLG8SP585V. It costs $40.




If you have any questions feel free to contact me.


"
What do you guys think? The other datasheets are free, is he some how mistaken about what i want?

 

Probably why they wanted you to call. I'm willing to pay half if you have Paypal. PM me your address.

 

Mandrake, i do not see the link to either the datasheet or buying it, where is it?

 

Email the guy back and tell him you want it and then ask how to pay.

 

He gave me a document to fill out, and send. I will fill it out tomorrow, I've got a Web tech assignment for a stupid professor thats due in an hour.

 

Real life comes first.