*OFFICIAL* Alienware M18x Benchmark Thread - Part 2

*BUMP*

OK, maybe that stuff I posted yesterday just is not exciting enough. Perhaps this will get your benching juices flowing....

Kids, don't try this at home

STANDARD WARNING

Third party BIOS Modifications, VBIOS Modifications and other system level tweaks (including fan control) can potentially cause damage to your system. Be aware of this before blindly flashing/installing.

If you brick your system or cause damage, chances are very high that your warranty will be useless. Know what you are doing, you are responsible for your actions.

-​

Now that you've been duly warned... I have been tinkering with vBIOS settings, mainly looking to understand it all, and below are some observations...

Using NiBiTor you will notice that the 3D clock domains for the GTX 580M are cells 3 and 5. It appears that cells 0 and 1 represent "stock clocks" and cells 4 and 11 are "bumped" (dynamic) shader clocks. In NiBiTor, domain 15 is P0 and 14 is P1. It appears the cells are arranged exactly the same, except there are no higher dynamic shader clocks in domain 14 (P1). I determined this by opening 4 different modded vBIOS ROM files to compare the settings. See screen shot. It appears the values in cells 0 and 1 (stock clocks) are what feeds information to GPU-Z and other software to display the factory "default" clocks. The first Vantage screen shot below shows what it looks like in GPU-Z and NVIDIA Inspector if the values in cells 0 and 1 are changed to match the actual clock speeds. (Notice the default values displayed.)

Here is a screen shot of what a stock Dell GTX 580M vBIOS looks like in NiBiTor, and here is a screen shot of the same in Svet's vBIOS Tuner.

I put together my own Excel tool to calculate the values for the bumped clocks, and double-checked what I did with NiBiTor using Svet's vBIOS Tuner. See screen shot. The red arrow is pointing to the "bumped" (dynamic) shader clock ratio.

After using Svet's vBIOS Tuner to cross-check everything and validate the integrity, I then ran some tests with a very mild overclock. Here is a link to my first self-modded vBIOS ROM used in the following tests. Here is a screen shot of what the settings look like.

Below are the initial benchmarks with the mild GPU overclock. (Note that these are not record-setting runs like I have posted before. I don't have access to an AC unit for cooling, and thus cannot push my CPU as hard as I need to right now. But, the results are still very good.)

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2920XM Processor,Alienware M18xR1 score: P6904 3DMarks

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2920XM Processor,Alienware M18xR1 score: P27430 3DMarks



After completing those runs without a hitch, I used one of my batch files to bump things up a bit, and found everything still very stable. No artifacts, silky smooth, no problems with GPU temps...



Here is what I meant about not being able to push my CPU harder without an AC unit to keep it cool enough...



Now that I know how it all works, it's time to re-flash the original Dell vBIOS specs... which is more than adequate for excellent gaming performance with the "Fox Fix" in place to prevent throttling.

 

OUCH! - 99c on the cpu Mr. Fox !!! - you were pushing it LOL - nice results none the less.....I admire your passion for benching!

 

really useful information, well done Mr. Fox

 

Thanks for the great post brother fox! Very helpful of those interested


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Thanks gentlemen...

 

With Anchorman 2 officially announced I couldn't resist:
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeench teeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaam Asseeembllllllllllllllllllllllllllle!

Been working closely with brother Fox here figuring out whether any of the vbios entries help with stability at all. Call all 580m benchers to test whether OC'ing using OC tools like inspector vs OCing by flashing modded vbioses with proper bumped shader and cell entries makes a difference with regard to stability.

 

Ha ha, looking forward to that movie, too.

Seems some of the regular benchers have taken a vacation.

 

I am in replacement limbo currently - my tech support guy is quite spotty on the replies and disappears for a week or two at a time (already used the Jury duty excuse once.....)

I am worried though since the 2960xm is not on the website anymore - who knows what I will end up with...

Awesome find though Fox, very thorough and good work as usual

 

my replacement still being built so I am a little worried too. Though the 2960xm is still available in AUS


Sent from my iPad3 using Tapatalk HD

 

Stay classy everyone! In the next few weeks when i get a proper heatsink I would install the 580M and test anything you guys allowed me to

 

Man, I was offered a trade by a reputable member here. Trade my R2 W/ 6990 for an 18x with 2630 and 6990. Have to see if I can swing me keeping my blu-ray writer. Tough decision as I love the 19x12 RGB. I know I'd like the 18" screen, but having a sharper image with the R2, and more vivid color and better aspect ratio is the main reason I don't want to trade Plus I'm super late to the 18x bench party and I would need to swap the 6990s for 580's and get a 2960xm

 

been working myself. also been exploring the memory over clocking as well.
but i'll get back to doing a few test runs to see if i can at least stay where i was at.

at those clocks, it should be closer to 30k. i just did a test run at grabbed at 29751 gpu score....@800/L/900 and stock xtreme cpu clocks.

 

Nice post Fox!!! I'd rep you but I have to spread some around first

Oh yeah!!!....I'm lovin the new avatar!

 

Do it do it


Sent from my iPad3 using Tapatalk HD

 

Yes, I agree, Brother John. CPU is just getting too hot in the 3DMark CPU tests and throttling back without AC, (fine the rest of the bench run,) but the benchmarks were primarily for testing the vBIOS and not a high score.

 

My bad. I was only talking about your gpu clocks. My cpu score was like 22k but gpu was 29k+

 

I think that might possibly be the modded 680 driver (301.10) I am playing with. I'm probably going to drop back to 295.51, as that gave me the best benchmark performance thus far. The 301.10 mod works just fine in games, but I'm not impressed with how it does in Vantage or 3DMark11.

 

I just received my M18x today. Granted it's not up to the levels as most of you guys, but I just want to see where I sit at stock and then make a few adjustments when I tweak it and upgrade down the road.

So at stock I'm sitting at:

MarkVantage - 16902
Mark11 - 4135
Mark06 - 21450

After doing some small tweaking I was able to get these numbers

MarkVantage - 18974
Mark11 - 4786
Mark06 - 21855

Still a few things to do, but not much more.

 

Congratz on the new purchase and welcome to the benching club.

 

I should hopefully have my 2920XM by this weekend. Then I'll be ready to throw my numbers up on here

 

Nice! I know you will like it far better than your current cpu..

 

Definitely! I got my current setup off the Outlet for an awesome price, so I figured I could afford a new XM processor and dual-pipe heatsink

Actually...

Brother John, do you know if I can do all the fun memory flashing you are doing on my ADATA 1.35V 1600MHz Gaming Series RAM?

 

Yep. You sure can.

 

Thanks, but with my current setup there is not much more that I may do, except overclock my memory when it gets in the mail.

I was lucky to get this machine, just found out the wife is pregnant again...

 

Still waiting on my replacement m18x and haha my wife is pregnaut again too we just found out its a boy.

 

Congrats!!!

 

I would wait, you may be able to purchase a slightly used or refurbished M18x already equipped with the desired hardware for $2500 within a year or so, especially after the M18x R2 hits the streets. Getting an M18x only to have to purchase a 2920/2960 CPU and 580 SLI will be at least another $1500 on top of the acquisition of the M18x.

Listen, I surreptitiously came across some good information on here pertaining to getting a good deal on and M18x right when I was contemplating pulling the trigger on one on ebay for ~$3200., and it was to check the Dell Outlet from time to time as they regularly get units in. You can get a decent deal there. And on ebay, I see M18's on ebay that typically sell around $3200-$3500.

I have to be brutally honest and say that I absolutely love my M18x, the fit and finish and the way the games play is incredible.

Its not too late to set some new records with overclocking, maybe you can talk to whomever is developing the water cooling system and see if they'll let you pimp their prototype.

 

4/9/2012 7:53:49 PM - Vista 64
Beginning Run #1 on Map-island, Demo-benchmark_gpu
DX10 1920x1080, AA=No AA, Vsync=Disabled, 32 bit test, FullScreen
Demo Loops=3, Time Of Day= 9
Global Game Quality: VeryHigh
==============================================================
TimeDemo Play Started , (Total Frames: 2000, Recorded Time: 111.86s)
!TimeDemo Run 0 Finished.
Play Time: 32.44s, Average FPS: 61.64
Min FPS: 36.51 at frame 142, Max FPS: 74.92 at frame 1007
Average Tri/Sec: -15875380, Tri/Frame: -257533
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -3.56
!TimeDemo Run 1 Finished.
Play Time: 30.31s, Average FPS: 66.00
Min FPS: 36.51 at frame 142, Max FPS: 77.71 at frame 1018
Average Tri/Sec: -16004720, Tri/Frame: -242512
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -3.78
!TimeDemo Run 2 Finished.
Play Time: 29.96s, Average FPS: 66.75
Min FPS: 36.51 at frame 142, Max FPS: 77.71 at frame 1018
Average Tri/Sec: -16052545, Tri/Frame: -240498
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -3.81
TimeDemo Play Ended, (3 Runs Performed)
==============================================================

Completed All Tests

<><><><><><><><><><><><><>>--SUMMARY--<<><><><><><><><><><><><><>

4/9/2012 7:53:49 PM - Vista 64

Run #1- DX10 1920x1080 AA=No AA, 32 bit test, Quality: VeryHigh ~~ Overall Average FPS: 66.375

 

Where did you get the test from Mr. Fox?

 

That's the Crysis Benchmark Tool. You can download it from Guru3D. It requires that Crysis be resident on your system.

Crysis Benchmark Tool 1.05 Final download from Guru3D.com

There is also a Crysis 2 Benchmark Tool. You can download it from Adrenaline Benchzone. It also requires that Crysis 2 be resident on your system.

Adrenaline Crysis 2 Benchmark Tool

I've attached Crysis 2 Benchmark results as well.

 

That's not going to happen since I don't own the game...yet.

Thanks for the post

 

Here's another cool game benchmark... this one (I believe) will run as a standalone without the game. Aliens vs. Predator DirectX 11 Benchmark Tool

Spoiler

<param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Wl9s21Lf-6E?version=3&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Wl9s21Lf-6E?version=3&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width='1280' height="720" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

 

Here is a nice 3DMark11 run for benching without AC. HWiNFO64 pushing fans at 100%, but no AC.

http://3dmark.com/3dm11/3160214

Spoiler

Boy, it really stinks how slow the Futuremark web site has become. It seems like it takes forever to load results any more.

 

New best in the Mark06 with a score of 22744

 

Hi peeps,
I'd love to see some plain jane stock scores for any xfire and SLI setups in 3d mark 11. I have found lots of over clockers posting their scores but I'm a stock kind of person. If this information is available already I'd love a linky.

Cheers =)

 

Here's my bench marks if it helps

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m18x/623335-amd-beta-driver-release-post8102069.html#post8102069

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=77270&stc=1&d=1334093017 Here's mine dual 6990's completely stock.

 

Thanks to both of you. It seems a xfire 6990m isn't too far from a stock i5 2500k and msi gtx 580 lightning (on stock overclock) desktop rig I have sitting in my room. I'd still love to see some 6970m xfire, 560m SLI, and 580M SLI stock scores if possible thanks =)

 

My stock 6970M score is about P58XX on 12.2 Preview drivers. My overclocked score pushes JUST over P6500.

 

Benchmarking discussions belong in the benchmarking thread. This thread space is not reserved for overclockers. You are more than welcome to document your stock benchmarking scores here. The more the merrier. Please post links to online results and screen shots showing your scores whenever possible.

 

I found out I'm having a boy a few days ago as well. Congrats to you man!!! This will be my first born. I can already see him winning a state wrestling title and riding motocross and of course, posting some huge benches with daddy

Sent from my Samsung Captivate/ICS using Tapatalk 2

 

Congratulations to both of you! That's awesome. I have 5 (4 adults and a 17 year old) and 4 are boys. You're both made of "cool dad" material.

 

Thanks Fellas!!! & Congrats DR650SE yeah i also have a 3yr Girl and she loves playing Sonic on the m18x with a 360 controller lol
Kids now days have the coolest tech iPads,Smartphones massive TV's etc etc
its sad though that no one has a BMX anymore

 

I have a BMX

But I'm 20...so.

 

congratz!!

 

Congrats man

 

Nice! - Congratulations on your good news DR!

 

Playing around a little with Mint Linux and found a cool benchmarking suite...



Phoronix Test Suite

 

hello

Bench SSD Samsung 256Go

 

that is a seriously bugged run...