7970M GPU utilization in games / benches

Just received my P150EM with 7970M and running some benches, testing games. However I noticed that my Vantage score seems a little low - only 19k at stock. I have tried different drivers with little luck. 3d Mark 11 score is ok at P5800, but when I run games or furmark I keep seeing GPU utilization only at 70-80% (in 3d mark 11 is at 99%).
Can someone with a 7970m check what fps and cpu utilization you get in furmark or BF3? When I increase my clocks I dont seem to be getting any extra perfromance in furmark or BF3.

I've got 2920xm as a CPU so it shouldnt be bottlenecked there.


EDIT: just did more testing in BF3 and it definitely looks like I'm bottlenecked somewhere - adding or removing MSAA barely makes a difference in performance, I will run to an open space and my FPS will drop to 30ish, with my GPU utilization only at 60-70%, I will go up to 4x MSAA or to no MSAA and there will only be 3fps difference.. something is not right here.
I have tried drivers that came with the laptop and beta drivers posted in another thread here, same symptoms.

 

Glad you get your machine articjoe !

Could you please post both 3dmark links? I'd like to check something.

To sort your problem out, try to use Throttlestop! (it always resolves the throttle issues)

 

Hi Paul, yep picked up the machine yesterday, its pretty awesome now just need to get it running properly.

3dmark11 link - AMD Radeon HD 7970M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2920XM Processor,CLEVO P15xEMx score: P5785 3DMarks
Vantage - AMD Radeon HD 7970M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2920XM Processor,CLEVO P15xEMx score: P18844 3DMarks
Already using throttlestop, but it does not look like CPU is a factor here. Just tried running MSI Kombustor and again though majority of the benchmark GPU utilization sat at around 50-70%...
will probably re-install windows, just to rule out some dodgy driver screwup. Anything I should know, in terms of which order the drivers need to be installed in?

 

Weird, for some reasons it seems like your HD7970 is underperforming.

You should just install first the Intel chipset drivers and then the VGA, it doesn't matter afterwards.

Also, throttlestop doesn't help only for the CPU throttling, it also helps to boost power draw and maintain it for the rest of the components ie. the GPU. I always have it running on all my laptops to make sure GPU and CPU perform at 100%.
Your CPU/Physics scores are a bit low as well. What you can do is run a Cinebench 64 bits CPU test and monitor the CPU clocks with Throttlestop, you will see how long the MAX Turbo boost holds as I assume yours don't stay at max turbo boost (3.2ghz/4 cores) for long.

Re-installing Windows should be the best option for now.

 

Yep, I am having the same problems as you in BF3. I am not too sure but it is either our card with a problem or its a driver problem or a problem with bf3 latest patch. Apparently other people are also having drop in fps issues.

Here is the link
FPS drop since patch page 56/56 - Forums - Battlelog / Battlefield 3

 

How do I test frame rates on bf3?

 

my cpu seems ok with prime, goes down from 3.2 to 3ghz in the long run.. temps are around 70c for gpu, 80c ish for cpu, so i dont believe its throttling.

what about low performance in other apps? though i must admit, bf3 ran about the same as it did with my 6970m, so there may be something else contributing here.

i will probably reinstall windows this evening and see how it goes

 

I am going to run 3dmarkvantage and let you know my scores. 3dmark11 is similar. Other than BF3, I only play diablo 3 and its running fine, but the thing is diablo 3 is not a gpu intensive game so cannot really tell if theres anything wrong with the card.

Let me know your progress

EDIT: I scored 20482 in 3dmarkvantage.

 

I think your issues are then drivers related even though the low GPU use suggests that there's a lack of power... I hope re-installing windows and drivers will sort this out.

 

type render.drawfps 1 in the console

 

ok thanks for that champ!

 

looks like its a power draw issue. I've reinstalled windows and only installed chipset + graphic card drivers. still the same score when i run vantage AMD Radeon HD 7970M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2920XM Processor,CLEVO P15xEMx score: P19719 3DMarks) ...
however if i reduce my screen brightness and only leave 1 cpu core enabled I score much higher for graphics ( AMD Radeon HD 7970M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2920XM Processor,CLEVO P15xEMx score: P12660 3DMarks) .. though crap for cpu as expected. I will pull out my 2nd ssd and maybe 2 modules of ram as well to see if I can keep power draw down enought to run all 4 cores and get decent performance...


EDIT: hmm, looks like 1 cpu core run might had been a fluke. I've been unable to reproduce it despite not having installed any other software / updates.. How strange, it just looks like there is some GPU level throttling here, definitely not due to temps as they are barely touching 70c... any ideas are very welcome.

 

Maybe time to look for a 220W power brick.

 

unfortunately there is no 220w power brick for 150em... Also, i havent been able to reproduce that single benchmark run with 1 core enabled again, and i've taken ram and 2nd ssd out since then, so my power draw should be even lower.

I have now tried 3dmark 06 and only scored 20k point there, this is the same as my 6970m did. For a good half of that benchmark GPU utilization was only at around 60%. I am starting to think I have a faulty card / faulty motherboard or maybe even faulty power brick... Something seems to be severely throttling the GPU for no good reason.

 

Wasn't the P170EM equipped with the 220W brick, maybe you can try one of those.

 

different plug unfortunately, but I also think 180w should be able to handle both 2920xm and 7970m. Previous gen 150hm could cope with 580m + 2920xm, and I suspect 580m drew more power than 7970m.

 

The plug is really different?

 

Yes it is - for 220W PSU, they use a bigger plug but you can still mod it, this is what I did with my MSI.

Articjoe,
Could you check which version of throttlestop are you using ?

 

4.10, but i've tried 4.00 as well.

right, i've now taken out almost every bit of unnecessary kit, removed all my 1600mhz ram and tried different brand from my work laptop, reinstalled windows, having then installed only chipset + graphics drivers and benchmark software, re-installed windows on my other ssd and pulled my sammy 830 out... no change in scores or GPU utilization.
might also try to replace my 2920xm with an i5 2550m just to rule that out as well. if this fails its probably RMA time .

 

I had some serious problems with TS above 4.0 versions, we've just made some extensive tests with pau1ow about this.

All i can advice is to get the 3.00.1 version, or the 3.0 version. Set the three options active (two clocks options and one multiplier). Then save it using the button.
Turn on, turn off, then turn on it again. It should work now.

Do this on a fresh boot, be sure theres no TS running. After you got the 3.0 version running, minize it.
Create a shortcut to it and add it under Auto run folder in start->all programs (i cant recall the exact name, could be autorun or automatic execution).
In this way TS should run automatically with the options set as you did.

Also get this app: http://www.coderbag.com/Uploads/Unpark-CPU-App.zip
And after the initial scan, hit Unpark All button, then reboot.

So to recap:
- Get the core parking utility and unpark all cores
- Get TS 3.0 from here: http://www.techinferno.com/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2011/04/ThrottleStop_3001.zip
- Set the three options active
- Hit Save
- Go into options and enable start minimized and minimze on close
- Turn on, hit Save
- Turn off then turn it on again
- Add a shortcut to the program in autorun folder, or be sure to launch it on boot each time you log in windows

Now start playing or benching with a small clocks bump then go up from there. Or leave all stock and see if you still experience low performance.

Hope it helps, if it does, credits to pau1ow!

 

Thanks matey.

Swapping CPU would be the best way to confirm the issue (faulty components or lack of power due to XM cpu)

Good luck.

 

thanks for replies guys, will try that when I get home. At this point its looking like either:
a) incompatibility between HM77 / sandy bridge cpu / enduro
b) power draw issue, maybe faulty power supply
c) possible hardware fault somewhere else.

ok, so CPU swap was inconclusive as I could not boot with SB i5 CPU . I also tried the throttlestop steps + unparking my cores, which did not change anything either.
Good news is that Scott from PWN PCS will be lending me his 3610qm so I can rule out that this is due to incompatibility between Sandy Bridge / Intel HD 3000 graphics and 7970m / Enduro.

 

Just so you know, when I run BFBC2 I get only 60%-65% GPU utilization but I can score 6500 on 3dmark11 when Oc'ed. I have a 3820QM and the rest is in my sig. I found this thread when trying to figure out why im not getting full utilization. I really dont want to have to return a 2500 dollar computer.

 

So Alienware got the same problem? The conclusion is 7970m/driver problem?

 

seems likely, I have had to deal with a 6770m and HD 3000 GFX on an HP notebook and it really is a damn pain to deal with all that driver BS. Really, Nothing good has ever come out of the switching graphics crap. If this problem with the 7970m is not solved by the time the 680m is released then I will either sell my 7970m on eBay or return my M17x r4. This really is disappointing.

 

Hi Juggar, can you try disabling Enduro and switching to 7970m and see if that helps? also can you try running 3dmark 06? in 06 i seem to score the lowest...

 

I also scored 20XXX in 3dmark 06. But the problem was CPU related, I only had 1-2 fps on CPU test 1 and 2

 

are you sure its cpu related? 2fps sounds ok to me, what was your total cpu score? 20k is also very low for 7970m considering my 6970m used to score 22k, i am sure we should score at least 30% more points.

 

Here is the link
AMD Radeon HD 7970M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3610QM Processor,CLEVO P15xEMx score: 20227 3DMarks

 

sorry, this is off topic, but can someone tell me what throttle stop is?

 

6k CPU marks is about right for 3610qm.

 

Throttle stop does what the name suggest, it stops CPUs from throttling.
It was conceived to help people in the core 2 duo era with CPUs that gets stuck in low clocks state, or when the CPU suddenly drop the clocks in gaming without reason (like no high temperatures that would justify a thermal down clock).
With later revisions it made possible the OC of extreme CPUs even on unsupported motherboards as long as you can disable EIST in bios or via software.
Today it helps some laptop configurations to keep the CPU from downclocking for whatever reason while having idle clocks and power state perfectly working and active.
Since I had some similar problems with 7970m, TS actually made a world of difference about OC stability and in game performance, much like it happened ages ago.
It's a rough description, but I can post some technical docs of you want, there's still the original thread up somewhere.
Iirc it started as a fix for Acer users, then it wide spread to other laptop manufacturers as well.

 

I see. okay so its my gpu problem that is giving me a low score.

 

yep, i bet if you check your gpu utilization with msi afterburner you will see that for the majority of the benchmark your gpu is only utilized at around 60%.

to me this problem sounds a lot like Enduro induced performance loss in Alienware m17x r4 ( http://www.notebookcheck.net/Alienware-M17x-R4-Notebook-Review.75292.0.html). Some games arent affected, whilst others see major performance loss.
Does anyone know if there is some hack that can be tried to switch enduro off in Clevos?

 

It really does sound like driver issues here. We have to remember that we are using custom Clevo drivers and not "Official" ATI ones.

If your card hits 100% utilization on some programs and not others then there isn't anything wrong with the card hardware, it's the drivers powering the card.

I guess it's the waiting game again....

 

i really hope its the drivers, but i've tried 4 different ones that other 7970m users report as working ok with no luck.

 

all sager?

 

drivers? no, there is only 1 sager driver i know off. I tried a few beta ones that are said to offer very good performance with 7970m.

 

i mean the hardwares are from alienware or all from sager

 

Alienware? What have AW to do with Sagers?
Sagers are Clevos, so the hardware is manufactured by Clevo.

7970m clevo cards are different from AW cards that are made from Dell.

 

I am currently using the default Clevo ones (downloaded off their site). Have tried these, the ones on the disc, and the ATI Beta drivers and these are the best.

Make sure you completely remove all AMD products (via uninstall programs), restart, run driver sweaper (very important as I had all sorts of issues when didn't) then install the clevo ones clean. You know you've done it right if on restart and logging into windows you have to wait 5 or so minutes for a command prompt to sort its stuff out.

I haven't tried any games but get 20644 vantage score (20300ish GPU) with 100% utilization.

 

since arcticjoe said he has tried several 7970ms and the users said is ok. i just asking if all the laptops he tried are from sager or some from alienware since alienware has similar if not the same problems

 

Could you try 3dmark 06?

 

Ok thanks but are you talking about the 12.5 betas or the 12.6?
I'm glad it works for you tho, it just doesn't work well for the majority of the people out there, thats why I'm asking.

 

my np9170 has gpu utilization problems like others and i am using stock driver. i just run vantage and get P20509. i believe vantage has no utilization problem.

 

yep, tried all that. driver sweeper previous entry, even re-installing windows (4times now) to make sure there are no remnants of any old drivers that would be causing this... no joy so far. I am really hoping i get some results from borrowing an ivy bridge cpu

 

Yip will do when I get home.

 

These are my thoughts exactly.

To add a little bit more information we ran every system we have through benchmarks before sending them out. Arctic Joe bought a system without CPU, ram and hdd or ssd.

We used a 3610qm, 8gb ram (2x 4gb 1600mhz Samsung) along with our 250gb hdd stock install of windows + all nessacary drivers from the cd and it benchmarked inline with every other system we sent out.

I can't explain what's going on here so I've sent out a 3610qm for arctic to test with. Im thinking perhaps its the hd3000 not playing nice. As I think its safe to rule out the card / system as its been tested working previously, does anyone else have any ideas?

 

how about my np9170 with 3610qm got the same problem? it is the latest chipsets already

 

littlecx, have you tried reinstalling windows, then installing only chipset drivers, reboot, install intel video drivers, reboot, install AMD drivers reboot. Only install drivers from the manufacturer's DVD, then install 3dmark 06, msi afterburner and test if it made a difference.