[Review] M18x R2 - Intel i7 3920xm - SLI GTX680m

[vince207gti]

Hi Guys,

I've received yesterday my new rig,
so since i'm already reviewing it for a french forum, I'll translate you my review here, and giving you my firsts impressions and of course, benches

1. system summary :
Nebula Red || Intel core i7 3920XM || Sli Nvidia GTX680m 2gB || 8gB 1600Mhz CL9 HyperX || 2 x Intel 520 480 gB ssd Raid 0 || Wifi Killer 1103 || Blu ray reader ||

2. Unboxing:





3. Benchmarks:

3.1 SSDs:

- Intel 520 raid 0



- Gpu z ( stock, SLI disabled )



3.2 3D Mark 11:

first 3Dmark11 run (sli enabled, stock clocks, stock drivers)
Generic VGA video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3920XM Processor Extreme Edition,Alienware M18xR2 score: P9996 3DMarks : P9996
Generic VGA video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3920XM Processor Extreme Edition,Alienware M18xR2 score: P10623 3DMarks P10623 (stock clocks with beta drivers 304.79)

warning : seems that 304.79 drivers causes drivers crashes / bsod on windows startup. Runs fine once windows restore the driver.

- OC (with 304.79 drivers )
(854 - 1150)
Generic VGA video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3920XM Processor Extreme Edition,Alienware M18xR2 score: P10969 3DMarks ; P10969

(854 - 1175)
Generic VGA video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3920XM Processor Extreme Edition,Alienware M18xR2 score: P11009 3DMarks : P11009

(854 - 1175 + cpu @ 4,1 ghz )
Generic VGA video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3920XM Processor Extreme Edition,Alienware M18xR2 score: P11029 3DMarks : P11029



I oc'ed with Msi Afterburner 2.2.2 but it seems that only the mem clock is increased while benching, hence the the poor score improvement compared to stock clocks.
update : tried to oc with nvidia inspector, same issue, core clock doesn't increase ...

max temperatures :
CPU : 82 °C
GPU 1 : 71°C
GPU 2 : 69°C

3.3 Unigine Heaven:
max parameters ( except 3D)
http://pastehtml.com/view/c558pzwb5.html

3.4 3D mark Vantage:
Generic VGA video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3920XM Processor Extreme Edition,Alienware M18xR2 score: P34626 3DMarks

Generic VGA video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3920XM Processor Extreme Edition,Alienware M18xR2 score: P35887 3DMarksP35887 ( with 304.79 drivers )
Generic VGA video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3920XM Processor Extreme Edition,Alienware M18xR2 score: P36334 3DMarksP36334 ( with 304.79 drivers + oc @719/1150)
Generic VGA video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3920XM Processor Extreme Edition,Alienware M18xR2 score: P36440 3DMarksP36440 (with 304.79 drivers + oc @719/1300)
3.5 Games: (tested with 302.XX drivers)

- Skyrim :
had to disable V-sync for having a real idea of the performances ( was stuck at 60fps)

min fps : 60
average : 110
i'll upload some screens

- Just Cause 2

concrete jungle benchmark (maxed out, native resolution, MSAA x8)
average : 57 fps (I'll try with vsync disabled)

- the witcher 2

maxed out : min 27, max 50, avg 30/35
without ubersampling : avg 80, min 50, max 120
with vsync, ubersampling off, 60fps ( and smoother than with the other settings, can't notice the difference with or without ubersampling)

without ubersampling :


with ubersampling :





- max payne 3

- Battlefield 3



- batman arkham city

settings:


first bench physX enabled (high)


physX disabled


- metro 2033



Benchmark :
- Options: Resolution: 1920 x 1080; DirectX: DirectX 11; Quality: Very High; Antialiasing: MSAA 4X; Texture filtering: AF 16X; Advanced PhysX: Disabled; Tesselation: Enabled; DOF: Enabled
Average Framerate: 40.00
Max. Framerate: 202.76
Min. Framerate: 8.12

- Options: Resolution: 1920 x 1080; DirectX: DirectX 11; Quality: Very High; Antialiasing: MSAA 4X; Texture filtering: AF 16X; Advanced PhysX: Enabled; Tesselation: Enabled; DOF: Enabled
Average Framerate: 38.00
Max. Framerate: 182.48
Min. Framerate: 7.97

I'm very surprised, since enabling physX doesn't really impact the performances ...

- Crysis 2
tried it with and without vsync (seems that some files are missing, I can't get the benchmark tool working) all settings maxed out in game menus
with v sync : stays at 60 fps :


without vsync :




- Mafia 2
with physX on ( high)/ physX off



I'll keep you updated

[Evil_Mask]

hey congrats for your new beast!

Could you post the link of the French forum?

[vince207gti]

Here it is fellow citizen
P4G / [Review] M18X-R2 Sli gtx680m i7 3920xm

[Joce21]

From what I see, this is pretty similar to 7970m CFX.

[bumbo2]

can you run a games on battery?

[Irakandji]

Interesting results. At first I was disappointed since the premium to move from Xfire to SLI was $600 (cdn) I was hoping for a bit more performance. The I rememberedm I paid the premium for:
1) Cooler GPU's which means less fan and less noise ( a big factor for me)
2) CUDA for some reason I want to mess around with this
3) 3D Vision support (this also drove the SLI vs single card decision)
4) PhysX (I have some games that use it, I wanted it)
5) Optimus, there are some times I am on battery and need to do mail etc. This will help. My G73 did not have it and a few times it was a bother.
6) I have xFire 5870's in my desktop the image they generate is different from the one the 460m in my laptop generates (same external monitor) I like the 460m better so I am hoping this will also be true for 680m's
7) The Secret World is nVidia biased, I get 22 fps with the 460m on medium settings, I hear SLI's 680m's generate 60 plus fps on ultra So my favorite pastime is well supported

Bottom line I think I am still getting my $600 bucks worth and things might get better

[ARGH]

driver issues similar to that of 7970m's or do games actually run? that is the question!

[bumbo2]

driver issues similar to that of 7970m's or do games actually run? that is the question!

drivers will not be a problem with nvidia for sure!

[vince207gti]

my guess is that drivers are not at their best since 680m isn't offically supported by nvidia drivers download site ( also, we can see a 500 pts jump from dell drivers to nvidia's beta drivers )

can you run a games on battery?

I will try

[Bothi_G]

From what I see, this is pretty similar to 7970m CFX.

What good does it do to have a Ferrari if it doesn't have an engine. I could barely get minesweeper to run on my 7970m cfx rig.

I doubt I have anywhere near the number of issues with the 680m sli rig that is supposed to be delivered tomorrow.