Aw m18x R2 Dual 980m SLI upgrade!!

Brother mikecacho is our resident expert for the M17xR4 upgrade, so I will defer to him on the process. These machines are similar, yet remarkably different in many respects. I am not using a single GPU with Optimus. As such, you will have the luxury of using the superior Windows 7 OS, can flash the vBIOS whenever you want to, and won't be saddled with the severe impediments associated with pure UEFI and Windows 8 unless you want to be. Using SLI, I have no option to use Legacy mode, so in this respect I am envious. For the first time ever in my entire life I have encountered a point of disadvantage to having a multi-GPU system, but for bizarre reasons never contemplated simply because of the evil things men do for the sake of greed. I'm trying to like Windows 8, but I am only tolerating it because I have to for my SLI beast. Using Optimus allows you to boot with the Intel IGFX, which is exempt from Micro$oft hardware signature requirements which, in turn, allows you to run Windows 7 even though it is not "signed" with permission to work with the Maxwell vBIOS.

Yes, you absolutely will need to do a driver INF mod or the driver will not install. Let me know the hardware ID for 970M in the M17xR4 and I can show you how to use the desktop GeForce driver tweak for your upgrade.

 

Decided to run these two test to compare with the gpu scores only in catzilla. I'm still a little baffled as to why that score is lower while it held it clocks the whole time through the video with an over clock. Any one with any ideas?

 

John, I must be reading things wrong, because I am confused. You asked why is the score lower on the card that's clocked slower... but... isn't that supposed to happen? O_O. As far as I see, all the tests that say "GPU" show up as being slower in the screenshot with the lower clocks. Unless the overclocked run had the GPU dipping its clocks often? You didn't say that (at the time of this writing) so I'm baffled.

 

^Same for me. It looks like the overclocked run actually did score higher.

 

Yeah John, it looks fine

 

I cannot explain it, but there is something... a link somewhere that seems new with Maxwell, maybe more so on the Alienware than Clevo due to BIOS differences... that has a direct correlation to the CPU. I switched to IGFX for a few minutes and after switching back to 980M SLI the suckers are throttling like mad. I changed the BIOS to cTDP overclocking and set the CPU for 4.7GHz using cTDP and now this sucker runs faster than ever. During all but the Physics and Combined Tests the CPU clocks c-states are all over the board from 3.8GHz to 4.6GHz, but the GPUs hold fine, and so does the CPU in Physics and Combined Test. If I then switch to using BIOS for Extreme Edition overclocking mode the GPUs start throttling again. So yeah, this has to be hooking into Windows power tables or something we have never experienced before. It might be OK once we figure out what is happening and how to deal with it effectively. Something new in Maxwell, just as we had to relearn with Haswell.

This Fire Strike run is with Extreme Edition overclocking set for cTDP instead of BIOS and it's way better than my last best run.

 

Answering all at the same time.

In both cases my gpu score is higher. And i ran 4 cores ht off at 3.7 ghz. That video does not go to that score at the end, it's much lower.

Is what im getting at. Also, this is only about the main gpu score

And to top it off, his gpu's did not throttle the whole time either. So something is amiss here.

Sorry guys, but there is no way im going to believe alienware is that far behind a clevo. You can't make me believe it either.

 

If you're comparing it to Mr. Fox's video, his cards sat at 1124MHz and had ~92% util on each card, though being OC'd to 1173/1262. If your cards held 1173 or above (indicating it did an OC; the original boost clock is 1127MHz) then your second run should have been better on the GPU scores (which it is).

Your stock 980Ms run was lower than his result, but if your cards held 1038MHz (basic clock) during that run it would explain your score being lower.

That being said, if your OC'd run held closer to 99% util for each card (but kept the 1124MHz clocks like his did) then your scores should also be higher, as while the clocks were the same, he was using about 92% of his power and you were using 100%

Unless I entirely mis-interpreted who you were comparing to. In which case, ignore the above speculation.

 

The score 12K run looks like Windows 8 and the 10K score runs Windows 7 by the looks of it

 

Don't mind that part zero989, that was to see how much of a difference it would be between 7 and 8. Here goes the videos to those runs.
Windows 7

Windows 8.1

 

Your first video showed more util for your cards, but your score was lower. Both videos showed the same clockspeed though, even though I couldn't see the util in your second video. Yeah... I'm confused as hell. Unless it's the benchmark liking win 8.1 which gives the higher win 8 score... both should have scored the same since you limited your CPU to 3.7GHz and 4 cores without Hyperthreading.

You know what, I'm confused and my head hurts (for unrelated reasons). Headache judgement: 980Ms are crazy, praise be to OC master and vBIOS god johnksss and svl9 respectively, they are our GabeN of mobile nVidia cards, shalt wait on modded vBIOS from them.

 

Fox is using his special drivers .

Also not sure if this matters but your X79 Clevo should have 40 lanes, so 16x PCI 2.0 for both 980Ms?

NM the alienware is PCI 3.0

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well this was a fun run!

Took the #8 spot in 720P



http://www.catzilla.com/showresult?lp=403807|*|Result Details

Would be easier with Win 7

 

How do you like the Area51 R2? GTX 880 (?) Is that an error in Catzilla?

 

It's nice! Only have it because I got a super special price. $4475 CDN before tax >_>.

I don't know why but Catzilla is recognizing all GTX 980s as 880s.

5960x is so extreme it's impossible to cool at high voltages no matter what liquid cooling, and at stock its load temps are in the 40s.

 

57646 was my score before my laptop scores took over.

 

Catzilla is fun to watch, but the way their database is set up really sucks. I think the validation links might be permanent, but I hate how your profile can only save one run and if you use another computer (or their app crashes and you send them information about the crash) it wipes out all of your previous scores. I find it difficult to take their benchmark product seriously under those circumstances.

 

I totally agree!

 

I did a run at 1491Mhz across all 980s and my score dropped 1,000 points.

I'll mess with it later.

Unfortunately I'm hit with the bad straps so I can't run 2666Mhz memory, not even at 1.35v 16-16-16-36.

I guess I could try 3000.

 

Catzilla is like that. Just run it again.
I have some microcenter store bought corsair for $320.00.
CPU-Z Validator 4.0

I had gotten tired that day. I haven't went back to see how much higher it will go.

 

Hey Guys,

You can flash vBIOS in DOS even if your GPU set up in Windows is in Optimus mode right? That's my last worry with getting the 970M..

 

I don't think so. It will give you a certificate error....Speculation.

 

You need to use NvFlash Win version latest. I tried it in DOS and it could not locate the card. As far as flashing it with Optimus enabled, yes you can flash it, just disable the 970/980m in device manager. To flash it on the M17x you need to ensure you have legacy enabled.

 

Thanks for the info Mike! You are a gold mine of info! +rep and I've sent you a PM about thermal pads.. Placed my 970M order with Hide and need to get pads now!

 

I am too debating to make the jump on the the 980ms... I got my cpu Oced to 4.2 on all 4 cores 24/7 and I like it like that. I keep on hearing that when The cpu is OCed the 980ms throttle.
Should i jump on them now???

Is this something that will eventually be fixed by a Modded Vbios like SLV7?? (amazing Bios By the way)

I currently have 780ms with SLV7 vbios running@ 970Ghrz core and 2900ghrz memory M18X R2

Looking for an advice specially from people that have already upgraded from 780ms to 980ms (like MR.Fox)


Thanks In Advance.

 

I have an aw18 with i7 4940mx with 2 gtx 980m in sli with windows 8.1 up and running what tests do you want me to run i just ran just cause 2 maxxed out and cod aw maxxed what ever card i have that runs the physx gets hot like 90c and my fan hardly kicks on, I do have a cheap base from xigmatech but i actually didnt even have the fans plugged in because they plug into the usb. i didnt notice any lag or anything but i dont know what i am doing i do have my 4940 set to the first stage of oc in the bios i am using bios 10. I did not oc the 980s yet because of the temps but at this point i dont see the need. I am so happy so far!!!

i7 4940mx
gtx 980m sli
32 g dell ram 1600mgz
2 ssd raid 0, wd 5400
blu ray drive.
windows 8.1 pro mediacenter

i am willing to help and answer questions if ya got them.

 

Can someone post a picture of how they put their thermal pads on their 970/980M? Like you know what J95 did with the 780M with a picture of GPU and where each pad has to be placed and what thickness.. It would be much appreciated by this first time GPU upgrader

 

Thermal pads are important for:

A) memory
B) inductors (large tall components)
C) vrm chips (squares around the top edge and top of the side of the pcb)

Each needs to make contact with the heatsink.

 

Can you post a picture of what you mean? Something like what J95 did for 780M? I'm not sure how thick the pads need to be stacked on each component...

 

Here you are

 

If your upgrading 970m then you dont need any additional thermal pads as 970m almost same layout as 780m. If you want to get new thermal pads then get 1mm thickness pads for voltage regulators, vrams chips. Please check below layout which i just made as per R2 heatsink.

Red = 1mm pads
Yellow = 2mm

 

Not sure where you got the necessary thicknesses for the various pads, he has the R4, it's gonna be different for each model & heatsink model. The pic is useful though. I'd do it by eye to make sure it's all level, unless you got the various pad thicknesses required from another R4 user who upgraded to a 970M I don't think the thicknesses you quoted are necessarily valid. (Just playing Devil's Advocate so he doesn't blindly put the thicknesses of the pads you quoted without checking it suits his model.)

 

The capacitors between the inductors don't have to be cooled.

 

Mr Fox, any idea what was the thickness of the pads Hidevolution provided to you? Or did u use your own pads and which ones were these?

 

That's what I've also seen too, but doesn't hurt as far as I'm aware - I put pads on those capacitors without issue, (I had thought they needed padding).

He has a different laptop, you have to do it to fit your own heatsink rather than taking random advice on thicknesses from people with different models. (Even if the cards are the same between models, the heatsinks can be different, therefore requiring different pad thicknesses in different places.)

1mm pads are sufficient in most cases, because you can stack them to make them thicker where necessary.

 

Happy Holidays everyone,

I'm probably going to make the jump to the 980ms after the holidays, or as soon as the relatives leave. Not going to open pc with a butch of know it all hanging over my shoulder. One genius managed to set his car on fire with filling it up. knowltg, since we basically have the same AW 18, did you use the method for upgrading listed in the first post of this thread? Is it simply take out old cards put in new cards (do heat sinks fit). Anyone know if I can use win 10, instead of win 8.1. I have win 10 dual booted and I like it (minus some problems). Final question, where is best place to get the cards


Thanks,

Again Happy Holidays & Happy New Year

 

Well 980m is smashin card indeed. There is not any major issue present which affect it's performance in big time. There is random throttling issue, but it's not big deal. 980ms performance would be almost double compare to 780ms.

Finally someone with 980ms on Aw 18 is active. You can run any benchmark test on your system and share it with us, we'll be happy to see how it goes with AW 18. I believe 90C is very hight temp. for 980m. which thermal paste did you use? As per i know, temp. issue on Aw 18 is still not resolved. Yes there is no need to OC these card for gaming as it performs well at stock.

 

lol thats why i said at end as per R2. I quote thickness as per Dell stock pads.

Actually if you wont put pad on it then it will be in close contact with copper pipes (m18x second card heatsink).

 

Thanks Peter for the fast response. I will start looking in to getting my hands on a pair of these cards. How do you install the drivers with the 980ms? is it similar like modding the drivers for the 780ms? u know the 119f and stuff..

 

Yes driver mod is very simple and similar to 780ms. You can do it with few mouse clicks or you can download inf mod file.

 

Hey guys. What bios settings should I Use on aw18 preparing for sli 980ms?

 

1: One bench was ran stock gpu clocks
2: One was ran a slight over clock on stock voltage
3: In both cases the gpus out scored the alienware
4: Brother Fox's video is of two different things. The video was to show the clocks holding. The end result was his highest over all run. Which was over clocked cpu and gpu
5: My example was to show that it is not running optimal. At least not yet.
6: The two scores I posted are the end result of the videos.
7: It was a 100 point difference in over all score when i actually ran stock for both windows 7 and 8.1. The gpu score was the same. It was still the same with running 4 8 or even 12 cores at a clock speed of 3.7. I forgot, my stock cpu is 3.4. haha

All this is to say....alienwares are not running optimal as of yet.

Hope that is a better explanation D2.

 

Okay. That makes more sense. I was incredulously confused before. But yeah, I hope at least the vBIOS mods that are being worked on fixes its behaviour; especially with throttlestop. I've grown attached to my throttlestop and its windows timer resolution fix. Mmm.

 

Don't forget the two next to R56

 

And maybe the two below R56 too. (And maybe the little black chip in the top left of the card too, labelled 220 - not sure if that one needs to be done, but wouldn't hurt.)

 

Basically, if it protrudes from the card in any significant fashion, put a thermal pad XD

 

Haha, EXACTLY!

 

You mean basically put thermal pads on every black square right ?

 

My god the waiting for my new cards is just horrible :/

 

Should be getting mine on Monday.. I ordered from Hide yesterday and they dispatched them within hours... You should have got it from them instead of Eurocom

Not to mention Eurocom's price was absurd!

 

Haha Monday for me too from Hidevolution. The wait is cruel, especially since I have some time off from work. Ohh well ..it's kind of fun a lot of people are jumping on board around the same time. Hopefully we can all nut out what needs to be done to get the best out of these puppies.