hd7970m Vantage score check

Just got my HD7970m, upgraded from a 4870x2.
Was quite satisfied still with the performance of the 4870x2, but had it for quite a while and figured it was time for an upgrade ^^

I'm not an overclocker or a tweaker, i use everything at stock speeds.

My vantage GPU score went up to 17735, total score P15035 (mainly due to CPU i would guess, as i have a 720qm).
Is the GPU score of 17735 the score i should be getting with a stock hd7970m (just want to make sure it works as it should)?

Fan speed also sits at around 4200, when idle, wondered if this is the correct value?
Somehow the fans work, just different then they used to is my feeling, although i can't exactly recall how they blew before. It's like they're on full speed all the time now, even when i'm idling. Can anyone conform this?

Wondering what my next upgrade should be, considering Samsung 840 Pro 256Gb SSD, 16Gb of Vengeance memory and/or a 920/940xm. I want the upgrade to be noticeable, mainly while gaming, so i can stretch the life of my laptop for another 1-2 years before i order a new Alienware. Any tips?

 

The graphics score is only 17735? That's definitely low. I think the 7970m is supposed to score in the 23k range in Vantage with the new drivers. Are you using 13.1?

 

The CPU will start holding back even in the graphics tests now with the newer cards. Could you post up a complete compare because each individual test can be quite revealing.

 

Oh ok, didn't think it would bottleneck the graphics that much. Just figured physics and overall score would take a massive hit compared to SB/IB processors.

 

Allrighty, will do some tests tonight and post some more details

 

Allright, here's the details.

Everything is at stock speeds, system as detailed in my sig, running Windows 7 Ultimate x64. Everything at stock speeds.
I am running Catalyst 13.1 drivers, the M17x-R2 is running on A09 bios.

The card idles at around 30 degrees, during benches it climbs to 80ish degrees at max.
The card feels fast, but i don't know, it feels not as fast as it should be.

I run 3DMark Vantage in its original settings, i just start the program up and press benchmark basically.

AMD Radeon HD 7970M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-720QM Processor ,Alienware score: P15244 3DMarks
P15224 as total score, which is divided into 17905 for the GPU, and 10543 for the CPU.

Some pics with details:



As reference score i had with the exact same specs but with my HD4870 XF was 11200, with a 14xxx score for the GPU (although i should note this is from memory, i can't 100% recall my score). So it's a boost to the GPU performance, but the boost just seems lower then i think it should be seeing the upgrade and the specs of the card.

On a sidenote, i also ran 3dmark11 for the first time.
This looks rather more decent to me compared to Vantage
http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/5690367
The score is P5462, 6370 for the GPU, 3954 for the Physics and 3653 as a Combined score.

 

Allrighty.

Well did some more testing and research myself. It seems the way Vantage divides the points and calculates totals, is why my score on Vantage feels a bit low. I believe this is the correct score for the current setup, mainly due to the 720QM limiting the card itself and the CPU score heavily in DX10 and the type of benchmarks Vantage runs.
This is somewhat confirmed for myself, when i look at the 3Dmark11 scores i get, which seem perfectly fine scores for this setup.

On the other hand, while benching, i had some occasions of thermal shutdowns (the pc just turns completely off promptly) during games and tests.
This seems to happen at higher GPU degrees, i believe around the 85 degrees mark, which i seem to get after a few minutes of heavy graphical use (not only benching, also in games).
I downloaded the modded A10 bios to see if i can manipulate the Thermal Shutdown, but then i figured the thermal shutdown must ha've it's use protecting my Alienware, and that i should fix the source of the problem. It's just telling me my card gets too hot, and that's what i have to work on.

So i'll start repasting the GPU today, maybe apply the cooling mods (the airflow/ductape part), give the heat sink a good clean, and see where i'm at.

 

The graphics score in 3DMark11 looks much better. I wouldn't worry about it any more, it seems to be functioning properly. Enjoy the new gpu!

 

How do you run your fans? It should not shut down on temperature running vantage or 11. I get to below 80 during benchmarking. (77 deg C) Hardly ever above 80 unless the room is very varm or it has slight flow restrictions due to stuff "close" to the fan openings.

An true, your 720 is bottlenecking your GPU in vantage. And your 11 score is about the same as mine with the 940.

 

The fans seem to have been the problem, i noticed they didnt speed up as they should at system auto settings. I did a repaste and the known cooling mod for the airflow, and with hwinfo controlling the fans, the temps are great now (30 idle, 70-73 while gaming).

Only other problem i have is i just upgraded to win8 yesterday, and have serious problems starting up 3dmark11 or vantage (i cant, only get errors on startup). Anyone else had this with win8?

 

I tried Win8 the day of the release, but found it to difficult to work with. Probably just me beeing a NOOB, but had problems beeing the king of my own system. Installing drivers, using controlpanel etc.
How do the rest of you feel about it?

 

That score looks very low. That's about the same area that the MSI GX60 hits.

 

Score looks about right.
AMD Radeon HD 7970M video card benchmark result - Intel(R) Core(TM) CPU X 920 @ 2.00GHz,Alienware score: P20173 3DMarks Best score with 920xm in M15x
AMD Radeon HD 7970M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-720QM Processor ,Alienware score: P15575 3DMarks Best score on 720qm in M15x
AMD Radeon HD 7970M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3820QM Processor,Alienware M17xR4 score: P23957 3DMarks The identical card installed in my m17x R4 barebones i just bought from Table21
Card has a higher idle temp but much lower load temp in my M17x. Strange but o well. Part of me wishes i had just purchased an R2 with the 1200p screen. not much difference from the 920xm to the 3820. I am still running 1333 ram though so thats playing a very small part in the trouble.
Heres my new 3dmark 11 score for your refrence. AMD Radeon HD 7970M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3820QM Processor,Alienware M17xR4 score: P6830 3DMarks

Forgot to say my card is bios flashed to 900/1300 clocks in case your wondering. the runs I had on the M15x were all with old drivers (12.10). The M17x is running 13.1 which is about 5% faster.