Summary of GX640 Video Card Related Issues/Fixes

Hey all,
just wanted to put together a little information center to collect all the problems we've had with things like hibernating, clock speeds, link multiplier, heat, and their corresponding solutions, like correct CCC version to use, programs to control the clock speeds, thermal mods available, etc. I'd appreciate it if everyone pitches in

Current Contributors

-lackofcheese
-zaner123
-min2209

Issue 1
- Notebook does not wake up after hibernating or sleeping.

Solution:
- Use the stock drivers (Catalyst 10.1) and do not update.

Additional information on Issue 1: This seems to be caused by PowerPlay's automatic downclocking to 100/1000 - these clocks seem to have issues.

Additional solutions to Issue 1:
- Keep PowerPlay off (however, for unknown reasons it will sometimes turn itself back on - this may have to do with the power management settings of Windows or MSI).
- Use AMD GPU Clock Tool to set the GPU's clock speeds; this overrides PowerPlay.
- Upgrade to the latest vBIOS - not recommended until the official version is released.


Issue 2
- Poor performance while gaming - caused by PCI-E dropping to 1x.

Solution:
- Don't use the stock drivers (Catalyst 10.1) - update to 10.3 or later.

Issue 3
To downclock the GPU

Solution

Here is the link to the correct AMD GPU Clock Tool to use.

http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/1641/AMD_GPU_Clock_Tool_v0.9.26.0_For_HD_5870.html

In order to use this to automatically set your clocks upon startup do this:

1. Create a shortcut on the desktop.
2. Use target "C:\Program Files (x86)\AMD GPU Clock Tool\AMDGPUClockTool.exe" -eng=400 -mem=400

-Copy and paste that, including the quotation marks. Adjust the "400" and "400" to whatever you so choose. I'd recommend you first test the clocks to ensure that they are stable.
3. Move that shortcut from the desktop to the "startup" folder. That is found under Start, All programs, Startup.
4. You're done.

Also, it is convenient to have 3 or 4 shortcuts for all of the common clocks you may use. I have 4 shortcuts: Low clocks (100/100) for easy stuff, Startup clocks (250/400) so startup is just a big quicker, stock clocks, and overclocked clocks. With the shortcuts on the desktop, I can simply double click them then summarily there will be a popup flash and your clocks will be changed. For even more convenience, if you edit the properties of the shortcuts, you can hotkey them. I have mine hotkeyed as Ctrl+Shift+(the first letter of the name of the clock) E.g. : Ctrl+Shift+S for low clocks.
This is just a start. I'll add responses to the list whenever I can.

Thanks all~

 

Issue 2
- Poor performance while gaming - caused by PCI-E dropping to 1x.

Solution:
- Don't use the stock drivers (Catalyst 10.1) - update to 10.3 or later.



Additional information on Issue 1: This seems to be caused by PowerPlay's automatic downclocking to 100/1000 - these clocks seem to have issues.

Additional solutions to Issue 1:
- Keep PowerPlay off (however, for unknown reasons it will sometimes turn itself back on - this may have to do with the power management settings of Windows or MSI).
- Use AMD GPU Clock Tool to set the GPU's clock speeds; this overrides PowerPlay.
- Upgrade to the latest vBIOS - not recommended until the official version is released.

 

Nice thread idea should help newcomers and people having trouble, however I haven't had any of these issues (luckily). I updated to 10.5 and still wake up fine, but did a overlap install on old drivers.

 

This may be unnecessary, but here are pretty much all of the threads that contain a lot of information about the GX640:

vBios Beta

Owner's Thread

http://forum.notebookreview.com/msi/474857-msi-gx640-098us-review.html

http://forum.notebookreview.com/msi/478065-gx640-owners-post-your-temps.html

http://forum.notebookreview.com/msi/477436-dspr_02s-msi-gx640-098us-review.html

http://forum.notebookreview.com/msi/487693-amd-gpu-clock-tool.html

http://forum.notebookreview.com/msi/490050-gpu-undervolt.html

 

Sorry about the double post, but it'd be messy if I had this in the same post as the links..

Here is the link to the correct AMD GPU Clock Tool to use.

In order to use this to automatically set your clocks upon startup do this:

1. Create a shortcut on the desktop.
2. Use target "C:\Program Files (x86)\AMD GPU Clock Tool\AMDGPUClockTool.exe" -eng=400 -mem=400

-Copy and paste that, including the quotation marks. Adjust the "400" and "400" to whatever you so choose. I'd recommend you first test the clocks to ensure that they are stable.
3. Move that shortcut from the desktop to the "startup" folder. That is found under Start, All programs, Startup.
4. You're done.

Also, it is convenient to have 3 or 4 shortcuts for all of the common clocks you may use. I have 4 shortcuts: Low clocks (100/100) for easy stuff, Startup clocks (250/400) so startup is just a big quicker, stock clocks, and overclocked clocks. With the shortcuts on the desktop, I can simply double click them then summarily there will be a popup flash and your clocks will be changed. For even more convenience, if you edit the properties of the shortcuts, you can hotkey them. I have mine hotkeyed as Ctrl+Shift+(the first letter of the name of the clock) E.g. : Ctrl+Shift+S for low clocks.

 

Thsi thread makes it seem like the bloody thing would melt a hole to China !! ;p

 

I know you're just joking, but I still don't understand why people thing this laptop is so hot. It isn't that bad.. really not at all..

 

Yeah its not hot at all, good work with the thread guys,

 

Thread updated. Keep 'em coming

 

Powerply only reenables itself if you change your current power setting. i.e. going from balanced to high performance.

If you never change your power plan and just adjust screen brightness yourself, powerplay will not reactivate itself

 

Hi all,

Is it possible to use a cheapo video card in the PCI-Express slot and use that to save battery life ? ie.. turn off the 5850 altogether and then switch it back on manually when needed with more demanding app?

Cheers
Chumby

 

Is updating the vbios the only way to resolve the issue of blackscreen on startup when you shutdown on battery?

 

Anyway... does updating the Bios, even though it's a beta, result in some problems?

 

I updated the VBIOS on my laptop and it appears to have cleared up the LCD not turning back on problems with closing the lid / sleep / hibernate

 

Ummmm it hasnt been a beta for a while now....

 

Ok not a "beta" but an unofficial version

Oh and... I didn't make the difference between the vbios and the bios. Is it a whole different thing?

 

Unless MSI released a new beta/unofficial vbios, the vbios we're all talking about has been "official" for over a month now. It can be downloaded from the GX640 page of the MSI site.

MSI Global ? Computer, Laptop, Notebook, Desktop, Mainboard, Graphics and more

 

im with imanol on this....the bios isnt a beta unless theres a new one that 100's of people missed.

 

When I try to install the .exe file, I get:

"Error opening file for writing:

C:\Program Files (x86)\AMD GPU Clock Tool\tools_driver\insttool64.exe

Click Abort to stop the installation, Retry to try again or Ignore to skip."

Anyone can help? Thanks.

 

What do you mean by install exe ?

If you are talking about creating that shortcut, then the procedure is :
go to desktop>right click>select new>shortcut.

Windows will ask for location just copy the above mentioned location.

Voila!! Its done

 

Thanks for replying. I was able to resolve it. It seems even though my installation didn't finish, the program still installed? oh well.

got it working. have 3 profiles:

Low - 300 / 300
Normal - 625 / 1000
High - 700 / 1100

will post temps in a bit