Gigabyte U2442N Review

Sure, that will work .

 

735MHz is for the GDDR5 version, while 850MHz is for the DDR3.

Since U2442N GT640M uses DDR3, you should at least increase it to 850MHz.

I believe the GT640M on U2442N doesn't have any locking with the boost clock, so it should perform about the same.

 

Awesome, thanks! Hopefully I'm lucky the U2442N can handle the overclocking.

 

Just wondering, what is your 3DMark11 scores TheLawIX?

Did you manage to OC it high? Like above 1000MHz on the core?

Since my GT640M LE can clock quite high, but not too high, I bet your GT640M can clock much higher. 1100MHz?

Thanks.

 

The core is capped to +135 max unless you mod the bios.

 

By any chance do you know where to find the modded BIO for the Gigabyte U2442N? If it's capped at +135MHz, I can't reach the GT 650M levels since the Gigabyte uses the DDR3 version of the GT 640M.

 

There is none yet.

 

Have you checked with Nvidia Inspector?

How many performance modes can you see?
Usually there are 3, so you can unlock the clock to go higher than 135MHz by forcing the performance modes.

My GT640M LE only have 2, it's missing the 1 performance mode that I need to force in order to OC it high.

 

Yes, we are on the same boat, only 2.

 

Here's a BIOS MOD for U2442.

I've changed the Clock from 625MHz to 835MHz, Boost from 708MHz to 950MHz.

https://rapidshare.com/files/545311663/U2442_BIOS_F0A_WINDOWS_835MHz.zip

I'm not really familiar with the BIOS and haven't tested it yet, I think you just need to run the SmartFlash file.

PLEASE, TAKE OWN RESPONSIBILITY ON THIS.
IF YOU"RE SCARED OR NOT CONFIDENT, DO NOT FLASH!

 

Is it possible to overclock the memory? Given the GPU is being hamstrung by DDR3 memory, it seems like you'd get better returns OC'ing the memory first before worrying about the core clock.

 

I'm so scared

But seriously, thanks for the mod!

 

seriously, i would be so scared, theres like only 3 people on these forums with a u2442 including me now (today). hahaha

 

Nice, Sl7 is working on one for me too. I might try this, who knows. I am about to RMA my system because I have a defective touchpad

 

DDR3 memory OC's horrible vs GDDR5

 

It worked

 

Great then.

Does it run properly with the OC(970/1085) clock?

Better run it without MSI AB OC first since it is already OCed.
Unless it runs fine on those clock.

 

think you can do a before and after with the temps? idle and load?

 

Are they handling the warranty work here in the US?

 

It's running fantastic, I backed down on memory speed because it seems to add a lot of heat. I'm seeing around 78c playing skyrim, 85c with memory is at 1000mhz though.

Yeah they are, but I think I am going to wait regardless. I have 2 years to RMA it and I have school starting up soon. This would be a chassis defect for i'll give them awhile to sort everything out on the production line.

 

The core clock is stuck at 835, it won't turbo anymore either.

 

Hmmm... Need to check on the boost..
When u OC it with MSI AB to 970MHz, does it run at that clock?

Before the BIOS MOD, does OCing through MSI AB works(example : 625MHz + 135MHz = 760MHz)?

 

Yeah it all worked before. Both MSI AB and Ninspector show the higher OC, but the GPU never actually goes past 835 core.

 

I see. Just like my GT640M LE.

So, what's the highest Actual running clock(not only on nvidia inspector) you can go with OC before MOD?

Have you revert back to stock?

 

800 with turbo. If turbo won't work I'd like to test 900 core, but I would prefer turbo working for lower temps. No I have not reverted back.

 

Will look into the turbo thing.

Meanwhile, here is a 950MHz MOD (stock GT650M DDR3 max turbo clock) :

https://rapidshare.com/files/4125926579/U2442_BIOS_F0A_WINDOWS_950MHz.zip

May I know what is the max voltage it can run?

 

Wow nice job dude! I'll get my own U2442 in about 10 days, it'll be really fantastic if the OC MOD would be working perfectly.

 

The region of the laptop doesn't matter for the BIOS mod right? So a German U2442N would work with that BIOS mod?

 

Hey TheLawlX,
Thanks for the bios mod! But is there any chance you could post a stock bios that is under-volted instead? I'm more interested in reducing the amount of heat than performance, as gt640m is fast enough for me.

 

Thank you, I'll give it a shot! I have no idea what the max voltage is.

Not sure, I would ring Gigabyte and ask them if they are using a universal BIOS.

Don't thank me! Amal77 has done all the work on the bios.

 

I haven't gotten a reply back from Gigabyte about the BIOS being universal or not but I'm just wondering, how well does the U2442N run games like Skyrim or GTA IV when overclocked to the max 760 MHz with the un-modded BIOS? Do you know if there are any videos of it out there? All I've been able to find were videos of the U2442N in Computer Fairs.

 

Should be universal since they provide the download section from their international and other countries website.
All of the website provide the same download link.
I've tried all the 4 download link(Asia, China, America, Europe), and do a MD5 checksum, and they all match.

 

Excellent! Thank you! Hopefully I can get the laptop within the next 2 weeks and I'll try the BIOS then. Any tips when flashing the BIOS? Does Gigabyte have a safety feature that automatically reloads the old BIOS if the new one fails for some reason or another?

 

It plays Skyrim pretty much maxed out. There are no video reviews that I know of. This system isn't released anywhere but Taiwan.

 

US-based retailers are saying no U2442N availability until late Sept. I wanted to love the Sony S, but the darn screen was way too orange. Funny how the Sony store staff all said " it's red " but customers said " it's orange."

Gimme my U2442N

 

Interesting. So I don't actually need to use the modded BIOS in order to play Skyrim on max? Nice. I'm always afraid I'll screw something up.

 

With any luck it's being delayed in order to get Thunderbolt working. That's the only reason I can imagine that it would take so long, unless they're just afraid of bad publicity from being sold out everywhere.

 

At this point what you see is what you get. You'd more likely see a loss in functionality vs a gain over units available in Taiwan.

 

I feel like my performance is worse even though my coreclock is a lot higher than before. Normally I would said 100mhz would be completely insignificant, in this case it may actually make a difference.

 

What is your 3DMark 11 scores before and now?

 

I never tested before . Usually memory clocks don't effect FPS (especially on a small scale). I feel like game playable has been changed. My temperatures don't go above 80c now, before at much lower clocks I would hit 85-86c max.

 

I don't get what you mean.

So, you're saying that the temp is better on BIOS MOD with lower memory clock than the default stock core and memory clock?

Can you run the 3DMark11 as in now?
At least we can compare with the normal GT640M 3DMark11 scores from the website review(P1837).

 

I'll run it ASAP. What I am saying is my temperatures are now better, I don't see how that's possible lol.

 

I scored P2141

 

Probably the turbo features makes it hot(probably voltage increased on boost)? ^_^

Mine is running on the same voltage even up to 1000MHz core, that is like running on undervolt(max 0.925v).

Maybe you should install GPU-Z and monitor the voltage.

On 950 core 900 memory?

Mine P2231 on 950 Core 1000 memory.

Should be right on I gues.

 

Yeah maybe there was an unnecessary increase in voltage. I'd like to try 1000 core, 1000 memory. If it stays around 80c I would be a happy camper. I was sitting at 84-86c after a few hours of Skyrim prior. My voltage is 1.0120 at 950 core, I believe it was around 900 before, I can't say for sure.

 

Quite a good temp for a few hours of skyrim.
Maybe can try Battlefield 3 if you have the game.

Yeah, seems that your GT640M is using more voltage than the GT640M LE as expected.
There's a possibility of OCing your GPU abit higher than my GT640M LE(even after OV, it still might not be a proper voltage).

Btw, here's a 1000MHz MOD :
https://rapidshare.com/files/2333962352/U2442_BIOS_F0A_WINDOWS_1000MHz.zip
I did not change the memory clock since you can do it yourself in MSI AB.

Do report to me of any issue.

Thanks.

 

Works great, thanks buddie!

 

No prob.

Now, share us your highest 3DMark 11 scores.
Try increase your memory by every 50MHz then benchmark it, try to get the highest stable clock it could go.
Mine stable around 1100MHz - 1150MHz, higher than that will be artifact.

 

Just scored P2256. I'll try for 2300 eventually.