*OFFICIAL* Alienware M18x Benchmark Thread - Part 2

I have to catch up with this thread, but here's my Vantage score, I think it's meeting the requirements. I also have to get back to benching.

Spoiler

 

Nice xeneize when I get home and power up I'm aiming high lol

 

DanX ... can you PM or post here a link to the a05 unlocked ? I am still running a03 unlocked

Scook I ran extensive tests on the new dell drivers ... they make a difference.

Scook, here are the test comparisons ... some good differences between the drivers on the synth benches.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...are-m18x-benchmark-thread-66.html#post8127019

 

Here's a nice Heaven bench. How does the Heaven score look in a head-to-head
between 2920/2960XM & GTX 580M SLI vs 2920/2960XM & HD 6990M CrossFire?

 

Sure here we are A05 Unlocked Bios thx to SVL7
http://forum.techinferno.com/showthread.php?t=1123

 

PCMark7: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M SLI benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2760QM Processor,Alienware M18xR1 score: 4867 PCMarks



No breakthroughs on 3DMark11, Vantage or 3DMark06 to share this morning. Scores were slightly below my highest.

Brother John - how's that RAID0 SSD setup working? What does your CrystalDiskMark look like now that the problem is gone?

 

OK, just raised my Vantage a few points... have a new score and link for the leaderboard.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M SLI benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2760QM Processor,Alienware M18xR1 score: P26105 3DMarks



Cumulative scoring below...

 

Here is my CPUZ Validation... http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=2152866

Rejected Speed: Freq : 3663.96 MHz (104.68 * 35)

It seems you have to be quick to catch the system in maximum turboboost mode to validate that. Is there a way to force the CPU to hit and stick in maximum GHz to capture that, or do you just have to be fast enough to catch it in a spike?

Edit: Just ran TS Bench on one core and captured it that way.

 

Wow, you guys have been busy. I'll get these new scores updated in a bit.

You need to do it again. That red X is a no go...LOL

 

I cannot get it to validate. I've tried at least 10 times and it is always "rejected" when I upload it. I even uninstalled and reinstalled a new version of CPU-Z, so not sure what's up.

I saw on their forums that it's a known issue. Know any tricks or suggestions?

 

Do just a stock run and save it locally.
CPU-Z Validator 3.00
Then put your name and email and locate the cpuz file to upload.
then upload.
Do this at stock speeds first to make sure it will accept.


Side Note:
Ok everyone. I updated the first page with more screen shots of how to submit your marks.

There is a reason why it needs to be this way.
1: In case you want to take your scores some where else, they have all the qualifying information to be submitted anywhere.
2: In case of a dispute, everything is shown in this screen shot. So no one is the wiser.

This would be 2 good reasons on why to post this way.

 

It worked on the second attempt this time, but not with the CPU running faster than stock turbo speed.
Every attempt with the CPU over 3.5GHz fails to validate.

CPU-Z Validator 3.1 - Freq : 3348.27 MHz (104.63 * 32)

Rejected Speed: Freq : 3663.96 MHz (104.68 * 35)

 

side note:

If you want it to stick on a capture...
Open superpi and run 2m test while you saved the cpuz file. Then just upload when your ready.

side note:
looks like 51x multiplier is a go.
CPU-Z Validator 3.1

Edit:
New Record Woohoo
5.2 ghz broken.

CPU-Z Validator 3.1

 

Sweet! Nice job, bro. That's wicked fast.

 

Thanks!
I was quite surprised myself.
And that's still stock paste/a05 unlocked bios and sitting right on top of the desk.

 

Haha nice work all. I'm definitely going to have to get out the Prometeia if I'm to have any chance of beating any of those scores. Still, I reckon I did pretty well for completely stock scooling in 25C ambient conditions. Will see if I can do any better once my U3 cooler arrives.

 

No doubt, your scores are very respectable.

John - did I do the SuperPi and WPrime benching the right way, or need to do something different?

Spoiler

 

Awesome stuffs Brother Johnksss aka Mr. White Chocolate aka MGPU King.
Great stuffs man. Finally a Benching leader board for the M18x

Hey Johnksss quick question. Is tessellation needed to be on or off for 3d mark 11?
Just so I can follow the protocol.

Hey guys you know with the Flex setting. I'm hearing and reading that setting it to 0 flex is the way to get some nice results. Which Flex setting exactly is that in the bios? Not the voltage one I'm guessing.

AMD Radeon HD 6970M / 6990M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2820QM Processor,Alienware M18xR1 score: P7891 3DMarks

Cheers.

 

No need for that. Just some cold air and the right settings will do wonders.

That's the wrong version of Wprime. It needs to be version 1.55. 2.00 has issues.

The setting needs to be set to "application controlled" But i think AMD optimized can stay.

 

Wow! Brother John,Just awesome!Congrats John!

 

Hey guys, OT but quick question: What program are you using to edit the 580M vbios? And are you flashing via dos or windows?

 

The bios just needs to be flashed for the voltage. And we use Nvidia inspector to change the clocks.
Use nvflash_windows_5.100.0.1 to flash the gpus' in windows

 

Are you hex editing the voltages or using nvidia inspector to accomplish this? Haven't used an nVidia card in a long time so I'm a bit unfamiliar with the process. Back in the day I used nibitor.

 

Joker - go to the link in my sig for the throttling fix. The opening post has info on nvidiainspector and vBIOS flashing info from Red Line is linked in that post as well.

Once you get the voltage set to the NVIDIA reference value (0.92v) set whatever you want the clocks to be on P0/P1 using nvidiainspector. I use batch files for a simple point and click adjustment. It's faster and easier than opening and manually adjusting with nvidiainspector.

I've zipped together a kit... see attached.

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.

-

 

so quick question, would I be able to get higher clock speeds from my CPU if I used the unlocked BIOS?

 

The unlocked BIOS is great for those chasing numbers, but for the everyday user not really required.

Basically, unless you are using some form of additional cooling, you're going to hit the physical limits of your system before you hit the limits of the stock BIOS. For this reason, it's best to learn your way around all the settings in the stock BIOS, then flash the unlocked BIOS if you still want to push harder.

 

Thanks bro, +rep.

Edit: "You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Mr. Fox again."

I'll hit you up next time it lets me

 

You're welcome.

 

Now lets see some numbers sir Joker.

 

May I suggest, he who breaks 30k Vantahe/2006 1 extra point, 8k 2011 1 pt and 35k vantage/2006 1 pt as well for each

 

Hummm... Maybe that or all world records hold more points.

 

Tomorrow is the big day brother white chocolate.

 

Sounds good brother joker.

 

kumbaya, my brothers

Can't wait to see your benches, joker...

Time to call it a day. Have a good week everyone.

 

Welcome back man! Good to see you still around.


Side note: Yesterday I setup Team Viewer on my phone (Droid-Samsung Captivate). Now I can remote into my M17x R2, M11x, and Inspiron 1720 all from my droid Know what this means? I can bench from my phone!! hahahha Until I BSOD it and it won't restart.

Mostly been using it to monitor F@h from my phone. and making adjustments. I can make changes from my phone. Anyone who wants access to their system, and will be a away for a long time, I highly suggest it. Epic program.

 

Regarding my question to whether or not the unlocked BIOS would help is because I am interested in trying to compete with those here in the benchmarks but I cannot seem to overclock my CPU much without it locking up. My previous M18x w/ 6990s that I had to return seemed to like overclocking a bit better but I am managing 4.5Ghz with 45x across all four and no change to the BUS speed. I set the Pri to 25 if I am not mistaken, I can check again. Cooling I haven't been worried about because it doesn't get that hot as is and I can add a cooler that I have sitting here that I rarely use.

 

I thought you knew..

25 Flex is to high. That's really a design flaw there.. start with 0 flex and work up to maybe just 5 or so.

Same to you brother Fox.

 

Ah yeah its here! Got a stuck pixel on black so I'm going to swap the panel with my other M18x and then start benchmarking. Default vantage was 23.8k gpu.

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk

 

Knew about team viewer, just didn't realize they had a free droid app on the market This thing is going to come in handy as I travel over the weekends

 

yeah, the droid app.

 

The teamviewer thing sounds even more promising on a tablet....perhaps the Transformer Prime and dock I have on pre-order (if only Asus would get their act together and actually it!)

John, got some CPU benches I have been cooking up for you and the leaderboards. For reasons that escape me my laptop is running hotter than it did before. I need to check that the fins are clear of dust but other than that I am at a lost. What do you set the non-turbo flex ratio override to?

 

That same thing happen to Shaden and I, but ever since i got my new laptop....It's been running like a champ.

As to flex...mine can get as high as 70 or run as low as 0. depends on the over clock and how many cores are running.

 

Here's a new 3DMark06 score for the leaderboard. Cumulative scoring below...

3DMark06: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M SLI benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2760QM Processor,Alienware M18xR1 score: 23762 3DMarks

Spoiler

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Vantage: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M SLI benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2760QM Processor,Alienware M18xR1 score: P26232 3DMarks

Spoiler

​

3DMark11: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M SLI benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2760QM Processor,Alienware M18xR1 score: P7500 3DMarks

Spoiler

​

 

Mine are all posted as examples on the first page.

 

I saw them... very nice, too. Amazing that there is 10K point gap between the 2960XM and 2760QM. That 5.205GHz is just plain wicked.

FYI... I am getting better results with Dell's old 269.03 than I am out of the newer Verde drivers. This seems a little counter-intuitive, but I was not able to squeeze any more 3DMark06 points out of my system until I achieved my 23762 score today, after doing a clean driver install to the old Dell version. This was after my machine was idling for 7 hours, so I'll see how 3DMark11 and Vantage do from a cold boot tomorrow morning.

Not only that, but I have confirmed that there is no problem whatsoever with DPC latency using the Dell 269.03 display driver. See what I posted here.

 

Scook I reseated mine like 5 times and it was still over heating, from watching the cores in Throttlestop I realized the cores were never droping down ... they were staying at max freq/multiplier constantly even when idle. Thus creating way to much heat ... after reseating and reseating at those extreme temps and finding the lowest heat point (I cut about 8 degrees C from the highest temp) got it down from like 80C to 70-72C ... I then installed my SSDand did a clean windows install on it .. flashed to A05 and then back to A03 Unlocked ... One of those 2 things solved it. I did them both at the same time so I can't confirm which. but now my rig is ccccccold as ice. I have been running a 4.3GHz 43x 100bclk constantly since without a single temp issue, in fact my fans never come on unless I game, and even then not very often.

 

I may need to play with the heatsink contact by tweaking the screws, never have - are all cranked down right now. But still, wasn't an issue before. Leading me to think it is related to dust or something similar impeding heat exchange. I am also working on 4.5 GHz not 4.3 like you. I also need to see if it will stay happy with less Flex VID. I have it at 15 right now but maybe 13 or 14 will do. Once I get the temps under control....I can do a wPrime 1024m run haha

And John, I was talking non-turbo flex ratio not the flex VID

And here are the results I mentioned:
wPrime 32M 5.594 s
SuperPi 1M 8.405s
SuperPi 32M 7m 54.490s
PiFast 16.48s

CPU-Z 4500.1 MHz
CPU-Z Validator 3.1

 

Have either of you tried adjusting the thermal settings for fans in the A05 unlocked BIOS? I found where you can lower the temp thresholds at which fans kick in at 75% and 100%. This may be helpful as well.

 

I am already maxing fans via HWinfo

Also still running A03

And John, here is my last 3DMark11 run. I don't have a screenshot
http://3dmark.com/3dm11/1714689

P8291

I will work on getting a better score so that I can have all the needed stuff in the screenshot

Side note- In Orb it is checking tessellation for 3DMark11 now? What is our stance on this setting in regards to bench scores?

 

For the Green Team - I have been doing some testing to see if I can determine the "sweet spot" for clocks on the 580M's. Here is what I found on my system...

3DMark 11 - Graphics Test 1
620/1240/1500 @ 25.95 FPS
725/1450/1500 @ 29.32 FPS
750/1500/1600 @ 30.64 FPS
790/1580/1600 @ 31.85 FPS
800/1600/1600 @ 31.99 FPS
825/1650/1650 @ 31.96 FPS

3DMark 11 - Graphics Test 3
620/1240/1500 @ 33.29 FPS
725/1450/1500 @ 37.68 FPS
750/1500/1600 @ 38.66 FPS
790/1580/1600 @ 39.65 FPS
800/1600/1600 @ 39.97 FPS
825/1650/1650 @ 38.64 FPS​

I ran these test with native fan controls in succession without waiting between runs. It seems that 790-800 core clock range works very well without any issues with heat and beyond that point, things start to slow down and lose stability. (This is with the GPUs at the stock NVIDIA .92 reference voltage, not the under-volted Dell standard. As we have discovered, stability is poor at 750/1500 or higher while under-volted.)

The OC stability was all over the board with AMD, but my impression is that the 580M GPU may produce more consistent and predictable results than the AMD cards do. I am not looking to see if you get the same FPS, as that will vary by CPU, BCLK speed, memory voltage and other factors. I'm just curious to find out if the "sweet spot" on clocks seems to be more consistent among multiple systems with the 580M.

If any of you have time, please run a similar test series and see if there is more consistency in OC stability among multiple systems than what we have seen with 6990M GPUs. This may prove useful for others in the community that want to join in the benchmarking fun. It may also help some make a buying decision between AMD and NVIDIA.