M17x-R2 - out with HD5870

Yes, but sometimes it doesn't work for me so i try 2 minutes.

 

This is the reason I returned my first two R2's. If this one does it also it will go back.

 

i'm considering returning the laptop
22.4fps average in bfbc2 @ 2560*1600 medium, is not acceptable at this price level

 

I'm not surprised it isn't running at decent fps at 2560 by 1600.

 

i am, my single stationary 5870 did much better

 

Cause Single didn't have vBIOS crippled.

 

yes, but when i buy a pc for over 4000 euro it shouldn't be like this, it should not have restrains and such

 

Just to check are you comparing a desktop 5870 single or a mobile single 5870m to your current setup.

Makes a big difference, especially as you're stuck with Dell drivers right now because of some sort of incompatibility it seems with the official drivers. (The 5870m is after all basically a downclocked 5770)

 

So you got the daul 5870s can't wait for benches

 

a single desktop 5870 to my dual 5870mr

 

2560x1600 ! why you want to run that resolution you want your laptop hooked to a monitor all the time? maybe time to consider a desktop

 

For what it's worth I've never had that problem. If it helps I haven't OC'd anything yet and I am using 10.4's...

 

You are compairing apples to oranges. While the M17x is the most powerful laptop and all it is still *NOT* a desktop. Just because it is a 5870 in name dose not mean it is the same as a desktop 5870... or even that close in power.

I think you need to bring your expectations a bit closer to the reality of what notebooks are capable of. Expecting super high settings (and fps) @2650x1600 resolution is just not possible yet with mobile technology on most games

 

My single 5870 is also running at a 1.05 v

 

That'll be why then. The desktop 5870 is massively more powerful than the 5870m, as I said previously, the 5870M is an underclocked 5770.
You've got lesser memory bandwidth, literally half the other shaders, and other bits chopped down.

In games where crossfire works well you'll be looking similar performance, but you're not going to see overclocked desktop 5870 performance from these things.

 

Lol the most expensive laptop in the world won't get you good frames at that resolution. Get yourself a desktop if you want that.

 

I don't know where you got the notion that you cannot use reference drivers with the 5870MR. Unless it is strictly a dell issue, which is entirely possible. I am using reference 10.5 cat drivers with my 5870MR that is in my Sager 8690.

 

that was a good laugh! made my morning..
in a few years...maybe 1600P resolution...today...not happening.

 

It's been stated quite a few times here before that Dell has restricted the vbios to be compatible with only Dell drivers.

 

Theoretically if normal 5870 vbios are obtained and flashed to the Dell 5870s, could new drivers work then?

 

In theory yes, but i believe Joker has already flashed the 5870's and it didnt do much (though he might have just been flashing the clocks)

 

I don't see why not. Someone should try flashing the cards with the Clevo 5870's vbios version. I'm sure someone would be kind enough to upload it for us.

 

Yes he was just flashing the clocks.

 

you guys can start test flashing the second card only and see if it will take new drivers and work as it should.
flash second card, boot windows, detect card, install driver, uninstall driver off of master card, reboot, see if windows will function enough for you to check over clocking...(just something to try)

ps: you need to flash a different vbios all together....unless someone knows how to edit the part of the original that doesn't show up in rbe.
edit this is only if the original can't be made to fully work)

 

I'm assuming you are referring to the white blemish near the speaker area? that's not the aluminum case and as such is not anodized. that is apart of the plastic palm rest. its hard to get paint to bond to plastic so if it is painte it's mostly likely to come off in that area. although I thought the plastic there was colored instead of painted.

you can basicly pretend that gddr5 will double the bus legnth over a comparable gddr3 card. they used a 'cheaper' 128bit bus becuase they didn't need four memory controllers. gddr5 is such a huge leap over gddr3 that a 256bit gddr5 memory interface would be a big waste on a 800 US card, it's also a lot more expensive than gddr3 so I'm sure it costs more to make the cards considering this and the fact that they are on a new process.

because they(the core) do use less power. gddr5 is what is producing the heat in the 5870. all that has been confirmed yet is synthetic benchmark temps, which says nothing for real world games.

restricted how? error message before install? BSOD? Blank screen? Would like some clarification for such a big problem.

 

The paint came off the aluminum frame, not the plastic. I think I know the difference.

They went with a 128 bit bus to save on manufacturing costs and it was a bad trade off.

Yes, BSOD's, lockups etc. They simply do not work. They also reduced the voltage from 1.15v to 1.05v default for 3D mode. I've upped it by flashing the cards but the gains from doing so are minimal.

 

Default voltage is 1.05 vs 1.15 as with the other 5870s. I don't know if simply raising it is a problem or not.

 

I think mandrake already tried a clevo 5870 card in his last R2 that had bios A05 and it didn't work.

 

Which is one reason why I think this may be a new system board revision. I have no proof of that, yet.

 

I'll check hwinfo for you in a few minutes. BTW guys, I reformatted my other R2 (4870 one) and installed the newest 10.5 Catalysts without a hitch using the ATi installer. Wish I could say the same about the 5870s.

 

Is there any reason for this restricted vbios?

 

I had forgotten, but when the 5870's were first introduced in the Clevo/Sager lines it used a different vbios, one that is superficially similar to the Dell vbios in the AW5870 cards. It was dated Jan, 2010 and was used in relatively few cards. About the time ATI was announcing its plan to release reference drivers for the Mobility cards, Clevo released a new vbios dated February, 2010. When the mobility reference drivers were first released (the 10.3's?), the Clevo 5870s with the original Jan. vbios had the same type of problems -- the drivers would not install. The fix was simply to flash the newer vbios, after which all was well from an installation standpoint. However, the new vbios disabled PowerPlay, locking the clocks at 700/1000 in all states. That is the reason for the higher idle temps in the Clevos and the popularity of the downclocking workarounds.

FWIW, you can get both original and the revised Clevo vbios's here:

1. Straight from Clevo: ftp://usftp.clevo.com.tw/ALLBIOS/W8xxCU/

Have to use Chrome or Firefox to get in. With IE8, it will ask for a username/PW. Once in, click on "ATI_018.zip", and it downloads automatically. BEST, SAFEST SOURCE.

2. Rapidshare D/L: RapidShare: 1-CLICK Web hosting - Easy Filehosting.

DO NOT USE THESE TO FLASH THE VBIOS ON AN AW5870. THESE ARE ONLY FOR EXAMINATION AND COMPARISON BY THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT..

 

@ joker : have you the a05 bios with your 4870 r2 or the a02 ?
because when i install the a05 the ati installer don't see any graphics cards but with the a02 no issue.

 

I'm using A02 on it. I flashed it to A05 before but decided to revert back to A02.

 

1) the first time I viewed the picture the screen was simply not large enough to view the 1/4 cm scratch that I can now see on my desktop, my apologies.
2) Manufacturing costs for the core maybe, but the ram is both superior and much more expensive than GDDR3, if they saved anything it would be a very small amount. If they decided to save, I'm glad that saved in this way by giving us better, faster ram..

well poopie.

 

Guys, I'm about to get mine, I was waiting for the M17x R2 and now that this seems to have less problems I think is my time, but, now I got a doubt about the 5870, I pretend to get mine with just a single card (5870), wanted to know, is this working fine ? ....

 

You just have to guage what the overall experience is that people are having with the new systems before you buy. You can't just judge it by the few people that are at this site day to day. Dell sells many thousands of systems worldwide daily. So, the overall picture may be very different. I personally have had no issues so far. It came to me obviously brand new with all packaging and no damage. I have not found any flaws yet. The performance at stock levels has been amazing to me. The screen is extremely nice. I am coming from an R1 system, so my experience may be more dramatic than those that came from another R2 system.

 

Yes dude, that's what I do, read and bother people who own the exactly configuration that I want, what I read about is good, 5870 is cool but, now with this thing about the restricted drivers by dell is upsetting me at all; I can see on your signature that you own a R2 system but with 4870, or you already have the xfire 5870 ? If it is the last one I will take your comment on my list of good experiences .... Thanks ....

 

Hey drake,

It doesn't show the motherboard version ID. It just lists DMI in it's place:

 

Thanks. If the Clevo 5870 works in it then I know it's different.

 

did you try with sisandra ?

 

To me, the restricted drivers tips the scale into making the M17x too heavy on compromises. I want some sort of official response to this and more in-game tests before I cancel my order though.

 

On the mainboard tab of CPU-Z it says Rev. 11. Not sure if that's the revision number you are looking for though.

 

Yeah, can't say I'm kinda bummed, I just placed my order a few days ago...

 

Mine says Rev 12 taken from CPU-Z 1.54

 

ahh, ok. thanks joker.

so it's looking like dell pulled the okiedoke to keep people from frying these cards which are too close to their max temps..(speculation of course)

 

We need someone brave to try flashing the 2nd clevo vbios onto the AW 5870s

someone very brave......

 

Why brave? What's so bad about that? I'll do it if it doesn't void my warranty or fry my cards.

 

it'll void your warranty cause it's a clevo bios not an alien.

 

It wont void your warranty if you back up the AW vbios and flash it back after.