*OFFICIAL* Alienware M18xR1/R2/18 Benchmark Thread - Part 3

No.
But your 10.1K GPU score makes up for that.

 

Yes I am a big fan of the Dell TIM. IC Diamond is a great product but I do prefer the Dell TIM.

 

The results I got are normal for my system, right? i.e., I don't have to worry about something being wrong?

I've read through over 60 pages of the part 2 thread regarding overclocking, but there is so much going on there that I just don't know where to start.

Would you be so kind and point me in the right direction? I don't expect spoon feeding and of course am ready to do some work

 

Short anwser...
Any gpu score over 10k in that particular test is a great score.

 

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M video card benchmark result - Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4900MQ CPU @ 2.80GHz,Alienware 01W2J2

Meh. Running custom Vbios and added +100core/300 memory on stock voltage. Anything after requires voltage manipulations which I am a bit naive to and will need help. CPU is running with no XTU manipulations. Not very impressive. The stock scores are around 12,100 which is hardly any difference. Temps were fine on the GPUs with peaking both at 76 after two runs. I like when the GPUs are very close in temp so I am glad with my paste job. Oh well, more work is needed, but I am trying

 

I am going to give you guys a starting point....
180/400@ 1050 - give or take the voltage across machines... now take off and go make it happen.

 

Thanks johnksss!

Are these settings available in the bios or do I need to download software and enter those parameters there?

I remember coming across software called msi afterburner or something similar. Is this what I'm supposed to use?

 

Just installed MSI afterburner and only have two fields that I can influence:
1) Core Clock (MHz)
2) Memory Clock (MHz)



Am I missing something?

EDIT: So the values johnksss gave us are: CoreClock/ShaderClock/MemoryClock?

PS
Also noticed I can unlock the voltage slider in the sttings, but I should not be touching that one right?

Geez, I'm such a noob. Hope you guys won't get too annoyed with me...

 

1050 is voltage
1.050
You change the core and the memory only.
so example:
180+/[email protected]

 

Eh. Another post from me (sorry). I came across something called vBios. This is a GPU BIOS, right?

I've found this vBIos

This file is used to flush the firmware on the card to enable bigger overclocks?

 

Thanks for your help!

The highest Core Clock I can get is +135

View attachment 101869

 

No problem
Whoa! do not go downloading any of those vbios files unless you want to crash your card...
You need to head over to here and get it from there. You will need to signn up and make 5 post before you can download the right file for you.
NVIDIA Kepler VBIOS mods - Overclocking Editions, modified clocks, voltage tweaks

 

Thanks heaps!

So the reason I can't OC more is that I'm missing the vBios, yeah?

 

I just tried the settings with the Vbios unlocked and the Precision tool instead of MSI Afterburner and changed the voltage to 1.05 (now the 1050 makes way more sense lol). I crashed immediately upon starting 3dmark 11. I guess I will have to start lower.

 

That is correct.

I think you only did 1 card, that's why. You have to do both cards for voltage, then the sync will work fine for clocks.

 

Here are some shiny new 680M SLI scores for the shiny new leader board

3DMark Fire Strike: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M SLI benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3920XM Processor Extreme Edition,Alienware M18xR2 score: P9578 3DMarks ​

3DMark Fire Strike Extreme: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M SLI benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3920XM Processor Extreme Edition,Alienware M18xR2 score: X4950 3DMarks ​

Spoiler

Old Scores

3DMark Fire Strike: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M SLI benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3920XM Processor Extreme Edition,Alienware M18xR2 score: P9577 3DMarks ​

3DMark Fire Strike Extreme: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M SLI benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3920XM Processor Extreme Edition,Alienware M18xR2 score: X4829 3DMarks ​

Edit: looks like that Fire Strike Extreme is a new world record for 680M SLI.

 

Thanks to Johnkiss for the PM help. With +180/400@1050: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M video card benchmark result - Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4900MQ CPU @ 2.80GHz,Alienware 01W2J2

GPU Temps: 78,79.

Not TOO bad. I have a lot to learn about the art of the OC. It would help to learn more about the costs/benefits of core Vs memory increase and how it affects performance. For the increase I just did, I would have thought I would have gained more than 800ish 3dmark 11 points but maybe that's more CPU limited than say Heaven which I can run next. I'll try Firestrike.

How do my temps look for the settings I just ran? Those were the peak temps obviously.

Edit: I guess the GPU of 16696 is a decent leap of what I think my stock score of 14xxxish was.

 

Help doesn't get more awesome than what Brother John gives, now does it? Awesome is probably even an understatement.

Brother Dave, where is your screen shot? Can't get on the leader board without it.

 

Once you get the hang of it...you should be able to hit like 18.5k at least.

 

That's a great question Brother Fox. In Windows 8 you are supposed to be able to snap a screen shot by pressing the windows key and print screen and then it automatically saves the screen shot in your pictures folder. It is NOT happening with me and I can't seem to figure out why. I see the pic being snapped but my pictures folder doesn't contain it?

 

I ran all the new 3dmark people seem to run. Unless I want to spend a grand I had to sit through a 15 minute benchmark with demos. Blah. My temps did hit 80 and 84 on my GPUs with the same settings 180/[email protected].

While my firestorm extreme is 500 points off the leader, the GPU of 11,849 is pretty sweet I would assume? I am a bit worried about those temps though. I figured out how to take a screenshot in windows 8 as many sites have it listed wrong:
function+windows key+print screen.

 

All this benching going on. Great stuffs Dave! :thumbsup:
You've inspired me to run some benches now. Now lets see what we can tweak here.

Cheers.

 

I'm not keen to the new 3dmark and the full load of tests they do. Is 80 and 84 OK for these 780s under that OC I did? About average for a 180/[email protected]?

 

No such thing as a real average...
Every part of the world is different from the other and so are rooms with higher and lower temps. This card will dial it back down if you ever get to 92C so i wouldn't worry. I have left a 680m run at 105C for like an hour to see what was going to happen....and do you...nothing happen. I could have been just lucky that day, but hey...it was done to see if it would hold up and it did.

 

Dave, don't run them like that. I hate it, too. Watching those silly demos is fine... once, and then I never want to see that part again, LOL.

Just run Fire Strike and Fire Strike Extreme with no demos. Click on the "Tests" tab and remove the check mark. See below.

Spoiler

Spoiler

You can use the Windows Snipping tool. It's pretty nifty. It should be on your Start Menu. Oh wait... Windows 8. Crap. If you haven't already done so, INSTALL THE START MENU and then use it, LOL. Plus, remember what you need to show in the screen shot. Look at the examples in post #1 in this thread.

 

Word. I wasn't sure about the snipping tool on win 8. However the fn+win+prnt screen combo automatically puts the picture right into your picture folder so it's handy. I figured I didn't include everything in the print screen due to the need of assuring validity. I'll re-read it. For whatever reason, the version of 3dmark I downloaded, does not allow me to untick the demos. I will uninstall and find another version. At least I got some exposure and some scores to sample. I was impressed with the GPU score on Firestrike given I haven't really gotten into the OC scene yet. I am also running the 326.80 Beta drivers which aren't known to be the best for benching.

Again thanks everyone for the quick tips, I look forward to learning more about the core/memory costs/benefits as I assume you will want to start to move one up and another down at some point to find the optimum mix. Off to sleep.

 

Well that was an epic fail lol I can't even get one bench to complete lol. It either fails right at the start in 3dmark 11 test 1; crashes to the desktop and then freezes. Or it gives me false hope and gets right to the end and secs away from completing it freezes and crashes.
I might try again later.

http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/7159162


http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/7159204


Anybody else with an R1 rocking 780Ms lol haha, I figure there aren't too many of us.

Cheers.

 

Chief, make sure you let the last test load a bit longer than the other tests. Once in awhile, the last test in 3dmark11, takes awhile to load compared to the other benches in that suite. Hope you can get a result in

 

Here is a memory overclocking benchmark to have a look at. What you see on the CPU-Z Memory tab is what I am running. The SPD tab shows the memory defaults. This is running at 1.65v.

I think these are pretty tight timings for 2133 and they pass the Dell ePSA memory tests with flying colors.

 

This should qualify as a valid screen shot. Not bad for just starting out Notice the GPU score!
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M video card benchmark result - Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4900MQ CPU @ 2.80GHz,Alienware 01W2J2

 

Could someone please tell me the best driver for benchmarking. I have the 780M in sli. Also what is a good tool for overclocking Nvidia video cards. I was looking at Evga Precision but it looks quite complicated.Thank you

 

Precision is as simple as it gets. Do what I do and just ask questions and do your own reading on overclocking. Before getting into overclocking I would look into using a custom vbios. Regarding the best drivers I think Mr. Fox and a few others are saying the 314.22 are best for benching but that is really going for the best scores. Get the drivers that work for the games you want to play would be my suggestion. I am using 326.80 beta and having good results with games and benches; games being the biggest benefit (Crysis 3 being one of them).

 

Vbios modified thanks to Klem! +110 offset

 

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-4930MX,Alienware 01W2J2

Running 780 SLI at +150/200/62.5, and 4930MX at 4GHz. Though the 4930MX is throttling a ton again. Only seems to happen in 3DMark (11).

EDIT:

 

Decided to try a ballsier +180/400 OC on the 780Ms, and my combined score is horrible. My stand alone GPU and physics scores are great though.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-4930MX,Alienware 01W2J2

EDIT: And Extreme

http://www.3dmark.com/3dm/1225012

 

Got my I7-3940XM(QS) running at 4.5Ghz across 4 cores. No throttling, but hitting 102oC. Got some new memory coming and so new thermal paste. Hoping for higher numbers to come

View attachment 101919

 

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M video card benchmark result - Genuine Intel(R) CPU 0 @ 2.40GHz,Alienware M18xR1

Cheers.

 

I see your trying to get it together...

 

Yup trying to get there. Test 1 is still giving major issues.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M video card benchmark result - Genuine Intel(R) CPU 0 @ 2.40GHz,Alienware M18xR1

Cheers.

 

No your scores are just fine. And yes, the GPU score really is what matters most for all intents and purposes. I do have you beat a little bit though;-)

 

New benchmark for the evening after watching my man Floyd Mayweather put on another boxing clinic Still showing a strong graphics score. Question though: how accurate is GPU-Z on recording the highest GPU temp. One card showed 74 and the other card showed 50 and that just doesn't seem right. Either way, here is my screen shot and my link to the score.
3dmark Firestrike: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M video card benchmark result - Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4900MQ CPU @ 2.80GHz,Alienware 01W2J2



Edit: My run from last night and a heaven run through:

 

My combined score should be a reasonable percentage higher. Notice how it went down with the higher GPU overclock. Anyways, latest run, and I've got you beat by 13 points with a +200/400/62.5 . Overall is exactly the same because of that terrible combined score though.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-4930MX,Alienware 01W2J2

EDIT: Clocks are 100% stable so far after about 15 minutes of Metro LL at max with PhysX and 2x SSAA, and my frame rates almost never drop below 60. These 780Ms OC a hell of a lot better than they were getting credit for at launch.

 

Yes but check my edit from my run from last night. 93xx with a 1290GPU. I actually ran higher today as well and somehow scored lower. A few pages back I had the "official screenshot" where it showed the score on my desktop but I just had quicker access to this one. You will have higher scores though as you have the much better CPU. It's just not fully realized yet in power. In time though it will. Great system you have my friend. +Rep for sharing scores.

 

Ah, didn't see that. Will have to work on my OC then. Anyways, it's great to see these high scores with (relative) ease. Whenever I manage to figure out Haswell, and Dell releases a BIOS update, the 4930MX should have a ton of potential. Really need to get on that dual PS mod. Have the extras laying around. Just waiting until I run out of parts before I make another Mouser order for high current diodes and a few other pieces to see about regulating and matching the output voltages of the two supplies. Though the two I'm planning on using measure exactly the same under loads, so I'm not sure if the effort will really be worth it.

 

I think there will be a bios fix for the Haswell CPUs but there sure does seem like a lot of impediments are in place. hopefully our programmers in the community will be able to provide some creative solutions. I do think, to a degree, you are correct regarding how worth it is to mod everything. If you are like Mr. Fox, Johnkiss and similar company, then you definitely will so that you can dominate the benchmark scene. I'm more moderate. I like tweaking things, learning about my system and getting knowledge from the others while also trying to help the community out. However I am more of a gamer and the tweaks just don't affect the latest and greatest games at the resolution we play at. I do have a minor 24/7 overclock going since I have the custom bios to keep my GPU frequency set at 850mhz from the 823mhz or whatever 'stock' frequency is. I only use Precision and modify voltage, core and memory settings for some casual benching. I just think it's fun to learn about this stuff! Back to gaming for me

 

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M video card benchmark result - Genuine Intel(R) CPU 0 @ 2.40GHz,Alienware M18xR1



Time for the Chief to Strike Back!!!
http://www.3dmark.com/3dm/1226448?



http://www.3dmark.com/3dm/1226479?


These scores would not have been possible without SVL7's wonderful vbios mod and Johnksss infecting my machine with his brilliance lol :thumbsup: Thanks a bunch guys
Also a thanks to daveh98 and mmolteratx for giving me a benchmark to aim at.

Hopefully more to come when I have time.

Cheers.

 

Very impressive CHIEF!

 

Firstly congrats

Secondly did you notice that the benchmark reports your card to have only 3Gb memory? My benchmarks do the same and I'm a bit confused. the MSI kombustor and MSI OC utility (forgot its name ) do not seem to detect 4Gb neither. Even under load the memory bar does not go beyond 3Gb.

I went to the Nvidia Control Panel and into system info and there it shows 4Gb.

What sort of card do I really have?

 

Wow. This thread is growing fast! Awesome

 

I'm at a point that I need some PM advice on further OC. I'm not one to just play the numbers game. I slowly increased to the clocks I did but I had a better OC on lower settings than I did higher and realize there is a point of diminishing returns. I need to learn/understand the increase in memory/core and tricks to finding the sweet spot. I'm not the most intelligent OC'er but I would like to become more intelligent on the subject. So it's time to learn. Let's start by core vs memory OC: what is really doing what. Right now I have a comfortable OC on a custom Vbios 1.05 190/425. I have a 3 year extended warranty but I also don't want to be a blind guinea pig to see who can blow their cards out first. Not really my game nor is it fair to AW. So I need help from here on out!