The dedicated GPU is being reduced in speed, whereas the integrated GPU is being increased beyond its standard limits.
The dedicated GPU is being reduced in speed, whereas the integrated GPU is being increased beyond its standard limits.
My AMD Radeon R9 M290X reaches a maximum of 450MHz/300MHz no matter what settings I adjust in any OC tools or on CCC.
The clock is configured at 903/1256, but the card consistently stays capped at 450/300.
Despite changing the integrated card to 400/800, it actually operates at 1150/800.
I have no idea what to do or how to resolve this issue.
I've tried a complete uninstall and reinstall of every driver, as well as using different OC utilities without them interfering.
I reset the BIOS and disassembled the laptop (Alienware 17) to verify the GPU installation.
Is there a problem with the GPU or power supply (or wiring)? Or can this be fixed easily?
Regardless, I'm completely confused and really need assistance.
That is a possibility. The R9 M290X is almost certainly drawing more watts than the integrated graphics. If the laptop power supply (or battery) is degraded, the performance of the R9 M290X would be most effected in performance. That would explain much of the situation.
But it would require switching out the power brick to test that.
If you want to adjust the R9 M290X in BIOS, do it there (under graphics). If not, you might be able to turn off the built-in graphics in Windows Device Manager under Display Adapter. Click on the integrated adapter and choose Disable from the Driver menu. I tried this. Interestingly, after disabling the card, it still shows up in GPU-Z at lower clock speeds like 600 or 800, but I can’t play any games and the M290X reads 0/0 on both frequencies.
Desktop BIOS enables graphics to be directed into the PCI Express x16 slot (or auto-detect), while laptop BIOS typically lacks this option since the graphics is usually built-in. However, gaming laptops might support external graphics cards, allowing you to choose the source. I recommend checking your laptop's BIOS settings.
terry4536 :
Desktop BIOS allows the graphics to be forced to the PCI Express x 16 slot (as well as auto detect). Laptop BIOS generally don't have the feature because the graphics is usually integrated only. But gaming laptops may support mobile graphics cards, so they may allow you to specify the graphics source. I can only suggest that you look in the BIOS on your laptop.
This is true. I have tried disabling the IGPU entirely.
The issue isn't getting it to run on the DGPU - it's getting the DGPU to somehow run above 450/300MHz. I can't, for the life of me, figure out what is causing it to throttle/downclock.
But based on your explanation, you mentioned the R9 M290X was performing slowly while the integrated graphics was handling tasks quickly. Unless I'm misunderstanding, it seems like you're attempting to push the R9 M290X beyond its limits, but the integrated graphics is managing faster. It appears the integrated graphics might be being overclocked instead of the R9 M290X. That's why I recommended turning off the integrated graphics, so that when the overclock is applied, only the R9 M290X would be affected. Another idea could be removing the integrated graphics driver entirely, leaving just the R9 M290X installed. Windows might reinstall the driver later, but it's worth a shot.
I understand this may sound unusual, as you expected just the R9 M290X to run.
However, from your account, both seem active.
terry4536 :
But from your description, you said that the R9 M290X was running slow and the integrated graphics was running fast. Unless I'm missing something you are saying that you are trying to overclock the R9 M290X , but the performance of the R9 M290X slows while the integrated graphics speeds up. It sounds to me that somehow the integrated graphics is being overclocked instead of the R9 M290X .
That is why I suggested disabling the integrated graphics, that way when the overclock is applied that the R9 M290X will be overclocked. The only other thing I can think of is to uninstall the integrated graphics driver. Leaving the R9 M290X as the only installed graphics adapter. Windows may reapply the integrated graphics driver, ,but it is worth a try.
I know this all sounds odd, the R9 M290X should be the only graphics running.
But from your description both seem to be running.
It's running on switchable graphics. The IGPU is certainly running higher than I expected it to but all games that I play are running exclusively on the M290X.
When I disable the M290X, the IGPU can barely run games (~6 FPS) yet the DGPU, despite being underclocked, can run them at a respectable 30 FPS.
I was confused as to why the IGPU was running at such high clock speeds, but as you said, this is normal for many cards when they are being used.
The only issue that remains is the downclocking/throttling of the DGPU at all times. I have a suspicion that there is some covert program (OC utility that I can't find anywhere perhaps) or some rogue setting that is causing the DGPU to be limited to 450/300 MHz.
Another theory is that the power being supplied to the DGPU is insufficient or perhaps the DGPU is just toast.
Anyway, I was hoping for a way to reset the DGPU settings entirely. I've already reset to default through BIOS and uninstalled all OC utilities and reinstalled TRIXX/Afterburner to no avail.
That is a possibility. The R9 M290X is almost certainly drawing more watts than the integrated graphics. If the laptop power supply (or battery) is degraded, the performance of the R9 M290X would be most effected in performance. That would explain much of the situation.
But it would require switching out the power brick to test that.