~GX660(R) Owner's Lounge~

Hey paul

Yes it's more like 50/50 for now. Specification wise they are compatible. It only comes down to proper bios support.. By modding the 16f2 and 1761 bioses, they even can support a gtx680m. However there's no one that takes on this task (pretty difficult by the way).
So we're stuck with what's been proven to work for now.

All the best mate

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2

 

ES means that the CPU is an engineering sample. The ones that get distributed to labs for testing on stability and performance optimisations. QS is more like a qualification unit. A sample that has passed all test and is ready for mass production. It still has a QS code embedded to it though. It's more luck than anything else on those kind of CPUs.
SLBMP is the final product codename. The one you get as an OEM or at retail shops. If possible get this as it means that it's guaranteed to work as it should.
A friend of mine has my old gx660 and he upgraded to a 720QM from his i5-580m so I don't see a reason why it shouldn't work

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2

 

Felix3650, thank you very very much,now I'm absolutely clear what those letters means Yea,I'm going to upgrade my i5-460M to i7-840QM, one just appeared in my country for quite a nice price Just a question, I'm using a lot those "ECO" profiles on my laptop to OC CPU and GPU. Will it work with the new i7 as well,so in the "turbo battery mode" cpu will underclock to the lowest or I will have to use another program to clock it manually?

 

It will work because it uses Intel's speedstep feature to control CPU's C states (which are power consumption states). Reducing voltage and frequency when not needed and returning to 100% once requiered
Tried on with my friend's i7-720QM

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That's good,thanks a lot I'm gonna get it!

 

All looking to upgrade to 7970m, I've had mine for about 5 months now and its still running awesome. I previously had my modified 5870m heatstink, which worked great and kept temps around 83C max in Far Cry 3, Crysis, and BF3. Lower in older games. I just got a chance to install an MSI 7970m heatsink which I got from MajesterMSI and WOW! It came with thermal pads already on it, and I used the stock thermal paste on the GPU die. And my results have been great! Played 4hours of BF3 yesterday and max temps with slight OC on 7970m gave me 74C. This is with the laptop flat on a glass table. I am still waiting for my Zalman 2000 to arrive back home and I will be able to get better results. This thing is still a beast and I am loving having even lower temps now. Going to have to OC further!

Felix: This was done with Turbo Fan On from the start. I just did a 30minute run through without Turbo Fan and the GPU Peaked at 80C then settled back down to mid 70s because the system auto ramped the fans up. I am using Dell Vbios, and it is a Dell card. I have the first gen Dell cards with the older vbios. I usually game with my turbo fan on because I am gaming and want it nice a cool, and I can't hear it anyways with my headphones on.

 

hi boys, need an info about 7970m heatsink: what's the thickness of thermal pads to be used? thx

 

I used 1.5mm pads and they "fit nice and tight"
I would reccommend phobya 5w/mk (the dark grey ones). They do a great job and are alsoa bit sticky so everything stays in place

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2

 

Thanks for your advice, i'll report!

Inviato dal mio HTC One S con Tapatalk 2

 

The best thermal pad width for contact are 0.5mm. Anything thicker is just making the core contact worse.

 

Have to agree here if you have the 7970m heatsink. With my older 5870m modified heatsink I think I used a combo of .5mm and 1.0mm depending. I think 1.5mm would be a bit thick. I've noticed on the 7970m heatsink that the pads are all .5mm.

 

I used those pads because I had to modify my MSI heatsink to fit the Clevo 7970m gpu. Used them on the RAM chips. Everywhere else I put 1mm pads and it all fits fine. Even core contact has been very good. I'm getting 36°C temps idle and never went above 73°C on furmark with turbofan active I stay aroung 69~70°C

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Hi everybody;
As i mentioned before i contacted svl7 from techinferno forum and he sent me a Vbios chip with proper bios installed for gx660.
i made it changed to comp.service but still no function...
i m sending a video uploaded to youtube-------> DELL 7970m in GX660 - YouTube
any ideas?

 

I'm having a lot of nightmares since i decide to do the same upgrade with 7970m in my gx660: even if i bought my dell 7970m from a greatly correct guy (paul1low) i still having big troubles.
He substituted me the first two VGA with black screen ad yours, no vital signs.
Now he sent me a third card with 0017 vbios, laptop screen now works but showing lot of artifacts (big stripes or snow effect) since pushing power on, in this case can only enter safe windows, without loading VGA driver.
Few times i start without artifacts at all, so i can enter win 7 64bit (fresh installati on) but it works only in 2d mode, even during kombustor burn test!
VGA cant go in 3d mode, crashing immediately.
I tried several BIOS flashing but nothing changes, it seems a problem more connected with laptop BIOS (latest official, default settings) or with PCI ex connector (but with original hd5870m everything OK).
I'm giving up bro...

 

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/70e0rl67cdfp9kh/6IF97s6dnw

Some pictures to better explain.....

Burning test running at 300/150mhz, disabling powerplay options from catalyst control center.
Enabling powerplay allows (in a working system!!!!) 2d/3d switching mode but it causes sudden crash (VGA can't change voltage or frequencies).
Changing vbioses even from tech inferno sources doesn't solve, every bios (even undervolted or overvolted) works this way.
I use the original MSI heatsink for 7970m i bought from majster MSI, properly mounted.
Issues are the same without using any heatsink (of course for max 3/4 seconds).
I'd like to flash the laptop bios with a modded one, even older versions but I've only a latest 30.L modded for ahci compatibility and it doesn't help.....

 

that's odd really...
i m currently using 1.0L original bios from msi website...Maybe a modded or unlocked bios may work..

BTW how can we be sure that our Gpu work flawlessly????

 

I can only trust my dealer, he tested it but in a alienware laptop and the vga was working....

Inviato dal mio HTC One S con Tapatalk 2

 

Wow,what a troubles around here. I was just looking after 7970M for my GX660, but when I see your problems guys...damn...you scared the sh*t out of me...gonna wait a bit more or give it up...

 

@fantabrothe
Did you try the card in another laptop?
BTW dont give up

 

No mate, dont have any other....dunno what to do, i have tried 3 different card without results...
would be great if someone could post an unlocked bios for gx660 based on older versions than the last one....

Inviato dal mio HTC One S con Tapatalk 2

 

@TalonUIUC
What's your bios ver.?Is it unlocked?

 

I can't believe you're all having these issues. I first upgraded my laptop with a Dell 6990m, and then later a 7970m Dell card as well. Both times plug and play no issues at all. Simply installed gfx drivers and was good to go.

I will boot my laptop up and check the bios version. It is the stock bios that cane with the laptop when i got it in 2010 I believe and is not unlocked. I have thought about unlocking it for better ssd support but I think I'll just stick with it as is. This laptop is a great performer in games and will hold me over until Haswell. That will be when I finally upgrade. There just isn't a big enough performance gap between my upgraded system and current gen systems.

 

@lordvader111
@fantabrothe

Hi mates,

I'm sorry for everything you're going through. I went it myself with my first Dell 7970m. First it worked for a while then the second time not. Notebook wouldn't even turn on properly.
Since I recieved the Clevo card I have been running fine with the 015.019 vbios. I you want, you can try it with your cards. I'm linking you the eeprom dump.

https://mega.co.nz/#!yccBmZIB!b3p_TRkZEhyIyyiwZkdafj4LiWd4DOGasPWqjGZR22g

Try flashing this and see I your problems are resolved.
fantabrothe I see from the pics you upladed that you're using Catalyst 12.8 Try upgrading to version 13.2 beta 7 For me it works perfectly
Another thing you could try (both of you is upgrade the Intel MEI and EC rom.

EC firmware: http://www.msi.com/product/nb/GX660.html#/?div=Firmware&nbos=non-win 8

Report you MEI version to me as displayed on your system bios, will give you correct links
Let me know

Cheers

 

Hi felix, thank for sharing your experience: I tried several BIOS even for clevo but I'll try also yours!
Drivers doesn't seem to affect the problem since the VGA show artifacts on desktop even when recognized with VGA standard driver (fresh win installation, without any catalyst release).
The problem is "before" windows loading, seems I have a bad communication between the BIOS system and the VGA.
I was using Meister MSI BIOS ahci mod, unlocked and based on the latest official 10.L now I flashed with an older unlocked version 10.J coming from Svet, a modder administrator in MSI official forums.
Nothing changed, as for different vbioses I tried.
Where I can check MEI EC version? I can't see in BIOS infos...

Inviato dal mio Nexus 7 con Tapatalk 2

 

OK, EC firmware is already 4.17 as the one you posted but can't find MEI....

Inviato dal mio Nexus 7 con Tapatalk 2

 

You can lookup the MEI version in your bios. You need to go to the "System Information" submenu.
Should be something like 7.0.4 can't remember right now...

 

Googling around I found an utility for reading me I but he says unsupported hw.
I post also some pictures about BIOS system info showing only EC.....
https://www.dropbox.com/sc/9g0823ccky7cm6q/JvBvRT5Q9V

Inviato dal mio Nexus 7 con Tapatalk 2

 

The tool to check mei is here:
http://www.station-drivers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=4116&p=16173#p16173

Seems doesn't support pm55 chipset...other ways?
The mei firmware seems to be related to the whole chip set energy management, quite important I assume....how to check if mine is updated ( or if I have one at all).
System is now completely fresh, without any installed driver ( everything recognised automatically from system driver database,except USB 3.0 which needs to be updated manually).



Inviato dal mio Nexus 7 con Tapatalk 2

 

hi guys
i dont have in my bios either..

 

Searching a little around it seems pm55 chipset comes with a different and simplified ignition sku, as reported here:
The Calpella Platform Update : Mobile Core i7-920XM: Power Is The Price For Better Performance

so it doesnt mount either 6.xxx version but something older but i dont know how to check it..
PS the tool i reported in previous post works ok in my desktop revealing a 8.xxx MEI version for my asrock z77

 

Ok so GX660 uses an older Intel Management Engine Interface integrated into the bios...that leaves us with only the vbios which might be the culprit..
Are you using the default PSU? Especially lordvader111 as he has a i7-920XM installed. A bit power hungry for the 150W PSU the notebook came with..

@lordvader111
do you have your old i5 around? you could test with that if your notebook posts..just an idea.

@fantabrothe
try the Catalyst 13.2 drivers..

 

Hi mate, I tried your vbios but doesn't solve the issues, so I reflashed also the laptop with unlocked BIOS 30.L from Meister MSI and this one shows this info about ME:
ME FW VERSION 6.0.30.1199
ME FIRMWARE IGNITION SKU FIRMWARE.

these infos are not available in the previous BIOS I had, 30J unlocked from Svet.....
Maybe this ME FW is old to manage the VGA but I really don't think so....
Since PCI ex controller is not in north bridge but integrated in CPU now I wanna try the old i5 460m.
My i7 840qm is Qs version, maybe could have some problem with this VGA PCI 3.0.....I'll let you know..
PS starting from cat 12.8 to 13.2 the problem still remain, since the VGA, when showing no artifacts can only go in 2d mode, seems to recognise only one performance state 300/150 @ 0,900v, can't switch at 850/1200@1,025 ( or more, I tried also overvolted BIOSes).

Inviato dal mio Nexus 7 con Tapatalk 2

 

Basically the GPU will detect the PCI-E 2.0 bus and just run at that but you never know with ES chips, they can be wonky.

 

Guys just a question,can I run i7-840QM on stock clocks with my 120W PSU or do I have to upgrade it as well?

 

@felix3650
i bought a 180W PSU but still no boot.....
i am really thinking that there's something wrong with GPU itself not Vbios.....
Did you watch the video i sent?Are these Dead GPU Symtomps???

 

Cleared CMOS pulling off 5v battery, tried a working ( it works with 5870m) i5 460m and I have completely black screen! Don't know what to say....changing again with i7 840qm everything returns as described above.....

Inviato dal mio Nexus 7 con Tapatalk 2

 

How much ram do you have installed? I remember I got black screens on boot when I used weird ram combos. Maybe try a different ram slot or combo of slots?

 

Are the same that I have now mounting my working i5 460m, but card is someway alive in my case.
I've remounted the i7 840qm and VGA continues to show random artifacts even in BIOS screens or can enter sometime in windows but only in 2d power state.
Try to connect the laptop to an external monitor, with the second card I had it helped.
I had always black screen on laptop but sometime I had a corrupted image on ext monitor and I was able to enter the BIOS from it.

Inviato dal mio Nexus 7 con Tapatalk 2

 

You can run fine with stock clocks and 840qm. Except... Do you mean stock clocks on the HD5870m? if so, then yes you can run without any issues.

 

Replaced my 4gb x2 banks of hynix hyper x with the native 2gb x2 ....nope

Inviato dal mio Nexus 7 con Tapatalk 2

 

The RAM slot under the keyboard must be installed for the computer to boot.

 

That's what I figured, even if this i7 840 works perfectly with my 5870m since over one year without having any problem.
Odd thing, with the i5 460m system doesn't even boot,no vital signs (no HDD led), no sounds, black screen.
But people doing this VGA upgrade usually had already upgraded their cpu with i7 840qm or 920xm, would be interesting to know if someone still uses a working combo 7970m with i5 ( this one comes with a separate GPU die integrated)..

Inviato dal mio Nexus 7 con Tapatalk 2

 

I' ve never had any bank in that slot! My only two banks are near the CPU heatsink, I have 8gb ddr3 here...
Do you mean that using a i5 I have to fill that slot? Why?

Inviato dal mio Nexus 7 con Tapatalk 2

 

Core i5 supports only 2 memory slots, but as far as I know, you have to fill the one under the keyboard. Unless your machine doesn't have one, then I don't know.

 

No mate, the gx660 laptop has three slots for DDR and surely i5 CPUs can manage only two banks but the slot under the keyboard is unnecessary in this case.
When I bought the laptop I had i5 inside, with 2 banks 2gb each one, filling only the two slots near the CPU, anything else..

Inviato dal mio Nexus 7 con Tapatalk 2

 

Ok finally booted up my laptop since I got home..

Running Bios: E16F1IMS.109
Bios Build Date: 07/29/2010

EC Version: 16F1EMS1 Version 4.15
EC Build Date: 6/28/2010

 

sure? normally last numbers are 10F 10J 10L or similar, never seen 109....

 

Yes I'm sure.

View attachment 95104

I'm thinking my bios is pretty old. But if it's not broke, don't fix it! Everything plays nicely. The only thing I am missing is the ability to use newer SSD in ACHI, but my older Force 120 works fine in ACHI.

If you want you can post a guide or tell me a program to dump my bios so you can try them.

 

hi mate, i think it's the early first bios, thx for your answer, i'll keep on posting my progress (i hope to fix it, since it's the third card, but i'm giving up)

 

Guys,can you please answer me or you dont know? I was asking if can use 120W PSU with i7-840QM (stock) and 5870M (lightly OCed)? I tried to find any software to measure it but found nothing