Thursday, February 12th 2015

NVIDIA Disables GeForce GTX 900M Mobile GPU Overclocking with Driver Update

With GeForce R347 drivers (version 347.29), NVIDIA disabled overclocking on its GeForce GTX 900M series mobile GPUs. Buyers of new notebooks, and using older drivers, with the chips fell under the impression that like their desktop counterparts, the GTX 900M series support overclocking, until they updated their drivers to 347.29, to find that their overclocks were wiped back to reference clocks, and overclocking using third-party tools was disabled.

When angry users took to the official GeForce forums to report the bug, NVIDIA explained that overclocking on the GTX 900M series was enabled by accident, and has since been disabled with the recent driver updates. This explanation was met by angry reactions by users who argued that they should be allowed to use the hardware as they want, even if it voids their warranties. Historically, overclocking was allowed on NVIDIA GPUs.
Source: NVIDIA GeForce Forums
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160 Comments on NVIDIA Disables GeForce GTX 900M Mobile GPU Overclocking with Driver Update

#126
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
Meanwhile, i've got two overclocked Intel+AMD gaming laptops in the house. temps arent an issue, and they're certainly reliable.
Posted on Reply
#127
xfia
I'm not really even really sure about temps in laptops to be honest haha like is anything over 80c really ok or are you just throttling..
Posted on Reply
#128
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
xfiaI'm not really even really sure about temps in laptops to be honest haha like is anything over 80c really ok or are you just throttling..
they throttle. if you OC so much it throttled, replace the thermal paste or lower the OC. i got a *30C* drop in temps on mine using MX4 (second hand i7 laptop) and a huge performance boost, especially when i OC'd the GPU.
Posted on Reply
#129
xfia
would be strange if something about them couldn't handle at least 80c

this just leaves people scratching heads when they end overclocking on mobile gpu's with a new architecture and let everyone do so for months.

lame excuse.. someone needs to get to the bottom of it.
Posted on Reply
#130
$ReaPeR$
to all the Nvidia supporters in this thread: so you are supporting Nvidia for taking away the choice to oc the laptop that people bought with their hard earned money? good job people! and thak you for supporting the consumer :)
Posted on Reply
#131
semantics
Musselsthey throttle. if you OC so much it throttled, replace the thermal paste or lower the OC. i got a *30C* drop in temps on mine using MX4 (second hand i7 laptop) and a huge performance boost, especially when i OC'd the GPU.
True, the first thing i always do is replace all the thermal paste in a laptop with higher quality ones like MX4 ICdiamond7 etc and increase the application force can often find a drop of 5c+ and that thermal paste won't wear out after a year.
Posted on Reply
#132
P4-630
semanticsTrue, the first thing i always do is replace all the thermal paste in a laptop with higher quality ones like MX4 ICdiamond7 etc and increase the application force can often find a drop of 5c+ and that thermal paste won't wear out after a year.
Does anyone know what quality thermal paste Asus uses for their ROG laptops?
Posted on Reply
#133
ypsylon
Oh dear laptop users probably crying like mad right now.

Seriously tho anyone familiar with limitations of mobile devices would be mad to OC a laptop.
Posted on Reply
#134
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
ypsylonOh dear laptop users probably crying like mad right now.

Seriously tho anyone familiar with limitations of mobile devices would be mad to OC a laptop.
a lot of people disagree with you

Posted on Reply
#135
Mr. Fox
Musselsa lot of people disagree with you

I am amazed at the magnitude of ignorance that is so prevalent among desktop owners. I never dreamed the ignorance would be so rampant.

Look what I found digging through my old emails, LOL. If NVIDIA doesn't reverse their ludicrous and unfounded position on MXM overclocking, we may get to have another nasty dance.
-----Original Message-----
From: NVIDIA GPU Litigation Settlement Administrator [mailto:Receipt@NvidiaSettlement.com]
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2010 2:52 PM
To: mr_fox_rox
Subject: NVIDIA GPU Litigation Email Registration Confirmation

Dear Mr. Fox:

You have successfully registered your email address to receive future updates regarding the NVIDIA GPU Litigation.
Posted on Reply
#136
Captain_Tom
James DI knew there are many didiots who own desktop and just afraid of mobile GPU performance so they attack notebook owners with limited sense. Crying that notebooks can't be overclocked anyway.

But I just didn't know that there are SO MANY!
I know right? These people do realize that mobile graphics have been close to desktop for the past 3-4 years right?
Posted on Reply
#137
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
Captain_TomI know right? These people do realize that mobile graphics have been close to desktop for the past 3-4 years right?
i wouldnt say close to desktop, but i would say fast enough for portable gaming - especially when laptops tend to have lower resolution screens.
Posted on Reply
#138
Captain_Tom
Musselsi wouldnt say close to desktop, but i would say fast enough for portable gaming - especially when laptops tend to have lower resolution screens.
The 680M was really about as strong as a 670, especially when overclocked. The 780m was as strong as a 680, and the 980m overclocked is as strong as a 780. Don't tell me that isn't close enough when statistics show that most desktop users are gaming with a 560 Ti or lower.
Posted on Reply
#139
HumanSmoke
Musselsa lot of people disagree with you

If anything, I'd say that a few people voting numerous times disagree...either that, or TPU has a particularly strong mobile-OC contingent - no doubt helped the influx of new members. But hardly representative of sales as a whole.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say 45% of laptop owners don't overclock either GPU or CPU, and I doubt even desktop ownership sees anything close to that kind of number.

As for the issue itself, as an enthusiast it always grieves me to see vendors and manufacturers treat us like toddlers found playing with matches. From the point of view of the business as whole, I'm remain perpetually surprised that mobile (given the high return rate) isn't fully locked down, plastered with tamperproof seals, and put together with proprietary fastenings. Of the laptops I've been given to "fix" due to overclocking, the end results are more often than not much more severe than for desktop parts. It seems that 5 minutes of Google is all that is required for some people to download a modded BIOS and push the power limits to the stops. By the time I get it, all they want is for an original BIOS reflash so they can send it off for a warranty claim. At the very least, they've played with some bundled OC utility, or downloaded XTU and managed to turn their system into an unstable basket case.
Posted on Reply
#140
Caring1
James DI knew there are many didiots who own desktop and just afraid of mobile GPU performance so they attack notebook owners with limited sense.
So are you saying notebook owners have limited sense? :roll: You must be a desktop user, judging by your grammar.
Posted on Reply
#141
SaltyFish
After the whole NVIDIA GTX 970 memory thing, I wonder if TPU will do a poll regarding this as well... not to mention a full article about its results.:laugh:
Posted on Reply
#142
HumanSmoke
SaltyFishAfter the whole NVIDIA GTX 970 memory thing, I wonder if TPU will do a poll regarding this as well... not to mention a full article about its results.:laugh:
A poll? Like the one on the front page article that you're commenting on?
Posted on Reply
#143
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
HumanSmokeIf anything, I'd say that a few people voting numerous times disagree...either that, or TPU has a particularly strong mobile-OC contingent - no doubt helped the influx of new members. But hardly representative of sales as a whole.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say 45% of laptop owners don't overclock either GPU or CPU, and I doubt even desktop ownership sees anything close to that kind of number.

As for the issue itself, as an enthusiast it always grieves me to see vendors and manufacturers treat us like toddlers found playing with matches. From the point of view of the business as whole, I'm remain perpetually surprised that mobile (given the high return rate) isn't fully locked down, plastered with tamperproof seals, and put together with proprietary fastenings. Of the laptops I've been given to "fix" due to overclocking, the end results are more often than not much more severe than for desktop parts. It seems that 5 minutes of Google is all that is required for some people to download a modded BIOS and push the power limits to the stops. By the time I get it, all they want is for an original BIOS reflash so they can send it off for a warranty claim. At the very least, they've played with some bundled OC utility, or downloaded XTU and managed to turn their system into an unstable basket case.
you can only vote once, per registered user. i'd say 99% of laptop users dont OC, but a large percentage of users who bought a *GAMING* laptop have looked into it.


The main problem here is that someone could have bought a laptop with this feature, and bam - removed.
Posted on Reply
#144
TRWOV
MusselsThe main problem here is that someone could have bought a laptop with this feature, and bam - removed.
That's exactly the issue and what several people just can't seem to grasp. Heck, I even oced my old m5310 and it wasn't a gaming laptop in any sense (Athlon XP-M 2400+, 320m IGP OCed to 205Mhz, 1GB DDR-266, still works today with the same OC) so I'd guess that gaming laptops are specced to at least handle a mild overclock. Even if it isn't a "right" is a common expectation for power users.
HumanSmokeIf anything, I'd say that a few people voting numerous times disagree...
You can vote only once:
Posted on Reply
#145
HumanSmoke
Musselsyou can only vote once, per registered user.
Well, that's a refreshing change. Usually a TPU poll involves more vote stuffing than Tammany Hall ever saw.
Posted on Reply
#146
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
HumanSmokeWell, that's a refreshing change. Usually a TPU poll involves more vote stuffing than Tammany Hall ever saw.




Unless theres some way to exploit it, the polls have always been this way.
Posted on Reply
#147
SaltyFish
HumanSmokeA poll? Like the one on the front page article that you're commenting on?
I was expecting the same main front page poll like the GTX 970 one. Also, I usually check the news articles through the forum page rather than the front page. I'm not sure how I feel knowing that TPU actually does have a poll on this. However I feel, TPU probably will end up with a dedicated news article about the poll results. And we'll all rant and rave about it.
Musselsyou can only vote once, per registered user.
Emphasis mine. Unregistered users can vote as well using their IP address as a temporary check. Given the technical expertise of many of TPU's members and their... passionate enthusiasm, it's not hard to see some people rotate their IP addresses and stuff the ballots. Who needs sockpuppet accounts? Vote early and vote often! :p
Posted on Reply
#148
HumanSmoke
MusselsUnless theres some way to exploit it, the polls have always been this way.
Well, there is this...
W1zzardforum users can only vote once on the poll, unregistered once per ip per 24 hours. these polls are a fun thing, they have no significance for us, so i really don't care if there is cheating.
...in answer to this
Sony Xperia SA few dozen of these votes are mine because it is open for quite a while and you can vote every day.
Not exactly a fullproof accounting method is it?
SaltyFishI was expecting the same main front page poll like the GTX 970 one. Also, I usually check the news articles through the forum page rather than the front page.
Ah! I see. The poll isn't visible from the forum page
SaltyFishI'm not sure how I feel knowing that TPU actually does have a poll on this. However I feel, TPU probably will end up with a dedicated news article about the poll results. And we'll all rant and rave about it.
Well some people will rant and rave about it for sure, and if previous articles are anything to go by, a small percentage of posters will actually be affected by it.
SaltyFishUnregistered users can vote as well using their IP address as a temporary check. Given the technical expertise of many of TPU's members and their... passionate enthusiasm, it's not hard to see some people rotate their IP addresses and stuff the ballots. Who needs sockpuppet accounts? Vote early and vote often! :p
Aye. Kind of makes you wonder how much spare time people have if they're devoting some time every day to vote in a poll that even the site administrator says holds no significance.
Posted on Reply
#149
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
is that for frontpage polls, or the forum polls? or both?
Posted on Reply
#150
SaltyFish
HumanSmokeKind of makes you wonder how much spare time people have if they're devoting some time every day to vote in a poll that even the site administrator says holds no significance.
I question the lack of significance part. After all, we have this shining example. The fun part I don't dispute though. It's always amusing to see which side manged to do a better job rigging the results, especially for a topic you didn't expect so many people so riled up over. Granted it's got NVIDIA on it and we're still fresh off the GTX 970 memory thing so the anti-NVIDIA (not the same thing as pro-AMD) camp is rallying to milk this. And likewise, the pro-NVIDIA (again, not the same thing as anti-AMD) camp is playing this whole thing down in a way they're not used to (laptops? who would've guessed?). See how fun this is?

Despite recent trends and all this, TPU probably isn't going down the gutter, so I'll likely go back to watching this thread with my bucket of popcorn.
Posted on Reply
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