*OFFICIAL* Alienware 17 and M17x Benchmark Thread - Part 4

I think i've qualified for 3rd place in the 3D mark 11 scores on the R2.

http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy12/aarpcard/3dmark11.png?t=1311862022

 

Awesome stuff mans!

Keep pushing I'm sure you can get some more out of the scores.
Looks like I'm barely hanging on to the top 5 leader board.

Cheers.

WOW man! Now if only we can take your CPU power and use it for 3d mark 06 oles!

Cheers.

 

Here is a quick 3DMark11 run i've made



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Thats crazy, Have you had a chance to run 1024M yet? With those clocks, barring heat, you should be able to beat my 192sec. Thats 4.134GHz. (138.7*30) Nice. That pin mod must have given you slightly more voltage than the M17x R2 bios limit of +150mV. Maybe time to pin mod my R2... If only I had the neccessary skills/confidence. Maybe I'll send you my mobo to pin mod. I wonder if you pin modded it, and then used the +150mV in the bios, would you end up with the pin mod cpu voltage plus the bios additional voltage? That would definately be nice for benching. Hows your heat during every day operation with the increased voltage? Combined with throttle stop, that thing is a grill

I'd rep you but I need to spread the wealth apparently

 

so ill rep him for ya... nice work.

 

John! Buddy, pal, long time no see, good to see you around. I, on the other hand, can rep you. Your rep is more valuable anyhow +1 to you good sir.

 

it told me i need to spread my hustle around when i clicked on you....lol

you gonna be around later? i have to head out for an hour.

 

Probably not, just moved out to VA, and the cable providers here suck. I can't get anything installed till Aug 15th at the earliest. Actually, I'll be on my droid, so I will be here. I het off work soon to.

 

Yes, I tried to beat your 1024M, but it seems that my stock RAM isn't good enough for this job. When I adjusted the BCLK it always crashed halfway through the test. But I did some runs without adjusting the baseclock, this worked fine, no crashs at 30x:




My pinmod gives me a +200mV. I measured my CPU voltage to see what my stock core voltage is at heavy load (100% on all cores). Then I checked the VID table to see what I have to change to raise the voltage. Here's a little summary of the procedure, let me know if you have questions:
Pushing an i7 920xm to new levels by increasing the CPU core voltage

The resulting voltage at heavy load is 1.35V. The "absolute maximum rating" which Intel gives for the voltage is 1.45. This means in this case it wouldn't be a good idea to use this together with the BIOS 150mV. Though 50-100mV would still be ok.
But it's possible that your CPU has a slightly lower/higher stock voltage, according to Intel each CPU gets tested separately and set with a voltage.

200mV increase for daily use is pretty crazy, at least as soon as there's some work for the CPU. For browsing and in idle it's no problem at all, but combined with TS it can melt the mobo, hahaha.
I had to use a 240W PSU to make these overclocks, my stock 150W PSU tripped at about 200W. According to my kill-o-watt I peaked at about 220W.

The only problem is, that my GPU always downclocks to 400/900 as soon as I crank up the CPU multi, but it's a lot of fun for CPU benching, Vantage run at 30x gave me 24k on the CPU

 

just got my (1st) m17x R3 with 2.2Ghz i7 and 6990.

Vantage: P14033
Mark 11: P3492

Did nothing but pull it out of the box, install the 11.8 preview drivers, and install/run the benchmarks.

 

Cat 11.8 @ 825/1050



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But I didn't turn off any programs running in the background. I did disable stuff in CCC

 

I didn't used the 11.8 preview drivers, just pull it out of the box and run the benchmarks...
06: 20700
vantage P13978
Mark 11: P3414

It's not as good as you, I should try those news drivers.

(M17x R3, i7 2820 6990m 4gb ram)

 

Here is my best Vantage run: P15750



I can't get any higher, Vantage just keeps crashing at any higher clocks.

 

@CarlosGFK: Get the latest driver, this should boost your score slightly. I got more thank 14.5k GPU with 8.86 (at slightly lower clocks, 860 MHz)

 

Here is my run

tdp@ 85W 24x133 on 4 cores, 6970's undervolted @1.0V and barely OC'ed @710/1000.

11.7 WHQL /w 11.6 CAP2



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Running Cat 11.8 right now.

 

Oh, sorry... my fault, I read 8.800 instead of 8.880 on the screenshot, my bad.
So you could probably tweak some CCC settings to squeeze a couple of points, but that's just for number chasing

 

I just got my second system and for the life of me I cannot get the 11.8 drivers to install. Nor the 11.7. Both of them either BSOD or boot to a white screen until I power the laptop off and back on in which it (I think) switches to the intel graphics.

I've tried installing the Dell Drivers and then the 11.7/11.8 over top and get the same results =\

I had already factory restored my first laptop and oddly enough that one does the same exact thing now. Any suggestions?

Stock Dell drivers on this machine I'm only getting P13853 in vantage and P3471 in mark 11.

Update: I had a little luck after some messing around. I express uninstalled the ati drivers from dell, rebooted to safe mode, ran driver sweeper, rebooted and installed the 11.8 preview.

I got the same solid white screen that I did before. However, after powering off and on I noticed I now had two desktops. On my LCD was my "extended" monitor per-say. I right-clicked and made that my main monitor (which was the ati card). That got my desktop fixed and I was now able to go into the ATI catalast control panel and disable the other desktop.

HOWEVER... I just tested out the switchable graphics... After right-clicking and choosing "switchable graphics" from the menu and switching to the intel (which worked), I then noticed the switchable graphics option was removed from the menu. I hunted around for it to no avail, tried rebooting, etc. Finally I noticed that the ATI card was disabled in device manager. As soon as I enabled it it switched to that card and everything is back to normal again (so it seemed).

I then tried just diabling the intel card but that seemed to break the catalyst control panel as it would no longer detect the 6990. So I re-enabled the intel card and it seemed like things were ok. unfortunately...

new scores on 11.8--
vantage: P7719
mark 11: P1958

terrible.

...so i have no idea what is going on here. any insight would be greatly appreciated. I just don't get why I was able to just install 11.8 with no issue at all (and get great scores) when I received the first m17x. The only thing I remember being weird was out of the box, the first m17x had a broken windows aero that couldn't be enabled until i installed 11.8.

i almost feel like it wont switch to the 6990 and is stuck on the intel card (even though it's reporting otherwise).

 

no its not, intel igp wouldnt give you anywhere near those scores (in 11 at least)

 

syntax53 - those benchmark score are unacceptably low and something is definitely wrong. You are running on AC power and not battery, correct? Anything you do to save electricity is going to make your performance drop. Check your power profile if you have not already done so. Make sure you are on "Performance" and not "Balanced" profile. Once set to Performance, go into the advanced options and make sure all settings are on 100% or performance on both the plugged-in and battery options. Any setting that refers to power saving should be disabled or set to "Never". Also, look in Device Manager and make sure none of the devices have a yellow triangle with the exclamation point showing on their icon.

If these suggestions don't lead you to a solution, my recommendation is to call 1-800-Alienware to get your machine fixed or exchanged for one that works properly.

 

That was indeed the problem. I had actually figured that out an hour or so ago when I noticed lower scores even with the Dell driver. Not sure how PowerPlay got set to maximum battery when plugged in and even how that setting managed to stick through multiple driver cleans... but it did. I posted my process here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...rence-drivers-m17x-r3-6990-a.html#post7760468

 

Here's a 3dMark11 run for the my 6990M (2820QM) at stock settings and using the Dell drivers that came installed on the R3 -- P3,860.



And with a mild overclock (@ 825/1025) -- P4,336.

 

here is an oc'ed vantage with 6990

 

Nice score man!

Can you run us a 3d mark 11 one

Cheers.

Nice score there Revelator!
Not to shabby with a slight OC as well!
See if you can push it somemore

Gonna see if INAP can beat your 3d mark 11 scores and if you can try and beat his Vantage score oles!

Cheers.

 

If any of you R3 owners with AMD GPUs are having issues with Aero crashing, please take a look at this post. I would appreciate feedback on the documents and any testing you're willing to do to stop the problem on your system. This was with M18x systems in mind, but a few R3 owners have posted they are having the same problem.

Windows 7 Aero Crash Cure (AMD GPU CrossFireX) - Downloadable Instructions

--- to stay on topic ---

If you're looking for a baseline comparison for your single-GPU HD 6970 in the R3 or a modded R2 with HD6970 CFX, here are my latest Vantage, 3DMark11 and 3DMark06 scores... These benchmarks are using the tweak above and those that have followed my scores will recognize they are as good or better than running unmodded Dell and AMD Catalyst packages.

Vantage: P22764 | 3DMark06: 22425 | 3DMark11 P6700
| | ​

 

Here is a back-to-back comparison of the M17x R2 (HD5870 CFX) that was returned and my current M18x using Geekbench:

Compare Alienware M17x with Alienware M18xR1 : Geekbench Result Browser

It would be cool to see how the comparison would be with the M17x R2 systems that have been upgraded to HD6970 CFX or HD6990 CFX.

 

3dMark11 - P4434 (6990m/2820qm). Inching upward.

 

Your bus interface is different than mine. Yours is PCI-E 2.0x16@x16 2.0, mine doesn't have the 2.0, do I need to update something?

 

Sorry, I don't know. That's the way it came; I've done nothing to trigger or adjust that setting and assumed all 6990m's were that way.

 

this is for you CHIEF!!! sorry Rev edged you out by only a few points.

 

Slight bump. 3dMark11 -- P4,457. Afraid mine isn't much of an o/c'er, Inap. Got a replacement on the way. Maybe it will be a little more sporty.

 

Oh a replacement what happened man?
Not to shabby scores!

Cheers.

ahah Thanks man!
Nice Scores!
You've got top scores so far!

Cheers.

 

Nice runs Inap and Rev, but on a side note I hate you lol. Now I have to find a way to talk Alienware into giving me a 6990 or 580 lol. Looks like my top spots have been taken

 

ahahaha yeh man!

I know what you mean ey! ahahah LOL!

I need to source some 6990Ms quick smart!

CMON DaneGRClose You can DO iT!


Cheers.

 

I may be able to beat out the scores on there now but it's gonna require quite a bit of DICE, and a lot of time. I may make a run at it but it's not a huge priority for me right now as I'm trying to dial in my new system too and have a ton of work/cert stuff to top it off.

 

Just out of blatant curiosity, my new m17x with no overclocking or extra cooling whatsoever, returns a score of about P13000 on Vantage.

Is this about what I should be expecting?

 

Sounds pretty close, my rig with 2820qm/6970m throws about 11-12k at stock levels. You have a lower cpu but a higher gpu so that's about the right range.

 

If I wanted to push this up a little bit, how would I go about doing so?

I have absolutely no experience regarding overclocking.

Edit: I'll make a new thread on this actually.

 

Hi everyone.

I own M17x-R1 and intended to upgrade my GPU. Is it possible for me to upgrade it to GTX580M in single configuration due to financial aspect as well as I do concern about power supply insufficiency.

What I am wondering is does A07 M17x-Bios fully capable in accepting GTX580M?

Thanks a bunch!

 

Peculiar situation. The computer itself is fine, but the battery release latch is jammed/broken. Consequently, I can't get inside to install the SSD and new memory or to re-paste. Tech support says it has to be sent to a repair depot to repair. Since there is no way that I'm sending a three day old computer to a repair depot, EPP Customer Care is sending a new replacement. The Customer Care rep could not have been nicer or more professional. PITA, but I keep this one until the new one gets here. Thanks for asking.

 

Nope, best you can do is the 4870 On the ATI Side, and I think 280/285M on the Nvidia side.

 

Are you absolutely sure about this? Man, this leave me no choice other than trading up my current system

 

I have an offer related to this, posted here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/7775534-post547.html

If you are interested, please PM me.

 

PM'ed. Hope we can work something out bro

 

Yup. 100% positive. Sorry

 

Just a fast run but I got 3rd place out of all the 2720qm users in PCMark 7 without really much tweaking.

AMD Radeon HD 6970M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2720QM Processor,Alienware M17xR3 score: 4705 PCMarks - 4705

 

here is my latest vantage

 

Great run, Inap. Intimidating.

A modest beginning in Vantage -- P16,578.

 

Great scores guys!! Inap, you can beat 16k GPU, and then you'll have 17k total score as well, sweet!

 

working on it doing a 3d11 and o6 atm, gonna come back to vantage, oh so close, heheheh