The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Deadsmiley's M15x GPU comparisions

    Discussion in 'Alienware M15x' started by deadsmiley, Feb 13, 2017.

  1. deadsmiley

    deadsmiley Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,147
    Messages:
    1,626
    Likes Received:
    702
    Trophy Points:
    131
    My Firestrike scores for the M15x over the past couple of years. Note that these scores represent a maximum effort. This means I was pushing the machine as far as I could while still being able to finish the test. The machine *may* not be able to run games at this this level of overclocking the GPU.

    The CPU was overclocked as well and was always kept at a reasonable level. Note too that some benchmarks are run with the 940XM instead of the 920XM. This is because these were run on three different machines over a period of time. The CPU clocks vary depending on the machine and the state of my knowledge of overclocking the first generation i7 mobile extreme processors. Your mileage may vary, etc... :D

    At some point I got a 210w PSU and then later a 240w slim PSU. I really like the 240w slim PSU. I simply turn off A/C adapter warning in the BOIS and it works perfectly without pulling the center pin. Charges the battery too.

    I will add more to this if/when I get more benchmarks available.

    FirePro M6000
    Overall score: 3,054
    Graphics score: 3,323
    http://www.3dmark.com/fs/8359742

    FirePro M6100
    Overall score: 3,348
    Graphics score 3,826
    http://www.3dmark.com/fs/8491013

    AMD 8970M
    Overall score: 5,701
    Graphics score: 6,413
    http://www.3dmark.com/fs/8511123

    GTX 970M (Prema VBIOS)
    Overall score: 6,036
    Graphics score: 7,690
    http://www.3dmark.com/fs/7942992

    Updated 4/12/2017: note, CPU overclocked, GPU running stock 1038MHz boost clock. (svl7 VBIOS)
    GTX 970M
    Overall score: 6,407
    Graphics score: 7,675
    http://www.3dmark.com/fs/12285890

    Quadro M4000M (Unmodified VBIOS)
    Overall score: 6,583
    Graphics score: 8,334
    http://www.3dmark.com/fs/10145895
     
    Last edited: Apr 13, 2017
    bloodhawk and kosti like this.
  2. kosti

    kosti Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    596
    Messages:
    2,162
    Likes Received:
    466
    Trophy Points:
    101
    Nice score on the M6000. Never was able to break 3000, but got close to it. BTW, just noticed the TDP rating for the 940xm :eek:. Not sure if it's accurate but dammnn.

    EDIT: Oh my, that K4000M is getting tempting now.
     
  3. deadsmiley

    deadsmiley Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,147
    Messages:
    1,626
    Likes Received:
    702
    Trophy Points:
    131
    K4000M I am not sure about for $180. At $200 you can snipe a 7970M that will spank the K4000M.


    Edit:
    As far at the TDP rating, I think that is an artifact from ThrottleStop. I set it high so it wouldn't... well, throttle. It's not like you can hurt these 1st gen chips. That are like anvils. :D
     
  4. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    3,447
    Messages:
    9,069
    Likes Received:
    6,376
    Trophy Points:
    681
    tdp 55w bs

    I say around 90 or more
     
    kosti likes this.
  5. STiHiaL

    STiHiaL Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    22
    Messages:
    166
    Likes Received:
    44
    Trophy Points:
    41
    Got mine pretty cheap... With shipping was around $145-150.
    [​IMG]
     
  6. kosti

    kosti Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    596
    Messages:
    2,162
    Likes Received:
    466
    Trophy Points:
    101
    oops, I meant to say M4000M. I always mix those up.
     
  7. deadsmiley

    deadsmiley Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,147
    Messages:
    1,626
    Likes Received:
    702
    Trophy Points:
    131
    The M4000M is a great card, but expect to pay close to $400 for it. It is 4GB vs. 6GB of the 970M, but seems to run a little better than the 970M. @Prema was helping me with a VBIOS mod, but any modification led to a no boot situation with the M15x. So I put the modded one in my M17x R4 (works perfectly) and left the stock one in my M15x. If you have the cash and still want to run your M15x this is a nice choice. Still have to mod the INF file. No biggie.

    M17x R4 with Quadro M4000M & i7-3720QM Firestrike: 8779
    http://www.3dmark.com/fs/10205916
     
    kosti likes this.
  8. Voidhelix

    Voidhelix Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Thanks guys. So much new info here. I`ve since upgraded my CPU to the i7 920 XM, and RAM to 8GB of Corsair. But I still need to upgrade the GPU. Having around $200 max to spend, it`s pretty hard to find something. The 970M`s out ( even if I could find any), the AMD 8970M`s a little too expensive too. So that leaves either the Quadro K4000M, or the Firepro 6100?
     
    Last edited: Mar 21, 2017
  9. kosti

    kosti Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    596
    Messages:
    2,162
    Likes Received:
    466
    Trophy Points:
    101
    Consider the 680M GTX as well as the AMD 7970M, they are both around your price range.
     
  10. Voidhelix

    Voidhelix Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Thanks Kosti. I`m seeing the 680M at around $300 though. And the 7970M`s about the same quality as the Firepro M6100?Is the 5-10% performance boost worth the extra cost?
     
  11. Voidhelix

    Voidhelix Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I`m seeing a Radeon 8970M at around $250. Kinda thinking it would be worth busting my budget a little to get that? Will it work though?
     
  12. kosti

    kosti Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    596
    Messages:
    2,162
    Likes Received:
    466
    Trophy Points:
    101
    The 8970M is the same card as the R9 M290X. Just be aware that fan control does not work with those cards in the M15X. Instead the GPU fan will work at 100% all the time with that card. You can use software like HWinfo to control it, but it may get annoying.
     
  13. Voidhelix

    Voidhelix Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    That`s a great point. I assume the 7970M`s the same? Not sure I can afford the overheat. Ugh.
     
  14. kosti

    kosti Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    596
    Messages:
    2,162
    Likes Received:
    466
    Trophy Points:
    101
  15. Voidhelix

    Voidhelix Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Nice. Given that and the lower PP, I think the 7970M`s the way I`ll go. One other thing, about the adapter? Is a 240W adapter the one to get? And if so what kind? I asked a guy selling one on Ebay, and he said it wouldn`t work with an M15x.
     
  16. kosti

    kosti Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    596
    Messages:
    2,162
    Likes Received:
    466
    Trophy Points:
    101
    I would look around for a 680M GTX over a 7970M. They usually sell for around the same price. Check the marketplace here in the forums here as well.

    With the 920xm, a 240W adapter will be good. The slim version according to Deadsmiley eliminates throttling without the need for a center pin mod. I personally went with a 210W adapter because it was cheaper. It's a huge brick but my M15X never leaves my desk anyway.

    Post a link of the adapter you are looking for and someone will let you know if it will work.
     
  17. Voidhelix

    Voidhelix Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
  18. Voidhelix

    Voidhelix Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I found the marketplace. Can anyone tell me if the Radeon R9 M290X will work for the Alienware M15X? Appreciate the advice in advance.
     
  19. Rummenagu

    Rummenagu Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    15
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    6
  20. Voidhelix

    Voidhelix Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Ty for the link. However I`d already seen this. Yeah, the fans being at 100% at all times, has put me off the M290X card. Looking at the GTX 880M now :p
     
  21. kosti

    kosti Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    596
    Messages:
    2,162
    Likes Received:
    466
    Trophy Points:
    101
    I would expect an 880M to run extremely hot in the M15X, unless there's some kind of custom vbios with undervolting implemented. That card has a TDP of over 100W and the M15X was designed to handle 75W cards.
     
  22. Voidhelix

    Voidhelix Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    But so does the HD 7970M Kosti. And your rig has that, doesn`t it?
     
  23. kosti

    kosti Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    596
    Messages:
    2,162
    Likes Received:
    466
    Trophy Points:
    101
    It died on me, but ran pretty cool when I had it. Then again mine had an undervolt applied to the vbios.
     
  24. kosti

    kosti Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    596
    Messages:
    2,162
    Likes Received:
    466
    Trophy Points:
    101
  25. Voidhelix

    Voidhelix Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    So theoretically I could undervolt the GTX 880M with something like Afterburner, and it`ll be okay? Was going on the assumption my 210w adapter would be enough.
     
  26. kosti

    kosti Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    596
    Messages:
    2,162
    Likes Received:
    466
    Trophy Points:
    101
    You are going to need a vbios mod to undervolt it. I think svl7 made a custom vbios for that card to make it work right inside an M15X. Afterburner works for overclocking, but on most cards, the vbios needs to modded to unlock the max clocks in order for software overclocking to work.

    Search around on techinferno for svl7's vbios if you are interested in that card.
     
  27. Voidhelix

    Voidhelix Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I was. And then I read the review you linked. The crashing / throttling`s probably enough to put me off. The more I look, the more I come back to the same two cards: the Firepro m6100, and the GeForce GTX 965M. And I can`t find the latter anywhere.
     
  28. kosti

    kosti Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    596
    Messages:
    2,162
    Likes Received:
    466
    Trophy Points:
    101
    Here's an m6100 at a really good price if you are in Europe (kind of high shipping rate though). Seller has good feedback too.

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/ATI-Firepro...182409?hash=item3adb598d89:g:~vgAAOSwdGFYsu2-
     
    Voidhelix likes this.
  29. Voidhelix

    Voidhelix Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    lol trust me, I`m watching the heck out of that :) Was just trying to see if there were alternatives. And honestly ( I realize I may be alone), I`ve always been an Nvidia guy. If I can`t find a GeForce GTX965m soon, I think I`ll buy that FirePro m6100.

    I do appreciate the responses and info though, Kosti. You`re the best.
     
  30. deadsmiley

    deadsmiley Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,147
    Messages:
    1,626
    Likes Received:
    702
    Trophy Points:
    131
    Late back to the party. 880M is a VERY hot card. I had trouble keeping in cool in my P170SM-A. I could not get my 880M to post in my M15x. I spent some time on it and gave up on it before too long.
     
    Voidhelix likes this.
  31. Voidhelix

    Voidhelix Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Late but still very much valued. I thin kI`ve made my mind up though. I`ll try and grab one of the GeForce GTX965M`s listed on Ebay from China. I`ve seen a few M15x benchmarks with that card. It runs at around 70w and is a pretty strong card performance-wise. Any experiences with that cards, guys?
     
  32. deadsmiley

    deadsmiley Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,147
    Messages:
    1,626
    Likes Received:
    702
    Trophy Points:
    131
    I have no experience with that one. Better than a GTX 770M by a good bit according to userbenchmark. I think those are all overclocked for the most part. Should run right with a 7970M or there abouts.
     
    Voidhelix likes this.
  33. deadsmiley

    deadsmiley Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,147
    Messages:
    1,626
    Likes Received:
    702
    Trophy Points:
    131
    I would add that if I had a choice I would go with the GTX 965M over the M6100. The M6100 did not over clock easily or well. You will have to mod the INF file for the GTX 965M, but that is a given for nvidia cards.
     
    kosti and Voidhelix like this.
  34. Voidhelix

    Voidhelix Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Okay, I`m okay with it running at around the same performance as the 7970M if it has a better heat output. Modding the .INF`s not a big deal :)
     
  35. deadsmiley

    deadsmiley Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,147
    Messages:
    1,626
    Likes Received:
    702
    Trophy Points:
    131
    Should be cooler and more durable.
     
    kosti and Voidhelix like this.
  36. Voidhelix

    Voidhelix Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
  37. kosti

    kosti Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    596
    Messages:
    2,162
    Likes Received:
    466
    Trophy Points:
    101
    Yes, that's the 210W adapter.

    Incidentally, I purchased one of these myself (or I thought I did), but mine is a bit different. Mine shows up as a 230W adapter in the BIOS meanwhile the main label on my adapter says it is a 210W (19.5V X 10.8A) model. Above that main label there's another label with a Dell part number that I looked up and it points to a 230W adapter model. Wanting to investigate further, I opened the adapter, and on the pcb, it has a model number of ADP-230CP BA which a quick search says that it is indeed a 230W model. So basically mine has a label that says it is 210W meanwhile it is actually a 230W adapter. Not sure how this mistake was made but I'm not complaining. :D

    One thing to note is that my 230W adapter charges my battery without issues. I remember a while back someone stating that their 210W adapter did not charge their battery and they had to switch back to the 150W adapter in order to charge. When I told them that my 210W adapter (not knowing it was actually 230W because of the label) charged my battery, they were surprised. So basically I am not sure if the 210W models actually charge the battery in the M15X or not. You may want to research this just to be sure.
     
    Last edited: Mar 29, 2017
    deadsmiley likes this.
  38. Voidhelix

    Voidhelix Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Well that muddies the water some, although I do appreciate the warning. Do you know if the 240w adapter charges my battery? I`m using a 130w adapter right, now because a puppy I own bit through the cord of my original supply. Wouldn`t want to buy an adapter that doesn`t charge.
     
  39. kosti

    kosti Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    596
    Messages:
    2,162
    Likes Received:
    466
    Trophy Points:
    101
    Not sure about the 240W adapter but lots of people are using those. There are a couple of different ones: one is a huge brick that's the same size as the 210/230W models and there's also a slim version which according to deadsmiley eliminates throttling without doing any center pin mods.

    I honestly don't understand why some adapters won't charge the battery. It must have something to do with the BIOS and some kind of white list as to what adapters are accepted. The BIOS gets this information about the adapter via the center pin, so perhaps if it does not like the model that is identified, it will refuse to charge.

    If I recall correctly, mine would also not charge until I disabled adapter warnings in the BIOS but I can't confirm this now because my mobo died and I am waiting for a replacement. I'll let you know when I have it up and running. I also have a 130W adapter, and a couple of 90W adapters. I'll hook those up and see if the battery charges with those just for fun :D.
     
  40. katzenfutter

    katzenfutter Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    41
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    16
    How do I know, If my 240W Modell charges the battery correctly?
    Maybe my charger won't charge my battery, so it only lasts for 2 Minutes?! :err:
    adapter warnings are dissabled in bios...
     
  41. Voidhelix

    Voidhelix Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    The 240w slim adapter sounds perfect, as long as it can charge. And Katzenfutter, look at the little plug symbol at the bottom right of your screen. If you highlight that it should say charging or not charging.
     
  42. deadsmiley

    deadsmiley Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,147
    Messages:
    1,626
    Likes Received:
    702
    Trophy Points:
    131
    Updated the list with new GTX 970M data. :D
     
  43. STiHiaL

    STiHiaL Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    22
    Messages:
    166
    Likes Received:
    44
    Trophy Points:
    41
    I think "Graphics Score" will be more useful info rather "Overall Score".
     
    Last edited: Apr 12, 2017
  44. deadsmiley

    deadsmiley Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,147
    Messages:
    1,626
    Likes Received:
    702
    Trophy Points:
    131
    Added graphics score, retained overall score.
     
    kosti likes this.