GTX 980M single (prema vbios) issue

So I played around with OCing the 980M on the A18, I tried 200+core and 200+mem. Using stock voltage (1.063), in nvidia inspector I'm not able to control voltage, either under or over volt. I'll try EVGA precision 4.21 from Mr.Fox's google drive later.

Benchmark on the division (around 2 min scripted run) with all 3fans manually set at 3500rpm using HWinfo results in max temp 77c, the idle is around 45-48c. However, on the second run I get a grey screen, it appears everything is running on the background, but there's no display. Maybe driver issue?

But when I run unigine with maxed setting, power draw around 120max and 95-110 avg (watts) the system seems to have no problem.

The second mxm slot is empty, but there is a fan installed and there's no heatsink. I set all 3 fans manually to maximum during the temporary benchmark run.


Should I try to lower OC (200-200)? Seems like a serious issue.
And I blackscreen (display no signal) when run at 185/185.

Thanks in advance.



GTX 980M dell w/ prema V2 A18 vBIOS
Evga precision 4.21 and nvidia inspector (latest ver)

 

Do not use EVGA Precision or you risk bricking your display.

Sent from my overpriced Galaxy S6 Edge +

 

EVGA precision 4.21 from mr fox: http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...s-lounge-thread.721574/page-378#post-10245767


Seems like the greyscreen is because of nvidia driver, not actual card problem. I can access the computer through teamviewer and restart.

Why can't I undervolt though?

 

Usually, because of a Power phase or mosfet overheating.
Check if all the thermal pads are making proper contact.

 

Welp

Anyone got a guide on replacing thermal pads? I think mr.fox has a guide but I forgot which thread was it.

 

Usually its as easy as finding the right thickness and then cutting them to size and apply. EZ PZ. I know how they work on the clevo's, dont know about AW's.
Overclocks also come down to how good go a chip you got lucky with. Like first first 980 200W couldnt even do +250-300Mhz on the memory, however the replacement, can do +175Mhz/+400Mhz without any extra voltage and stays super cool at max loads, 70C tops during division running +150/+300.

 

Mine is at 74c when running division, stock clocks. Fans at max, I think I need a repaste?





@Mr. Fox - I believe you posted an image of this heatsink / thermal pad config but I forgot where.

980M overclock expected around 1400 core and ? memory after a proper thermal pad install?

 

Not sure about how cool Alineware 980Ms run, but for Clevos the temps can improve, but if you're core is at 74C when the grey screen happens, it might be anything from needing more voltage , card limit, power limit or heating power phase/MOSFET.
In your case it seems to be an over heating component or needs more voltage ?
Are you using Nvidia Inspector for overclocking other tools? With Prema vBIOS NVIDIA Inspector works the best.

 

Nvidia inspector, latest version


I cannot adjust voltage still

 

Weird, AFAIK Prema vBIOS let's you adjust the voltage.

 

Yes, I am using his bios.

https://biosmods.wordpress.com/aw18/


AW18_8GB_GTX980M_OC_PM_v2

I use 364.91 driver, deveoper preview release

 

There is no undervolting with maxwell, not on the fly anyway. It must be written into the vBIOS as static values, not changeable.

 

Use 362.00 driver.

 

Only that driver works for under/over volting?



Any tips for thermal pad placement?

 

These have one of the best collection of Thermal Pads : http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l1/g8/Thermal_Interface.html?id=qF7UuR92

Have bought from them many times.

But before that you will need the exact thickness, otherwise the wrong thickness will result in improper contact or increase it by too much.

 

FCPU has been dead for many months now.

I can get 0.5/1/1.5 on amazon, made by arctic. Procuring them is not the issue, but knowing the particular thickness that should be used.

Currently I have

1.5mm 11w/mk pad
1.5mm arctic 6w/mk pad
1mm unbranded pad (?)

 

As stated by raidriar maxwell vBIOS mods won't allow for Uv & regarding the thermal pads and temps, I had placed the default ones from the 100W heatsink plus added 2 pads on the backside for the vRAMs & when I play BlackOps3 maxed the temps avg at 70-73C, with fans full blast, plus using SweetFX / Reshade, that's my max temp unless really weird things happen (Yest something borked the reshade and temps raised to whopping 93C on the GPU & thermal throttled !! had to perform a restore to fix. Glad that I had Prema vBIOS which has internal throttling to protect cards at this point..) Oh yeah and the driver that's the best stable driver for now like the 347.88.

The temps are a it on the hotter side on the new Alienware 17 /18 because of the Low CFM fans, I replaced the old Ranger GPU fan with the M17x R4 since the temps were too much (with the default one the temps were +10C). I've used the 2 lines method for the TIM job, maybe the X method work's better on GPUs....

Here's some info that might be helpful....Look in those threads & I was told numerous times the Dell stock pads are fine no need to get the new ones unless you really need em.

Finally, I guess most people game on Notepal U3 with custom modded fans like 120mmx3 with a fan controller and a filter that keeps the machine super cool and full on gaming. I got the U3 but have to buy the fans and a controller looking onto it now..

EDIT : the temps are over 77 too.

 

Is it possible to use M14x R2 or M17x R4 fan on Alienware 18?

 

What? I have ordered 3 times from them, this month alone.
I ordered once from Performance PCS, and they ****ed up my order.

 

Hmm, I'll give it a shot then.

I open the A18 just now, replaced some of the pads

It's using the 780M hsf but modified, the small black rectangle I have covered with the thick 2mm clevo pads, else the grey square and vram is stock clevo 1mm



170/170 still greyscreen, 160/160 not greyscreen

seems more like a driver issue?

 

I guess you can use the M18x R2s fans, dunno much about the SLI machines, someone could shed light on this, regarding the CFMs.

 

I'll patiently wait then

 

M18x R2 fans are higher CFM, but it won't fix the main issue with the Alienware 18 which would be....retarded fan tables, which we have no way of fixing. It has a habit of letting your GPU temps get up to 70-75 degC before they start to move air, where the M18x R2 is moving air stage 1 at 55 degC , stage 2 at 65C, and max at 75C

 

The only way to overcome this problem is to use hwinfo and set fan manually to max before bench and game?


Do you think someday svl7 will come back and offer a mod bios chip for the A18 with BIOS A12?

 

Never say never, but I doubt that.

 

Yes, I do the same, the M17x R4 can have custom fan table values into the Compal EC sensor compatibility from HWInfo with Maxwell but the AW17 cannot, like a similar issue with the AW18 too..Too bad Dell don't care about them anymore, they should atleast release the chains by removing that Secure Feces ffs.

I think even with a modded sBIOS the fan tables are hardwired into EC which he cannot change. The sBIOS mod could unlock for proper tweaking but not to this extent, In AW17 I guess that may even help to make the machine maxwell+legacy. Still expecting him coming back to computers is a long shot. Lets hope for the best though !

 

I think that secure boot is deliberately used to force use to the bga models

Bleh

 

Yeah. Dell and @Alienware-Frank knew very well that their modern slim flimsy BGABOOKS would deliver lower performance than the previous Aw machines with unauthorized upgraded graphics. There is no one with brains that will upgrade to a newer laptop model that perform less performance. Easy fix... Put in secure boot.

 

you guys might as well stop calling out his tag lol, Frank hasn't logged on in almost a year.

 

Noo. He is probably ashamed that he destroyed a reputable brand as Aw. If he log on this forum later... I think he has a lot of reading material that must be reviewed

 

More like drowning in money.

I really don't get "unofficial mxm upgrade" from his quote, if you sell a machine branded for ENTHUSIAST then a new bios to properly support next gen cards should be released every 2-3 months or so.


Anyhow, the A18 now has a 7260HMWG + BT.

 

362.00 driver still not able to downvolt

edit: apparently no downvolt, only overvolt

 

You cannot undervolt mobile Maxwell with Prema/Svl7 vBIOS, you'll need them to modify it for your needs or do it self.

 

wasn't aware of that :|



362.00 made no difference compared to 365.10

160/160 still greyscreen/blackscreen crash