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    i7-4900MQ downclocked after mobo swapout?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by punchybda, Jan 6, 2015.

  1. punchybda

    punchybda Newbie

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    Hi Folks,

    Firstly, thanks for many years of great tips and info, I've been lurking these forums for quite some time (having owned a much-loved M15x for many years, replaced last year with a new 17)...

    So, my question is this:

    Can anyone confirm the clock speed for i7-4900MQ equipped 17's, purchased around July 2013? I'm sure mine was "factory overclocked" to a base clock of 3.0 GHz, but after a recent mobo swap-out (the dreaded corrupt BIOS issue) its being reported by windows as running at 2.8 GHz ... the default factory clock for that chip. I'm pretty sure its base freq. was previously reported as 3.0 GHz in system properties.

    I've gone over my Dell invoice but it just says:

    "338-BCHW Overclocked 4th Gen Intel Core i7-4900MQ (8MB Cache, up to X.YGHz w/ Turbo Boost)"

    I want to make sure I've got my facts straight before I go shouting at Dell about my ~10% drop in CPU speed...
     
    punchybda, Jan 6, 2015
    #1
  2. TomJGX

    TomJGX I HATE BGA!

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    You can clock it higher with Intel XTU... Learn how to use XTU :)
     
    TomJGX, Jan 6, 2015
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  3. punchybda

    punchybda Newbie

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    Oh, I know that... I'm no stranger to overclocking.

    I just wanted to give Dell some stick for sneaking me a slower board/CPU combo :D
     
    punchybda, Jan 6, 2015
    #3
  4. Zero989

    Zero989 Notebook Virtuoso

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    Isn't that... a waste of your time? Anyway just go into the BIOS to load up their messed up overclock settings. :p
     
    Zero989, Jan 6, 2015
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  5. MogRules

    MogRules Notebook Deity

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    Your CPU was factory overclocked and when they replaced your MOBO you lost those settings. Chances are it was just using the crappy Dell OC settings. If you want to set those back up you can do so in the bios but honestly it is going to make almost zero difference and your CPU will run cooler without those settings. As others have suggested if you want to OC , your best bet would be to do some reading and learn to use XTU and OC it yourself. When I use Dell's OC settings I have to repaste my CPU every two months because it runs so hot.
     
    MogRules, Jan 6, 2015
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  6. Spartan@HIDevolution

    Spartan@HIDevolution Company Representative

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    My 4900MQ came overclocked to 4GHz and my temps on the high performance plan average between 55 to 65C

    Just get the latest BIOS and set the overclocking in the BIOS to the preconfigured OC LEVEL 1
     
    Spartan@HIDevolution, Jan 6, 2015
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  7. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    You could always repaste the cpu and give it a good tweak, should be better than before with lower temps and higher performance.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Jan 7, 2015
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  8. DDDenniZZZ

    DDDenniZZZ Notebook Deity

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    Runs at stock speeds, faster speeds will be needed to be programmed from BIOS or XTU
     
    DDDenniZZZ, Jan 8, 2015
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  9. punchybda

    punchybda Newbie

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    Thanks everyone for your help. I was being a noob and not checking my BIOS. I did the re-paste myself (with decent stuff) when the field tech came to do the swap out, so I'll try a BIOS o/c - probably with an undervolt - for starters and see what results I get. My CPU temps were pretty good before the swap-out though...

    Thanks again! :)
     
    punchybda, Jan 14, 2015
    #9