M18x R2 Dual PSU mod and Throttle fix

[Jerryzago]

So for someone who might me interested, back when 980m SLI was a thing for the M18x R2, power was not enough. So I went ahead and made my own dual power supply mod with a coulomb meter that shows wattage, Voltage, amperage and power consumption in real time.

 

Recipe was simple. Two power bricks, a bridge rectifier to direct voltage and amperage in one direction, and a screen to show me what is happening.

 

So I picked up:

- An coulomb meter and a shunt to withstand at least 50amps

 Because 330w / 19,5V = 17 amps x 2 (psus) = 34 amps

- 4 Diodes with the lowest voltage drop

- Two Dell specific Cable Extensions (that was the name on Ebay)

- Cable fasteners with adhesive tape

- Insulating tape

- Soldering Iron

- My trusted dremel

- Patience and 'Vision'

 

So the idea was to have it modular, so both psus can be connected at the same time, or just one, or none.

 

Also to prevent throttling

- Flash swicks unlocked A11 Bios to be able to use 980m obviously

- Power up the system

- Enter BIOS setting

- Go to Advanced Settings and Video Configutation

- Select IGFX (intergrated GPU)

- Save and Reboot

- Enter BIOS again, no need to wait to enter windows

- Switch your GPU to Dedicated one (PEG).

 

This is effective as long as you keep your laptop to the wall charger and even when putting it to sleep. If you power it down, and plug it back in, repeat the process.

 

 

Actual footage of both GPUs running at 97%

 

Here is the screen

 

The 'finished' product!

 

The cable fasteners

 

Wiring instructions

 

Diodes

 

My second 980m has long gone, so I am only running single, and with the family and kids, I bearly use my laptop. I am at a search for a 980m just for the 'fun' of it. 

 

It is always 'cool' to have a dual GPU laptop 😅😅😅😅

 

[jaybee83]

7 minutes ago, Jerryzago said:

So for someone who might me interested, back when 980m SLI was a thing for the M18x R2, power was not enough. So I went ahead and made my own dual power supply mod with a coulomb meter that shows wattage, Voltage, amperage and power consumption in real time.

 

Recipe was simple. Two power bricks, a bridge rectifier to direct voltage and amperage in one direction, and a screen to show me what is happening.

 

So I picked up:

- An coulomb meter and a shunt to withstand at least 50amps

 Because 330w / 19,5V = 17 amps x 2 (psus) = 34 amps

- 4 Diodes with the lowest voltage drop

- Two Dell specific Cable Extensions (that was the name on Ebay)

- Cable fasteners with adhesive tape

- Insulating tape

- Soldering Iron

- My trusted dremel

- Patience and 'Vision'

 

So the idea was to have it modular, so both psus can be connected at the same time, or just one, or none.

 

Also to prevent throttling

- Flash swicks unlocked A11 Bios to be able to use 980m obviously

- Power up the system

- Enter BIOS setting

- Go to Advanced Settings and Video Configutation

- Select IGFX (intergrated GPU)

- Save and Reboot

- Enter BIOS again, no need to wait to enter windows

- Switch your GPU to Dedicated one (PEG).

 

This is effective as long as you keep your laptop to the wall charger and even when putting it to sleep. If you power it down, and plug it back in, repeat the process.

 

 

Actual footage of both GPUs running at 97%

 

Here is the screen

 

The 'finished' product!

 

The cable fasteners

 

Wiring instructions

 

 

Diodes

 

My second 980m has long gone, so I am only running single, and with the family and kids, I bearly use my laptop. I am at a search for a 980m just for the 'fun' of it. 

 

It is always 'cool' to have a dual GPU laptop 😅😅😅😅

 

dude, this is flippin awesome! very impressive, kudos to the seldmade dual psu 😁 i might be selling off my 980m when i switch to desktop in several months, but thats still a bit off.

[Jerryzago]

3 hours ago, jaybee83 said:

dude, this is flippin awesome! very impressive, kudos to the seldmade dual psu 😁 i might be selling off my 980m when i switch to desktop in several months, but thats still a bit off.

Please send me an message, if you are inside the EU. I might be interested.

[ssj92]

Has anyone tested the Eurocom 780w adapter with the single aw wire? I am curious if it can output over 330w 

[i.bakar]

15 hours ago, ssj92 said:

Has anyone tested the Eurocom 780w adapter with the single aw wire? I am curious if it can output over 330w 

i did test it with alienware 18 and it didn't go beyond 330w . i'm not sure if the m18x r2 any different !

[ssj92]

11 hours ago, i.bakar said:

i did test it with alienware 18 and it didn't go beyond 330w . i'm not sure if the m18x r2 any different !

AW 18 is limited to 330w. 

 

I have a 780w psu and cable coming so I'll be able to test this =D if I get an SLI system...lol 

[Jerryzago]

On 6/9/2022 at 6:07 AM, ssj92 said:

Has anyone tested the Eurocom 780w adapter with the single aw wire? I am curious if it can output over 330w 

What about the middle cable, M18x needs it to tell the bios a 330w adapter is plugged.

 

It was my consern, so I bought dell specific cable Extensions that had it present. So when I wire my dual psu mod, I retain connection so the laptop knows a 330w brick is connected so it will work at full speed.

 

When I had SLI, with my 3720qm, I saw maximum draw of 650watts!!!

[ssj92]

11 hours ago, Jerryzago said:

What about the middle cable, M18x needs it to tell the bios a 330w adapter is plugged.

 

It was my consern, so I bought dell specific cable Extensions that had it present. So when I wire my dual psu mod, I retain connection so the laptop knows a 330w brick is connected so it will work at full speed.

 

When I had SLI, with my 3720qm, I saw maximum draw of 650watts!!!

The wire has middle pin to let laptop know it's 330w. When I had my previous 780w with dual outputs for area-51m r1, bios showed 2x 330x psus. 

[Jerryzago]

10 hours ago, ssj92 said:

The wire has middle pin to let laptop know it's 330w. When I had my previous 780w with dual outputs for area-51m r1, bios showed 2x 330x psus. 

Then I believe you are ready to go. Please post results here. I would like to see how it will perform!

[jaybee83]

2 hours ago, Jerryzago said:

Then I believe you are ready to go. Please post results here. I would like to see how it will perform!

same same! lurker mode activated! 😛