Clevo N960Kx (N960KR) Thread - BIOS Unlock, cooling mods, etc.

[razor0601]

It draws max 98w. With +200core and +600mem there is no change. And with +250 the screen freezes. So I think +200/+400 is my sweet spot. 
 

Maybe It can go higher with 130w VBios. 

[kaz26]

Ya, maybe. I didn't see a 130w clevo vBIOS, but I did see one that goes up to a 105w limit that you could try. That might push you to the top of the thermals. As it is, you are getting decent numbers from this machine from what I have seen from others. 

 

[razor0601]

I found this.

[kaz26]

Good find, I think that might work. It's worth giving it a shot. If you go for it, post back. I'm curious to see the results. 

 

[razor0601]

Do you know which NVFlash version I need?

[kaz26]

When I flashed my 3070, I tried three versions. The one that worked was 5.792.0.0. If you search "NVFlash 5.792.0.0" it's at the top of the list. 

 

It worked with write protect disabled. Just don't forget to make a backup first using the -b command: nvflash64 -b BACKUP.rom

Before flashing it, I believe I had to use the command: nvflash64 --protectoff

Then I used the command: nvflash64 -6 (ROM NAME).rom

 

Good luck!

[razor0601]

I flashed that 140w VBios. And what to say… it works. Shows me 140w in Nvidia system information. In superposition it pulls 120w and @stock it gives me 5188 points with a max of 82 degrees.

 

this evening I want to test OC, but I think I have to improve the cooling.

[kaz26]

That's awesome, very nice!!  I haven't started with any GPU cooling mods since the CPU has been such a big source of heat on this machine. I'm looking forward to see what you come up with and how it works. I might add a heatpipe eventually to the GPU cooler, but for now I need to sort out my RAM. 

Something I have considered doing is adding a small fan where the 2.5" drive would typically go since I have no need for a 2.5" drive. 

[razor0601]

Here is another screenshot with +100 and +300. it goes higher and higher 😁

Next step I need also an unlocked Bios. And tomorrow my Heatsink kit will arrive. I will also install them on the GPU.

How do you mount the extra Heatpipe? With Solder?

[kaz26]

I soldered it on the hot end, but haven't yet fixed it properly to the cool end on the fan.

 

For now I simply put thermal paste between the pipe and fan and a thin thermal pan between the pipe and bottom cover to hold it against the fan firmly. I have been trying to get some Tech Ingredients thermal epoxy for a while now since it seems superior to any other thermal epoxy on the market. I am hesitant to try soldering to it since the plastic is right there and I don't want to warp the fan. When you try to buy the Tech Ingredients thermal epoxy the link just drops at checkout. I tried reaching out to them, but didn't get a response. There is a video of how it is made, but I don't have time to procure the ingredients including the ultrasonic mixer required. 

 

If you find a better solution for fixing it to the fan, please post here. For now, this method has been working well enough for my needs. With fan at 100% I have gotten the CPU temp down to 29C at idle on some of the cores. However, when I finish the mod, it will probably run better when it's being pushed. 

 

[razor0601]

Thanks for your tips. I will think about it. I have a few old heatsinks from Clevo and Alienware laying around here. Maybe some of the pipes will fit. 
 

But do you know that on Aliexpress is a better GPU Heatsink/fan combo for sale?

 

And is that normal that Clevo paste over the RAM Chip?

[kaz26]

I agree that it's weird how they went right over the RAM chip like that, it's the same way on mine. The GPU cooler on Aliexpress seems to be the one I have. It works very well actually. For what I use it for I haven't had any issues with temps. For benchmarking fun later on I might add some cooling mods. I attached pics I took when I had it apart. 

If you haven't done so yet, the best bang for the buck cooling mod was the $8 pack of pure copper heatsinks. I actually bought a second pack and added a few more. If I were to add a small additional fan to circulate air inside my machine, it might help quite a bit due to all the added heatsinks I have now, lol. 

 

 

[razor0601]

Is your GPU Heatsink the original that came with the N960KR?

Then I need only the original one. 
what is the partnumber?
 

Please do a Superposition FullHD Extreme run. So I can see how far away or not the 3070 is. 

 

I did some work on mine. I used Aluminium because it gives the hot air faster to the environment. 

[kaz26]

Yes, my GPU cooler is the one that came with the laptop. 

The only part number I see is the one on the fan sticker which is:  6-31-N96K2-101  Rev: 0.0

 

Let me know if you can find it anywhere. I wanted to find both the CPU and GPU coolers (Heatsinks) to alleviate the fear of messing up the only one I have. 

I will do a superposition run soon. Your numbers are looking very good!
 

[kaz26]

Alright, so I got one benchmark to run, but I cannot tell you if this is a typical result or not because my system is acting up. When I started running Superposition, the computer started running on battery power and I was getting 10 fps or something like that, so I had to disconnect, then reconnect the power supply. I tried it again, and the same thing happened. I'm not sure why this is happening, but it might be the power supply failing. I have pushed it pretty hard. 

I ran this on stock settings, no overclock. I will try to resolve this power supply issue, but I might just need a new one. Maybe a larger one. 

Edit:  The first run I score around 5930, then I did another run and did the same thing with plugging in the power supply right after it loaded and this is the score I got. I connected my 230w power supply to a wattmeter and I saw it pull 223w at one point and it consistently pulls over 200w when running this benchmark. So ya, it is getting maxed out. I might get a 330w power supply and splice the cable to it. Aside from that, this software made it clear to me that the GPU cooling will need to be upgraded. I will probably add a cooling pipe to it. Maybe two in the future. I'm just very busy right now, but not too far from now I should have some time to do it. 

The power supply barrel connector is 2.5mm ID x 5.5mm OD. I found one with a 6ft pigtail a while back, it might have been Digi-key. That might be a better route. 

* * * Again, I'm not sure how accurate my benchmark is right now with the way this system is currently running. * * * 

If you download time spy you might get a better comparison. That 11k run was when I had everything running properly. As well as the other benchmarks I ran. 

 

[razor0601]

18 hours ago, kaz26 said:

Yes, my GPU cooler is the one that came with the laptop. 

The only part number I see is the one on the fan sticker which is:  6-31-N96K2-101  Rev: 0.0

 

Let me know if you can find it anywhere. I wanted to find both the CPU and GPU coolers (Heatsinks) to alleviate the fear of messing up the only one I have. 

I will do a superposition run soon. Your numbers are looking very good!
 

 
That seems to be the same like the N960TF has inside. Your cooler is not available. I will give it a try and will order the N960TF cooler. 

[razor0601]

14 hours ago, kaz26 said:

Alright, so I got one benchmark to run, but I cannot tell you if this is a typical result or not because my system is acting up. When I started running Superposition, the computer started running on battery power and I was getting 10 fps or something like that, so I had to disconnect, then reconnect the power supply. I tried it again, and the same thing happened. I'm not sure why this is happening, but it might be the power supply failing. I have pushed it pretty hard. 

I ran this on stock settings, no overclock. I will try to resolve this power supply issue, but I might just need a new one. Maybe a larger one. 

Edit:  The first run I score around 5930, then I did another run and did the same thing with plugging in the power supply right after it loaded and this is the score I got. I connected my 230w power supply to a wattmeter and I saw it pull 223w at one point and it consistently pulls over 200w when running this benchmark. So ya, it is getting maxed out. I might get a 330w power supply and splice the cable to it. Aside from that, this software made it clear to me that the GPU cooling will need to be upgraded. I will probably add a cooling pipe to it. Maybe two in the future. I'm just very busy right now, but not too far from now I should have some time to do it. 

The power supply barrel connector is 2.5mm ID x 5.5mm OD. I found one with a 6ft pigtail a while back, it might have been Digi-key. That might be a better route. 

* * * Again, I'm not sure how accurate my benchmark is right now with the way this system is currently running. * * * 

If you download time spy you might get a better comparison. That 11k run was when I had everything running properly. As well as the other benchmarks I ran. 

 

The 6300 points are a good score. My RTX 2080 in my P751TM scores @stock 6100 points. I will download later time spy and see what I got. 
The only thing is left is an unlocked Bios to get my 300MHz Ram‘s working 

[kaz26]

Good to know! I still need to figure out the situation with my power supply. It might just be a software issue since it wasn't shutting off with the time spy benchmarks. 

About halfway through the loading screen, my notebook switched to battery and my power supply stops pulling power from the wall until I unplug it and plug it back in. 

 

This is something I have never experienced before with any other laptop. Something else that's crazy is that this 230W power supply actually pulled 234W from the wall according to this Intertek brand wattmeter. I will post a pic of it here later. This adapter must be underrated. It might actually be a 280W power supply. Even so, I'm still maxing it out and should be using a larger one. 

[razor0601]

Do you have also this issues with all hardware @stock settings?

[kaz26]

I'm not sure what you're asking.  I feel like there might be some kind of breaker inside the AC adapter that gets triggered by the Superposition program. Whether or not that's what is happening, that's what it seems like. 

[razor0601]

And it’s only with the superposition Benchmark?

[kaz26]

Unfortunately it was happening with a 3D render yesterday. I looked at the max watts on the wattmeter and it went up to 269.9 before shutting off. So ya, this machine can pull atleast 270w. I'm afraid a 330w AC adapter won't even be enough. 

[kaz26]

* Instructions for unlocking the BIOS have been added to the original post, but I want to urge *CAUTION* for those who lack experience with flashing BIOS. 

 

* * *    * * *    * * *   * * *    * * *    * * *   * * *    * * *    * * *   

Also, I received the Kingston FURY RAM and will attach some pics of that. It runs at default with 3200MHz, at 1.20v (timings: 20-22-22-42) and was perfectly stable. 

 

RAM Overclock: It also runs stable at 18-20-20-28, but the tRFC didn't change and it didn't seem to make much of a difference in benchmark testing. I tried it with 20-20-20-28 and it runs about the same. To be honest, I'm not very knowledgeable with RAM overclocking. All I am doing is setting the CL, tRCD, and tRP and letting everything else go auto. If I need to do something else, please let me know. When I tried this with 16-18-18 the laptop would not boot. 

 

I might also try a third kit, the G.Skill 3200MHz CL22. I have a feeling that RAM can run with tighter timings. If it's anything like the other G.Skill kit I have, it will outperform the Kingston FURY. 

 

[kaz26]

After playing with settings in the BIOS, the Kingston RAM in running quite well now, even at the default settings. I attached some benchmarks so you can see the results. 

I also ordered a 330w power supply, but have not received it yet and will take some new benchmarks once I have it up and running. I still need to find a proper connector since the 330w power supply comes with a 7.4mm OD x5.0mm ID connector and I don't want to cut the stock power supply since it still works when the load is under 270w (it stops working when it gets above 270w). The stock 230w power supply is actually good quality and it is small, which I really like. 

Maybe it would be better to get another one of these 230w adapters and combine them like the Clevo X170KM-G.  I'm just not sure if the 330w adapter will be enough, but we will soon find out. 

 

 

 

 

[razor0601]

I don’t think that it will pull more than 330w. I have also a P751tm1 with 9900k and RTX 2080 and the 330w Adapter is enough.