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    Upgraded m11x R2, WiFi, 4GB to 8GB, and can now OC!

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by djjosherie, Mar 7, 2011.

  1. djjosherie

    djjosherie Notebook Consultant

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    Hey everyone, a second upgrade worth making a post about!

    First of all, my Dell 1520 has been causing locks and freezes, so I got the Intel 6300 and suggest it to anyone looking for the known heavy load freeze bug on the 1520.

    Pros: Connects to WiFi in 1/10th of time after coming back from sleep or bootup, and also shows networks I didn't see before.
    Cons: m11x doesn't have a third antenna wire... oh well!

    ---

    Then today I upgraded to G Skill 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3-1333 PC-10666 memory from the stock Samsung 4GB (2x2GB) that came with the unit... Bootup isn't much different and performance is minimal thus far... BUT... I decided to try OCing in the bios... and now I can sit here stable at 166 and write this up. Throttlestop on top of that and I'm 2.8GHz flat and stable. FREAKIN SWEET! This further shows that people upgrading from the stock memory are able to OC better... no I don't understand why. The original memory was PC3-10600S Samsung 2GB sticks.

    Windows Apps do seem faster and I suggest to anyone having trouble OCing to try this out, I wasn't able to stay stable above 150 before... Laptop is much warmer on my lap also, that I'll learn to deal with.

    ---

    On a negative note, after nearly 1 year of ownership and no problems... my right hinge just creaked as i opened the laptop to type this up... No noticable defect, but loud!!!

    Picture:
    [​IMG]
     
    djjosherie, Mar 7, 2011
    #1
  2. ajslay

    ajslay Overclocker, PC Builder

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    wow nice find there, i had a hunch different memory could have been the solution for peoples overclocking troubles. i wonder about the people who have the r1 like i do, but cant overclock to 1.6ghz because of memory limitations. im not sure if this would help but would be quite the experiment for r1 and r2 owners =)
     
    ajslay, Mar 7, 2011
    #2
  3. djjosherie

    djjosherie Notebook Consultant

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    Indeed! Loving it and suggest it to any users on R2 with OC troubles. Interesting experiment for users on R1
     
    djjosherie, Mar 7, 2011
    #3
  4. ajslay

    ajslay Overclocker, PC Builder

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    im sure you are, i olmost wish i had gotten the r2 instead. but i can always get 1 later if no r3 is planned =P but anyway, i was planning on switching ram on another family laptop that i wanted to overclock and couldnt couse the ram sucked, i might use the ram you suggested and see how it goes. what are your temps with the overclock at 166?
     
    ajslay, Mar 7, 2011
    #4
  5. djjosherie

    djjosherie Notebook Consultant

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    djjosherie, Mar 7, 2011
    #5
  6. ajslay

    ajslay Overclocker, PC Builder

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    thanks man, and im not sure, i only use gpu monitoring tools because im constantly on very heavy gpu overclocks. if i were you id just google cpu temp monitoring tools and see what comes up.

    and holy crap i noticed you were running 82 processes, on my r1 with nothing running im at 34, and about 425mb of ram used at idle.
     
    ajslay, Mar 7, 2011
    #6
  7. GCK

    GCK Notebook Enthusiast

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    Yeah that is a lot of processes. Also, the word you're looking for is idle. Completely different meaning.
     
    GCK, Mar 7, 2011
    #7
  8. ajslay

    ajslay Overclocker, PC Builder

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    yes it is lol. and i know, i was in a rush and misspelled.
     
    ajslay, Mar 7, 2011
    #8
  9. The_Real_b13

    The_Real_b13 Notebook Geek

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    I would like to chime in here. I got my M11x R2 on 3/3/11 and I use the stock (8gigs) it came with.

    I can hit max FSB in Bios and I can go over BLCK effectively and stable with setppll. I hit BLCK @ 180 +TS I am hitting 3.0GHz

    So you can hit higher OC's on oem ram (just an fyi)


    My thread can be seen below.
    *********************
    http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m11x/559572-the_real_b13-work-log.html
     
    The_Real_b13, Mar 7, 2011
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  10. djjosherie

    djjosherie Notebook Consultant

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    What make/model RAM is in your system?
     
    djjosherie, Mar 7, 2011
    #10
  11. ajslay

    ajslay Overclocker, PC Builder

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    @The_Real_b13

    holy crap thats very very impressive!
     
    ajslay, Mar 7, 2011
    #11
  12. The_Real_b13

    The_Real_b13 Notebook Geek

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    I will look at it tonight and post (with pics)


     
    The_Real_b13, Mar 7, 2011
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  13. The_Real_b13

    The_Real_b13 Notebook Geek

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    The_Real_b13, Mar 7, 2011
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  14. The_Real_b13

    The_Real_b13 Notebook Geek

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    The_Real_b13, Mar 7, 2011
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  15. ajslay

    ajslay Overclocker, PC Builder

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    WOW. and i just wanted my r1 at 1.73 lmao.
     
    ajslay, Mar 7, 2011
    #15
  16. slickie88

    slickie88 Master of Puppets

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    ThrottleStop's temperature monitoring is accurate.
     
    slickie88, Mar 7, 2011
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  17. linrenwei

    linrenwei Notebook Consultant

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    wow very nice, my ty stock ram "i think" is capping me at 152-154 need to get some better ram..
     
    linrenwei, Mar 7, 2011
    #17
  18. The_Real_b13

    The_Real_b13 Notebook Geek

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    damn, thats gotta suck
     
    The_Real_b13, Mar 7, 2011
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  19. DavyGT

    DavyGT Overclocker

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    OP, you do know about the Turbo multipliers right?

    The R1 shouldn't be affected by memory when Overclock mode is enabled- it still runs at 400mhz because the RAM ratio changed from 2:1 to 3:2. That changes with a pinmod of course.

    The problem with overclocking on the R2 is the low timings. Despite 1333mhz RAM as stock, the timings (CL6) are too low even for 1066mhz (CL7) according to the SPD. I have not seen any user try Thaiphoon Burner to edit the RAM SPD to enable higher timings. I've seen the best R2s topping off at ~180, +-2mhz, because their memory can overclock well with CL6 timings.
     
    DavyGT, Mar 8, 2011
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  20. tonkatrain

    tonkatrain Notebook Consultant

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    DavyGT
    Any sugestions on an 8gb set? Also i had no idea you could edit your SPD's. I found something called SPDTool that i will test out. I will remove one stick of memory so i can report my findings after i screw up the other stick :p
     
    tonkatrain, Mar 8, 2011
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  21. DavyGT

    DavyGT Overclocker

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    I can't recommend anything I haven't used so no. HyperX RAM looked promising until some guy actually tested it and it failed.

    SPDTool didn't work for me with my R1 or R2. An old trial version of ThaiPhoon Burner worked but it's only supported on a 32bit OS.
     
    DavyGT, Mar 8, 2011
    #21
  22. ajslay

    ajslay Overclocker, PC Builder

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    oohhh thanks DavyGT. i gues this only affects r2 owners then.

    and i only half have my pin mod done, i got the pin olmost off but i needed to travel across the state so i put my m11x back together and havent really had time to rip it apart again and finish it, im kindof edgy about the whole process, if getting 1.73ghz will work and have no issues. i dont want a 4.5 pound paperweight lol.
     
    ajslay, Mar 8, 2011
    #22
  23. tonkatrain

    tonkatrain Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks for the reply. I will look into a set of the OP's memory.
    were would i get that spacific version of ThaiPhoon burner? I might throw an old drive in here and install XP 32bit.
     
    tonkatrain, Mar 8, 2011
    #23
  24. ajslay

    ajslay Overclocker, PC Builder

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    its pretty much impossible to run xp on an r2. xp doesnt support optimus or graphics switching.
     
    ajslay, Mar 8, 2011
    #24
  25. tonkatrain

    tonkatrain Notebook Consultant

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    Does this program flash the SPDs or just change the timings after boot? Because i can install XP on an older drive, change the SPD's/test. Then put my windows 7 drive back in. If that will work I am putting on some coffee :p
     
    tonkatrain, Mar 8, 2011
    #25
  26. DavyGT

    DavyGT Overclocker

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    It is possible to run XP on the R2. Optimus won't be working but it will run and flash the timings.

    You can get that version of ThaiPhoonBurner in the first post here.

    This program flashes the SPD, it does not change the timings after boot. This means you should flash only one stick at a time. If it doesn't boot you will need to hotplug it and flash it back, so always keeps a backup of the SPD file.

    Your method of drive swapping will work.

    Memset works on the R1 but it can't change CAS as it has to be done at boot, not in OS. It can change most other timings however.
     
    DavyGT, Mar 8, 2011
    #26
  27. ajslay

    ajslay Overclocker, PC Builder

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    i mean you can get it to boot into xp but your not going to have any driver support at all.

    but your going to have to change from ahci in the bios to ATA to boot xp.
     
    ajslay, Mar 8, 2011
    #27
  28. tonkatrain

    tonkatrain Notebook Consultant

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    Before i attempt this please explain how i would "hotplug"

    thanks
     
    tonkatrain, Mar 8, 2011
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  29. DavyGT

    DavyGT Overclocker

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    I know XP will work. We don't need full driver support, we're only installing XP to use ThaiPhoonBurner. We only need basic functionality to do this such as XP chipset drivers (Which Intel supports). No need for fancy stuff like AlienFX, networking or even the Intel graphics driver- Windows default will do.

    No need to spend time on tweaking and installing everything so everything works, by the time that is finished, we would already have a result of whether or not CL7 will work in half that time and removed after we're done.


    You have 1 bad stick of RAM and 1 good stick of RAM. Remove the bad stick of RAM so the system can boot with the good stick. Once XP is booted, reinstall the bad stick and run ThaiPhoonBurner to reflash the stock/new timings.
     
    DavyGT, Mar 8, 2011
    #29
  30. ajslay

    ajslay Overclocker, PC Builder

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    i understand, i was just under the impression that xp wouldnt install on the r2 because of a bsod, but im most likely misinformed.
     
    ajslay, Mar 8, 2011
    #30
  31. tonkatrain

    tonkatrain Notebook Consultant

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    I don't know if i have the balls to hot swap ram. But i guess i will cross that bridge if i come to it....

    XP is currently installing
     
    tonkatrain, Mar 8, 2011
    #31
  32. ajslay

    ajslay Overclocker, PC Builder

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    i would like to know if xp installs alright, kinda been wondering about the r2
     
    ajslay, Mar 8, 2011
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  33. tonkatrain

    tonkatrain Notebook Consultant

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    Thaiphoon Burner 7.0.1.0 Build 0130 Is the version i need correct?

    So far so good on the XP install. It is about half way through were it asks for admin password ect.
     
    tonkatrain, Mar 8, 2011
    #33
  34. DavyGT

    DavyGT Overclocker

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    You want version 6.3 (Hotlinked to moral_hazard's OP)
     
    DavyGT, Mar 8, 2011
    #34
  35. tonkatrain

    tonkatrain Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks, I will use that instead.

    XP installed with no problems and I am at the desktop.
     
    tonkatrain, Mar 8, 2011
    #35
  36. tonkatrain

    tonkatrain Notebook Consultant

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    I'm not exactly sure what to do in this program. It is a little over my head. I have read the tables and made it into the timing table editor. But this is not something i want to learn with trial and error.
     
    tonkatrain, Mar 8, 2011
    #36
  37. DavyGT

    DavyGT Overclocker

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    Give me a screenshot and I'll guide you through flashing.
     
    DavyGT, Mar 8, 2011
    #37
  38. tonkatrain

    tonkatrain Notebook Consultant

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    [​IMG]

    I have not changed anything yet
     
    tonkatrain, Mar 8, 2011
    #38
  39. DavyGT

    DavyGT Overclocker

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    Select "Automatic settings". There will be a list of available speeds and their variants. I remember the G variant of 1333 did not support CL6.
     
    DavyGT, Mar 8, 2011
    #39
  40. tonkatrain

    tonkatrain Notebook Consultant

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    SUCCESS!!!
    I chose 1333G flashed and rebooted. I think set the bus speed to 166. Before i would get no post at 166 and BSOD on boot above 160. Booted into XP no no problem! However in the CPUZ memory tab the timings are still 6-6-6-15-44-1T. The divider is still 4:12 and it is running and 501.1mhz now. It was the exact same before but at 399.1mhz. Is CPUZ reading it wrong?
     
    tonkatrain, Mar 8, 2011
    #40
  41. DavyGT

    DavyGT Overclocker

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    That means CL6 is still here. We'll need to try again.
     
    DavyGT, Mar 8, 2011
    #41
  42. tonkatrain

    tonkatrain Notebook Consultant

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    Here is the before and after of the SPD tab

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    tonkatrain, Mar 8, 2011
    #42
  43. DavyGT

    DavyGT Overclocker

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    The SPD has changed but CL6 timings remain. We have to remove CL6 timings to force the M11x to boot with CL7, if it can.
     
    DavyGT, Mar 8, 2011
    #43
  44. tonkatrain

    tonkatrain Notebook Consultant

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    I gave 1333F a go and got a similar result. In the cpuz timing table the frequency's have shifted also the tRAS and tRC have tightened.
     
    tonkatrain, Mar 8, 2011
    #44
  45. tonkatrain

    tonkatrain Notebook Consultant

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    No luck with 1333J
    Also no luck with 1066G It remains in both
     
    tonkatrain, Mar 8, 2011
    #45
  46. DavyGT

    DavyGT Overclocker

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    Maybe 1333G that stabilized you for 166.

    What does the text say in the red box?

    [​IMG]
     
    DavyGT, Mar 8, 2011
    #46
  47. tonkatrain

    tonkatrain Notebook Consultant

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    Still 5T 6T 7T 8T 9T
    Should i flash the other stick with 1333G and see if it still boots with both sticks? It could also have been the stick i took out that was weak.
     
    tonkatrain, Mar 8, 2011
    #47
  48. DavyGT

    DavyGT Overclocker

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    Can you check both sticks in CPUZ memory tab to see if they have identical timings? There shouldn't be a need to flash both sticks if both match.

    We need an SPD profile that does not have CAS 5T, 6T to prove 7T works.
     
    DavyGT, Mar 8, 2011
    #48
  49. tonkatrain

    tonkatrain Notebook Consultant

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    Other stick did a BSOD on boot at 166 and reverted back to default (before it was flashed)
    Flashed other stick with 1333G
    Set 166 then got no point and it reverted to default bus speed again.
    Looks like it is the other stick that is weak. I will play around with it and see if i can make it boot at 166 with some different SPD tables.

    Thank you very much for all the help so far.

    edit: Sorry too late to check the other stick is already flashed.

    edit2: What about changing one of the non auto values?
     
    tonkatrain, Mar 8, 2011
    #49
  50. DavyGT

    DavyGT Overclocker

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    That is possible. Go to DRAM Timing Delays and in CAS latencies, select 6T and untick "supported".
    [​IMG]
     
    DavyGT, Mar 8, 2011
    #50
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