Alienware 17R2 - My GPU GTX 980 this overvoltage sotck.

Hey guys, again
A few days ago i created a thread to ask something related with some rare messages of the bios, you can see it here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/advice-on-bios-random-messages-aw-17r2-2015.791282/

Luckily that problem seems solved but now I have some doubts with my GPU. Technical Support change my motherboard (here is Spain the parts are refurbished) and I now find my GPU has a overvoltage that before the change the board was not.

This is the voltage stock before (1.0180V)


This is the voltage stock after the change 1.0750V)


I tried to reflash the Vbios with another stock but it has been useless, I reflash with different drivers but the result is always the same:

Driver stock Dell (347.25)


Driver version 359.00


I've also tried with the MOD VBios Prema but the result is always the same. It does not allow lower voltage


before with the MOD VBios the tension was lower (1.0620V)


I have a serious problem of throttling in my CPU, support that refuses to recognize It has a negative effect on the performance of the games. The throttling of CPU with the overvoltage (of the GPU) It is still highest, for this reason stop using the Mod VBios. Another drawback are the temperatures have risen.

My question is the following: I suspect that the GPU is broken but it still works and I think it's a matter of time the fail. ¿Is possible to repair? ¿what negative effects have overvoltage? ¿should I call support?

I'm a little tired of Dell/Alienware there is always a problem, since February is my third change of motherboard: the original died at seven months but change of board comes with the GPU broken, new chage of board that also was changed because the technician did not know how to fix messages self-acting of the bios.
And the best for last ...the technical accuse me of doing something for my AW fail including with the threat to suspend my premium warranty for misuse. All without any proof and when he realized his mistake he apologized. He asked me to forget everything he had said. I do not know what to do now I have the quality survey to assess the service, frankly it does not seem right the behavior to technical but I do not want problems with support. I accept advice

 

Anybody, come on guys.

 

Since the CPU and GPU are soldered onto the motherboard, each GPU and CPU you get will be different form the last (differently binned, so to speak). So where your old motherboard had a higher binned GTX 980m (given the lower voltage), this one isn't as high binned. It's the gamble with each motherboard. If the thermal paste wasn't applied correctly, that too could be a factor as well. You could try undervolting the CPU through Intel XTU or Throttlestop to see if that helps the overall performance.
I would see if it's possible to get a new motherboard (or a replacement laptop) since you're not seeing the expected performance.

 

Thank you very much for giving me your opinion @Game7a1

You explanation is logical and I think I have not had much luck with the lottery of board. To try to alleviate the problems of throttling I lower the voltage of CPU with Throttlestop but not allow me to down more than -55 mV (CPU) and - 35 mV (CPU cache) but is not sufficient. With my old board you could lower to -75 mV, though not solve the problem at least it helped me something. As for the temperature the change of thermal paste It is positive although temperatures are not overly high (CPU x38 -> 85ºC normal but when throttled x28 -> 76ºC and GPU -> 69-72 ºC whitout OC playing BTF4) but before was lower.

I too would like that changed my board, but now the situation is not the most ideal since in the support the technical (that handled my case) I accuse myself of being responsible that my AW does not work well and deliberately cause board change.This statement was made with the approval of his superior and without proof to substantiate his claim (conjectures, assumptions but no real incontestable fact to prove it), as a consumer I find unacceptable behavior and so I have valued in the quality survey the treatment received by support.
However, I have the impression this leaves me in a difficult situation because if I call support you can answer that want a board change without reason to justify. It is unfair, because really I have a performance problem but I do not want give the reason. Frankly I do not know what to do.