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How to overclock Alienware M17x-R2 using SetFSB


Brian

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Copying over my original article:

How to OC the M17x-R2 using SetFSB:

Background information

I'll start with how I figured it out:

1. I saw the Asus guys unlock their bclk using setfsb and figured the PM55 can't be too different from the HM55 and decided to give it a shot. The first step is to download SetFSB, switch the clock generator to ICS9LPRS365BGLF, click GET FSB and let it populate the addresses.

2. I realized Dell already gave us the keys to OC'ing the BCLK in the bios so I started by setting my system to default and doing a capture of the addresses setfsb spit out. I then incrementally increased the OC from 1-5% and observed the changes in the offsets (see attached photos). Here's the notes I made last night when testing all this:

Offsets stock vs 5%:

00h:21/29

0C: 0D/20

0F: D8/98

10:31/34

=====================

Offsets 1% vs 2% changes:

0F: 98/18

10: 32/33

=====================

Offsets 3% vs 4% changes:

0F: 98/18

10: 33/34

======================

Offsets 4% vs 5% changes:

0F:18/98

10: 34/34

=======================

Offset changes for 0F from stock to 5%:

Stock: D8

1%: 98

2% 18

3% 98

4% 18

5% 98

Offset changes for 10 from stock to 5%:

Stock: 31

1%: 32

2%: 33

3%: 33

4%: 34

5%: 34

Offset chagnes for 00 from stock to 5%:

Stock: 21

All the rest: 29

3. The key thing to realize is that once you enable overclocking in the bios, offset 00h switches from 21 to 29, 0C to 20 and both stay that way for the duration of BCLK manipulation. The other two offsets that always change are 0F and 10. What I found is that if you lower 0F from 98 to say 95 and leave 10 as is (default is 34 when OC'ing at 5%), it raises the BCLK. Likewise, you can put 0F at 98 and incrementally raise the BCLK by increasing the value of offset 10 from 31-39 (it locked on me at 40).

So in summary


    1. Download and turn on SetFSB 2.2 (freeware version)
    2. Switch to clock generator ICS9LPRS365BGLF
    3. Change offset 00h to 29, click update and apply. Change offset 0C to 20 and click update/apply.
    4. The other two offsets (0F/10) are the ones that let you manipulate the BCLK as high as your system will allow and so 0F can be changed to 98-95/18 and offset 10 can range from values 31-39.

This method of BCLK overclocking has been shown to work with non-extreme CPU's that range from the 520M all the way up to 840QM.

Please note: If SetFSB does NOT show anything in the registers for your machine, it's because you need to do the following:

Step 1) change windows font resolution from medium or large to normal(in the control panel under font sizes) .

Step 2) adjust registers because SetFSB can't reproduce large font sizes!!!

Images to reference offset changes from 1% to 5% (red=changed offset, green=offset unchanged):

Changes in offsets at 1%

1ocw.th.jpg

Changes in offsets at 2%

2ocn.th.jpg

Changes in offsets at 3%

3ocs.th.jpg

Changes in offsets at 4%

4ocu.th.jpg

Changes in offsets at 5%

5ocp.th.jpg

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Offset changes for 10 from stock to 5%:

Stock: 31

1%: 32

2%: 33

3%: 33

4%: 34

5%: 34

I can go to 37 or 38 stable and 39 leads to BSOD. Usually 150mhz to 152mhz is where i max out and is plenty to get a 920xm over 4.0ghz

Edited by faiz23
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  • 2 weeks later...
Guest almosthandsome

i tried that with my i3 370m and nothing happened , since its same intel hm55 i put same clock generator and my thing is stuck at 148mhz when i click on the button set fsb , but nothing has changed im still at 2394mhz.

its stuck on 148mhz/297/24.8/8.3mhz but nothing has changed rly , no temperature increase , same 2,4 ghz , i cant go back to basic '' stats "

can u help me plz ? ^^

sorry i have bad english , im from paris :D

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Hi almosthandsome,

When you change the offsets, you need to click "update" followed by "apply". You do not need to press the "Set FSB" button as that will not do anything.

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Guest almosthandsome

yes i did click on "update" followed by "apply", but nothing has really changed ^^

my laptop is an Acer Aspire 5742G , maybe i didnt choose the good Clock Generator for the i3 370M .

Maybe there is some kind of security that prevents any OC ?!

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Okay well your Acer uses a different PLL than the M17x so it will not work for you. You would need to use a different PLL for your particular system. You can find that information by opening up the laptop and looking for the chip and then e-mailing Abo for support.

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Guest almosthandsome

So the modifications i did wont damage my computer then ?

When u say to email ABO ^^, u are talking about Acer computer support ?

thx for ur quick answers ^^

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Simply amazing. I'll give it a try. I've been using throttlestop and bios but this could be amazing. When the bios overclock is done or the setfsb overclock is done we are raising our base clock and therefore raising our ram operating frequency among others such as the qpi. Since both are locked at a certain ratio of base clock what speeds could our qpi and our ram handle on stock parts? Should we raise ram voltage from 1.5 to 1.6 or even the 1.7 option. I've read 1.65 is Intels max recomended voltage. All this ties in with that magic base clock we are raising. Any advice based on your experience thus far?

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Hi MW86,

I've found that in most circumstances, 5% BCLK increase via bios for the extreme CPUs in conjunction with Throttlestop is more than enough to get the absolute maximum in CPU performance. For a 5% BCLK increase, most extreme CPUs require an increase in voltage which in turn raises the heat produced. So it's a careful balancing act of performance vs heat when dealing with BCLK + TDP controls via throttlestop. I think this guide I wrote is more useful for those that do not have extreme CPUs. However, with TheWiz having cracked the Phoenix bios, this guide may soon become obsolete since the unlocked system bios purportedly allows for oveclocking/voltage changes of non-extreme core i7 cpus.

However, since the bios is limited to 5% only, those with non-extreme CPUs may still find this guide useful for going beyond that threshold to maximize their CPU potential. Since throttlestop does not work for non-extreme CPUs like the 720qm/820qm, they could continue to benefit from this guide. I do not know off hand what the memory:bclk ratio is but I've found it depends on the timings of the ram you are using. If you have low latency ram, then it will need additional voltage to cope with the increase in bclk. The type of ram Dell ships with their systems do not usually require a voltage increase, it's the premium aftermarket stuff like Kingston HyperX that requires it.

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  • 3 months later...

Is is safe to increase the voltage to 1.6v for 1.5v rated RAM for 24/7 operation? Is anybody running 1.6v daily?

Reason I ask is I've installed two new dimms of 4gb each that is only stable on 3% BIOS oc. I have to increase DRAM voltage to 1.6v to maintain stability on the BIOS 5% oc.

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Is is safe to increase the voltage to 1.6v for 1.5v rated RAM for 24/7 operation? Is anybody running 1.6v daily?

Reason I ask is I've installed two new dimms of 4gb each that is only stable on 3% BIOS oc. I have to increase DRAM voltage to 1.6v to maintain stability on the BIOS 5% oc.

I run it for a year now at 1.6V, no problem so far, I also have 3% BIOS oc with +75mV and I am at 3.57 on all 4 cores.

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  • 3 months later...

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