Overclocking Alienware 18, 4940mx, Dual 880m SLI, 32GB, Samsung 1TB SSD mSATA, Dual Samsung 1TB EVO PRO 850 SATA in RAID0 config.

Hi All,

I have many views and different answers on this but thought I would ask you experienced overclockers what your opinion on the matter is.

My Dell Alieneware 18 configuration:

HW
--
- Intel i7-4940mx (Overclockable to 4.4GHz according to Dell, which still has to be proven. Not even one core can be overclocked with CRL 44 without the system to reboot or freeze)
- 32GB RAM (Stock from Dell)
- Nvidia Dual GeForce GTX 880m with 8GB (16GB total) with SLI enabled
- SAMSUNG SSD EVO 840 1TB mSATA (Used as system drive)
- Dual SAMSUNG SSD EVO PRO 850 1TB in RAID 0 configuration (2TB)


FW/SW
-----
- Bios A10 Dell Stock using OC LV2 with Core Limit Ratios set to 43:43:43:43 (Anything beyond 43 for one single core only breaks the system)
- Windows 8.1 Enterprise 64-bit (All windows updates installed to date)
- Nvidia latest approved driver 344.75 installed after cleaning the system from anything named Nvidia in prior of driver fresh install.

3DMark
-------
Fire Strike Ultra (2343) - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-4940MX,Alienware 0FT9KT

Fire Strike Extreme (4758) - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-4940MX,Alienware 0FT9KT

Fire Strike (8881) - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-4940MX,Alienware 0FT9KT

Sky Diver (23489) - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-4940MX,Alienware 0FT9KT

Cloud Gate (25449) - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-4940MX,Alienware 0FT9KT

Ice Storm Extreme (157698) - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-4940MX,Alienware 0FT9KT

Ice Storm Unlimited (129782) - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-4940MX,Alienware 0FT9KT

Comment
-------

Temps are not rising above 75 degrees celsius (Stock paste out of the box).
System is quite stable using the CRL specified above, but is NOT fulfilling Dell Alienware 18 Specifications and as sold to me.

This is my third system with the same configuration I am about to send back (RMA) to Dell if the stock bios overclocking is not corrected by Dell. After reading the threads about Dell Alienware 18 overclocking in the Notebook review forums, I have now understood that I should be satisfied with the performance of the system as is - Dell Stock performance ??! This systems performance is not much higher than my other Alienware 18 with i7-4930mx and the Dual Nvidia GeForce GTX 780m SLI, which is overclockable out of the box now when it also has been replaced (RMA). Am I expecting too much from the Dell Alienware 18 hardware ? Should I go on and continue with the RMA request and order a new system with the same specs ? I have a feeling that I will be disappointed again. Advice ? Anyone ?

I am looking forward to hear your thoughts and ideas.

Rgds/Gunnar

 

Just a note that SLI 8GB card gives 8GB total vram as each card must hold an identical copy of data to the other.

If you expect any factory overclock to come close to that of a personally tweaked system then you will always be disappointed. Also most gaming scores are achieved with a GPU overclock which alienware does not offer.

 

No, i do not expect the dell stock bios overclock settings to outperform a tweaked system by a hardware specialist, BUT I do expect the system to be fully functional using the dell bios overclock implementations available, i.e. Oc Lv1, Lv2 and Lv3. This is not the case with the system I am referring to. It does not even work using the lowest level Lv1 without freezing or rebooting.

As I not gaming all the time, but rather require the highest CPU power possible for the work I am doing, the dual 880 sli GPU setup is good enough for me. I am sure there will be faster options around, but for now, GPU performance is ok.

 

Same here on my 4940MX, even if I try OC Level 1 my system would freeze with a blue screen the moment I reach the desktop. Their OC Level profiles are messed up big time

 

Just tried OC level 1 and I completed 3 test tests in wPrime, CINEBENCH and 3DMark11, all passed and temps were below 90C.

Mind you, on a single core I'm hitting 4.4 GHz but when all cores are active the speed fluctuated between 3.7GHz and 3.9GHz. Not bad still better than the stock crap

I advice you to downgrade to BIOS A09, then load factory defaults, then disconnect both the laptop battery and CMOS battery and leave it disconnected for about 10 mins then connect them again, start your laptop......if it doesn't start and you get 3 beeps, it's ok, shut down and start again, now enter BIOS and load factory defaults again, this will ensure you have clean values then try OC Level 1

BIOS A10 has a serious issue where there is a delay from the time the CPU hits the thermal threshold until the fans kick in which is what could be causing your BSOD / Freeze