M15x & 6970M / 6990M - What you need to know - upgrading, problems, solutions

I didn't modify anything with regards to the volting as I'm still running the standard basic softwares and monitoring. Still testing this 3 day old card to see how it runs and how often the clock issue plays up. As for overclocking with trixx, I only went up as high as 800/1000. No throttling or downclocking midway, gaming was smooth too but have yet to try crysis for a long period of gaming. I think I should download the tesselation and DX-11 high details pack before really testing crysis 2 out.

So far on startup, out of 4 startups, only once did it start on the normal 680/900 clocks. The other 3 times was on the 400/900 clocks and out of those, 2 occasions whereby the Stealth button trick worked. Only 1 occasion did it not work but then again, there was an issue with the notebook as the touchpanel and alienhead weren't lit. So I attribute the issue to either the mobo or power which hardly happens. Temps highest so far are on average the low to mid 80s during gaming with an ambient air temp around me of 26-28c.

 

hi.. anyone here facing a problem with catalyst control center.?
seems my ccc stop working. tried to google.. nothing like me though..
when i open the ccc.. the only thing shows up is a blank window.. when i click on it.. it will end the process.. i tried reinstall.. uninstall ,boot on safe mode and then sweep clean with driver sweeper and ccleaner the registry.. install it back.. not worked. tried using different driver.. 1st im using cat 11.9.. then tried 11.5 .. none worked.. i dont know when his happen.. rarely open the ccc.. huhu.. thnks in advance for hearing this.. need help..
im trying to oc the gpu using amd overdrive.. suddenly this happen.

 

Thanks to your feedback. Please run Furmark at 800/1000 when opening GPU-Z monitor to see if it has any clock issue or throttling. I will appreciate if you have the crysis2 (DX11+high texture) test with overclock.

 

Did a little Internet research about the issue of CCC not opening or starting after upgrading drivers, where the normal uninstall-safe mode-DriverSweeper-CCleaner-reinstall process would not solve the problem. The solution reported to work most often was an extended removal effort to remove any trace of the ATI/AMD drivers or settings that might not be reached by the normal uninstall and clean procedure. No guarantees, but it has worked for others.

1. Uninstall via Control Panel -- ATI Catalyst Install Manager.
2. Boot into safe mode and run DriverSweeper. Reboot.
3. Clean registry with CCleaner. Reboot.

These are our normal actions. But then proceed as follows:

4. Check that c:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ is empty.
5. Check that c:\Program Files\ATI\ is empty.
6. Check c:\Windows\Assembly\ to see if there are any files with Public Key Token of "90ba9c70f846762e" (Sort by Public key token to get a easier view). If any exist, uninstall by right clicking and selecting uninstall (can be done on multiple files at once).
7. Check that c:\Users\[User Name]\AppData\Local\ATI\ACE is empty (requires modifying folder settings to temporarily show hidden files and folders).
8. Using Regedit, assure that these registry locations are empty:
HKCU/Software/ATI/ACE
HKLM/Software/ATI/ACE
9. Reboot.
10. Install Catalyst driver package.

Good luck.

 

@The Rev: +rep, nice write-up!

No, been away for a while, didn't get to a computer for a week. I'm afraid my issues aren't software related, I did some modding... but it's weird, first it seemed to work a few weeks ago when I first did some testing and now it always downclocks. That's why I am/was thinking about software issues.

 

ive had similar problems with 5850 ever since i updated to a09 bios, 50% of the time it wont go to 3d clocks, turning sm on then off works for me.
sound like the same problem some people are having here

 

That happens to me if the computer goes from battery to AC power. I just use the stealth indicator to toggle it off again.

 

I downloaded the DX11+Hightexture pack for Crysis 2 and ran without Overclock. GPUz monitor showed smooth clocks during my extended run which only ran about 20mins. I'll try again later with overclocks...

Highest reached today in terms of temps. No notebook cooler used.

GPU Thermal Diode 88'C
GPU TS0 (DispIO) 88'C
GPU TS1 (MemIO) 94.5'C
GPU TS2 (Shader) 91'C

 

Thanks.. but i just go with fresh install window 7.. tried you way though.. didnt seems to go well. maybe something im missing. but thanks for helping.

 

With OC of 750/1000 I detected a bit of throttling in Crysis 2(DX-11+HTexture) for very brief periods of time. GPUz showed downclocks of 400 for 1-3 sec then back to normal again. Funny thing is that my 150W PSU isn't as hot as how it used to be when I had the 5870 installed.

 

It could be thermal throttling. What are your temps according to HWInfo?

 

GPU Thermal Diode 89'C
GPU TS0 (DispIO) 89'C
GPU TS1 (MemIO) 94.5'C
GPU TS2 (Shader) 91'C

With overclock of 750/1000

 

AMD Mobility Radeon HD 6970M GPU MXM 3.0B

Decent price on a 6970m for whoever's interested, I just can't convince myself to pull the trigger yet

 

Now thats really cheap. I got mine with a trade in of my 5870 card for $300.

 

This might be the winner here. I'm still waiting for 6990m's to show up on the market, but that's a great price.

 

Hey guys, after weeks of calling dell again and again I've finally gotten myself a 6970m
Putting it in shouldn't be that hard if I follow the instructions on the first page, right guys?

 

Sweet. They finally gave in? Nyway yes, just follow the instructions will do.

How much you got it for?

 

I tried calling them and asking like 7 times. The first four times they just kept offering me 260m and saying the card I'm looking for won't work, and the next two said they needed to get an approval from a supervisor but didn't call me back, so the 7th time I tried sounding disappointed and sad and the guy gave me an offer of $569.99 and I took it

It's good to hear that I only need to follow the instructions cause I really don't have the tools to do any modifications to the card (drilling holes and such). But do you think I'll need to change my thermal pad?

Now I just have to decide whether to upgrade my processor or change hdd to sdd

 

Well yeah you basically just follow the instructions from svl7 and get CCC and the drivers installed well. I only used 1 type of screwdriver for the whole process but I did have some extra thermal pads. My card was prolly covered 50% with thermal pads of various sizes n thickness. But of late my temps did shoot up so I'm gonna take another look at it..

 

Did you use any thermal paste when you changed your card?

 

Of course, this is essential, otherwise you'll kill your card with heat.
Make sure you clean off the old paste of the heatsink before remounting it on the new card.
If you're new to repasting check out the guide in Inaps signature.

 

Ohh, ok then. I just don't like changing stuff like these though cause I'll always feel like I did it wrong and I'll clean the paste again put it on again and all of a sudden the paste is all used up.
Anyway what kind of paste would you say is the best cause I usually just use the stuff from the box but now I'll have to buy one.
Also do you think new thermal pads would be necessary? If so what would be the best kind?

 

Just leave the thermal pads on the heatsink, they should be fine as long as they aren't damaged. I haven't changed my pads so far.
MX-4 from arctic cooling is a pretty good paste, easy to apply and performs very well. But there are tons of paste that will do the job.

 

one tube of paste goes VERY far, using 'lots' doesnt help at all.

 

Yeah, I'm probably gonna use some Artic Silver 5

It's not that I wanna use a lot of paste I just get compulsive and redo the pasting again and again cause I always felt I did it wrong

Anyway, off topic do you guys think if I get a 940XM it would work fine with the 6970m? Or should I just upgrade my hdd to sdd? or should I just do both?

 

Well the SSD is a more worthy upgrade. If you don't plan to bench or run very intensive encoding or processing, then I advise you against the XM CPU. The SSD will yield you far greater results coupled with the 6970m. Also, you can't have both (940XM plus 6970m) overclocked at the same time.

 

I understand, I'm wired a bit similarly. I also have considered 940xm vs SSD, I think I will do SSD first, between speed and ruggidization it probbaly more bang for the buck.

 

Well if I get a 940XM I probably won't overclock it cause it'll be fast enough for my needs on stock settings
But if I want to use my m15x for games, BF3 for example, which one would be more beneficial do you think?

The problem I have with getting an ssd is that I'll have to get a caddy to replace my dvd drive and my dvd drive connector (the little cable inside) seems to get broken again and again, I had it repaired twice and now I don't know whether it's broken again cause strangely I don't have a single disc to test it, even my expresscard slot is somehow broken, I got 3 of those expresscard to usb3 card and all of them won't work

Edit: found a cd and it is apperently not broken

 

Well, you can overclock both a 6970M and a 920/940xm a little bit, even if you can't push both to their absolute maximums.

 

yeah, I know it's possible but I'll probably stick to stock settings cause cooling condition in my room isn't the best, just 1 fan with the window half open, so best to stick to reliable stock settings

 

That's what they all say.

 

I agree....

 

well, if suddenly I want something extra while playing BF3, maybe, just maybe

 

Or even just because you can, with all that potential power and performance sitting right there waiting for you.

 

Thanks，sometimes the downclocks doesn't happen, instead, it will be a low GPU load caused low FPS. Do you notice it when overclock?

 

I see. How do you differentiate the low GPU load as opposed to Downclock/stuttering due to Downclocks?
The issues came out as it was overclocked actually.

 

Oh yeah, do you guys know whether its useful to use a 240w adaptor if you want to use a 6970m and 940xm at the same time (at stock settings)?

 

It seems no use.

 

If the card works at low GPU load, GPU-Z can monitor it and at the same time, core and RAM clock are normal (always 680/900 or some number you overclock)
but the second condition, GPUload is 90% or more in the most time, then turn to be 0% when card downlock to 400/900 with the power issue.

 

that's good to hear

 

I would flash the 400/900 setting to 300/150. Works almost as good, but at far less draw.

 

Anybody know if this one could work?
AMD Mobility Radeon HD 6970M GPU MXM 3.0B Graphics Card

It says for use with a dell workstation but would it be the same card if I ordered from dell themselves?

Edit:

Nvm, read over the part with compatible systems.
Just ordered it, hope I'll be able to install it without too many problems

 

Hi guys,

I've just bought the dell card
AMD Mobility Radeon HD 6970M GPU MXM 3.0B Graphics Card
Appparently it's a second hand.Comes with the bracket, no fan problem. I have several shutdowns after few minutes of game(crysis, witcher 2, king's bounty). Windows tells "it has stopped to protect data".I've repasted three times, put thermal pads on the back of the GPU. Nothing works. My bios is A09 EC 1.18. Idling temp: 46, full: don't know it shuts down! The PSU's light is still blue after shutdown. I have a i7 720, the card's not overclocked. Is this card broken?Please help!
GPU-Z's screen
http://gpuz.techpowerup.com/11/09/16/4cw.png

 

Just received my 6990m which i actually ordered a 6970m and it turned out to be an ES card like Widezu.

Came with some whacky bios which showed nothing on the internal screen then flashed the Dell Vbios and voila everything was working peachy all 1120 shaders .

Highest temp on the card is the MEMIO which is almost 10 degrees higher but the rest of the card is cool so not sure might be repast but its been stable through all the benchmarks i have run so far and Vantage GPU was 12,400 right outta the gate.

Thanks for all the help, the OP made things much easier .

 

Brilliant! Congratulations on the new beast and your return to M15x land. The Quad Golden Touch strikes again.

For those that have not met Quad, he is one of the founders, leaders and head wizards of the M15x forum. Pay attention.

 

Haha thanks Rev but for the moment i feel like a noob .

Trying to figure out how to get these MEMIO temps down cause this thing runs hot in that aspect.

Speedy Gonzalez (close friend of mine) said his 6990s in the M18x run 10 degrees hotter on the MEMIO even in that machine with proper cooling, so i guess its something i have to live with but i was seeing 90s in furmark on the Memio and only after a few minutes, so gaming for hours might present a problem.

Going to try my hand at Undervolting the card as well and hopefully bring them down abit that way.

 

I had the same problem with my 6970M in the M15x, except that MemIO was usually 7-8C higher and a similar problem with the 6990M in my R3, but there it was Shader temps that were about 10C higher than the others, and this was after initial pasting by me in both instances. Re-pasting solved the problem both times. Seems unworthy, but that's what happened.

 

Try updating your VBIOS, for example with the one attached to the first post, your version seems to be rather old.

 

Flo, it sures sounds like your M15x is overheating, triggering a protective shutdown. Download Furmark v1.9.1 here: FurMark: VGA Stress Test, Graphics Card and GPU Stability Test, Burn-in Test, OpenGL Benchmark and GPU Temperature | oZone3D.Net. Do not be nervous; we will use Furmark to test, not stress. Also download HWiNFO64 here: HWiNFO64 Download.

Install and run HW64 and click on the Sensors tab (menu bar), which provides a wide variety of temperature and fan data for both the CPU and GPU. Then launch Furmark, set to 1280x720, with the Fullscreen box unchecked so that it runs in a window. Then select (check) Burn-in and Extreme burn-in from the left column. Leave everything else at default and click on the BURN-IN test button, arranging your windows so that the HW64 window is clearly visible. Then watch. You will see the temps rise as the test proceeds and will be able to tell whether and to what extent the GPU and/or the CPU are overheating. If either approaches 95C, stop the test by pressing the space bar and then exiting the program. After 5 minutes, terminate the test. When finished, we'll know what's happening inside the M15x. Post a screenshot of your HW64 Sensors window.

Also note that the vbios of your 6970M is older than we typically see in the M15x/M17x worlds. May just reflect the Precision antecedents, but it could be a factor.

Edit: svl7, first as always.

 

Thank you guys, i'll try this tomorrow and i'll post the HWinfo screen.

PS: Sorry for the unsuitable expressions, english's not my first language, i'm french