AW M15x Throttling Issue Investigation - Stock clocks and overclocked.

5150Joker · 12-03-2009, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisb808

Ive been following this thread for a few days now, from the M15x lounge, and now here. I have yet to notice throttling, that I know of. I've been running Dawn of War II graphics test and at native 1600x900 get peak of 86 fps and drops to 12 fps under intense battles, but, it only hits 12fps for asecond or so. AVG is 35fps with all settings nearly maxed, minus AA and shadows. I will load up vantage and '06 tonight when I get off of work and run it through the ringer. I will only use stock clocks however, i don't OC anything, no need to really. I'll post results when Im done or early tomorrow morning.

Thanks! Also if you could run through the synthetic tests as outlined in the first post that would be very helpful.

chrisb808 · 12-03-2009, 01:29 AM

Will do, could you provide links, or are they on the first page?

Avengement · 12-03-2009, 01:29 AM

Since my laptop is arriving tomorrow and I don't want to raid in WoW could you clarify something for me? Do I just run the Intel burn test (32 threads, maximum stress level) and Furmark (1600x900, 8xAA, stability test, post processing and xtreme burn) at the same time? What specifically am I looking for with GPU-Z? Never done anything like this but I'm more than willing to help. Surprised no one else has yet.

5150Joker · 12-03-2009, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisb808

Will do, could you provide links, or are they on the first page?

The instructions are all on the first page. I'll update the first post to include links to the programs.

5150Joker · 12-03-2009, 01:43 AM

I just did a run with TMonitor/GPUz active for logging, Prime 95 + Furmark. Attached are the log files for the run, take a look at the GPU-Z one, I noticed that shortly after it throttles, it lists the GPU load as >100%. Interesting huh?

chrisb808 · 12-03-2009, 02:05 AM

Interesting indeed. My question is this, Could this have anything to do with the stealth function, or any of the Alienware proprietary software. I'm currently running my unit naked (Win7 upgrade), no alien software on it. I'll see if that has anything to do with it. You might have already tried this, but I understood your previous post as that you did a factory image restore. I wonder....Thinking about this whole thing, could it be something to do with the hyperthreading of the I7, maybe what we are seeing is the cores switching on and/or off causing a fluxation in the power delivery....I've got some things to try tonight, won't be until 0200 in AM unfortunately.

electrosoft · 12-03-2009, 05:04 AM

Just did a preliminary test. Loaded up GPU-Z. Let the sensors run for a bit, then loaded up Prime95 (Max heat/ Max power) and the clocks immediately throttled back. This is with a stock Alienware install WoW edition.

Update: Strange that GPU-Z didn't acknowledge the adjusted readings after exiting Prime95. The sensors stayed low, but exiting and relaunching GPUZ showed the 260M clocks were back to normal.

Update #2: The downclocks vary depending on how fast the fan is spinning too. As the heat increase and the fans increase, the downclocks appears to me more severe.

Update #3: Ok, letting Prime95 really settle into "Yes my fans are definitely working" max speed. If I exit and re-enter GPU-Z, my clocks speeds are at max and appear fine but eventually downclock, but again, if I exit and re-enter, clock speeds are fine for quite awhile. I'll try some of the other tests, but right now, GPU-Z is suspect for its readings, as exiting and restarting the app will show the clocks back at normal for a variable amount of time.

Try running your tests and exit and restart GPU-Z numerous times and check the sensor readings.

I do think clock speeds are reacting to the power load of the CPU/system and it is walking a fine line. It will be interesting to see what the 210 adapter provides.

electrosoft · 12-03-2009, 05:26 AM

Here is a pic of GPU-Z with WoW running sitting in Dalaran (graphically and CPU intensive on a single core). Notice the dips and spikes. Yet frame rates remained consistent (54-62fps) and did not correlate to the big dips and valleys.

I might try a clean install to see what I get versus the Alienware factory install.

Doing raids, performance is very consistent and even (well as even as WoW can be, heh).

5150Joker · 12-03-2009, 05:44 AM

Electrosoft, if you're up to it, try overclocking your system and see if the performance scales with the increase in clock speed in 3dmark with GPUz open. I noticed that my GPU performance did not increase passed 610-620 core.

chrisb808 · 12-03-2009, 05:55 AM

Just did a simple test with DoW II graphics test, everything maxed, no AA, with GPU-z logging, and there was indeed throttling.

However, I timed the GPU-Z with the game launch, menu option, selecting test.... noting via stopwatch when said events occured.

At launch the card remained at 200 clock
During the intro movie, it peaked at 550 clock
Once at the option menu, it dropped to 200 clock
During the actual demo, it reached 550 clock and remained there throughout. The fans reached speed, temps reached around 62C.

Upon quitting the game, the clocks returned to 200 and temps reached a balmy 51C within 3 mins.

I know this isn't as conclusive as the Prime95/Furmark testing, but this game does stress CPU/GPU to an extent. If anything, this shows that there might not be any clocking issues during realworld gaming.