Do you have to overclock your system?

sorry about the dumb question but do you need/have to overclock the m14x to run games?
does it actually bring anything good to the games by overclocking or is it just added strain on the latop?
cheers

 

no.... but i did as its easy and gives you extra frames

 

ok thank you. ive seen the program msi i may try it. not really in the know about it gotta research it first.

but its not needed to run games is it as i thought m14x was quite a fast laptop anyway

 

So if you overclock, how do you going to keep up with the heat?

 

ive overclocked to 710 core clock and its fairly good on heat... max 80 C

 

And what is the max operating temp? Because I also want to squeeze it out for some few fps too just I worry about the heat plus people said I shouldnt overclock a mobile GPU as it is not design to do so.

 

Do yourself a favor and leave the m14x at stock video card settings. The components get hot enough as it is. If you insist on Overclocking then use HWMonitor to check on the temperature. If you see any temperatures over 85c after playing a game then cease overclocking.

 

by 85c u mean the processor or the gpu? cause i got 94c (processor) at fullHD on assasin's creed brotherhood full setting before overclock... should i lower the setting?

 

I think he mean GPU, because for CPU, I use to watch a video on YouTube and the temp is stock clock but the temp is 95-Core1,90-Core2, 85-Core3/4.

So Bad idea to overclock the CPU, as for me I dont want to melt the motherboard lol.

 

I wouldn't overclock the cpu, lets just accept the dynamic boost and call it a day. I did overclock my gpu to 700 core clock, wasn't too much of a gain visually, so i just clocked it back to factory settings. But seriously a 590 core clock is a joke for this laptop. Amd and even other nvidia gt mobile cards are clocked higher.

 

94c? jeezus... My 13" 3820TG with a i5 480m clocked at 3.3ghz tops out at 75c while playing GTA IV. 94C is torture for your processor; six more degrees and your laptop would shut down to prevent damage.

If you want my advice, underclock that processor.

 

i don't think it'll ever reach 100 cause the system is aware to slow it down when neccesary.. intel is not that stupid.. unless you force overclock the thing at full ghz..

i do however disllike the heat transferring to the keyboard so i use the trick "steven" posted in another forum that is use to help prevent battery shutdown gaming issue.. and limit the processor to 90% in a new profile call gaming... and it maintains 80c top.. and to my surprise.. no FPS lost.. i think the processor is overreacting on the game? haha..

i would also think that changing the fan setting to passive would reduce heat since it slow down procsesor before kicking the fan.. means it solve the heat internally first then external.. which should ease the processor as well aside from saving battery..

i think the i7quad is a different processor to judge with the i5..

 

How did u limit the CPU usage? Is it in BIOS or in Control Panel?

 

Difference in the number of cores, yes. Difference in silicon and thermal profile, no. 94c is bad for any mobile cpu regardless of the clockspeed or the number of cores.

I was just emphasizing how a good cooling system is supposed to function. The m14x does not have a good cooling system and thus should not be overclocked.

 

in the power options where u select battery profile in windows 7. name of the option is call "processor power management", you'll notice that for balanced and maximum porformance, minimum and maximum for processor is 100%, you can change that or create a new profile that vary this.

 

yeah i didnt' overclock.. i guess what i did with the power option limiting the processor is somewhat the simplest "underclock"? does the job well thou...

 

it just got into my mind.. that maybe like you said the cooling of the laptop may have to be a bit better... which in a way compromise the reason they design it to be a 14"..

cause if i guess correctly the processor speed VS heat the m14x may cause the processor to "underpower"... say for example if the cooling is better.. if the m14x can generally bring 10c down overall.. the processor will go "oh theres 10c more to spare.. lets boost up a bit longer or abit more.." which result in the same temperature..

maybe that the i5 of your system is the otherway.. it's operating at the max it can given the temperature.. so even at max it's pertty low temp.. while the i7quad is sort of a "too powerful" for the m14x..

and.. Compare Intel® Products

 

I think you are right. A quad core chip needs a dedicated fan. I would advice anyone getting an m14x to stick with the dual core processor.

 

You only get that option in some country's (usa and may be Europe) But not in ASia China Hong Kong you can only buy the quad and the 3gb grafique card.


wish means the cheapest unit here comes to 2000 usa

 

yeah.. the lowest we get around here is 2630qm.. we do get 1.5gb opt.. but i wanted a quadcore anyway.. i'm running VM on it as well so i need those cores..

 

I think the problem is more to do with the new SB cpu's and Turbo boost.
These new CPU's turbo for a lot longer and higher than the old i7's and only start to reduce clocks when the cpu reaches 90c or so.

This is great for performance but not so great for heat in a 14".

Using the power plan to cap the cpu at 90% will massively reduce heat as it caps your cpu at 1.8ghz and allows no TB. This is great for heat but kills performance if you need a high clock speed.

Games will normally perform fine at 1.8ghz but you may notice increased loading times as the higher clock speeds help here.

Another option is to use throttle stop and create your own profile so you can reduce the clock speeds at a lower temp than intel recommends, this way you get less heat but still TB

 

so on the msi afterburner program.
id leave the core volt alone and leave it as default?
core clock wouldnt raise too much
shader clock would you alter anything?
memory clock would you just increase slightly.
dont wanna go crazy i am just curious on it all.

 

you're right.. i didn't notice that the TB is not on... when i set it to 99% it sort of stuck at 1.x ghz and max to 2.0 ghz (intel monitor showing 2.0 is TB).. this make sense as the processor is never push to the demanding stage requiring TB.. i guess the game i playing isn't demanding enough to see the difference.. i'm interested in the throttle way you mention.. can you tell me more?

 

Here is the problem with limiting your processor: Why are you paying top dollar to have a gimped machine?

By trying to extend the computer's life you reduce its performance output, which pretty much defeats the purpose of spending so much $$$.

In other words, Alienware might as well have equipped the m14x with non turbo-boost enabled cpus and taken $100 off of the price tag.

 

don't get me wrong.. i plan to limit it only when i gaming in a warmy enviroment.. it's all time summer here.. at night, place with air-con and at work i let it blast full.. like if i owned a ferrari.. doesnt' mean i hav to go 200kmph everytime i put my foot down.. even thou i run someone down?.. i'm buying "options"..

*ofcourse.. i don't owned a ferrari to speak for thie's.. sorry if that's not the case..

 

As 0204 says, if I am in my office and game I wouldnt care how hot or noisy it gets, but when I am gaming on the sofa or bed I want it as cool and quiet as possible whilst still be able to play some games.

0204 - I will dig you the throttlestop threads out in a bit and when my m14x arrives I will create a guide for it for other people interested.