M18x - GPU Temperatures

Ok so we did have a good thread going on this but it went way off topic and was closed as requested. So to be very clear this thread is about the GPU temps in general. I would like to request everyone stay on topic and lets gather good data just in case we do have issues down the road. Lets keep the format clear and concise. My suggests on format are below and keeping to this format will really help keep the thread flowing well.

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*note from NBR Mod Team to new users: A word of caution concerning the use of Furmark - Please be aware that Furmark will stress your GPU. Do so at your own risk - nobody is responsible for this but you. NVIDIA and Dell have issued warnings on the use of Furmark in the past. Not sure about AMD although I dont see it being any different. The warning is simple - be aware this app will quickly heat up your GPU and stress it to its max stress point. Bottom line, use it at your own risk. If you damage your system, nobody here is responsible for this. You are the one clicking the button.

nvidia GPU owners, warning from nvidia

As an alternative, you can your start your monitoring apps and just game. Metro2033, Crysis - the typical system killer games If you opt to go this route, please indicate so in your post so we can easily identify gaming results vs synthetic results.
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*Note: Furmark is not a real world performance indicator and we are only using it as a tool to help generate the heat we need to see when the GPU's are under extreme load. Gaming temps should be lower in practice. If after taking a Furmark reading you want to test any games or tests and post that data here that would be useful for those wanting to see "real world performance gaming numbers on specific games." If doing real world game testing please post Game Title and the length of time you played for or any specific level if applicable.


*2nd Note: Also please list if you have done any repasting or if you are stock. It would also be helpful to list driver version.

Start HWinfo32 running sensors only, then start Furmark 1.8.2 and run for at least 10 minutes with the following options selected:

• Xtreme Burning Mode
• Displacement mapping
• Post FX
• Stability Test
• Res: 1920x1080

Again allow this to run for 10 minutes then note your GPU 0 and GPU 1 temperatures. Screenshots would be appreciated but not necessary, if not possible then just post like below:

Screenshot (Preferred Method)



Manual Entry

Driver: 11.5aRC3 Cap2
Stock Paste

GPU 0:
TD: 79c
TS0: 79.5c
TS1: 87c
TS2: 93.5c

GPU 1:
TD: 72c
TS0: 71.5c
TS1: 80.5c
TS2: 82.5c


The communities involvement is much appreciated, just remember lets stay on topic and we can gather some good info. This info will be helpful should there be any issues in the future. We will have a good collection of data to represent the problem. Over the years I have found getting things done at Dell is much easier if you have actual statistical data or proof from the community of individuals who are using their products. Now lets get to cookin'

 

Here is my temp after about 20 minutes on Furmark

GPU 0:
TD: 78c
TS0: 78c
TS1: 80.5c
TS2: 83.5c

GPU 1:
TD: 85c
TS0: 85c
TS1: 91c
TS2: 91.5c

Is this temperature NORMAL?

Jerry

 

Chen, your temps are good although your GPU 2 temps are also 7C higher than GPU 1. Seems T1TJ is one of the few that has GPU 1 running hotter. Are you using stock Dell drivers? T1TJ: You should put a notice in the OP that Furmark isn't representative of real world performance and is just a tool to heat up the GPU's for temperature testing only.

 

I am using ATI 11.5 drivers with fresh install of Win 7
I also notice the temperature of the 2 GPU will be less of the difference and cooler if I till the back of the computer up will 2 caps.
I wonder could it be just not enough airflow when computer sit flat on the table.
Jerry

 

Better airflow will definitely yield lower temps. A cooling pad is good for that purpose.

 

Agreed. Apologies to anyone if they "mis-interpreted" some of my posts on the other thread 5150Joker had started. That's all Im gonna say......

Back to the issue "in hand" and lets hope that for those that DO have this problem, it gets addressed.

 

I am almost done setting up my M18x, after that I will work on the temps (and post here) and then the overclocking and benchmarking

 

Tnx! Looking forward to the input.

 

My laptop should be landing today so I'll post my temps hopefully tonite.

 

standard "its on you" warning added to post#1. The1TruJok3r, PM me if you have q's about it.

 

Bat I was going to say something to that effect but didn't see anything from ATI just Nvidia but yes of course make sure you know that it does heat up your GPU's and stresses them quite a bit. So do so at your own risk.

 

GPU 1 hit 74c
GPU 2 hit 76-77

thats with a CRYO LX cooler @ max fan speed underneath my m18x

 

Those seem like very good temps for Furmark!....I thought you would at least be into the 80's (cooler or no cooler!).....also seems that your secondary isnt heating up to the extent that others have reported.

Can you post some screenshots?

 

Is the CRYO LX a good cooler? Portable?

 

HWINfo32 won't give me a temp reading on my second GPU... Obviously I have a problem here. not happy with dell.

 

I have the same issue, not sure it is Dells fault

 

I know that on my R2, Hwinfo32 would not show a temp for the secondary gpu until something was opened, like IE9 or something....then it showed - otherwise, if sat at the desktop, I would only get readings for the primary.

Are you guys saying that it Hwinfo32 shows no reading AT ALL even when under load for the secondary gpu? - does gpu-z show a temp reading?

 

GPU temps are 91 degrees and 49 degrees with crossfire supposedly enabled, still having stuttering issues with crossfire. i have 20 days or so to return this thing, but have to mail it to dell on thursday.... probably won't get it back for a week and a half. return is likely at this point. this is using GPU-Z.

 

That sounds like the similar issue to the GTX 460m SLI flickering issue

One GPU is being utilized while the other isn't and/or one GPU is overheating

Looks like you have an issue w/ the CF cable or the 2nd GPU

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m18x/580884-m18x-460m-sli-flickering.html

 

Good find Chewie....John - I wonder if your gpu-z shots are like those that Delta posted in that linked thread ???? - they are extremely erratic temps.....something def. not right there....

 

its one of the only coolers that folds, so yes its portable

http://i54.tinypic.com/25pk7rt.jpg

heres more extensive testing

im very happy with my results

 

I would try the latest HWinfo32 to verify as that is extremely erratic and gpu 1 is running pretty hot. I never hit the 90's in TD.

 

Cooking my GPUs now on my Cryo. This is stock clocks, stock paste, settings from OP.

Will update you all with results once temps settle off

UPDATE: here is the update
The temps maxed out at 82c on both GPUs (so they are getting identical cooling best I can tell) in FurMark's temp chart. They sat at 82c for a few minutes then the fans took it to another gear I did not know they had and temps dropped quickly down to 77-78. The noise was extremely reasonable....much quieter system than the M17x R1

Attached is the screencap showing the max temps that both GPUs saw according to GPU-z

 

What about the CPU temps, Scook?

 

FurMark does not push the CPU very hard

Running an OCCT PSU test now, will report the CPU temps from that shortly. So far have not passed 320W on the kill-a-watt which is very promising

 

CPU is hanging in the mid to low 70s with stock paste and laptop on Cryo. Clock speed is sitting at 2.9 GHz with all 8 threads at 100% (2.5 GHz is the base)

 

2920xm should be higher than 2.9ghz

with intel turbo boost widget, it confirms i get 3.15ghz on all 4 cores. i used winrar a nd get 4500 KB/s in the benchmark. yours should be @ 4ghz with 105 bclk and performance level 3.

 

I agree. When I ran wPrime with 4 threads it was 3.2 GHz. When I ran it with 8 it would drop to 2.9 GHz. I think it had to do with hitting th 55W power ceiling. I was using ThrottleStop to monitor while running and it was right at 55W at 2.9 GHz

I will mention by the way that I am in awe at how amazing Turbo Boost is working to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the CPU, this is awesome

Also, put level 3 overclock in bios (did not change anything from stock level 3) and running wPrime 1024m now, got the temps higher hehe. Level 3 raises the TDP from 55W to 75W but only about 67W are being used (35x multi) so I could conceivably raise the multi if I can keep temps in check. Got up to 80c during the 1024m run (took 223s)

 

mine still stays @ 3.15ghz with all 8 threads on load. up your power limit in the bios. im @ 80w. it never drops below 3ghz.

http://i55.tinypic.com/4i21rs.jpg

 

I have not played with any of those settings yet, I am confident I will be over 4 GHz on all cores by the time I am done with it. Got to get to bed for now but this was a good intro for me and overclocking on a Turbo Boost processor

 

What we need is someone to crack the M18x bios and release the lockbit.

 

When running these tests are the Fans on the both GPU should running at the same speed?
Because fan on My right is always louder than the other one, while running furmark.


Jerry

 

My fans ran at the same speed roughly. Although the right one felt a little stronger I thought

OP, would you be opposed to us having a general M18x Cooling Modifications thread in which we can discuss both CPU and GPU cooling mods and how effective they are? This could be a good approach with a broader scope than just this thread, we could of course have this one rolled in with that one.

 

Does anyone else have 0 voltage in GPU-Z? The temps look very similar both idle and under load, BTW. Weird...

 

Yes mine is always at 0. So I went into my M18x and instead of a small amt of paste, I used liberal amounts of MX-4 + bent the heatsink a little to make better contact. After doing so, my temps improved drastically under load in furmark after 20 mins of extreme burn in (no cooling pad used either). I'm still getting an exchange cuz I have other issues with this system that need to be taken care of (uneven palm rest on right, left light has a black spot etc). But if someone runs into the temp issue like I did, try changing the paste to use a lot of MX 4 and bend the heatsink downward towards the ram. My idle temps are still out of whack but load are perfect:

 

Everything stock - furmark for 10 mins

GPU 0:
TD: 75c
TS0: 75c
TS1: 84c
TS2: 85c

GPU 1:
TD: 69c
TS0: 69c
TS1: 70.5c
TS2: 73.5c

 

Ok. so i got my M18x yesterday and ive just set it up and d/l hwinfo32 and gpuz to do some temp monitioring.

Something doesnt seem at all right with my system...ill explain.

Temps as idle are 58-60c for primary and around 64c for the secondary....this is IDLE with only two instances of gpu-z open and sensor only on hwinfo32...nothing else...just them - what are everyone elses idle temps like?

Also, more strangeness.....gpuz for the primary clocks (again at idle) keeps going up to 680 then 100 then 680....its up and down like crazy and the bar chart next to the clocks is up and down all over the place. One second its solid and the next its showing nothing....then solid, then nothing....

Also, VDDC is showing as 0v - all the time.

More weirdness again - ive just opened up a single gpuz whilst the fans have been dormant and now, only the right side one has come alive....this is showing a pattern of the right side one coming on without the left and vice versa.

Also, just opened another gpuz and now its different again....primary clocks are showing as 100/150 but the secondary are showing 680/900 - all with just this browser open and gpuz.....the fans keep coming on and off randomly, seems like the primary is on one minute and then stops....right away the secondary will come on an d the stop and back to the primary doing that.....

As if that wasnt enough, Ive had a few instances where i have shut down the system completely...the screen goes off....hdd activity stops but all the alien fx lights stay on!

Anyone help me out on this PLEASE!

 

try browsing in 64-bit. its probably flash + crossfire issues.

right now my cards @ 49c and 47c. sometimes card 2 will come out of its ultra saving power mode aka ULPS. where it was shut off completely.

 

I've noticed the crazy sensor behavior with GPUZ. HWInfo seems a bit more stable. I'm not sure if this is because of newer cards or not or if the temps really swing back and forth like that.

I have an M4 Crucial and I've had 3 occurences now where the laptop will showdown but the fx lights stay on. Screen off etc...and no activity like it's stuck or something. Not sure what the issue is as I always go about doing another fresh reboot to try and recreate the issue but it never reappears.

I've yet to be able to really recreate it. So it might be a windows fluke or could be something in the bios. I was wondering if for some reason that if the cards are too hot does it stay on to cool the cards or cpu but I have found no info on this.

Played almost 8 hours of Dragon Age 2 yesterday and fans kicked on and off during play but when I shutdown everything was fine and it kicked right off.

 

I have had all of the same observations with my current M18x sans the AlienFx lighting thing. BTW guys, if you shut off Alienfx, does your macro keys still stay on? Because mine does, thinking maybe I didn't hook the cable back properly but then why does Alienfx work at all? Glad my replacement is already in production. Stevie, I think the cards giving weird temps at idle is normal, more than one person (including us) has reported this as well as the erratic GPU1/2 fan behavior. Unless you have overheating cards or other problems in a game, I wouldn't sweat it.

 

my browsing temps are 60 and 64 respectively...the fans will shut off and come on quite often...primary has just gone off and secondary come on.....

This is totally NOT like I was expecting....

Also, when i shutdown, man, the alienfx lights stay on and i have to hard shutdown......

 

that sounds like format/hdd issue, i really hope you dont need a replacement

 

I havehad some of these same issues, I also have an M4. I uninstalled the IRST and use the Micosoft version. It is a lot better, but it did it again when I tried to switch users today.

 

Joker, the lights on the Macro keys is likely because the Macro keys are not a normally mapped zone in the AlienFX control center. Notice that when you select the link to control all zones at once the Macro Keys are excluded, you have to manually select them

 

Light around the trackpad also stays on when I set the AlienFX to have the lights off.

 

Ive also noticed a slight "jingle" noise just before each respective fan "kicks in"......its weird....very low in volume but definetly audible.....i hear it and i know the fans gonna kick in...sure enough it does.

60-64c at idle seems wildly excessive.....both gpuz and hwinfo report the same....my R2 used to idle at sub 40c figures.....

I guess the thing thats annoying me most is the shutdown problem.....it isnt every time but all the lights stay on and a hard power off is required - that just aint right is it!

(other than this string of issues - love the machine itself lol)

 

Oh, and yeah Brian....shutting of alienfx via fn/f11 - on my system anyway, leaves the macro keys lit. all the other lights turn off. You mus have reconnected it ok....wonder if others have the same or just us few?

actually, the media buttons remain lit as does the trackpad and macro keys when fx turned off.....hmmmmm

 

That is normal behavior stevie, saw the same thing on my M17x R1. You have to right click the AlienFX controller icon and select "go dark" to go completely off

 

I am also gettin random lockups/freezes where the system becomes unresponsive to anything except a hard shutdown. Just had to do one just now as when i came back to post on NBR, the crappy thing had frozen.....again......

Anyone else getting this?

Also, what are everyone elses idle temps?

(all i have done on this system is unbox it, turn it on, create recovery media, do windows updates (all of 'em) install ESET a/v, d/l gpuz and hwinfo....thats it......and this is the crap im faced with...that cant be normal, right?)

 

Same here. I don't care much about the AlienFX anomaly, it should be fixed with the AW software updates.
The GPU temps behavior is probably CF/Driver related, but I'll definitely do repasting.