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Although Nvidia Corp. recently said that its future drivers for GeForce GTX 900M-series graphics adapters for mobile computers will re-enable overclocking support for the notebook GPUs, there are reports that the company continues to block overclocking, but this time using a vBIOS setting.
A BIOS mod enthusiast from TechInferno.com forum recently revealed that Nvidia had begun shipping new GeForce GTX 900M-series graphics adapters with a vBIOS that blocks GPU overclocking. This means that from now on MXM cards featuring Nvidia GeForce graphics processors for laptops shipped inside notebooks or sold separately will not support overclocking out-of-the-box. Previously Nvidia blocked overclocking functionality in its drivers, but promised to return the capability in March.
FOLLOW UP: MSI: We will not block overclocking capabilities of our notebooks
Manufacturers of gaming laptops featuring Nvidia GeForce GTX 900M GPUs in many cases have rights to modify vBIOS and re-activate overclocking support. However, it is unclear how that affects warranty and support from Nvidia. In a lot of cases OEMs would likely prefer to ship laptops without overclocking capability to limit their own risks.
End-users can re-flash their new GeForce GTX 970M or 980M graphics adapters with older vBIOS versions to enable overclocking. However, it will likely be impossible to flash modified versions of vBIOS to current and upcoming MXM modules since NvFlash, a program developed by Nvidia for re-flashing GeForce graphics solutions, blocks unsigned (hacked) versions of vBIOS.
Nvidia’s decision to block overclocking capabilities of mobile GPUs has made many of its customers very upset. While it is relatively easy to damage a notebook graphics adapter by overheating as a result of overclocking, it should be noted that many gaming laptops have sophisticated cooling systems that can dissipate more heat than even an overclocked GPU can generate. Moreover, Nvidia works closely with OEMs to find the best combination of clock-rates, cooling systems and fan speeds. The company has no need to limit overclocking on all GeForce GTX 900M MXM modules it sells.
It is unknown how many notebooks and notebook suppliers are currently affected by the limitation. At least some laptop vendors will likely re-enable GeForce GTX 900M overclocking, but, it is possible that many of PC makers will not do this.
Nvidia did not comment on the news-story.
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KitGuru Says: Looks like Nvidia wants to prohibit overclocking of mobile graphics processors using any means necessary. While the company probably wants to minimize its own risks, the move will naturally anger many of its customers. Still, taking into account the fact that Nvidia dominates notebook gaming GPU market and AMD has nothing that offers performance similar to that of the GTX 970M/980M, it does not look like the Santa Clara, California-based GPU vendor has any stimulus to re-enable overclocking now. Still, once AMD releases a mobile GPU that beats Nvidia’s high-end “Maxwell” chips and offers overclocking, Nvidia will have to react somehow.
so basically we go back to what they already were doing: capping the OC capabilities
Sleazy nVidia tactics, as usual.
this article is totally bogus. The OEM is the one wanted to block overclocking and went to nvidia. They were shipping laptops that went extremely cheap and skimpy on PWM and/or cooling. They already sold these ticking time bombs and lobbied Nvidia for help. Nvidia blocked overclocking thru the driver but the push back was substantial. Not just from customers but from other OEMs that were selling beefed up laptops made for overclocking. This put nvidia in the middle of a hairy situation, considering that the OEM pushing to block overclocking was one of nvidia’s biggest contract. That OEM is……..wont say because i dont want to be libel but i will give a hint if you read on.
Of course it is wrong to punish everyone, all the other laptop makers, and even beefed up made for overclocking models. The original issue is one that is very serious, a large volume OEM had shipped products that were way to skimpy and would fail making not only the OEM look bad, but nvidia would be blamed as well.
Its not that nvidia is against overclocking, there have been all kind of conspiracies with all kind of claims. The truth is, there is something real behind this. The easy solution would be to stop overclocking only on the models that are causing the panic. And that is why we see the vbios that prevents overclocking. It will not be on every laptop. That is where this article becomes full of crap. This vbios is a result of the OEM and honestly, they reserve the right to protect their product. People can choose to by other models and i would suggest them to if they are into overclocking.
The vbios is a solution to OEM(s) and their future products. But still, there are hundreds of thousands of skimpy products sold and in the hands of the customer right now. I am not sure how this will be addressed. Can dell force these people to a vbios update? i dont see how. So this return of mobile overclocking is gonna be interesting. There is a huge OEM with a massive problem still. Nvidia will have to have restrictions that block the potential on those models that the OEM is most concerned with.
All this and without a peep that there is an issue with this particular OEM or their products. If this word gets out they will consider it damaging to their image and will take action. But if you know any words that rhyme with BELL, you might be able to guess who it is.
This is a hairy situation that is much more complex than most armchair CEOs can imagine.
I’ve never owned or overclocked a laptop, so I want to see someone take 10 gaming laptops and review them as they do with dGPU’s just to see the benefits myself.
In reality, there is nothing anyone could do if nVIDIA and/or OEM’s decided to remove the ability to OC completely. Like, what are you going to do? Buy an AMD powered laptop? LOL. Good luck with that. Are people gonna stop buying laptops? Only if they didn’t NEED one in the first place.
In the end, people will simply have to get over it. Crying over 5-10fps gains now is silly, especially with Boost 2.0 and mobile G-Sync coming.
If some people are dumb enough to overclock on a laptop that already has heat issues, that’s their problem. And what’s this about “conspiracies”? Nvidia says it’ll disable overclocking, then doesn’t, then does it again. That’s a fact, with official anouncements each time.
It’s not “5-10fps”. Sometimes it’s 20fps. Sometimes it’s the difference between 45fps and 30fps. Sometimes it’s being able to run a game and not being able to run a game.
Also, you’re right about one thing. There’s no competition… so why would nVidia feel pressure for anything?
But uhh… let me at least clear up something for you.
This is an Alienware user (with a better CPU than me) running firestrike with his 780Ms at stock: http://www.3dmark.com/fs/2535613
This is my laptop with unlocked 780Ms with a nice hefty (not overheating) overclock, running firestrike: http://www.3dmark.com/fs/3489139
That’s more than a full 2000 firestrike points improvement. AND my cards could go further, if I had more juice to throw at it (which I can; I just don’t have it currently).
In fact, here are two firestrike runs where it DOES go further. http://www.3dmark.com/fs/2330540 and http://www.3dmark.com/fs/1461029
That’s almost a full 3000 extra firestrike points. Free.
And that’s Kepler. Loud, power hungry Kepler.
Maxwell? Maxwell would do better than that, overclock more, use less voltage AND run cooler. But maxwell is chosen to be locked down.
I want to make a correction here, Kitguru. Your statement “While it is relatively easy to damage a notebook graphics adapter by overheating as a result of overclocking” is incorrect.
nVidia’s stock vBIOS (the ones that have allowed overclocking for years) since Kepler mobile chips have come out have fully prevented ANY mobile chip from crossing 92 degrees celcius while clocked up. The minute 92 degrees is hit, under any circumstance, the card downclocks, even as far as its 2D clocks of 135MHz on core and 160MHz on memory, as long as the temperature drops. The TJMax of these cards lies somewhere between 100 and 105 degrees celcius, so it is, and I STRESS, “IMPOSSIBLE” to simply “overheat and fry” a video card in this fashion.
Please also note, that stock vBIOSes have no allowance on the core voltage sliders, and only a 135MHz limit on the core slider for overclocking. This means that, for example, a 1000MHz core card at 1v can only ever achieve a maximum overclock of 1135MHz on the core and the voltage must remain at 1v. This means it is also impossible to overvolt the chip.
I want to stress the next statement as much as I possibly can: Any method of destroying a mobile GPU in the Kepler or Maxwell family of GPUs exists BOTH on STOCK SPEEDS AND SETTINGS as well as on the limited overclock allowed by the STOCK nVidia vBIOS specifications. Users who use modified vBIOSes without permission from their notebook retailers lose their warranty on those parts.
The only recent (within the last two-three years) incident of large numbers of broken video cards from nVidia is the GTX 880M 8GB card, which did not contain enough voltage at stock and continually overheated and crashed for many users. Complaints were made to nVidia, and they claimed to be looking into it, however they never fixed the cards or their problems, and simply swept it under the rug with the launch of their 900M line of video cards. The likely possibility is that due to the massively broken nature of the 8GB 880M video cards (NOT the 4GB 880Ms commonly found in ASUS laptops), nVidia decided to keep things stock. This is my conjecture, but the 880M is the only card I could ever think of that would have had many returns for being broken, even though most users’ returns of the cards were at stock usage (which never worked). The 900M series is 100000% free from those issues, and should not be affected in any way.
Sometimes it’s the difference between 45fps and 30fps.
-We covered this already. Mobile G-Sync. 😉
Sometimes it’s being able to run a game and not being able to run a game.
-That’s when you buy a laptop with a better mGPU instead of betting an overclock will help. You can also lower your graphic settings.
If none of the above is satisfactory, then GO WITHOUT!
Have a good day!
I had a Dell XPS 1300 once, came with an Nvidia 8400M that was renowned for overheating and the chip die seperating from its packing material.
As it happened I had some copper shims made up to replace the thermal pads in the cooler and overclocked it by 200mHz, never had a problem with that in two years.
Nvidia fanboys will be cheering all over the internet for this great feature that protects their laptops.
It’s not “buy with better mGPU” it’s “what about after two years when your machine is getting on in years”. It’s the difference between stretching old hardware, and not.
Also, “mobile gSync” only works without optimus. Most all laptops sell with optimus, because everybody seems to love “battery life”. I also meant at lowest settings when I said “being able to run a game and not”.
So both your arguements are invalid.
unlucky maxwell nvidia mobile gpu users
Good day, sir!
LOL, nVidia wankers
you can’t possible be one of those people that are fine playing with 30fps. To me it’s like playing in slow-motion.
And, “good day, Sir” it’s very annoyingly Bilbo-like.
You act on the premises that you know everything and won’t bother to argue. Also, another of your premise is that everyone has money to spend around in “better hardware”
I have a GTX 970 so I play much higher than 30fps on Ultra, and if I couldn’t play higher than 30fps on a card that I have, I buy a better card and not rely on overclocking which isn’t a guarantee.
In regards to laptops, nVIDIA is going to introduce G-Sync mobile which will be way more beneficial than overclocking.
Which is what I was saying, overclocking on laptops is silly to begin with. nVIDIA wants to give you something better with G-Sync, and users are still whining like some bitches because they took your overclocking away.
PS, it’s meant to be annoying.
Since when all the stuff that nVidia makes is for the good of their customers? Are you a blind fanboy? I’d buy the hardware, I’d rather have the option to do whatever I want even if it invalidates the warranty. Gsync is one thing, but overclocking is even better, there are no Gsync solution that can fix a game that runs at less than 30fps.
Nvidia has become a fat lazy pig. They have no competition and the employees have nothing better to do than to torment customers with bad ideas that will save the company money…in the short term. Long term doesn’t matter supposedly…like pissing people off…there is no competition.