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    580M SLI throttling Discussion Thread

    Discussion in 'Alienware 18 and M18x' started by neosis, Sep 13, 2011.

  1. Dell-Bill_B

    Dell-Bill_B Guest

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    When 0x29A answers my PM, you guys should hear something good within about 30 minutes later. :)
     
    Dell-Bill_B, Oct 5, 2011
    #151
  2. Johnksss

    Johnksss .

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    now it's "we" who would need further clarification on this.
    first off...how can they tell it's even over clocked to begin with? so i up 5 mhz...and presto change-o..my laptop wants to throttle? :D

    but a fairer example:
    just playing a well coded game will try to take full advantage of the hardware it's using....so if it's maxing the gpu (even 100 percent is really really hard to maintain) and the temps are already in the high 60's it wouldn't know the difference. all it is told is .."hey buddy, slow your roll or we will. in about 60 seconds" :D

    so as mentioned before...the throttle routines sound like they would need a reworking...

    but the hard part of this is....will it be a bios/vbios fix or a card exchange...now this is probably the other down side to this whole deal....
     
    Johnksss, Oct 5, 2011
    #152
  3. 0x29A

    0x29A Notebook Evangelist

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    Can we get some free Alienware merchandise then? I'd like a black cup with the small alien head and an "alienware" inscription. :D

    Answered.
     
    0x29A, Oct 5, 2011
    #153
  4. Dell-Bill_B

    Dell-Bill_B Guest

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    Correction: you up 5mhz+100% load and presto change-o your laptop throttles.

    That's just what I'm saying I understood from the email. I'm not trying to argue or act like I'm all smarty man.
     
    Dell-Bill_B, Oct 5, 2011
    #154
  5. skygunner27

    skygunner27 A Genuine Child of Zion

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    I sure hope we figure this out before I send back my original M18x with brand new 580M's. I really don't want to rip apart my brand new replacement that should arrive tomorrow just to check what revision the cards are. Hopefully Fedex will arrive with my 580M's soon so I can post pics.
     
    skygunner27, Oct 5, 2011
    #155
  6. Dell-Bill_B

    Dell-Bill_B Guest

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    Remind me in email.
    Email sent.
     
    Dell-Bill_B, Oct 5, 2011
    #156
  7. Xeneize

    Xeneize Notebook Deity

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    Dell should be able to verify this based on SKU's/Inventory.
     
    Xeneize, Oct 5, 2011
    #157
  8. Dell-Bill_B

    Dell-Bill_B Guest

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    Please don't. I meant to check the revision on the cards you were being sent. I understood you to mean you were receiving the cards on a parts only shipment. If that's not the case, don't bother. Just test for throttling and let me know how it goes.

    (You know you want to change out that paste anyway, so don't front.) :)
     
    Dell-Bill_B, Oct 5, 2011
    #158
  9. Dell-Bill_B

    Dell-Bill_B Guest

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    OOOO. Very good point. Can you PM me your order number instead, sky?
     
    Dell-Bill_B, Oct 5, 2011
    #159
  10. skygunner27

    skygunner27 A Genuine Child of Zion

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    Done.........If it's possible can you check my replacement and see if there's a tracking number yet. AW techs can never tell me anything...lol.
     
    skygunner27, Oct 5, 2011
    #160
  11. neosis

    neosis Notebook Consultant

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    so the current word is to wait for dell to post an updated vbios that fixes the issue?
     
    neosis, Oct 5, 2011
    #161
  12. Xeneize

    Xeneize Notebook Deity

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    I think at this point they are gathering data, they need to ID the root cause before they know how to provide a fix.
     
    Xeneize, Oct 5, 2011
    #162
  13. Johnksss

    Johnksss .

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    no no no bill...not you sir.
    talking about the bios/vbios and how it reacts to certain conditions the laptop is putting forth.

    sorry for the misunderstanding.

    side note:
    is this the same part number?
    320-2318
     
    Johnksss, Oct 5, 2011
    #163
  14. skygunner27

    skygunner27 A Genuine Child of Zion

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    lol....I do want to change out the stock paste for IC Diamond 24!!! How did you know?...lol.
     
    skygunner27, Oct 5, 2011
    #164
  15. Dell-Bill_B

    Dell-Bill_B Guest

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    Has not shipped. Order shows placed on 9/30. I think my old pal Ramesh still manages the dispatch team. I have a note out to him asking about how to get an expedite on it without going through normal process. He'll probably say no dice, but never hurts to ask once anyway.
     
    Dell-Bill_B, Oct 5, 2011
    #165
  16. 0x29A

    0x29A Notebook Evangelist

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    Can you get a ruler and measure how much area is covered with thermal pads? Approximately. I am about to order new pads and that's like 25 EUR (~33 USD) for 10cm x 10 cm, so I'd like to know in advance how much is needed. Thanks.
     
    0x29A, Oct 5, 2011
    #166
  17. skygunner27

    skygunner27 A Genuine Child of Zion

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    I will...but I have to find a measuring tape here first. I'll ask my daughter when she gets home from school :) The pads that come on the heatsinks are good. Why don't you have Dell send you new ones?
    They have some type of moisture that allows them to adhere properly to the card.
     
    skygunner27, Oct 5, 2011
    #167
  18. Dell-Bill_B

    Dell-Bill_B Guest

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    No worries. Now we get into a topic I have had hand slapped for discussing before. The BIOS knows. It's always watching. It sees when you OC the GPU. I can say no more on this topic.

    I'm missing context on that SKU. Part number for what? 580's not affected by this issue?
     
    Dell-Bill_B, Oct 5, 2011
    #168
  19. Johnksss

    Johnksss .

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    yes...but that's all i have, since it's still in production.
     
    Johnksss, Oct 5, 2011
    #169
  20. Dell-Bill_B

    Dell-Bill_B Guest

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    Still in production=this is not going to be an issue for you. Fix was cut in at the factory already.
     
    Dell-Bill_B, Oct 5, 2011
    #170
  21. 0x29A

    0x29A Notebook Evangelist

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    Dell's are like 3W/mK or less, afair. I want 7W/mk, essentially on the primary card. Those are self-adhesive too.
     
    0x29A, Oct 5, 2011
    #171
  22. Johnksss

    Johnksss .

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    yep...that's what i gathered. ;)

    just throwing that out for reference. wasn't sure if it's a different part number or not.
     
    Johnksss, Oct 5, 2011
    #172
  23. skygunner27

    skygunner27 A Genuine Child of Zion

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    I appreciate you putting it out there. The whole Dell team(especially Costa Rica and a few in El Salvador) is tops in my book. They never fail to impress me. What's lame is that the few that really go above and beyond never send me a TNS survey to rate their performance.
     
    skygunner27, Oct 5, 2011
    #173
  24. 0x29A

    0x29A Notebook Evangelist

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    If you long for some disappointment, call dell german tech hotline number. Satisfaction of dissatisfaction guaranteed. :rolleyes:
     
    0x29A, Oct 5, 2011
    #174
  25. skygunner27

    skygunner27 A Genuine Child of Zion

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    No thank you, my good friend Steviejones133 and NecroSavant have already shared with me their dealings with Euro support. NecroSavant recently sold his AW because he said they called him a liar.

    All I know is Costa Rica and sometimes El Salvador support is amazing here in the States!!!
    Fedex needs to hurry up with my 580M's...I'm getting impatient...lol. I want to swap out these cards before my M18x replacement arrives tomorrow.
     
    skygunner27, Oct 5, 2011
    #175
  26. skygunner27

    skygunner27 A Genuine Child of Zion

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    I can tell just by looking at it that if you include the pads on the bottom clamps you are going to need half the width of a Blu-ray case.
     
    skygunner27, Oct 5, 2011
    #176
  27. mharidas

    mharidas VLSI/FAB Engineer

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    If you've got readings on the part numbers of those parts I could tell you what they are.

    The 3 8-pin chips on techpowerup's link are definitely Comparators.
     
    mharidas, Oct 5, 2011
    #177
  28. Dell-Bill_B

    Dell-Bill_B Guest

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    If your M18x replacement is the order number I checked for you, you can take your time swapping out the cards. It's not even on the boat from the factory yet.
     
    Dell-Bill_B, Oct 5, 2011
    #178
  29. skygunner27

    skygunner27 A Genuine Child of Zion

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    I gave you 2 numbers. My 580M's on the Fedex truck and my replacement with 580M's. So do they have a later EDD than the 10/06 date they told me?
     
    skygunner27, Oct 5, 2011
    #179
  30. BatBoy

    BatBoy Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Lets not get off topic please. Use PM if you have an OT question for another member.

    Thanks. :)
     
    BatBoy, Oct 5, 2011
    #180
  31. Dell-Bill_B

    Dell-Bill_B Guest

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    Yes. I checked 2 order numbers. One was for the 580s. The other was a whole unit exchange. That whole unit order is still in IP status, which means you won't be seeing it for at least a week. I did fill out the expedite form, fwiw.

    (and there I go off topic right after the mod says not to. I better just call it a day.) :)
     
    Dell-Bill_B, Oct 5, 2011
    #181
  32. skygunner27

    skygunner27 A Genuine Child of Zion

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    Thank you I appreciate the info. My questions are for the sake of getting the new 580M's so that I can report back my findings.

    While I wait for my 580M's to arrive, a case manager called and said that he was recently assigned to my case to help with the production of my M18x exchange. He said my new EDD is Oct 7th. He said that he would call me to keep me updated and to help facilitate production.

    Thank You expediting my replacement.
     
    skygunner27, Oct 5, 2011
    #182
  33. BatBoy

    BatBoy Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    hahahaha - no worries. Since you are providing support, its fine. ;)

    Thanks again for helping out with community issues Bill. Most of us here recognize you are not the guy who is working on fixes but a customer advocate who helps to carry customer concerns to the folks who can implement change. NBR appreciates having an official Dell presence here on the forum.

    Thanks!
     
    BatBoy, Oct 5, 2011
    #183
  34. Xeneize

    Xeneize Notebook Deity

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    +1 I agree! Thank you Bill
     
    Xeneize, Oct 5, 2011
    #184
  35. Johnksss

    Johnksss .

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    +1 and that makes two of us!
    ps: looks like i may have switched cards at the right time... :)
     
    Johnksss, Oct 5, 2011
    #185
  36. skygunner27

    skygunner27 A Genuine Child of Zion

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    skygunner27, Oct 5, 2011
    #186
  37. Johnksss

    Johnksss .

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    what is the bios on the cards?
     
    Johnksss, Oct 5, 2011
    #187
  38. skygunner27

    skygunner27 A Genuine Child of Zion

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    Bios Version:70.24.2B.00.06
     
    skygunner27, Oct 5, 2011
    #188
  39. Johnksss

    Johnksss .

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    so....it looks like we have a green light now?
     
    Johnksss, Oct 5, 2011
    #189
  40. bar-code

    bar-code Notebook Evangelist

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    BIOS DUMP Please, so i can test, my bios is 74.24.2b.00.04
     
    bar-code, Oct 5, 2011
    #190
  41. skygunner27

    skygunner27 A Genuine Child of Zion

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    My bosses 580M SLI config throttles easy in Crysis 2 at stock clocks. In the same area these cards do not throttle. You are sooo gonna hate me right now. I've just left my house to go help out with a service call. I won't be back for a couple of hours. I am sending this via cellphone.
     
    skygunner27, Oct 5, 2011
    #191
  42. mharidas

    mharidas VLSI/FAB Engineer

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    Tried Furmark or OCCT?
     
    mharidas, Oct 5, 2011
    #192
  43. Johnksss

    Johnksss .

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    those are some hell-a-fide phone typing skills! :D
    you actually made SLI and the M in caps. :D
     
    Johnksss, Oct 5, 2011
    #193
  44. bar-code

    bar-code Notebook Evangelist

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    lol :0)

    Your right i hate you now :) lol when you get a chance please dump the bios and some of us on older vbios can test.
    But you will find that furmark occt will still throttle, your boses lappy probably had a heating issue or something. My cards have never throttled in games except when i go over 740mhz

    Anyway after i've given hope on this issue we may have some sort of a solution, but dont get your hopes too high ppl.
     
    bar-code, Oct 5, 2011
    #194
  45. skygunner27

    skygunner27 A Genuine Child of Zion

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    lol...I'm on a Galaxy S2. It has preemptive text that monitors what I type and makes suggestions based on previous text.
     
    skygunner27, Oct 5, 2011
    #195
  46. 0x29A

    0x29A Notebook Evangelist

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    * 0x29A mysteriously winks at the crowd (see page 16)
     
    0x29A, Oct 5, 2011
    #196
  47. 3demons

    3demons Battlefield 3 Ace

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    +rep, been monitoring this topic very closely and this is a great help.
     
    3demons, Oct 5, 2011
    #197
  48. Johnksss

    Johnksss .

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    oh yeah? so am i. just got it today as a matter of fact.
    galaxy s2 epic touch 4g. love it over my evo 4g.
    what page 16? mine is set to long list mode.
     
    Johnksss, Oct 5, 2011
    #198
  49. skygunner27

    skygunner27 A Genuine Child of Zion

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    On my way home. What program do I use to dump vbios?
     
    skygunner27, Oct 5, 2011
    #199
  50. bar-code

    bar-code Notebook Evangelist

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    gpuz and next to the version number save to file and upload here :) +rep
     
    bar-code, Oct 5, 2011
    #200
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