Clevo M980NU FSB hardmod question

Hello,

can anybody help me out with my problem ?

http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...locking-methods-examples-142.html#post9633771

I did some research and found out that this PLL may be used in my unit:

Clevo M980NU PLL:

IDT
CV193DPAG
Z0912J

However, I cannot find a suitable datasheet for this IC and all I want is to enforce a 266Mhz FSB since the BSEL and VID pinmod is useless on my device.

Can anybody be kind enough to help me out and guide me through the hardware mod ? I know how to solder and am willing to take a risk on this older device.

Best regards,

 

If I'm not mistaken M980NU is based on Nvidia mcp79 chipset and they are using internal clock generator integrated into chipset itself not external, like intel northbridge based motherboards. Did You try software overclock with Nvidia System Tools. It works with my Msi cr700 based on Nvidia mcp chipset.

 

Hello,

I´ve tried the Nvidia System Tools but unfortunately the notebook freezes instantly if I try to apply any setting, even the slightest increase of FSB.

The other question would be, how the system would behave if I´d manage to somehow set the FSB to 266Mhz. The RAM divider is set to 10/3 x 200Mhz = 666 Mhz ( for DDR 3 RAM 1,333Ghz ). Would the divider change by itself internaly to generate the max. Speed and prevent RAM overclocking if the main FSB is 266Mhz ?

Bild: system-block-diagramcwa9g.png - abload.de

 

Yeah I think so because it's like putting in processor with native 266MHz bus. Ram divider should be adjusted automatically. I don't understand aswell why BSEL mod it's not working. Unless it's like with Gigabyte lga775 motherboards where so called "pad mods"- essentially Bsel mods aswell - aren't working because bios isn't relaying on Bsel's at all to recognise bus, but read cpuid and set appropriate bus speed. Maybe You doing something wrong, but it hard to do something wrong if You have to only put wire between two holes. Try enforce other Bsel combination, like 200 to 166MHz. Just to be absolutely sure if this way is working on this laptop. Other things is to unlock any hidden options in bios. Who knows maybe will be there something useful. One of the best place to do that would be bios-mods forum. I think even here there are people who can unlock Phoenix bioses, eg Kizwan. Good luck with researches.

 

I´ve removed the CPU again, checked the pin mods to be sure everything is 100% ok. I´ve even enforced BSEL0 + VSS and BSEL2 + VSS ( all BSEL set to low which should result in a 266Mhz FSB ), made sure that VID4 is also connected + VSS ( new max. Vcore should be +0.2V higher = 1,45V ) but the BIOS still ignores these settings and sets the FSB to 4x 200Mhz.

Unfortunately the FSB is generated through the CPU ID and no pinmod would ever work on this machine.

I think there was a guy here who somehow managed to overclock a Txxx on this machine ?Now I need some serious input since I think I really tried my best and did my homework before having asked for help..

 

There was beta bios for M980NU which allow for 5, 10 and 15% overclock, but I don't think it was released officially: EXCLU : BIOS Overclocking sur le Clevo M980NU - Clevo - Portables 4 Gamers. The question is now if those options are in the bios but hidden or were added to original bios code. If it's first situation then it's only a matter of modding this bios and unhiding those options. If it's second then tough luck because adding options to existing bios is beyond modders skills as far I know.

 

Well, I guess I´ll have to grab something else to play for now I´ve opened my old Acer Aspire One D257 Netbook since it´s out of warranty and tends to become really hot after a while. I have to change the old thermal pads and now I had the stupid idea of trying to overclock this one since I´ve spotted the PLL and also found a nice datasheet of it.

This unit has a slg8lv631v clockgen built in and according to this service manual ( which is not exactly the one of my model but it uses the same specs and pll ), it may be possible to set the FSB from 166 to 200 Mhz ? This would result in a slightly overclocked N570 Intel Atom @ 2Ghz

Here is one picture of my mainboard with the PLL IC on it, I can show others too just in case there is some demand. I could also create a new thread if everything works out fine or am I missing already done Netbook Mods of this kind ?



This is the section I´ve found in the service manual.



In order to change the FSB up to 200Mhz, FSC has to be changed from low to high ? Which would be the best way to perform this Mod ? I´m willing to take the risk if you help me out. I suppose Pin6 is the key to succes ( I´ve marked it red on my first picture ).

 

I would advise You to try first software overclock with setfsb. You could try some Silego clock from the list if they would give You proper clock reading and allow overclock. Hardware mod is not that easy. The problem is what voltage to apply to which point through what resistor to have desire effect on logic state of the PLL. I would personally probably mess around R190. Disconnect it from the circuit going to R187, R188, R189 and connect it to .... And now would be time for trail and error. Maybe 3.3V or 1.05V or maybe GND. Or change it to other resistor like 10k, 6.8k to have voltage in range of 0.7-1V on this pin 6. Another option might be disconnecting R189 from the GND, which my result in pulling up CPU_BSEL2 high. Being honest after rethinking it I would probably start first with this, because it's much easier then the other one and easy reversible well. If that would fail I would start doing first method.

 

Thanks for the hint, disconnecting R189 from GND sounds like a good idea...if there actually is one resistor soldered on this board. Well, I forgot to mention that I didn´t buy the "regular" Acer Aspire One D257 ( 1GB RAM, Bluetooth, 250GB HDD etc. ).

I bought the "Meego" version with a cheap Linux distribution preinstalled ( I use Xubuntu though ), 2GB of RAM, a bigger 320GB HDD but unfortunately, no internal Bluetooth.

Well, this board is slightly different in comparison to the regular D257 and is a newer revision withough eg. a HDD LED. This makes the idea of modding it even harder.

However, I could buy a Bluetooth module and upgrade it because of the free slot.

I managed to find the full schematics for the regular D257 but as I mentioned before, R188, R189 is missing, I only see the solder balls. I may have to do some reverse engineering or maybe stick to a possible software overclock.

There is a Linux setfsb clone and I may try this one or just accept the fact that this Netbook wasn´t meant to be tortured. I think it´s best to just attach the new thermal pads from Phobya as soon as I get them from amazon...and stop thinkering around.

 

Well, last question ( for now ). I´ve reassembled the Netbook and everything worked out as planed, now I´ve tried the overclocking of my Clevo M980NU with the Nvidia Tools again.

If I change the FSB up to 220Mhz, the system works fine now but any other higher frequency freezes it instantly. The main problem seems to be the RAM since the divider is set by the Bios to 10:3 and remains the same.

Now one solution may actually be to downclock the RAM from 1,33Ghz to 1,066Ghz by changing the SPD table. Would this plan work out or will the modules be bricked ?

I would only change the max. clock down to 533Mhz without touching the other settings.

The Bios should set a new divider ( 1 : 2,665 ) which would allow me to change the FSB up to 250Mhz without any crash. Well, that´s at least the theory.

I could squeeze 13 x 250 Mhz = 3,25 Ghz out of my T9500 if everything works out well.

Well, if I´m stuck to Windows this would be great but I´m a Linux user most the time and don´t know if there´s a similar way to change the FSB like in Windows ?

 

RAM might be the case. Change only one stick at the time and backup original image of stick before. Try it alone after changing spd table. If You have one good working stick then I think You can always boot up with it and non working one because laptop will boot up non working stick with spd table from working one and You can flash it back to working settings.