***M18x - AMD Crossfire (Driver Questions, Performance, Problems) Discussion Thread***

Brunoc, unless you are trying to intentionally destroy your video cards, do not run a Furmark burn-in test. This is known to cause damage and it serves no useful purpose.

If your cards run cool with games and ordinary benchmarks likes 3DMark11 and Vantage, don't worry about what the temps are with Furmark. There is a good reason they call it a "Burn-in test" (but it should be called a "Burn-out button" instead).

Furmark can be used as an effective tool to diagnose problems, but ONLY used for a very short (like one minute or less) burst to check dynamic clocking function, etc. Apart from that, it serves no useful purpose.

 

Any news about drivers update for 7970m's? Its 9th september still no drivers, latest was from 9 august.. what they are doing...

 

Thanks for the warning.

I stopped running for 15 minutes.

Almost blew it ..........

 

Thanks Mr.Fox,

I have good news now. So I went to the Chinese Alienware forum for help ( LOL Yes, I am chinese. ) And those guys suggested me to try the DELL 7970M offical driver for M17R4. And yes I am installing a DELL 7970M M17R4 version driver to a M18x R2. After installing the driver, the problem was fixed ^_^ I am so happy, therefore I think maybe you should know this. Works pretty well on my M18x R2.

Cheers,

 

What driver version is using M17x R4 users?

 

That's good news. Thank you for sharing it. It may help others who are experiencing the same problem. +1 Rep

 

Go to the Dell website-Support-Product Support-Home Users-Chose Alienware M17x R4-Find the driver, the drive vision now is 8.973. They updated for the M17x in July but ignored the M18x . As you can see the one in M18x R2 is 8.934.

 

Thanks, it seems like its 12.6.....

 

Maybe I should make it more clearly. I downloaded the Dell M17x R4 HD 7970M driver from the offical website. The version is 8.973, but Dell didn't update the M18x R2 HD 7970M driver and the M18x driver version is still 8.934.

Just in case someone need the information with more detail.

The M17x R4 one is 12.8 I think...... At least I was told so.....

 

12.8 is 8.982 version

Dell was releasing this driver firstly for M18x R2 then it failed on our system, so they have deleted it.
There's topic: http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m18x/677009-dell-official-7970m-driver-released.html

So its probably 12.5 or 12.6 - thats the question.

 

Just an update and a question concerning my M18x R2 problems (black screen, freezing, yellow and black flicker at bottom of the screen in games, crashes to a yellow striped screen)

I talked to the Dell technician, at first after a heap of things he wanted to try, he concluded that the graphic cards needs replacing. But he rang back asking if I could try reinstalling windows first to see if that would fix the problems
I reinstalled windows on a spare hard drive every thing went fine for the 5mins of testing I did... long story short I ended up doing a windows repair on my original install of windows because it wouldn't start, since then everything has been working sweet.

Well until today that is, with 3 crashes to a striped screen within an hour, does this still sound like a hardware problem or more like a corrupted windows/virus problem. Should I push the rep to just replace the cards as I really don't want to spend 6hrs reinstalling all my programs when I should be studying for mid semesters and doing assignments.

 

Sounds like a hardware problem to me. I think you're just wasting time doing another Windows reinstall when the first go round didn't actually fix anything. Now that you've done as the rep asked and it did not fix the video cards, replacement should not be an issue.

 

Really? Since i just got my M18x last week so I have no idea that ever happened..... Gee, next time should go with a Alienware Desktop or a Retina Macbook Pro

 

Retina macbook pro is just waste of money in my opinion.

 

Or choose the other brand of GPU if you're wanting a mobile gaming system with good performance and good driver support. Alienware desktop computers are awesome, but Retina Macbook Pro? That's quite a shift in purpose for normally two very distinct types of buyers. That seems like an odd choice in your list of other options.

Some people like the nice screen and don't really care about anything else, but I agree with you.

 

I know, just being curious about the new retina screen. Have a Macbook Air, really nicely made and have no problem about the driver LOL

Yeah right. But the 15 inch and its slim body have the limitation for the gpu, right?
My intention was to make jokes about Dell's bad tech support and drivers. It seems that I didn't make the point LOL.
The Alienware M14x use GT 650M same as the new macbook pro. Since I use mac and pc both, mac is really nice for portable use and Alienware is definitely the choice for games LOL. Love them both.

 

If you want portability - Dell XPS 13 ultrabook is a best choice and it cost just ~700$ meanwhile macbook air costs ~1500$

 

LOL, you should give mac a chance, their touchpad stuff is amazing And since most girls like mac but don't know how to use, we can take full advantage of this. LOL

 

You're from China, right?

 

That's right

 

China are plagued with Apple too

 

crApple owners sometimes have them because it helps them fit in with the peer group they feel it is important to be popular with. There are plenty of tech savvy MBP owners, too. But, with a lot of the kids that have them or think they "need to" ...not so much. It's like a status symbol with them more than anything. Very expensive web browsing and Facebook appliance, LOL.

 

LOL Well actually I prefer Android system to Iphone

 

LOL, I don't think it's Apple's intention to design Macbook for a status symbol. But some retailer in China are intended to sell them as some sort of status, and it seems some customers are quite OK with this illusion. LOL , we don't have to pay attention to those sorts of things.

For the Macbook Air I am quite happy with it. It's pretty solid at least ,all steel. But some PC ultrabook like Sony VAIO Z-Series are even more expensive. One of my friends got one last year and it cost him like 2400 bucks plus tax, which as far as I see, it's totally crazy!

I still can't understand what happened to him to buy a ultrabook for 2 grands but can't even play COD 4 COD 4 is such a classic for god sake!

 

I agree with you... and I don't see any logic in that either. But, to each his own. That's a lot of money for a laptop computer that is not very fast.

 

Im going to roll the dice and order a m18x with crossfire 7970 tomorrow. I hope i get a trouble free one. Some of you have issues, some dont. Fingers crossed.

 

good luck! if you get a good set (which im sure you will) it will run better than amazing!

 

Status... Maybe not originally but I'd say that they are capitalising on that big time now!!
playing COD4 wont get you any status, well not the status that they are after any way

Any way back on topic
OK I'll ring dell again and see what they can do for me hopefully I don't have to jump through to many hoops

 

Hey everyone, I just got my M18X yesterday and installed Batman Arkham city and it was stuttering alot on high settings, So then I tried another game Battlefield 3 but there was no problems at all. Is it the game or is it crossfirex ?Specs are in my sig.

 

Hello dear notebook gaming enthusiasts!

I am interested in overclocking my alienware m18x r2's dual 7970ms, but so far have had no luck in succeeding.
I have tried the method where you install ati afterburner 2.2.1, then copy the .dll file, then, upgrade ati afterburner to 2.2.3, and then change the configuration files as to allow unofficial overclocking.

I don't want to try any method invloving flashing the vbios becuase something very bad could happen.

Can anyone help me out with an up to date method of achieving overclocking?

I currently have CCC 12.8 installed.

 

My graphics set-up (same 7970M CFX) was alright with BAC. Have you tried D3DOverrider? It forces triple-buffering in DirectX games and is supposed to help in many cases.

Also, try playing with a more conservative detail level. If it still stutters then might be a driver problem..

 

Alright, thanks, will give it ago.

 

Hello everyone
Im soon joining you guys, I ordered m18x r2 with 7970m from a reseller. They told me they test the laptop before shipping. I asked them what kind of tests you do.
They told me they check the exterior, screen, keyboards and then do some benchmarks and stress tests to the gpu and cpu and finally they use the alienware check app (dont know what it called).

Guys, Do you think that is enough (specially for the GPUs)? or can you recommend me of a better way to check the GPUs, I could ask them now since its still in production.

 

I just downloaded the latest Afterburner at the time (2.2.2. didn't bother upgrading afterwards) and changed the configuration file adding the unofficial overclocking lines (don't remember tickering with any .dll files..). Haven't found any other software worth using for overclocking the R2 CFX.

I have experienced instability that can only be attributed to Afterburner though (BSOD after resetting to stock clocks? ) so I try to make things permanent with a flash once I'm confident and happy with my clocks.

 

Mine ran crap and stuttery with dx11 using 12.7b drivers. It ran fine with dx9 though.
I haven't tried it with 12.8 or Sponge_gto's trick.

 

You'll find the instructions near the bottom of post #1 under the headings "Windows Registry Tweaks" and "Afterburner AMD Overclocking Tweak" in this thread:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...sink-7970m-crossfire-upgrade.html#post8568526 (you'll need to do both things)

Feel free to ask questions in that thread or the http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...alienware-m18x-benchmark-thread-part-2-a.html

 

Have you tried to Overclock your cards?

 

Note yet. As my cousin said, I am a noob and don't recommend me to do such work. . Now I am running skyrim with the dell 7970m m17r4 driver. It works surprisingly well. I am very happy with it.

 

Please try Dota 2 with these drivers. I have text flickering while chatting sometimes -_- (installed dell drivers for M17x R4 also)

 

Is there no way to overclock the 7970m cards using Trixx? I have tried both 4.3,4.1 and 4.02 versions. None give me the clock or memory settings to adjust. 4.1 and 4.03 tells me it cant read the stock settings, all of the current settings read 0.

It works fine with my 6990s in my R1-I will have to see what version I am running there.

 

Larry... Trixx does not work with the 7970M. It is not compatible. MSI Afterburner does an excellent job with 7970M.

 

Hi,

Its my understanding that Batman Arkham City has had a few issues with crossfire configurations. My recommendation is to find any new available patches for that game. Also, run windows important updates only.

 

Hi, I tried almost everything to overclock my 7970m on my m18x r2, but nothing allows me to, and I don't want to flash the vbios, becuase it's too risky for me.

With ati afterburner, I can't increase any clocks, same thing with other gpu clocking tools I tried.

Can someone give me an up to date method on how to achieve overclocking if they have done it too? Also, please send me a link if possible to the exact software you downloaded to overclock, and aslo tell me what version of CCC you are using.

Highly appreciated, thanks

 

any news of a new driver?

 

Nothing any newer than Catalyst 12.8... http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m18x/686259-amd-catalyst-12-8-9-august.html

 

Can someone post Dell 7970m 117 vBios?

EDIT: got it, if somebody needs it - pm me.

 

Monkeybell... go to post #1 in the thread linked below and review the information under the headings "Windows Registry Tweaks" and "Afterburner AMD Overclocking Tweak" and you will find the answers you are looking for.

M18x R1 Tear Down Video: Ivy Bridge CPU Heatsink and 7970M CrossFire Upgrade

 

Hi Mr. Fox. Thanks for the help. I seem to have things working now, except I have one problem. My second gpu clock shows a bar, that can be overclocked just like the first gpu, but when I overclocked the second one, and then clicked "apply," the second gpu's clock rates fell to 0. I then had to restart my pc to fix this.

Do you know why this happens?

 

Hello,

Sorry for the late reply, I updated Arkham city via Games for windows live and it works perfectly now. Thanks for the advice. appreciate it.

 

what is the best driver currently for Crossfire 7970m?