17 R1, mid 2013, 80w GPU cap / limit

Question

As visible in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLunRhsnP1o

the GPU works at full power for only 2 seconds then the power is stabilized around 80w.

I tried to install windows with UEFI and Legacy.

I have tried installing older versions of the video drivers.

I have tried windows 8.1/10/11 but the problem persists.

I tried bios A14 and A17 nothing changed.

I tried another MSI 980M video card but the problem persists.

Under these conditions the graphics performance is disappointing compared to an MSI gt70 or gt72 with 980M.

How can I enable and/or unlock the graphics card to deliver the factory 100w?

CPU 4940MX

GPU GTX 980M 8GB DELL

Thank you

mattyb3 · Answer

I haven't really come across this issue before so I'm not sure if it's the system having a problem or the card. You could try flashing the Prema vBIOS for the 980M. It was for the Clevo 980M but it could still work for the MSI, the Device and/or Subsystem ID may be different though which could make flashing the vBIOS a little more difficult (and dangerous).

Here is a link for the vBIOS but I'm not telling you to try flashing it. If something goes wrong then it can brick the card so you do it at your own risk.

https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/214971/214971

You can check the current vBIOS version using GPU-Z.

mattyb3 · Answer

It may also be worth asking the question over on the NotebookTalk forum as there will be more chance of finding someone who still uses one of these older laptops.

There are fewer and fewer of us these days though.

evol42 · Answer

I bought this notebook used and I don't know its history.

Since the notebook was very dirty and with signs of a previous disassembly, I proceeded to disassemble the motherboard and clean it with alcohol and a soft brush.

During the reassembly I realized that a resistor is missing on the cpu (see photo)

This damage was done by the previous owner.

At the moment I have not solved the problem with the video card that keeps depowering at 80w.

Could the GPU problem depend on this missing resistor on the cpu?

Can I have problems with this cpu without that resistor?

What kind of problems could I have?

mattyb3 · Answer

I wouldn't imagine that the missing resistor would be causing the GPU issue but I'm definitely no electrical engineer so that's only a guess. If the GPU was missing one then I could see how that could possibly affect the voltage it's receiving but it would usually go up slightly.

It's possible that just missing that one on the CPU wouldn't cause a problem as there are so many still in the circuit but again, I'm no engineer. If it was affecting the CPU then I'd assume it would allow slightly more voltage through which could potentially harm the CPU.

evol42 · Answer

nvflash pached with --protectoff option and gpu disabled on windows. Do you have any tip?

evol42 · Answer

I proceeded to do other tests with another Alienware with a 60Hz display, this one that gives me problems has a 120Hz 3D display

The Alienware with 120hz 3D display (which is the notebook subject of this discussion) I installed an original Alienware 780M GPU and the notebook can deliver 110w of maximum power and the benchmark performance is in line with expectations.
Also on this Alienware I tried a 770M and 870M GPU but I got black screen and error beeps.
I must point out that on this notebook due to the 120HZ 3d display it is not possible to use the dual video card as the integrated card does not support this configuration.

On the other Alienware (the one with dual GPU and classic 60hz display) it works correctly with the 980M and delivers 110w with performance in line with expectations.
I tested the 780M (which is its original) then I successfully tested the 770M and 870M.

Alienware

17 R1, mid 2013, 80w GPU cap / limit

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