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    Newly installed 980m suddenly start to throttle at 70c

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by caoshen, Jul 20, 2015.

  1. caoshen

    caoshen Notebook Enthusiast

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    As title, my computer is x17m r4 and i'm running windows 8.1
    My cpu temperature is fine, so it's definitely GPU's problem.
    I've read some posts, and I know one thing for sure: change to Optimus mode won't help.
    If anyone can help me, I'll be very grateful.

    Cheers

    Just update to A13 and throttle comes back, this time is because of power......
     
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2015
    caoshen, Jul 20, 2015
    #1
  2. Solo wing

    Solo wing Notebook Consultant

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    I think the heat throttle for the 980M is 80c. Did you read the sensors in GPU-Z?
    look for Perfcap and it'll show you the reason for throttling.
     
    Solo wing, Jul 21, 2015
    #2
  3. mariussx

    mariussx Notebook Evangelist

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    The card is most likely not throttling due to the heat, but rather because of the drivers or PSU. Which GPU did you have before you installed 980m? Is your PSU rated 240W or 330W? Did you remove all the graphics drivers with DDU before installing the modded driver for 980m?
     
    mariussx, Jul 21, 2015
    #3
  4. Klk450

    Klk450 Notebook Evangelist

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    Also did you have a 100w heatsink?
     
    Klk450, Jul 21, 2015
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  5. caoshen

    caoshen Notebook Enthusiast

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    I was using 680m, my PSU is 240w, and I didn't use DDU before. Moreover, I'm sure the throttle wasn't there for the firts few days, and I didn't update the driver, it's just suddenly started all of nowhere.
     
    caoshen, Jul 21, 2015
    #5
  6. caoshen

    caoshen Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have 3pipe heatsink, yes
     
    caoshen, Jul 21, 2015
    #6
  7. mariussx

    mariussx Notebook Evangelist

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    Are you on Optimus or dedicated mode? Also are you on stock vbios or flashed GPU with any other version vbios?
     
    mariussx, Jul 21, 2015
    #7
  8. caoshen

    caoshen Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'm in dedicated mod, tried Optimus mod but not really any better.
    I've never flashed any vbios on 980m, guess I'm on Stock version
     
    caoshen, Jul 21, 2015
    #8
  9. mariussx

    mariussx Notebook Evangelist

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    I would recommend switching to optimus and flashing the card with svl7 vbios:
    http://forum.techinferno.com/genera...s-mods-900m-series-overclocking-versions.html

    You will need at least 5 quality posts or Elite membership to be able to download files from techinferno forum. You will find the latest modded nvidia drivers on the same forum, courtesy of @j95.

    980m with a flashed vbios will perform better and will be able to overclock higher if needed. It's also worth removing all nvidia drivers in safe mode with DDU even before flashing the vbios. And installing the drivers again to see if the card still throttles.
     
    mariussx, Jul 21, 2015
    #9
  10. thegh0sts

    thegh0sts Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    or flash it with prema's vbios which can be had through their site: www.premamod.com.
     
    thegh0sts, Jul 21, 2015
    #10
  11. caoshen

    caoshen Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks for the info, the mnvflesh for some reason doesn't work for me. Command line like mnvflesh -a or mnvflesh -b will just freeze the program. Therefore I don't dare to use mnvflash -6, afraid of mess up sth. Anyone have the same problem?
     
    caoshen, Jul 21, 2015
    #11
  12. thegh0sts

    thegh0sts Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    use the modded nvflash on Prema's site - it works for me.
     
    thegh0sts, Jul 21, 2015
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  13. Scanner

    Scanner Notebook Deity

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    @caoshen before you run around doing all that did you make sure your fan is working, what thermal paste are you using and is your card properly pasted. Do the simple things before you drive yourself crazy.
     
    Scanner, Jul 21, 2015
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  14. Faadi786

    Faadi786 Notebook Enthusiast

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    whats the difference between svl7 vbios and the prema vbios? Any pro and cons to either of them?
     
    Faadi786, Jul 21, 2015
    #14
  15. thegh0sts

    thegh0sts Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Prema's is modded for stability, svl7 is modded for performance. I am using Prema's vBIOS.
     
    thegh0sts, Jul 21, 2015
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  16. caoshen

    caoshen Notebook Enthusiast

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    I noticed that in Prema's website on Flash guide, nvflash was run in dos bootable usb. However the readme file that included in the nvflash file tells me that run modme.bat in windows. I'm not sure which one to follow. Could you tell me which method did you use?
     
    caoshen, Jul 22, 2015
    #16
  17. caoshen

    caoshen Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks for reminding me that, and I did check the hardware.
     
    caoshen, Jul 22, 2015
    #17
  18. DaveFromGameaVision

    DaveFromGameaVision Notebook Consultant

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    You can use either the .bat or run "nvflash.exe -6 biosname.rom" without the quotes.
     
    DaveFromGameaVision, Jul 22, 2015
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  19. caoshen

    caoshen Notebook Enthusiast

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    It's not whether use .bat or command line that troubles me, it's whether run in dos bootable or windows
     
    caoshen, Jul 22, 2015
    #19
  20. mariussx

    mariussx Notebook Evangelist

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    Sorry, forgot that Prema has a different version of nvflash on his website from the one in techinferno. Prema's version is easier to use and does the job a lot faster. You need to enable Optimus, then run the bat file in Windows. It will disable 980m before the flashing in device manager automatically for you and re-enable it after the flashing. That is the reason you need to flash in Optimus. Program might take a while, this is normal. And you don't need to use cmd with Prema's nvflash (from Prema's website https://biosmods.wordpress.com), just rename vbios as per readme file and follow the steps listed there. :)
     
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2015
    mariussx, Jul 22, 2015
    #20
  21. thegh0sts

    thegh0sts Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Yes, it runs in Windows.

    Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk
     
    thegh0sts, Jul 22, 2015
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  22. caoshen

    caoshen Notebook Enthusiast

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    In optimus or dedicate mode?
     
    caoshen, Jul 22, 2015
    #22
  23. caoshen

    caoshen Notebook Enthusiast

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    Do you know where I can get a unlocked A12 bios for 17x r4? I have to unlock my bios to get to optimus mode
     
    caoshen, Jul 22, 2015
    #23
  24. thegh0sts

    thegh0sts Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Firstly, your BIOS should already allow you to run in Optimus mode. you only need a modded BIOS to run in dedicated mode.

    when flashing the vBIOS you...

    1. switch the laptop into Optimus mode and reboot.
    2. open device manager and disable the 980M.
    3. dump the nvflash from Prema's site to a folder on your C: and call the folder nvflash.
    4. run cmd.exe as administrator.
    5. type in cmd the following commands (no dash at the start):

    - cd c:\nvflash
    - nvflash -a (this is to list the GPUs)
    - nvflash -6 <vbios file name>.rom

    6. press y when prompted.
    7. when the flashing is complete you will see a message telling you to reboot.
    8. open device manager and enable the GPU.
    9. reboot.
     
    thegh0sts, Jul 22, 2015
    #24
  25. mariussx

    mariussx Notebook Evangelist

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    You don't need a modded BIOS to run in dedicated mode. I ran Optimus until today and just to see if the latest driver is ok, switched to Dedicated with A13 stock BIOS. Still works fine :)

    You will not need any modded BIOS, stock A13 works fine, A12 should be fine as well.

    It's actually a lot easier to use nvflash from Prema mod website ( https://biosmods.wordpress.com/clevo-mxm/):
    1. Enable optimus (FN+F7), restart PC (FN+F7 enables and disables Intel GPU=Optimus, no need to change anything manually in BIOS :) ).
    2. Win+x, m to get into device manager to quickly confirm that Intel VGA is active, you should see 2 GPUs, might be without drivers, it does not really matter.
    3. Put nvflash and new vbios to the same folder. Rename your new vbios file to GTX9.rom
    4. Double click ModMe.bat and follow the prompts in CMD.
    5. That's it! It does everything for you, no need to disable the card in dev manager etc. And it works a lot faster. mnvflash from techinferno takes ages to perform the flashing of vbios, when I was flashing my 980m for the first time, I did not have enough patience and quick a few times as it was looking like the program does not work. It did work eventually, just takes ages to do the job. Prema mod is a lot quicker, just flashed back to stock and back to modded vbios to check ASIC.
     
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2015
    mariussx, Jul 22, 2015
    #25
  26. thegh0sts

    thegh0sts Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I think you might need the modded BIOS if you want to run 8.1 in dedicated mode with a full UEFI environment.

    Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk
     
    thegh0sts, Jul 22, 2015
    #26
  27. caoshen

    caoshen Notebook Enthusiast

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    My computer is a rare case, it's factory setting is in dedicate mode. The integrated video card is not detected in my bios, and not showing in device manager. I tried to install integrate video driver from dell support website, but the program just says no video card detected. Fn+F7 just nothing, literally nothing.

    However, thanks for your guys I flashed with prema moded vbios and the throttle is gone. Thanks for all the help.
     
    caoshen, Jul 22, 2015
    #27
  28. mariussx

    mariussx Notebook Evangelist

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    I am running M17x R4 stock A13 BIOS in dedicated, full UEFI (legacy disabled) - so you don't need modified bios for this.

    Optimus (secondary Intel GPU present):
    http://www.3dmark.com/3dm/7712933?

    Dedicated (no secondary GPU):
    http://www.3dmark.com/3dm/7852285?
    uefi.jpg


    Do you have 120Hz 3D screen by any chance? Did you install AW OSD and command centre? OSD can be downloaded from here:
    http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER01771210M/1/Application_N9PMP_WN_0.32.0.8C_A00.EXE
     
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2015
    mariussx, Jul 22, 2015
    #28
  29. thegh0sts

    thegh0sts Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I know woodzstack modded his BIOS.

    Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk
     
    thegh0sts, Jul 22, 2015
    #29
  30. mariussx

    mariussx Notebook Evangelist

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    Does he have a modded A13 for R4? I did not see unlocked A13 for R4 anywhere in the wild, at least last time I checked.
     
    mariussx, Jul 22, 2015
    #30
  31. thegh0sts

    thegh0sts Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Ask them cos I am not sure.

    Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk
     
    thegh0sts, Jul 22, 2015
    #31
  32. caoshen

    caoshen Notebook Enthusiast

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    Yes, I do have 120hz screen
     
    caoshen, Jul 22, 2015
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  33. caoshen

    caoshen Notebook Enthusiast

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    Where did you get A13 for r4? I checked dell 5 minutes ago and the latest is a12
     
    caoshen, Jul 22, 2015
    #33
  34. mariussx

    mariussx Notebook Evangelist

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    mariussx, Jul 22, 2015
    #34
  35. thegh0sts

    thegh0sts Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    yeah, because the intel GPU doesn't support/can't handle 120Hz so it's disabled. it's still there just the video has been physically routed differently and why you need separate cables for the AW17 R1.
     
    thegh0sts, Jul 22, 2015
    #35
  36. caoshen

    caoshen Notebook Enthusiast

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    caoshen, Jul 22, 2015
    #36
  37. caoshen

    caoshen Notebook Enthusiast

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    Just updated to A13 and throttle comeback again......This time is the power.....what the s
     
    caoshen, Jul 22, 2015
    #37
  38. caoshen

    caoshen Notebook Enthusiast

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    caoshen, Jul 22, 2015
    #38
  39. mariussx

    mariussx Notebook Evangelist

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    Could you flash it back to A12? You could try ATX reset, loading BIOS defaults, then going back and changing the settings for Windows 8 uefi. Also removing the drivers with DDU and re-installing again.
     
    mariussx, Jul 23, 2015
    #39
  40. caoshen

    caoshen Notebook Enthusiast

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    The problem was fixed by flash svl7's vbios, then flash back to prema's vbios. The throttle was gone, but sth else trouble's me.
    [​IMG]
    This pic is from a guy that using prema's vbios. Notice the memory clock is 2905, and the boost is 1262. However mine is 2505 and 1126, which is exactly like stock setting. I thought flash bios would change it, but some how those numbers are fixed for me. Any idea?
     
    caoshen, Jul 23, 2015
    #40
  41. mariussx

    mariussx Notebook Evangelist

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    I am using different vbios, but it might be that Prema's vbios isn't supposed to have different clocks from stock. It would be better if someone using Prema vbios would chime in on this.
     
    mariussx, Jul 25, 2015
    #41
  42. thegh0sts

    thegh0sts Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Prema's vBIOS uses stock clocks with a higher core voltage.

    Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk
     
    thegh0sts, Jul 25, 2015
    #42