P170em + 3720qm + Xtu = Oc?

Hello everyone!

I ordered a P170EM with a 3720QM from Malibal. They tell me that it is not overclockable.

However Mythlogic (via email) says that their version the NYX 1712 allows partial overclocking with XTU (400mhz partial unlocked multi). This may be because they do their own BIOS/EC, they did not know for sure.

Is there anyone that has or is willing to try this? I am considering cancelling my Malibal order and going with Mythlogic.

Thanks!

 

This is interesting. The same facility is available on the m17x with the 3720qm and 3820qm. I might consider upgrading to the 3720qm if the standard Sager build/bios can do this, or modified to allow it.

 

My thoughts exactly. The 3720QM gains a bit more value if it can bump 400mhz in clocks. You would be lookin at 3-4ghz depending upon turbo.

In the AW threads, in bios they are setting it at 40, 39, 38, 38 getting 3.8ghz for 3-4 cores, 3.9ghz for 2 cores, and 4ghz for 1 core. AMAZING!. I doubt we can do the same with XTU though.

 

I think the P170EM supports overclocking of XM CPU's, so this should work too. Remember that Mythlogic's 3720QM and 3820QM are $120 Cheaper than Sager, so that cam help offset some of the higher cost. Also, I would recommend Mythlogic over Malibal any day that you're not looking for the cheapest or never intend to upgrade your laptop (in that case, I'd still hesitate to recommend Malibal). They don't have their own bios though, if they did Sager would probably sue them for being a monopoly as nobody would stand a chance competing with them.

 

Thanks for the input. I would think it would work, but I don't know. Here is the info that I got from Mythlogic in email -

"With our BIOS / EC (Can't speak for others as we do our own Custom BIOS and firmware) it works fine with XTU to do mild overclocking on the CPU's (4 Speed bins, on the non-XM cpus, the XM's you can just have fun). We've tested it many times, and its worked, the only thing that would stop it in the future is if Intel disabled it on a CPU level, which is not totally out of the realm of possibilities, but isn't too likely "

This could be yet another reason to buy from Mythlogic?

 

Now, I wonder if that would work on a P150EM, I know P170EM supports XM overclocking but P150EM's bios won't let you. Clevo bios are notoriously... strict. They don't give you a lot of freedom to mess around.

 

It shouldn't work in the P150EM - there's no XTU compability with the latter so it's only down to the P170EM.

Also, in the Alienware sections, they mentionned that they could bump the core multi by 300Mhz using XTU whereas they have the options to raise it up by 400Mhz in the BIOS - not sure if that's the same case with the P170EM.

 

I wonder how far I can really push my 2860QM with XTU, I haven't used it to overclock but rather to see the clock speeds etc. This sounds interesting.

 

Good to know. So we are probably looking at a 300mhz boost then. That is still pretty cool.

 

@spectroplasm
Unfortunately, this feature is only available on Ivy 3720 and 3820QM - even the Ivy 3610qm CPU doesn't support it.

 

ah ok nice to know, will be saving up for a 680m and a 3860Qm soon sometime after a year or so.

 

Hopefully we will get a taker on trying out Intel XTU with a 3720QM or 3820QM in the P170EM. I have the same quesion posted in the Malibal forum and no answer there yet.

Malibal seems to think that it will not work, but will not say whether they have tried it with one of their laptops.

 

If it is enabled it could persuade me to change my selection...

 

There should be some takers in the P170EM owner's lounge, look there.

 

Done. Thank you for the suggestion. I will update here if I find anything out.

 

If I am not wrong last year Clevo showed of the P150EM on computex and stated that it would support overclocking, so why you are saying only P170EM supports it? Can anyone confirm? tnx

 

We are talking about overclocking non-XM CPUs.

 

I know that, but on Clevos announcement they didn't say anything about xm CPUs either. And what is the dif between 170em and 150em so that one supports oc and the other doesn't?

 

170em supports XTU, while the 150em does not. They both support eh XM processor, just the XTU part is disabled on the 150em. OC is part the of the mod bios that mythlogic has. OC and XTU are not the same...

 

Where did you get that info about XTU support? again clevo stated that its 15" would be oc'able and didn't mention that only XM CPU would be? What part is disabled that you are talking about? Why would Myth make an oc'able bios for 170em and not the 150em? Xtreme Tuning Utility is a software from intel (if i am not wrong) used to OC so they are not the same indeed, but related.

 

Hey Guys,

On ours for SURE the 3720qm, 3820qm are OC'able 4 Speed Bins (400Mhz) for each core from their base Turbo-Boost, on the P170EM only. It works, via XTU for sure. There is a reason we install XTU on EVERY P170 (Nyx 1712) that we push out the door, so that you can overclock it up to those 4 speed bins. The 3920xm on the other hand you can have at it (No speed bin limits).

On the P150EM, even though it has the same chipset as the P170EM does NOT support over-clocking on a BIOS level. Its been disabled, and when we asked for it back on we were told "The cooling system can't support over-clocking so we aren't going to enable it".

We are working on cooling mods for the P150 to improve CPU cooling, however, thats still a work in progress.

So long story short:

- Get a MYTHLOGIC Nyx 1712 (P170EM) with a 3720qm or 3820qm and you get 400MHz of OC room
- Get a MYTHLOGIC Nyx 1712 (P170EM) with a 3920xm and you get all the OC room you can handle

Thats how it works on our machines with our BIOS/EC

 

Tnx for the explanation!! I will contact you so we can discuss some possibilities. Cheers

 

Doesnt p150em use the same heatsinks as p170em?

 

I recall something about the P170EM's being slightly larger.. but not sure

 

Larger but same cooling solution..... Also here is the satatment from Clevo (computex 2011) saying that P150 supports overclocking Clevo unveils their latest 3D gaming notebooks @ Computex 2011 - YouTube

 

Sadly yes. but it does keep the laptop cooler than the P150EM.

Also that video is almost a year old now, the P150HM did NOT come with a backlit keyboard.. the P150EM did this year so yeah and no, sorry no overclocking

 

Would flashing the 170 bios to the 150 be plausible? That would enable the feature disabled by Clevo wouldn't it? What could be side effects?

 

Trust us, that was our first thought.. It ends badly, new motherboard time badly.

 

What u mean with new motherboard time badly?

 

As in the motherboard was bricked and they had to get a new one probably.

 

Correct, it bricked it, as there is more than just the BIOS that makes OC'ing go, there are a variety of other things that have to happen to make it work. So if you want to brick your board then go for it

 

After live chatting with Malibal, it became apparent that they have not tried the OC of a 3720QM or 3820QM. They said they would investigate the possibliity.
Still no info from anyone other than Mythlogic yet as to it working on a standard P170EM.
Thanks Mythlogic for all the info so far!

 

What about a modded BIOS for the P150EM... Or is it actually a physical difference in the motherboard that prevents it from working?

 

Maybe with a mod later on. Mythlogic has tried a few things so far with no luck yet.

 

I'd love to help but my p170em/3720qm system is coming from Mythlogic rather than Sager or Malibal.

 

I am sure its possible to mod it in, Prema has done it with his P170HMx before. However he said it involved a lot of bricking to get it right... so unless there was a rock solid unbricking solution I probably wouldnt try it...
Here's to hoping Clevo will change their minds, as despite p150 being smaller it really only translates to 2-3c difference to p170 temps. I could comfortably crank my TDP to 95w on p170hm with 2920xm @4ghz with all 4 cores, with temps rarely breaking 80c whilst gaming, so I am confident p150em would not have a problem with a 80w tdp overclock.

 

I don't think there is a physical difference between them, it looks for me more like a feature difference just like the rubberized finish and plastic finish, 95% gamut and 70% gamut, since Clevo said before that the P150em is capable of overlooking.. I just hope someone can mode this nonsense decision from Clevo. Also I don't think this is a Myth customization to the P170 since they said they couldn't do it to the P150 and there other manufacturers that do it on 17 inches but no 15 yet.

 

Yea 80W TDP on a P170EM with a 3920XM isn't going to happen IVB runs too hot, we've tried lol.

There is a physical difference between the motherboards on the P151/P150/P170EM motherboards, its the same "basic" motherboard, but each model has a set of e-fuses set that determine what it is, and there are some connectors moved inbetween them (Like the P150's keyboard LED backlight connector is in a different spot than on a P170).

What Clevo was commenting on at last years Computex was that the HM77 is capable of overclocking, which it is. However, due to the e-fuses and the firmware thats in these things thats what determines it, so its a little different than just slapping new firmware on it, it still won't work. I've had a P150 motherboard experiment for a good long time now, we still haven't been able to get it to work properly.

On the P170 subject, we do a lot of Management Engine work on these which the ME on the 7 series chipsets is one of the gate keepers to overclocking as its the management engine that actually does the work.

XTU asks the BIOS, the BIOS asks the ME, the ME tells the CPU it can clock up if it has the thermal room etc.

 

Whats the point of buying Ivy bridge XM CPUs then? 2920xm and 2960xm can easily go higher than 80w.

 

Here is a screenshot from someone with a P170EM, 3720QM, running XTU.

Anyone know if this shows if it works or not?

 

The clocks are higher on the IVB..

 

True the clock are initially higher, but from what I hear, Sandy overclocks better due to lower core temps and therefore makes up for the lower initial clocks.

This only really applies to OC'able chips and I have no firsthand experience.

Also new page so I will repost this. I am unsure if this screenshot proves whether the 3720QM can be overclocked or not.

 

From what I am being told, things would be grayed out if the OC was not allowed.

This should mean that we can OC the 3720QM with the P170EM. Sweet!!!

 

I dont know about that, sounds like 29#0xm reach far higher clocks, run cooler, thus staying longer at those clocks than Ivy Bridge equivalent.

 

what XTU looks like when it cannot support your processor

 

^^^^ good to know mate, the 3720QM can be overclocked in the P170EM then

yes true, Ivy Bridge tends to get hotter than intended when overclocked..

 

sorry double post, delete it

 

Any idea how hot we are talking here with the 400 mhz OC?

 

I'd also like to know the answer to this.

 

One more wondering it.