5870m crossfire gpu clocks stuck

nagi_007pk

Estimable
Feb 8, 2015
3
0
4,510
So I picked up an alienware m17x r2 at a discount store. It's an early 2010 model and the configuration includes a crossfire 5870m.

I've been trying to play stuff on this but the games I play have such low fps that they are nearly unplayable.

The gpu temps looks reasonable using gpu-z here. The clocks though don't go above 300/400 gpu and mem respectively according to gpuz. Maybe that's why it isn't running games properly. Any help would be appreciated!
 

Justin Millard

Estimable
Nov 22, 2014
53
0
4,610
I think the manufacturer has locked the clock speeds at that low speed to save power. I'm not sure what you can do to unlock them to something closer to 600MHz for decent gaming performance. Best of luck to you.

If you can't unlock it most of the laptops coming out this year with new Radeon graphics or Nvidia 940m should perform better.

Dell Alienware support is worth a try to see if they have a official solution or patch.
 

nagi_007pk

Estimable
Feb 8, 2015
3
0
4,510
If that was the case the memeory clocks shown won't be 1000 and 700 for gpu and mem clocks respectively as reported by gpuz. I managed to overclock it once using afterburner but it doesn't work anymore. Under high load it gets stuck at 300/400 and idles at 100/150.
 

Justin Millard

Estimable
Nov 22, 2014
53
0
4,610
I'm guessing with most dual 5870 (and dual GPU laptops in general) setups the manufacturer underclocks them both to save on power and heat. 1000 and 700 are the max advertised speeds for that GPU.
 

nagi_007pk

Estimable
Feb 8, 2015
3
0
4,510
My friend has an identical system. His gpu clocks work around 1000/700. No heat isssues. No nothing. Mine though have been stuck like that forvever ever since I bought about a month ago. It only worked once maybe twice when the clocks went up to the designated speeds and temperatures were rolling around 60-65 degrees C under high load. Not too shabby I think but now it's all the same.