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    Problem with Clevo 6990m in M15x

    Discussion in 'Alienware M15x' started by fatboyslimerr, Mar 4, 2013.

  1. fatboyslimerr

    fatboyslimerr Alienware M15x Fanatic

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    Hi,

    Sorry for starting a new topic on this but I really want to make my clevo 6990m work and I'm not clever enough to work out whats wrong with it.
    So I removed all nVidia drivers etc then first loaded the 6990m driver from the m17x R3 (as per svl7's instructions). Then loaded lastest drivers over that (13.2 beta 7).

    Card worked ok but temps were high because I was using the original x-bracket that wasn't grinded down so there was poor contact with die.
    I switched the x-bracket to the nVidia one and temps are much better now.

    The problem is that when I try to play a game it works fine for 30 seconds or so then freezes, lags, screen goes black then image returns and so does gameplay. Once this ended up in a screen with brown lines across it and I couldn't recover. GPU monitor suggests gpu usage is peaking to 100% during these moments. Does anyone have any idea what is causing this and how I can fix it?

    As far as I can tell it is probably a driver issue so I was going to remove all drivers and directly install 13.2 driver.

    I would massively appreciate any help anyone can provide.
    I have BIOS A09, i7 940xm, 150W PSU,
     
  2. fatboyslimerr

    fatboyslimerr Alienware M15x Fanatic

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    Just got BSOD whilst streaming something in HD.

    - System

    - Provider

    [ Name] Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power
    [ Guid] {331C3B3A-2005-44C2-AC5E-77220C37D6B4}

    EventID 41

    Version 2

    Level 1

    Task 63

    Opcode 0

    Keywords 0x8000000000000002

    - TimeCreated

    [ SystemTime] 2013-03-04T12:55:58.161211700Z

    EventRecordID 310581

    Correlation

    - Execution

    [ ProcessID] 4
    [ ThreadID] 8

    Channel System

    Computer Mark-PC

    - Security

    [ UserID] S-1-5-18


    - EventData

    BugcheckCode 209
    BugcheckParameter1 0x30
    BugcheckParameter2 0x2
    BugcheckParameter3 0x0
    BugcheckParameter4 0xfffff8800522d394
    SleepInProgress false
    PowerButtonTimestamp 0
     
  3. tychormthorp

    tychormthorp Newbie

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    Hey! Me again. I've used more than a few AMD/ATi laptop cards, and I've gotten a similar problem in the past. A friend of mine had an hp dv7 w/ the radeon hd 5650. Wasn't a terrible card or setup, but he would get tons of lag and a temporary black screen after just a few minutes of relatively smooth gameplay. His GPU temp was peaking at over 93 C, and it was part of the source of his problem. Basically what we did to fix it was completely clean out the gpu fan intake / fan / duct proper, and we repasted the gpu (with arctic silver, what else?). His temperature was almost 50 C after that, but we still had the framerate issue, which I believe was a factory underclock problem. Have you ever gotten the display driver crash error when you attempt to run something? What do try to play? What are your temps when the gpu is under light, and "heavy" load? You said you were using beta drivers, so that could be your issue. Do you know if svl7 had a similar / the same setup as you (processor, etc)? I'm new at this, with ulterior motives, but I'll try to offer what I have.
     
  4. big_rab

    big_rab Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'm having similar problems with my card. I had to put my 260m back in because I need my machine for work. :(
     
  5. fatboyslimerr

    fatboyslimerr Alienware M15x Fanatic

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    Here is an illustration of what happens during screen freeze. You can see both cpu and gpu usage spikes. I'm now using 11.5a modded driver which seems to be no different to any other driver I've tried.
    [​IMG]
     
  6. fatboyslimerr

    fatboyslimerr Alienware M15x Fanatic

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    Not saying this is the solution but I lowered TDP and TDC of cpu using throttle stop and this appears to have solved the problem temporarily.
    Not exactly sure what TDP and TDC are through. Also if I try undervolting my 6990m should I use ati tray tools?

    EDIT: ATI Tray Tools is indicating the gpu is at 0.8v. Only other option is 1.1v

    If someone could explain all of this to me that would be great!
     
  7. fatboyslimerr

    fatboyslimerr Alienware M15x Fanatic

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    OK that definitely isn't a solution. Still having so many problems. Still getting freezing and sometimes just idling in windows the screen flickers. So far I've narrowed it down to a driver issue (but I've tried multiple), a voltage/power issue or possible something to do with 260m x-bracket touching a resistor.

    I'm wondering if loading the dell vbios would solve any problems or adjusting the voltage in vbios as any over clocking programme causes increased flickering.

    Sent from my cm_tenderloin using Tapatalk HD
     
  8. batfinks

    batfinks Notebook Consultant

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    ok what i've read and you system specs, the ati 6990m is a power hungry thing and will push the maxium of what the pcie rail can provide (erm 75w) if i remember correctly, + with a unlocked i7-940XM you really are pushing the system to the max. then from what i remember is the nvidia 260m x-bracket doesn't fit and touches resistors on the back of the 6990m card and you have to use electrical tap over the x-bracket to prevent shorts. (a very bad thing to happen), then you seem to be using/testing with alot of beta drivers for the card, again theses are beta drivers and not very stable. what i would do if i was you is, get the correct x-bracket and use a copper shim over cutting the x-bracket down and use extra layer if required of thermal pads for the memory and so so, i would only use certified released amd drivers for the card and not beta drivers. as for vBios mods and so on, im unable to help there as i do not do such things nor have i ever.
     
  9. fatboyslimerr

    fatboyslimerr Alienware M15x Fanatic

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    I know that I'm using the maximum power available and possibly a bit more but the 6990m has been stable in the M15x for awhile now and I'm not sure how people have managed it given that this gpu and my cpu have been matched before with better results than I've got. The x-bracket I'm using has a rubber coating anyway so no worries about shorting anything. I will get a copper shim at some point but not sure on the thickness I need, I think 0.5mm would be ok?

    I totally removed all AMD drivers and did a fresh install of the 13.2 beta 7 driver and everything appears to be a bit more stable. I'm able to play games smoothly as long as I turn down some graphics settings. Also runs much cooler than my gtx460m did interestingly. I'm going to try using throttle stop to reduce clock modulation to around 85% (in an attempt to lower power usage) so that the 6990m has more power available then try running on high settings. Also going to try Crysis 3......

    Thanks for your response batfinks. Appreciate any help
     
  10. batfinks

    batfinks Notebook Consultant

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    you seem to of covered all you're bases when it comes to the problem at hand, but what i would do if i was in your posistion is move back to the original x-bracket and use a 1.0mm copper shim and if required some new thicker thermal pads, copper shims are dirt cheap no matter where you buy them. have you tried to underclock the graphics card ? i ask as i've just solved a issue with my main rig which is using an ATi 7970 card and was having simular issues and what i did try was different drivers and that didn't resolve it but when i underclocked the card it solved the issue, i get no crashes anymore.
    is there any reason why you are using ati beta drivers and not there certified drivers ? beta drivers are unstable to begin with, always best to use the certified drivers.
    hope you get this resolved and quickly so you can get back to some good gaming. :thumbsup:
     
  11. fatboyslimerr

    fatboyslimerr Alienware M15x Fanatic

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    I have tried to underclock but that was using older drivers and this generally always lead to flickering of screen even during idle.
    What program did you use to underclock? Sapphire TRIXX is bad and I'm not entirely sure how to use ATI tray tools but that was also bad using old drivers too.
    I haven't tried any underclocking with the current beta drivers I'm using which have been completely stable for 24 hours so far. Have to say that these beta drivers are much more stable than all the older drivers I tried.

    I would underclock gpu if I could do it without changing vbios as I'm not confident in my abilities. I will try again with ATI tray tools when I have time to work it out properly.
    I can't believe people have been able to OC the 940xm and a 6990m in the M15x! I'm pretty sure this would make my laptop explode.

    Also should I get 15mm x 15mm x 1.0mm copper shims? Not sure on die size but that looks approximately the same size as the one on my old gtx 460m.
     
  12. batfinks

    batfinks Notebook Consultant

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    i used the overclocking/underclocking tool thats built into the catalyst drivers themselfs, it also has a testing suite that tests the over/underclocking settings to which is very good, its under performance tab erm AMD Overdrive i believe its called. and the size of call the copper shims i use are 15mm x 15mm x 1.0mm, seem to fit just about everything but i guess best way to be sure is to remove the graphics card and measure the gpu dye.
    As for other people overclocking there M15x that are running 940XM and ATI 6990m personally there either crazy or love a challenge :)
     
  13. fatboyslimerr

    fatboyslimerr Alienware M15x Fanatic

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    Just an update. Underclocking the memory by 100 Mhz and the clock core by 75 Mhz has stopped games freezing (and the screen reloads and everything is fine) when playing on very high settings. If games are played on medium I don't need to do this. Clearly when trying to run at full capacity the card reaches the power limit of the mobo and has a bit of a panic attack. How have people got this card to run smoother??? I guess I should learn how to undervolt in vBIOS :(
     
  14. batfinks

    batfinks Notebook Consultant

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    i would be tempted to just run with a underclock over doing a vbios undervolt. but thats a decission you have to decide, but im glad you have your card working correctly without a problem now :)
    even with the underclock settings you still have one hell of a powerful card.
     
  15. fatboyslimerr

    fatboyslimerr Alienware M15x Fanatic

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    Ok now I'm just confused. I uninstalled catalyst control centre (CCC) and re-installed ati tray tools and tried an undervolt. This didn't work and caused massive glitching.
    I may try it again at some point as temps are still running high but after removing tray tools I didn't re-install CCC. I then tried running Spec Ops the Line and Crysis (first one) on maxed out graphics.
    Both had fantastic frame-rates without any freezing or slow down whatsoever! 6990m isn't underclocked in anyway as CCC isn't installed. Its just totally stock and running fabulously!

    I wonder if CCC was having conflicts with current drivers and my card. Anyway extremely happy at the moment as even the first Crysis has visuals that melt your face off. Will try Crysis 3 at some point.
    Copper shim ordered! 6990m is immense :)
     
  16. King of Interns

    King of Interns Simply a laptop enthusiast

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    Yeah the 6990M ain't bad. At stock clocks it dealt with BF3 with all settings maxed except I think HDR setting. CPU was OCed to 23x on 4 cores though!
     
  17. King of Interns

    King of Interns Simply a laptop enthusiast

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    People underestimate the 6990M but I think with continued driver improvement it still has plenty of life left with all that rendering power.
     
  18. fatboyslimerr

    fatboyslimerr Alienware M15x Fanatic

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    Thanks for everyone's help and suggestions. Thanks to King of Interns I realised my clevo 6990m had been rather heavily overclocked (820/1050) in the BIOS which was causing lots of instability.
    After much much reading I worked out how to flash the bios and have now set it back to default (715/900) and performance has improved greatly. I also did a cheeky undervolt to 1.0v.


    Here is my 3dmark11 score. Whilst not earth shattering I believe its a massive step up from my gtx 460m (P1956 with Graphics Score: 1782

    [​IMG]
     
  19. fatboyslimerr

    fatboyslimerr Alienware M15x Fanatic

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    This card OCs well. Just managed to get a 3Dmark11 Score of P3746 with graphics coming in at 3496!
    Clocks at 780/950 v1.0

    EDIT: Managed to get graphics score up to 3600! Achieved by not OCing the cpu and running a heavier OC on gpu.