-->*OFFICIAL: MSI GT725 Owner's Lounge*<--

Yeah dude i'll buy some!

 

I'm a bit of a long time lurker but I recently got my GT725 (087-UK) and absolutely love it, glossy screen with no dead pixels and no OTT bleeding.

I debadged mine soon after I checked that everything was working - what I would suggest is to have a microfibre cloth and some water on standby, pretty much all the stickers peel off with very little residue, apart from the vista one which did leave a bit of gunk. Nothing the microfibre cloth very lightly dampened couldn't wipe away though!

Also can I second the request for someone to point us in the direction of the 9.4 Catalysts? I'm running the 9.5 DNA's at the moment but do get some crashes in LOTRO and Crysis and wanted to see if the 9.4's did any better.

 

just type donotargue in google and youll find the 9.4 drivers

 

Ok well they'll be on eBay if anyone wants some. Just search for "MSI GT725 touchpad protector".

 

Hmm. Killer sneak told me, 9.5dnax32 and x64 is still in beta. Not official yet. Thats why your getting those crashes. Unless its done?

 

If my machine comes back soon i shall re-upload 9.4 original for us all.

 

Right, I have been on many forums and it is pretty clear anyone with a GT725 210/212 (the q9000 quad core model) will not experience a 20% boost on their cpu when pressing the 'turbo' button (unless anyone can tell me different).

I have tried going into the BIOS and changing the overclock amount up to 24% (the highest it will go) but the processor will not go above 2075 Mhz.

I really want to see how well the q9000 will overclock, so which would be the best way to overclock it (just to 2400 Mhz if possible). I am not sure what options are available in the BIOS for manual overclocking, or alternatively there is SetFSB, a piece of software that overclocks through windows.

http://www.overclock.net/downloads/255892-setfsb-2-0-a.html

what do you guys recommend?


Blazin

 

You wont be able to use setfsb also without flashing your bios to the GX' since they run on the same mobo (methinks)

 

I installed the 9.4 DNA cat.

Big difference with 3DMark Score. But I had it on Turbo and power settings on performance only received 9126. By the looks of things that is the stock standard speed for everyone else.

I'm guessing it's on the CPU testing, I'm struggling to get 1fps. By the way I haven't OC'd the CPU or anything, still stock standard apart from turbo.

 

9.1k is pretty low for turbo being on. That's the level I was hitting with turbo off stock.

 

Hey again guys - quick question concerning the DNA drivers; I just tried installing DNA 9.4, when I look at the display device driver properties in device manager it lists the driver version as 8.6. In catalyst control center it lists the Catalyst Version as 9.4 and the Driver Packaging Version as 8.60-etc.


Is this correct? I take it the 8.6 refers to whatever coding system DNA use for the driver?

 

Im pretty and absolutely sure your ati settings is not on optimal performance and your battery is not on high performance. Any of those. Make sure you check em. Unless something is wrong.

 

But yeah, the CPU test owns me too. 0-2 FPS the whole time.

 

a OC'ed top end i7 would get owned by that test will the crazy alien thingsy flying out a explodeing pyramid.

 

I checked and everything is still default.

Stock standard. I ran the test again this time on the default 3dmark res 1280*1024 and I got 9837. Sorry I forgot to mention that the first test was done at 1680*1050.

So that is stock standard with Turbo mode switched on. Is that the norm or is there still something wrong with this laptop

 

That's normal/good. Res was the issue, most people (or at least me) use the free version and can't change the res from default.

 

Which CPU do you have the P8600 or P9500? Iwas hitting near;y 9700 with stock settings and no turbo.

 

Late is better than never

http://www.filehosting.org/file/details/38145/4850bios.bin

 

i have undervolt my q9000 @ 1.1625v i will see if it s stable but i have lost a lot of temps

 

Good job on the undervolt, can you post temps?

 

Hi, I've had this laptop for about a week and its awesome but something seems to have happened to the performance of it because when i first got I tried 3d Mark 06 and got a score of 10362 with turbo mode and overclocked GPU but since then I've installed a load of games on it and having tried 3d Mark again its gone down to about 4000 so I'm a bit worried. If anyones got any idea about whats happened I'd be really grateful. Cheers

 

Hey Coddy, welcome to NBR!

Hm the first thing i would suggest is checking your power plan, is it on low power? if so shift it back up to high power

 

haha you sir are a genius. I'll see if that makes a difference.

 

I tried to update to the DNA 9.4 drivers, thought I knew what I was doing but apparently not I uninstalled the old drivers, rebooted, and ran the DNA setup file. I did a express install but when it was done ( and I had rebooted), my driver was still 8.6 . I then ran it again, and now I can't open the CCC. I think I have installed another version of CCC without unistalling the old one. When I try to open CCC now I get the message 'Could not load file or assembly 'CLI.Implementation' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.' I know you guys must be sick of driver update queries but would really appreciate some help, basically some advice on how to clear up this mess and start again.

 

WE will never give up on crappy drivers from ati!

Hmm i had this issue also, i would say that you should get hold of 9.2 and do a customised install and just select the catalyst from there, that should fix it, if i recall this is hehe, if not i will get hold of the full 9.4 installtion guide for you.


@Coddy
We are all genius' in the MSI forum

 

I had this problem but it turned out to be a problem with the powerstrip. Turbo and wireless function completely failed. Still just recieved a replacement machine, and so far so good.

I'm a bit nervous about o'c not convinced there sufficient air flow out of those tiny vent holes at the side and underneath

My first machine got insanely hot with 9.4 catalyst drivers, so I'm sticking with MSI Drivers and the turbo function. The UK 210 machine supplies plenty of grunt in Fallout, Crysis and Assasins Creed straight out of the box even at native res, so why fix a wheel when it ain't broke?

I've just bought a wired MadCatz 360 controller for five quid. A great investment and works really well with all 360 controls working on most of the latest games I play, with no tweeks required.

 

The cooling is more then sufficient in the MSI gt725, these things can support qx 9300 file so there is no risk involved, and its involved in the warrenty, where did you find these controllers? A fiver seems a bargain!

On the 210 machine, the q9000 should be reaching around 66C, thats what mine does under full load.

The ati gpu goes to 86C under full load (but this is unlikely in alot of games except the furmark test)

The fan has many different stages, even when you dont expect any more, it will kick in again at 88C when it makes sure nothing, and i mean nothing goes over that mark hehe.

 

cheers for the quick response, I managed to reinstall CCC, and it is the DNA 9.4 version, but the driver is still 8.6. I downloaded the 9.4 DNA drivers from the DNA site, but when i go through the installer it is installs 8.6. Anyone point me to the 9.4's anywhere?

 

Hmm im also trying to find it, i hear 9.5 is currently buggy As!

9.4 are very good, thats from personal usage, the problem was the ones i had were 64 bit and now i need 32.

http://www.techbeta.org/drivers/ati-catalyst-components-windows-7/

Try the windows 7 drivers for ATi 32, it might work, i think i heard someone talking about it at some point but am unsure, i will test when i return home which will be about 6 hours.

 

it was £5.99 from Gamestation, although It was a pre-own, with no wrapping.

I think a basic new one with no pattern is about £11.00. Still cheap!

 

Hehe true, but for that much you could get the crossfire reciever (that connects 360 remotes to pc!) but 5.99 from gamestation? im well there man.

 

Hey Echo,

I'm currently running the 9.4 catalyst (I get just over 10800 in 3dmark06 default with turbo and 550/900. I have a feeling that the driver is supposed to show as 8.6, if you have a look at the version through CCC it lists the driver as Driver Packaging Version 8.60-090316a1-078237C-DNA which windows obviously abbreviates as 8.6, but as you can see it appears to be custom named by DNA. Unless someone can confirm otherwise (I asked a few pages back but no reply) I think that it is supposed to show as 8.6.

 

Hey guys, i think new realtek drivers were posted at some point, could anyone direct me to them, thanks a million.

Catacylsm

 

makes sense....in a confusing kind of way!! thx for info, if that is the case it would really make life easier if they named them a little clearer.
cheers
Echo Five

 

I'm almost a month late, but if you do ANY work in linux/X.org do NOT buy an ATI GPU. The X.org catalyst drivers aren't even of beta quality IMO.

Random system hard freezes with video play and occasionally elsewhere. Screen corruption with 9.5 drivers. WINE mostly doesn't work because of the wonderfully good ATI catalyst drivers, etc.

I'm to the point where I'm seriously considering tracking down a mobile GT200 MXM card and ripping out the 4850, but then I'd also have to fabricate a new heatsink attachment(likely), but at least I'd have drivers that are just about as good as the windows drivers(nvidia).

 

Two questions, mates:

- If you change the CPU (for example, you put a T9600), the Turbo button still works?

- Does the GPU have a temperature sensor?


Thanks

 

Well I just ordered my 212US version.. So I have a couple questions for the Q9000 owners..

- Where I ordered it from it says it's a 2.0ghz version of the Q9000, can anyone confirm? On Amazon it says it's a 1.6ghz quad-core.
- Can the Q9000 be changed for the Q9300 later down the line?
- Still no-one has answered the overclocking question on the 2.0 quad-core. I've seen someone say it SHOULD be able to overclock to the Q9300's 2.5ghz but noone has actually done it?
- In games such as Crysis can you play on stock overclock (turbo mode) without overclocking the GPU? I know it's been answered but I'd like some reinforcement.
- I see a lot of driver conflicts.. So far the best drivers to go with seem to be the 9.4 DNA drivers? Does it also have the CCC issues in 32 bit Vista?
- I tried searching google for pics of the 725-212US's motherboard but seems like no one has opened theirs yet (for fear of voiding the warranty I guess?). Anybody have a pic of the inside of theirs? Curious to see how the Graphics card is integrated into the motherboard and if it's possible to change it down the line or is this one of those laptops where you're stuck with your integrated graphics card?

Thanks! Sure did enjoy the 239 page read, lol!! Can't wait to get my laptop in but it's ganna be a while.. Things always take a long time to get to me in Iraq.. FTL lol.

 

I have a GT725 with Q9000:
-i think you can change to a qx9300 but it will void the warrantly
-we must wait for an update of setfsb to oc the q9000, and see how it performs with the temp
-i play crysis without turbo and without gpu oc'ed and it s great (the turbo on the q9000 gives only 75mh so it s unless)
-I have the 9.5 installed on vista 32 and I have no problem at all
-I don t wanna open my laptop

 

I can answer a few of your questions so here goes:

- It is a 2.0ghz quad core
- the q9000 can be changed for a qx9300 (although this will void warranty so wait a while before trying it)
- In theory, the q9000 should overclock to around 2.3/2.4ghz (with a 20% boost), however i have not found anyone yet you can overclock theirs to more than 2075mhz, (2.075ghz) so unless anyone can tell me different, i'm guessing that there is a design flaw in the turbo system on the q9000 model, or it just doesnt support overclocking.
- I personally do not own crysis but i can play fallout 3 on highest settings, farcry 2 on High (it goes up to ultra but it gets too choppy), COD4 on highest, company of heroes on highest, brothers in arms hells highway on highest, and this is with turbo mode enabled and my graphics card is overclocked to 500Mhz gpu clock (it goes up to 550) and 850Mhz memory clock (it goes up to 900). But bearing in mind that i play all of my games at 1920x1200 the performance of the 4850 is awesome. If you want to play high end games with high settings you are going to want to overclock the graphics card just to ease out those extra frames that make the difference.

I'm going to get a laptop cooler soon so i can overclock it full without melting everything on my desk that sits behind the gt725 lol.

Hope this helps

Blazin

 

Hey Animaleyes,

Looks like I got the P8600.

Hope that's not too bad

 

i think you can swap out the cpu without voiding warrenty, MSI will only deal with the remaining hardware, ive seen people write to them about this alot, b ut i suggest writing again.

You can also change thermal paste.

 

but there are maybe seal to see if you have open the rear panel or they can see if you change something... if we can change cpu without voiding warrantly if can be very interesting with the price of a qx es

 

Hey Rupp3r, Blazin, and cataclysm thanks for the replies!

I was initially worried reading about the guy with the Q9000 who got his GT725 and it said it was only 1.6 ghz and with the turbo button on it was at 2075mhz. So it had me wondering if maybe there was a declocked version of the Q9000.

So does everyone have the same problem with the Q9000 o/c going from 2000mhz to 2075mhz?

More than likely I will end up o/c'ing the GPU eventually regardless, I'm just curious about the overclocking ability of the Q9000. Will be kind of aggrivating if it doesn't hit 2.3-2.4ghz like I was expecting it to.

I will be sure to experiment with it when I get it.. and if I damage it then oh well. . I have a laptop cooler and I keep my room here in Iraq freezing (unless the a/c goes out of course).

Now I'm just curious on how the graphics card is integrated into the motherboard or if it may be possible to change to a 4870 later down the road.

Thanks for the responses, can't wait to get it in and get rid of this piece of mess. I was going to get a desktop but being in the military it sure is hard since I'm moving around a lot.

Kudos to you two !

 

Well asus people have suicide clocked it to 2.9

Max stable with asus was 2.7 ghz, so it can be overclocked.
q9000 is a great quad
I dont think the jump to 4870 would really be worth it, but if you can cram gddr5 ram in there, would be pretty awesome

Problem with us is:
We need some better ram.

 

I have seen my q9000 drop to about 1.6ghz, but this is not a fault. The GT725 uses Intel Speedstep, which basically underclocks the cpu when it is not being heavily used (e.g. writing a word document) to save power. You can turn this off but i have left it on for now as it is handy when i need that extra bit of battery life.

 

I think the 4850 is in mxm 3 in the gt725 so it can be easily change

 

Correct rupp3r, its also backward compatible with mxm 2 cards, modifications to the heat sink will need to be made though.

 

That's awesome, and yeah we do need some better ram.. I would love some 1333 DDR3 or higher.. However I think the 800 DDR2 will be fine for a while. Why didn't MSI step up to DDR3 on this computer?

Depending on how I enjoy the processor in it's stock form will decide for me if I overclock it. If I do decide to overclock it I'd only look for about 2.4-2.5ghz stable which shouldn't be so so bad.

Thanks for all the quick responses Been a long time since I fumbled around computers so trying to get caught back up with all this SLI and Crossfire X.

So either of you two looking at overclocking your CPU?

 

The new GT729 will have ddr3 ram and 1GB of video memory for the hd4850.

and what do you think is the best way of overclocking it, because to do it throught the BIOS you have to flash it, and dont really want to go through that at the moment. Unless there is some way of making the turbo button 'really' work.

Blazin

 

my q9000 is undervolt @ 1.1625 and playing nfs prostreet with turbo (2075mhz) i have the cpu @ 78°C and without turbo i have 70°C so 8°C for 75mhz more... I think that for oc more the cpu will have to be stable with lower voltage otherwise it will be too hot....