M57RU-Based Systems and 8800M Downclocking

There is information in this forum regarding the 8800M downclocking problem that many M57RU owners have suffered, but it is scattered throughout several threads.

The intent of this thread is to (1) come up with an explanation as to why this is happening and (2) provide a solution that will work for hopefully all affected, M57RU owners.

Based on reading threads in this forum for the last several months, it seems that:

- Updating the system bios to 1.00.08 works for some, but not all,

- 175.63 (and up) works for some, but not all,

- using a modified video bios works for everyone, but flashing a new video bios may or may not affect warranty coverage depending on the relevant retailer.

With respect to the suppliers and distributors of M57RU-based systems, there seems to be a lot of fingerpointing, with everyone blaming someone else as to why the downclocking is occuring.

It's not clear to me whether nvidia, Microsoft or Clevo is to blame. I think more likely, given that Alienware owners are having problems as well, that it's either nvidia or Microsoft.

If you have resolved a downclocking problem on an M57RU-based system, please post how you did so. Relevant information would include what operating system you are running. Thanks in advance.

 

Great idea Lokix!

For example:

My Bios is 1.00.08 and yesterday I uploaded the drivers to 175.75, but the 8800M is still downclocking.

Any ideas???

 

Do me a favor, try installing Vista Sp1.... See if that fixes it

I have heard SP1 and newer drivers fixes it.

 

I've had SP1 for a while now, and it hasn't solved the problem.

 

Do you have SP1 and .08s System Bios?

 

I've been asking PCMW for "their" .08 version, but they don't seem to have it. Apparently they still use .07 for their M57RU systems. I'm considering using the .08 bios that zfactor posted a while back.

 

This should be a short thread . . . the solution is simple . . . use the original drivers that shipped with the card. E-mail [email protected] if you need them.

 

You should also have them on the CD provided with the system.
Also, try Sager`s latest drivers here : http://64.208.175.44/pages/notebooks/download.cfm?ProductType=5792 since the RU is the same system used in your system and the sager 5793.

 

ain't PCMW buy directly from Sager? if Sager uses .08 PCMW should have the same.

 

I consider it a problem when other people with very similar systems (including other Horizon laptops that should be identical to mine) can use drivers that simply do not work on my system. Luckily, I do have a set of drivers that work, but I think it's a sign that there's an issue somewhere that I have to use system restore any time I try a new set of drivers. There may come a day when playing certain games or using certain applications require updated drivers.

 

Not sure where they get their systems from, but the Horizon is an M57RU from Clevo. My only concern is that using a BIOS that I "found on the Internet" may lead to warranty disputes.

 

I don´t know if will work, but one simple fix here was disable the PowerMizer on the inf file.

My 8700M GT with it off runs at full speed all the time, so it could work on your case...

The Laptopvideo2go modded infs enable PowerMizer by default.

What I recomend is to download the drivers via nvidia and then modd them yourself. The Laptopvideo2go modded infs came with a lot of useless junk in them, wich only make problems...

The official desktop ones from nvidia servers came with PowerMizer off. Just modd then with their PCI ID and try. Use WinRAR to extract them to a folder.

PCI IDs for 8800M GTX(on [Manufacturer]):

Code:

%NVIDIA_G92.DEV_060C.1% = nv_G9x,                PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_060C
%NVIDIA_G92.DEV_060C.2% = nv_G9x,                PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_060C

On ; Localizable Strings:

Code:

NVIDIA_G92.DEV_060C.1  = "NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX"
NVIDIA_G92.DEV_060C.2  = "NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX"

 

ill give this a shot.. hope it works!

 

Well I downloaded the latest Vista 64 bit drivers directly from nvidia (175.16). I modded the inf per the above, installed the driver, but my card still downclocks! I think you're on to something with the powermizer comment, because my card never leaves the "Thrtl" setting, which I understand is supposed to be in effect when running on battery, not AC power. I am on AC power, of course.

 

This is EXACTLY what i did, still downclocks, though im using the .07 bios...maybe i could once again try the .08 bios and do this new step...but i doubt it will work. Im lazy.

At this point i beleive i wont try to updat them anymore...

 

I´ve tried that driver right now on my 8700M GT, and there is a bug on powermizer in that version... ou need to enable it to disable it

Just do this:

Start -> Run -> regedit[press Enter] -> Edit -> Find[type "powermizerenable" without the quotes] -> Modify the DWOR value to 1 -> Press F3 and do the same until it says that there is no more keys with that name.

Reboot. Now the PowerMizer will be off(tested on my 8700M GT).

 

Strange that it's only happening with some systems. I've never had my system downclock the 8800M GTX. *shrug*

 

I was only able to find one instance of "powermizerenable". Changing the DWORD value to 1 didn't fix it. I noticed that there's also "PowerMizerLevel" and "PowerMizerLevelAC". Should I change those values?

 

"PowerMizerLevel" at default have the DWORD 0 value. So there is no powermizer level applyed.

1/3 DWORD value will enable the powermizer on battery mode. Same on "PowerMizerLevelAC".


But I´m not ready to give up yet...

I´ve downloaded some Sager/Clevo drivers and I am analizing their infs...

For the official 175.16 Vista x64 drivers try this modded inf: http://audigyfiles.com.sapo.pt/nv_disp.inf (Save as)
I´ve added some Clevo entries on it. Uninstall it completely and reinstall with the new modded inf.

Let´s hope that will work...

 

Unfortunately, the new INF didn't work. I thought I should mention a couple of things:

When I install 175.16, I get the non-WHQL warning. I understand that can be a problem with Vista 64 bit.

Also, I've just now noticed a message on my boot screen, just under my CPU specs: "No TPM or TPM has problem". Any idea what that is?

 

I thought you updated your bios a long time ago...as for this only working for some people, I think I'm noticing that the people it wont work for are using vista. When I did the bios update, I only used xp and had no problems.

 

@Lokix - The TPM is the Trusted Platform Module, a hardware chip that can store an encryption code for the HDD so that if the hdd is removed it cannot be read. This code is usualy linked to a password or fingerprint. The 570RU's have the space for this chip but most don't have it installed so that message is normal

 

I have the same problem. I also have a Horizon. Stock Drivers DC'ed for me. But I upgraded to the latest ones from Sagers webpage, for x64 vista, and there have been 0 problems

 

Well, it looks like I have been able to install a non-stock driver without later suffering from downclocking.

I flashed the 1.00.08 bios from 1.00.07. I ran CCleaner and then uninstalled the driver. I ran CCleaner again and then Driver Sweeper. Rebooted, not in safe mode. Ran CCleaner and Drive Sweeper again. Installed the XTreme-G Mobile 175.63 drivers (for Vista 64bit). Rebooted. No downclocking, and the system was able to complete 3DMark with a relatively normal score. I did come in around 300 points lower than normal, but I understand that is typical for the 175.63 driver.

It's hard to pinpoint what I did to resolve the problem. I used a new bios and used CCleaner to wipe out every possible evil thing that might have been messing with my system -- cleaned the HDD and the registry. To install the driver, I booted normally, not in safe mode. Ran Driver Sweeper both after uninstall and then just before install.

I'm hoping the new BIOS did the trick, so I'll try other drivers later. If it's INF-related, then I might be forced to stick with the XTreme-G drivers.

 

I've seen comments about downclocking before this thread but never looked deeply into it. I got my NP5793 in late February and for the most part I 'm happy with it. I am running XP with SP2 and an 8800 GTX card. How can I tell if my card is downclocking.

Thanks

 

where did u get this extreme G driver? can you please try 175.75 from laptopvideo2go.com?

i hear this driver is good and doesnt downclock.

 

You could run 3DMark06 or ATI Tool to see if your card ramps up to 500 core 799 Memory for 3D applications. If it does not, then your card is downclocking/throttling.

 

The XTreme-G driver came from tweakforce.com. I'll try other drivers soon. For now, I'm taking a little break from all the reboots

 

Lokix,

I ran 3dmark 06 and got a score of 9358, coincidently the exact same Chaz had in his review months ago. I looked around at the results but couldn't find where the scores of 500 core and 799 Memory are supposed to appear. Would you tell me specifically where to look for those results.

Thanks Again.

 

lol i get 8900ish on my 5792..

 

That's a great score. You can download a program called GPU-Z to check the frequencies. ATI Tool will also tell you the frequencies.

 

probably, but why would you bother worrying about a problem that doesn't currently exist?

 

Yeah i went back to .07 so that i could OC, but i dont now because i OC my cpu instead. It could be vista thats casuing the problem, but i wonder why....

 

Because to me, a problem currently exists if everyone else can CHANGE video drivers without having a problem and you can't. I couldn't even download old 167.43 drivers and get them to work properly. I always had to use system restore. For mom and pop, this may not be an issue, but for me it is a serious one. Not only that, I was able to resolve this problem by getting help from people here, so I'm glad I researched the question.

 

Have you tried CCleaner?

 

Yeah, ive tried ccleaner,driver sweeper, driver cleaner PE.... .08 bios + 174series. I guess i should try again the new bios and these 175series.

 

OMG... so i did exactly the way lokix updated his drivers..i uninstalled my drivers, ran ccleaner and driver sweeper>restart>flashed to .08(again)>driver cleaner and ccleaner>restart>installed 175.63(tweakforce.com)>restart.....NO DOWNCLOCKING ...i cant beleive it finally got fixed, either it was the modified inf in the extreme-g mobile drivers, or it was ccleaner and driver sweeper cleans about 5 times that fixed it, either way im happy it worked!

As most of you know this has been an ongoing battle for me now for almost 4 months....so im happy now, i retire!

Im going to disneyland !

 

Awesome, naticus, congrats! I'll let you know if I can get other drivers to work.

 

Ive for a long time thought its the powermizer cursing troubles, as it seems to make the 8800M lock at 2d performance or 3d performance lvl 1 (275/500/300). It seems that with other than stock drivers and vista, its unable to jump to other settings, atleast with .07 bios and vista.

Ive tho tryed to modify an .inf to not use the powermizer, but that has only caused troubles for me

I think I have to give the tweakforce drivers a shot Or if someone have a way to just make it jump between 2d and 3d lvl 3, that shoul do aswell

 

I noticed that there were more references than I expected to "PowerMizer" in my registry. CCleaner may also help you.

 

Yeah and get .08 bios as well adn clean the crap out of your machine (registry). I really think that was the fix.

 

can you guys link this tweakforce driver? and post install instructions thanks.


does CC cleaner do the same thing as Tuneup Utilities 2008 (Registry Cleaner)

Thanks.

so the process is

Uninstall
Driver Sweeper
Registry Cleaner
Restart and Flash 1.00.08s BIOS
Restart to Safe Mode
Driver Sweeper (SM)
Registry Cleaner (SM)
Restart to Safemode
Install New Driver (175.63)

Correct? or not?
I figured rebooting to safe mode so Windows wont automatically install some crappy video driver.

 

Not really.
I use both (CC and TU2008 and even after running CC,TU still finds errors.
So use them both for safety

 

You can find the XTreme-G driver at www.tweakforce.com. Look for the mobile version of 175.63 under Downloads.

A few posts back I included the steps I followed. I flased to 1.00.08. Ran CCleaner, uninstalled old driver, ran CCleaner and Driver Sweeper. Rebooted (not in safe mode) and installed XTreme-G Driver. Rebooted and done.

 

Tha sounds about exactly the way you should doit. These drivers are far superior than the stock ones. The image quality is so much better, youll notice as soon as you start your computer.

 

Ive tried to install the XTreme-G driver from tweakforce, which still dosent do it, atleast with .07 bios

Still havent updated to .08 bios, cause I got no .07 backup yet. I think ill try a format here one of the following days and see if a cleen registry will do

 

well I have a backup of the .07 bios if you need it. Also i would delete the driver, clean it (registry) BEFORE flashing the bios to .08. I believe this is the reason it finally work for me.

 

Can any of you with downclocking issues please post a screenshot of gpu-z ,showing the downclocking ?
Thanks alot!

 

Okay, finally got bios updated to .08

I then uninstalled old stock drivers and installed the l2gv 175.75 drivers.... and.... its running at FULL speed

 

Out of interest, does anyone who used to have downclocking have powermizer working, or is their card at full tilt all the time (like mine...)