Not sure if most of you know this, but we can easily overclock the Dell Inspiron 1420, 1520, 1720 or Vostro that has NVIDIA GeForce 8400GS or 8600GT.

There are posts saying that 8400GS can be overclocked to reach the same performance as 8600GT and 8600GT can be overclocked much higher.

1. Download the Forceware(GeForce Device Driver) 15x.xx from http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/drivers/vista . Most of the drivers with version 16x.xx does not allow overclock, which happens to me. The one I'm using is v158.36 http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/index....showtopic=13774

2. Download the modded INF file. In my case, I'm using
http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/index....showtopic=13774

3. Extract the Forceware .exe file. Copy the modded INF file into the same folder. Run setup. The setup should uninstall your current graphics driver, reboot windows, reinstall the graphics drivers & reboot windows again. You might need to readjust the screen resolution after finish installation.

4. Download nTune software from NVIDIA webpage. http://www.nvidia.com/object/ntune_5.05.47.00.html

5. Launch nTune software, goto Performance icon->Accept End User License Agreement & click on Agree before you can start to overclock your GPU. After you accepted, Performance adjustment menu will appear and you can change your CPU & Memory speed of your graphics card.

Alternatively, we can also use Riva Tuner from www.guru3d.com/rivatuner/ instead of nTune, but I've not tried it. Will test it out in a while.


I have changed my 8400GS on my Dell Inspiron 1420 to CPU Speed 400/500 (CPU/Memory Speed in MHz) to 550/750. I have successfully increased the WEI on my Inspiron 1420 from 3.7 to 4.3. However, I'm still not sure if the GPU will overheat. Will post more screenshots & temperature information & the stability up to where we can overclock without messing up the system.

[UPDATE]
Test 1 - Temperature & Stability
- launched NVMonitor to monitor the GPU temperature & CPU Load.
- Then, I started Performance Stability Test (test will load the graphics card & CPU) for 10 minutes to monitor the CPU usage & the GPU Temperature. Test is then repeated after overclocking to 580/840.
Result:
At Factory setting 400/500, the average temperature is 84 C, peaking at 89 C.


After overclocking to 580/840, the average temperature is 88 C peaking at 93 C.


Conclusion: Whole system can run normally with out any crashes after overclocking to 580/840 but at 5 degrees C higher than normal. The GPU should be able to go up to >100C, since in NVMonitor, the default alarm is set to 145C. Therefore, the additional 5 C should not be a problem.

Test 2 - WEI
Using Dell CD's driver - WEI 3.7 (Limiting component is Graphics)

Using Latest Forceware at factory setting 400/500 - WEI 4.3


After overclock to 580/840 - 4.4



Test 3 - 3dMark 05
At factory setting 400/500, 3dMark05 score is 3087


After overclocking to 580/840, 3dMark05 score is 3521 (14% improvement)


This post has been edited by whycare: Aug 16 2007, 05:26 PM

wow.....i'm using benq s41 with 8600M GS (forceware 101.34 in win xp), by default cpu/memory is 500/700 but can i only overclock it to 575/777, anything higher will caused the system unstable. Seriously if ur 8400GS can be overclocked like this, it beats 8600M GS but not 8600GT wif GDDR3 ^^

try to post ur 3dmark b4 overclock and after overclock

This post has been edited by Jeffery: Aug 15 2007, 11:02 PM

thanks whycare for the guide. there r also alot of gpu tuner in guru3d.com. check them out ... =)

how to download the modded INF file. from http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/infs/155seri...sta/nv_disp.inf cuz everytime i clicks there are error coming out

yeah, thx for pointing out. seems cannot get it from direct link. you can Download the driver & INF from this page manually. URL in the first post fixed to this one also.

http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/index....showtopic=13774

the temp is so high?? it seems scary

Just a reminder: Any overclocking on the hardware will void the warranty, so try it at your own risk

but we use software to overclock right?
how they'll know that?

For the first answer:
Of course we use software, takkan we open our laptop and start soldering components on the GPU

The second answer:
This I don't know, let the experts in this field do the explanation. Just pray that nothing goes wrong when you're overclocking your GPU

let's say if there is a possibility that a virus (malware) will secretly overclock ur hardware juz to increase ur hardware temp? we can use this excuse to maintain our warranty lolz....

Anyway this is my benq s41 3dmark result wif and without OC,

default speed: 500/700

3dmark05
500/700 - 4896
575/777 - 5605

3dmark06
500/700 - 2784
550/760 - 3018
575/777 - 3130
575/777 - 1024x768 = 3502

They won't know it. Even though we overclock it until Vista hangs due to over heat, the clock will restore to the factory default after reboot. They can just know that you have installed a software that enables us to overclock (it's written by the manufacturer themselves) but they can't prove that the damage to notebook is due to overclocking (unless it's badly burnt).

Overclock will increase your GPU card's temperature. Most probably it won't damage your graphics card at that instance. However, it will decrease your GPU's lifespan and eventually your notebook's lifespan. Say your notebook's lifespan is 6 years and due to overclock, it causes more damage on the chips and decrease the lifespan to 3 years. At that time, you won't have anymore warranty, and you might need to buy another new laptop.

wah... it seems that 8400GS overclocked is nowhere near the 8600. No use to overclock already...

This post has been edited by whycare: Aug 16 2007, 06:54 PM

haiya, spoild after the warranty period doesnt mean you have to buy a new one.
you still can send for repairing, but you'll be charged for certain amount...

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Added on August 16, 2007, 8:02 pmBrother, S41 is 8600mGS lehh...

This post has been edited by penny2: Aug 16 2007, 08:02 PM

i OC my x1400 during gameplay with cpu undervolted, temp is comparable, max is 68C, refer to http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/493624

1400 itself produces less heat, so 68C is quite reasonable.
so how high you score the 3dmark06 after overclocking?

68C wor..... anyway, x1400 won't perform well in 3dmark06 mayb 3dmark05.....

Good tutorial, nice insight.

However, I really don't suggest this to anyone. First it voids ur warranty. Second the performance increase doesn't worth the risk. 93 C is way too hot and risky. Unless the performance increase seems to worth it, then F it do it. But then it doesn't. Too bad.

dun have 3dmark installed but can feel the smoother gameplay lar

do you overclock ur Alienware?

wah ... alienware with sli also want to over clock ar ???

I wont. It doesnt worth the risk. If I got caught, then they wont pay a cent for anything, then I'll be f'cked. SLi is more than enough for now, eddy230379 got it right. I will tho, after the warranty expired.