M15x + ATI 5870 (MOD)

Well since the M17x got the 5870 upgrade and the m15x did not, this totally sucks. Now I maybe forced to buy m15x with a 260m and purchase the 5870 else way or maybe the part from dell.

 

why not get it 240 to save some $$$$ and order from baby hemi, he is selling them for a very reasonable price.

 

Don't I need the heatsink from the 260m though?

 

Oakland.

my m15x just departed from sac facility to oakland. lol...

 

240 heatsink is the same as 260, so no problems there, just ask sleey0.

and san jose right here, yeah!!!!!!

 

well then I may just do that. should I stick with the 1600x900 or upgrade the resolution?

 

always upgrade the screen. unlike HDD and memory adn of course GPU, you cant modify that later

 

Well AMD GPU clock tool doesn't have that option anywhere to find the bios version. Using GPU-Z I found the string here (isn't laid out the same but data looks to match).

BIOS Version - VER012.019.000.003.035951

Again no go with using 10.3, I've tried everything its really starting to remind me why I've used Nvidia for the past couple of years over ATI (much better drivers).

ethan did you ever get the CCC figured out on yours (since we both seem to have this issue :O).

 

I don't understand why you are having such issues getting CCC installed.

Maybe you could do a clean install?

That is the only thing that I can think of that was done different between our systems.

10.3 installed with no issues and I have CCC, no problems.

 

Dude, I used to live in San Jose! I had to move due to school related stuff lol.

My M15x just departed from Memphis, TN! Damn, Monday needs to come now!

 

Is everyone's 5870 showing up with the same bios version?

 

Hemi's like the local crack (5870m) dealer..all the kids are addicted.

 

I won't find out till I get my laptop on monday.

 

It is the biggest release so far this year. Right? Why not be addicted for a while...

 

Does my bios look like it's the latest and greatest? Still no go I can get the driver installed fine and nothing as far as the CCC

If I run ATISetup.exe in the command prompt with "-install -output screen" set it will start to install the packages and then prompt me with..

C:\ATI\Support\10-3_mobility_vista_win7_64_dd_ccc\Bin64>ATISetup.exe -install -o
utput screen

Command Line=-install -output screen


Version of InstallManager.dll: 00003.00000.00765.00000
Source Path0= C:\ATI\Support\10-3_mobility_vista_win7_64_dd_ccc\Packages
Detecting<...............................................................
!WARNING:=109 Detection Manager: ATI hardware not found
..........>
Error: Failed to find any installable components

Maybe my vbios isn't the latest again I posted the string on my last post does that look at match everyone else? (February version)

sleey0 what's your bios string in gpu-z? (mines BIOS Version - VER012.019.000.003.035951)

BIOS Version - VER012.019.000.003.035951

 

I have the same VBIOS, so it isn't that.

 

what a small world, hahahha


how do you find out what bios your card have????

 

You have the most recent vbios. To confirm, I reflashed my card to the old vbios. It looks like this:

OLD VBIOS



And GPU-Z looks like this:

OLD VBIOS



So, no doubt you're current.

 

The Revelator thanks for all the trouble of checking it as far to flash it (didn't have to do that lol!). Not sure what else to check right now, CCC doesn't happen to need like .net 3.0 or something installed to function does it (or even install).

 

Sometimes it's worth revisiting the basics. See if anything here is useful.

http://support.amd.com/us/kbarticle...tallationInstructionforMicrosoftWindows7.aspx

http://support.amd.com/us/kbarticles/Pages/GPU57RemoveOldGraphicsDrivers.aspx

It could end up requiring a clean install, but that seems excessive for a damn driver installation.

 

i just did a clean install and ccc is still not install.
is ccc worth all this trouble?

 

Probably not. CCC is nice, but not critical, at least for me. It's just that it ought to install automatically. There's got to be some common factor or issue that's causing the problem that can be identified and solved. Sure not getting anywhere fast however. LOL.

 

Thanks rev. So what does ccc do?

 

Well, I am out of ideas, really. lol

I do not know what could be wrong.

 

Easier just to point to the ATI description pages:

http://ati.amd.com/products/catalystcontrolcenter/index.html

Does a lot, but a lot of it can be set or defined by other means. Still, good to have.

 

Saw this (10.3 Release Notes)

Caution: The ATI Catalyst™ Control Center requires that the
Microsoft .NET Framework SP1 be installed. Without .NET SP1
installed, the ATI Catalyst™ Control Center will not launch properly
and the user will see an error message.

 

I don't have .net framework 1.1 install so that might be the problem. I found this site might help with the installation. http://saranspot.blogspot.com/2009/02/installing-dotnet-framework-11-on.html

 

The thing is, I don't have it installed either, at least as a standalone. A brief Google search revealed that .Net Framework (v3.5 or 4?) is part of Win 7, but if that's true, then everyone would have it, and it wouldn't be a problem, but then why the warning in the Release Notes? I'm over my head here and will wait for the Windows gurus to figure it out.

 

Try going to the CP\Programs and Features\Turn Windows Features On or Off and see if there is any .net stuff you can add.

 

Yep. Listed but not selected. I selected/activated it (and the 2 sub-choices) and will see what happens while I research it further. Thanks for the guidance. +Rep.

 

Anyone kind enough to give me a measurement of the CPU and GPU heatsinks? LxWxH format.

Thanks guys.

 

measurements for what??

 

The heatsinks that physically cover the GPU and CPU, the plate that basically covers the card or chip.

 

Just ran Battlefield 2 again but this time I ran it on DX11 everything max out at 1600x900. Average 32fps and the max I got is 47 fps. When there a big battle it deep down to 28fps. Also got the same fps for online game.

 

Any noticeable visual differences between dx10 and 11?

 

Yea the ground and the wall of the building are more detail than before. You can see like the nitty bitty stuff on the ground and especially the building there are more texture to it. Before with DX9 it just a wall now you can see the very crack and dent on it. It pop out more is what I'm trying to said.

 

Might be a stupid question....but would the 5850 mobility work in the M15X?

 

I see, guess I'll have to look up some dx 10 vs 11 comparison pics of that game online.

 

No clue as no one has tried

Better question...why bother when 5870s are readily available and confirmed working?

 

Very good answer haha

Now i just need find a 5870 that I can import to the UK.

Replacing the gpu doesn't void the warranty of your laptop does it?

 

It does, but only if you tell Dell you are doing it

The people selling 5870s here will ship international to you EU folk

 

I don't see much of a difference between dx 9/10/11 in BF BC2: http://www.overclock.net/pc-games/693787-bad-company-2-dx11-direct-comparison.html

In fact, DX 10/11 look identical. People in the thread claim this is so because DICE didn't use tesselation in this game.

 

Somthing like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ABeq7PEdRc&feature=related. Some part of the game seem to pop out more than other part. The wooden house in the jungle seem to have more detail to me when compare to DX9.

 

I even think they are harder to get as well (5850's). Yes you might as well go for the #1 card!

 

Babyhemi, could you err.....hook me up?

 

Sure can. Several have this card in the UK already. PM me for info....

 

All three look exactly the same to me

 

I wouldn't doubt it. I think that's one of the new cards Alienware will be using in their M15x when they are more readily available.

 

me == another happy babyHemi customer. I did a very simple test and I got the following results:

Just Cause 2:

260m 37.12 FPS
ATI 5870: 50.93 FPS

on dark tower with:

1280x720
Texture Detail: High
Shadow : High
AA: 2x
Anisotropic: 8x
Water Detail: High
Object Detail: High
Decals: On
Soft particles: On
Vsync: off
High res shadows: off
SSAO: high
point light: off

The ATi went up to 80 Degrees during the benchmark. The 13 frames (average) is really noticeable.

 

Great to hear! 80 is not bad at all...