Clevo x7200 / Sager NP7280 Overclocking / Undervolting Thread

I open this Thread for Users who wants to overclock / undervolt your x7200/np7280 Notebook
You can overclock the CPU without an Extreme Version of the i7!

My System is a Clevo X7200 with Intel i7 950 and Nvidia GTX 460M SLI.

To overclock the CPU you can use the Tool SetFSB.


1 change the "Clock Generator" to CV193CPAG
2 Click GetFSB to see your current FSB/DDR MHz
3 change the FSB/DDR with the Slider, for first go not over 150MHz FSB!
4 Click SetFSB and the FSB is changed.

Here is a Screen with 150MHz FSB i7 950 @ 3450MHz without Turbo Boost.

The Temp. of the CPU is not higher than normal FSB.


To test the stability of the System with the new FSB, you can use tools like Prime95.




3dMark06 and Vantage Screens with standart Settings.


And here 3dMark06 and Vantage Screens with FSB @ 150MHz and GPU @ 840/1680/1425MHz
The GPU is overclocked with MSI Afterburner



3dMark06 @ standart Settings = 18702
3dMark06 @ overlocked CPU/GPU = 20795

Vantage @ standart Settings = P16332 / GPU Score = 13746
Vantage @ overlocked CPU/GPU = P19829 / GPU Score = 16954


Overclocking of you own risk




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EDIT 25.6.2011
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Undervolting a Xtreme CPU


I changed my CPU to i7 980x and now undervolting the CPU.
You ask why?
For my reason the 980x has enough Power with the 6 Cores and 3,33Ghz and so the CPU runs cooler .

Normaly in Games is the max. Temp about 75c but when you use Programs like Rendering or others where the CPU is run 100% load, than the Temps reach 90c after 15-20min!

You can try it with Prime95

So what you need for undervolting?

- The last Mod Bios from Kizwan Clevo x7200 Sager_728BV08S OC MOD
- The last Intel® Extreme Tuning Utility
- Prime95 to test the stability of the System

Normally run the 980x with 1,25V and i drop it to 0,9V!
Yes you read it realy, my 980x runs at 0,9V stable in Prime95 (Blend test) over 2h with max. 70c
My idle Temp. is about 37c (surfing/office)




So what i have do.

- Turbo Mode off from the CPU (set in Bios or Intel XTU)
- step to step reduce the CPU Voltage and test it with Prime95 (small fft´s Mode) for stability.




So i run Prime95 in Blend Modus for over 8 hours to check the stability
It´s all right and the max Temps are 72c

See the Screens:




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EDIT 26.6.2011
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Today i tryed some thinks to reduce the Temps lower.
I disabled the HT (Hyper Threading) in Bios (Turbo is also off) and run Prime95 again with the CPU Voltage from 0,9v and 133Mhz BLCK/FSB.

Now the Temps are fallen to 67c, there fallen 5c to Yesterday who was HT on



For Info,
my Roomtemp is 2c higher as Yesterday!

Now i trying to overclock the 980x with the 0,9v CPU Voltage and HT and Turbo off.
Let´s see how high it get.

BLCK/FSB @ 137Mhz 3,43Ghz
max. Temp @ 70c



BLCK/FSB @ 141Mhz 3,53Ghz
max. Temp @ 71c



BLCK/FSB @ 144Mhz 3,6Ghz
max. Temp @ 72c


It´s incredible 3,6Ghz with 0,9V CPU Voltage and max. 72c

For the 3,6Ghz Prime95 run over 2h.
Tomorrow i let it run 6-8h to say it´s absulut stable.

Then i will continue testing higher Settings.

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EDIT 27.6.2011
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So,
3,65Ghz is the max. that can i reach with 0,9V and HT - Turbo off.

But, when HT is disabled you lose FPS in Games!
For example the Game Dirt3 in high Settings:

CPU* and GPU all Stock = 147,4 FPS
CPU* stock and GPU OC = 164,1 FPS
* = CPU @ 3,3Ghz and HT and Turbo on and stock Voltage 1,25v!


CPU** OC and GPU all Stock = 139,9 FPS
CPU** OC and GPU OC = 158,2 FPS
** = CPU @ 3,6GHz and HT and Turbo off and Voltage 0,9v!

You can see, that you lose with dsiabled HT 8 FPS although the CPU is overclocked to 3,6Ghz!

Here some Vantage Screens, look at the CPU-Score.

All Stock


CPU Stock and GPU OC


OC CPU and GPU stock


OC CPU and GPU


You can see, that you lose with dsiabled HT 8000 Points although the CPU is overclocked to 3,6Ghz!

This mean,
disabled HT is not so good
to be continued

 

awesome, looking for something like this. thanks!

 

question is obviously moot since you did it... but was MSI Afterburner developed for MSI products? and would there be anything to advise on when using it with Sager notebooks?

 

No you can use the Afterburner with any Cards from other manufacturer.

You can use other Tools like "RivaTuner" to overclock your GPU.

 

Nice ,I just ordered a 7280S-1 with the 950 and a 485m and was wondering about OC's potential on the CPU. Appreciate the info and will have to try this out when comes in.

 

Thank you for your feedback...it's really interesting!

I heard that it was also possible to OC using Intel tool is it true also?

 

The "Intel Extreme Tuning Utility" will not start on my System.
I can see only a start Screen and nothing happend.
I dont know why, perhaps is a lock in my Bios for non Extreme CPU?

 

I've read somewhere it may be due to bios lock.

But anyway your solution with setfsb is really good.. As processor voltage is set on auto, you can have one nice overclocking.
I'm a bit surprised that setfsb is working on a core i7 as it uses bclk and not fsb..

What is default value found by setfsb?
How high have you manage to reach?

 

to use intel extreme utility program on your x7200 you have to flash the BIOS with the sager version.

 

SetFSB use the bclk for i7, its the Clock Generator for the CPU.

My max Setting is 153/306 FSB/DDR MHz.

At 155 FSB i become blue Screen when i use Prime95 after 20sec.
It´s possible that the Ram Timmings for this FSB are to hight (7/7/7) at this FSB the Timings must have (9/9/9).
But i cant change the Timings.

I tryed the Tool CPU-Tweaker but after apply the new Timings there are on default.

When anyone know a tool to change the Ram Timmings, let me know!


@wadwad214
I read about the Sager Bios but i have listen about fan problems.

 

it's perfect..

In fact, due to power supply limitation, I guess it's useful to get a limited boost.

On my experience on my desktop, above 3,6GHz, it requires too much voltage to be realistic on X7200..

Other point, you have DDR3-1600 MHz on your X7200?

 

No i have 1333MHz Ram.
The Voltage don´t change higher as normal when you change the FSB/BCLK.
That can you see at the Temp. of the CPU it´s the same as default.

It can also be that you need more Voltage for higher than 3,6Ghz.


I hope more User try out to OC the Notebook.

 

in fact it's not a problem of voltage of cpu, as you are on automatic settings for this parameter.
Now your problem of unstability is clearly RAM frequency. By increasing bclk you also increasing ram speed. Thus DDR3 1600MHz could be a great advantage in overclocking..

Thank you for your study..

 

Anyone know if there is a way to have SetFSB automatically set to your custom clock upon Windows boot?

 

I asked to the developer. This is the answer:

SetFSB Version 2.3.165.130 has the following Command Line Switch Options.
-w : Wait [00-99 sec] default=10sec
-s : Set FSB [000-999 MHz] or [000.0-999.9 MHz]
-i : Increment(targetFSB > currentFSB) or Decrement(targetFSB < currentFSB) [00-99 MHz] or [00.0-99.9 MHz] default=max
-u : 0(default)=normal , 1=ultra
-b : 0(default)=normal , 1=background
-p : PCI-E [000-999 MHz] or [000.0-999.9 MHz] default=none
FSB overclock[set PCI-E then increase FSB], FSB underclock[decrease
FSB then set PCI-E]
-q : Quiet [no GUI to be displayed at all]
-cg[string] : Clock Generator default=none Maximum 15 characters

Example: -w05 -150 -i10 -cg[CV193CPAG]

Thanks
abo

Hope this helps!

 

I hope anyone can help me

Now i have a 980x CPU and OC the FSB/Blck from 133Mhz to 140Mhz.



My Ram is a 1333Mhz.
You can see on the Screenshot that the Ram run at 700Mhz (1400Mhz) when i set the FSB/Blck to 140.

When i go over 140 Prime95 becommes errors, i think it´s to high for my 1333Ram.
No changes when i set the Ram Voltage from 1,5V to 1,6V or change the Ram Timings to 9/9/9/24!

I found in the Mod Bios from Kizwan an Option to set the Ram from auto to 800/1066/1333Mhz but nothing changed.

Is there an chance to go over 140Mhz FSB/Blck or must i buy 1600Mhz Ram?

 

Nobody an idea?

 

I didn't know 1600MHz RAM was available for this laptop model. Are you sure that the problem isn't that the RAM simply cannot handle going as high as 1600MHz?

 

hi m8 have you bumpt the Uncore and core i would if i was you
im running with the Uncore set at 1,27 the core set at 1,35
and if you flash with the Kizwan latest Sager Bios fan cycles are mostly gone and with that bios you can run intel XTU i normaly use xtu for changing clock timmings and Volt but for Bclk i use Set Fsb

 

hi,
thanks for your fast repy

yes i set the core to 1,3 but not the uncore!
with my old i7 950 i can set the bclk to 153 without any problems but with the 980x not higher as 140.

 

turn turbo boost off and try
and also set the uncore a bit higher
te max i have gotten it to run in is 158

 

Turbo is off

But you set the uncore to 1,27V and the Ram is stock 1,5V?

You know that the differenz to uncore V and Ram V not higher than 0,5V it be!

*edit*

Are your settings prime95 stable or only for Vantage Benchs?

 

Update first Post!
I undervolt my 980x.

Normally run the 980x with 1,25V and i drop it to 0,9V!
Yes you read it realy, my 980x runs at 0,9V stable in Prime95 (Blend test) over 2h with max. 70c
My idle Temp. is about 37c (surfing/office)

 

3.9ghz is not stable but 3.8ghz is it should be stable at 1.5v on the ram

 

I can confirm that this works. I did a Prime95 test for 1hr and the built in one from Intel XTU for 30 mins. No lockups or BSODs for me. Good job Chrack2!

 

Thanks Patrck 744

So i run Prime95 in Blend Modus for over 8 hours to check the stability
It´s all right and the max Temps are 72c

See the Screens:

 

Today i tryed some thinks to reduce the Temps lower.
I disabled the HT (Hyper Threading) in Bios (Turbo is also off) and run Prime95 again with the CPU Voltage from 0,9v and 133Mhz BLCK/FSB.

Now the Temps are fallen to 67c, there fallen 5c to Yesterday who was HT on



For Info,
my Roomtemp is 2c higher as Yesterday!

Now i trying to overclock the 980x with the 0,9v CPU Voltage and HT and Turbo off.
Let´s see how high it get.

BLCK/FSB @ 137Mhz 3,43Ghz
max. Temp @ 70c



BLCK/FSB @ 141Mhz 3,53Ghz
max. Temp @ 71c



BLCK/FSB @ 144Mhz 3,6Ghz
max. Temp @ 72c


It´s incredible 3,6Ghz with 0,9V CPU Voltage and max. 72c

For the 3,6Ghz Prime95 run over 2h.
Tomorrow i let it run 6-8h to say it´s absulut stable.

Then i will continue testing higher Settings.

 

How does your undervolting and other tweaks affect the performance? Have you tried running 3DMark11 or Vantage CPU?

 

amazing......what batch of 980x u got??

 

@ Aikimox
When i find the highest BLCK/FSB with the 0,9V, than i make some Benches with all at stock and some with the new Settings


@DGDXGDG
The Batch is 3018B337

 

So,
3,65Ghz is the max. that can i reach with 0,9V and HT - Turbo off.

But, when HT is disabled you lose FPS in Games!
For example the Game Dirt3 in high Settings:

CPU* and GPU all Stock = 147,4 FPS
CPU* stock and GPU OC = 164,1 FPS
* = CPU @ 3,3Ghz and HT and Turbo on and stock Voltage 1,25v!


CPU** OC and GPU all Stock = 139,9 FPS
CPU** OC and GPU OC = 158,2 FPS
** = CPU @ 3,6GHz and HT and Turbo off and Voltage 0,9v!

You can see, that you lose with dsiabled HT 8 FPS although the CPU is overclocked to 3,6Ghz!

Here some Vantage Screens, look at the CPU-Score.

All Stock


CPU Stock and GPU OC


OC CPU and GPU stock


OC CPU and GPU


You can see, that you lose with dsiabled HT 8000 Points although the CPU is overclocked to 3,6Ghz!

This mean,
disabled HT is not so good

 

did you oc your video cards? I got 485M SLI too. when SLI is disable, I can easily oc the single card to 740/1700. But when SLI is enable, it failed in runing furmark even only put them to 640/1500.

BTW, I got a i7 990x with 12G HYPERX 1600 ram. I heard from DGDXGDG that 12G ram is not good for overclocking. He had 6G 1600 ram before and easily oc his i7 980x to 160hmz(BLCK). Now, I can only oc my 990x's BLCK to 160hmz with XMP of 1600, and with 1.3V core voltage as well. That's too high and I didn't do any test on that oc coz I don't think it will be stable.

It's kindna awkward we can't change the FSB RAM ratio. It was 1:4 I guess when I was using i7 950. Now it changes to 1:5 (2:10) with 990x. If we could change this ratio, we may easily oc BLCK higher with a lower ram frequency.
I think clevo should release a unlocked bios to people who is willing to take the risk to overclock his cpu. And I sent them a email complaining about it, but they never reply.

Anyway, way to go with your excellent overclocking and reducing tempurature work!

 

Chrack2

u using for undervolting Fan=FULL or AUTO???