FIX: Defiance 17 - FPS Drop Fox - Official Bios - Fix Thermal Throttling

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Fma965

Bronze Level Poster
Hi guys so you may or may not be aware of my issue i had with my defiance 17 recently... any way long story short a bios update fixed all the issues i was having, This bios download has since been replaced with a newer version on the website and actually doesn't fix the issues any more.

Put simply the bios and EC seem to have a issue which causes the CPU to throttle way sooner than it should meaning FPS Drops.

For more information regarding my issue click here - https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/foru...-AUTO-V-and-DEFIANCE-17-3-980M-I7-4720HQ-16GB

Any way please find below a link to the official bios that was on PCS download page.

[WARRANTY VOID FOR INCORRECT USE]

DOWNLOADS
Site 1: OFFICIAL PCS BIOS P6xSG.zip (Cyanlabs.net)
Site 2: OFFICIAL PCS BIOS P6xSG.zip (Thanks to GoatCrasher)

(Read the official PCS readme.txt file in the zip for information on how to flash)

This will be BIOS Version: 1.03.03 and EC Version 1.03.06 which is actually a older BIOS but a newer EC

Any way once flashed this will fix all thermal throttling issues that are explained in the GTA thread above.

PremaMod (un-official bios) also fixes all the thermal issues but since its modified PremaMod would technically void your warranty unless you can prove that wasn't the reason something broke (which most likely you can't)

Hope this helps.
 
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GoatCrasher

Member
To Confirm, This fixes the issue with drops in FPS.

I was running FarCry3 at full settings, FPS was 80 but dropped to 15 for a second or so randomly.

With the above the Fans are smoother. Its the EC that fixes it rarther than the BIOS....
 
F

Fma965

Bronze Level Poster
Hi, Glad it fixed it, I heard that you shouldn't just flash a EC or just a BIOS from the package though so i think it's best to flash both bits anyway, i could be wrong though.
 
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Nage

Member
I bought exactly the same laptop couple days ago (review copy of Defiance). It's still in production (4th working day). Does PCSpecialist know about this issue? Or should i let them know so I will not have to flash BIOS myself once laptop arrives to me?
 
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steaky360

steaky360

Moderator
Moderator
Nage said:
I bought exactly the same laptop couple days ago (review copy of Defiance). It's still in production (4th working day). Does PCSpecialist know about this issue? Or should i let them know so I will not have to flash BIOS myself once laptop arrives to me?
Click to expand...

You can ask them to flash the bios for you, it certainly can't hurt :) - I'd give them a call and ensure the request is added to your order (if they agree to do it).

Flashing the bios isn't difficult but isn't typically recommended (obviously in this case its solving an inherent problem however so is fine).
 
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Nage

Member
I've sent them email with link to this thread. I hope they are techy enough to understand what's the problem and how to fix it. Cheers.
 
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GoatCrasher

Member
I have the Review Defiance (Great laptop btw, flys!). I logged a case with PCS. They acknowledged the fix but not sure if they actully made any changes to the build process. Its a simple process but does require a 8gb USB Drive and a little bit of Tech know how. If your not 100% confident then dont.
 
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Nage

Member
Got their reply and it was: "All machines are dispatched with the latest BIOS. " . So I have no idea if they even checked the link to this thread or are aware of thermal throttling problem...
 
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Nage

Member
Hello,

I've finally got my laptop and as I suspected I have thermal throttling problem same as you guys. I asked PCS to look into this but they did nothing and shipped laptop with this existing problem. So yeah I see that I have no other choice but to update BIOS myself or send laptop back to them and spend another half of summer without it (second option is not acceptable!!!). So yeah these 2 files that I can download, what is the password for them?
 
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A

amoshi

Gold Level Poster
Nage said:
Hello,

I've finally got my laptop and as I suspected I have thermal throttling problem same as you guys. I asked PCS to look into this but they did nothing and shipped laptop with this existing problem. So yeah I see that I have no other choice but to update BIOS myself or send laptop back to them and spend another half of summer without it (second option is not acceptable!!!). So yeah these 2 files that I can download, what is the password for them?
Click to expand...

The password is in the ReadMe.txt file.
Disappointing email response from PCS by the way, I really doubt they get that much emails to send out generic responses.
 
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Nage

Member
masyarrum said:
Is this happening with all Defiance laptops? Or just an unlucky few? I'm considering buying one!
Click to expand...

If it has BIOS version 1.03.07 and EC 1.03.03 then yes, it will definitely have this problem. I've tried couple games and all of them are unplayable. This stuttering every 10 seconds or so drives me mad! I really can not understand how such obvious problem could slip past their testing. Just play a game for 5 minutes, geesh! It's what they should do, it's GAMING laptop!
 
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masyarrum

Bronze Level Poster
Nage said:
If it has BIOS version 1.03.07 and EC 1.03.03 then yes, it will definitely have this problem. I've tried couple games and all of them are unplayable. This stuttering every 10 seconds or so drives me mad! I really can not understand how such obvious problem could slip past their testing. Just play a game for 5 minutes, geesh! It's what they should do, it's GAMING laptop!
Click to expand...

So if you download the update for it, does it fix it...? Yeah, it's a bit ridiculous :/
 
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Nage

Member
I've not decided which BIOS/EC to use... Should I use one from this thread or should I use P6xxSG BIOS 307 EC 304 from here https://biosmods.wordpress.com/stock/ . Premamod update is only 4MB in total, dunno why other ones are 8gb... I have 64GB USB drive but it's with Windows 8.1 and bootable for that (do'nt want to wipe it just so I could update BIOS/EC..). I have another USB drive that is 2GB so 8GB file couldn't even fit in there. Really don't know what to do but I will have to do something cos as of now this laptop is useless to me :(
 
ubuysa

ubuysa

The BSOD Doctor
Are you certain that the CPU throttling is not done for cooling reasons? Laptops are notoriously difficult to cool and it's not unusual for the BIOS to limit functionality for cooling reasons.
 
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Nage

Member
It can't be that because throttling starts when CPU gets to about 79C. It barely gets warm at that point. It should be able safely get to 90C at least (and it does get to 98C or so during CPU stress tests, strange that thermal throttling is disabled then). I know cool gaming laptop is great and all but at the cost that no game is enjoyable anymore? No thank you!
 
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Nage

Member
So I have done it. I downloaded one of these files from the first post and updated my EC firmware. I kept BIOS the same cos it was of the newer version 1.03.07 so downgrade wasn't necessary and I've heard is not recommended... But now instead of problematic EC firmware version 1.03.03 I have version 1.03.06 and thermal throttling problem disappeared! Smooth gameplay all the time now. Amazing laptop! :D
 
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TomPat

New member
Okay I have the Defiance 15.6 and am having this problem, I've check with the intel XTU software and my cpu throttled to 75% at 65 degrees. I have sent PCSpecialist several emails about this and they have replied once asking if I had my laptop connected to the mains as the gpu might not be getting enough power, otherwise I have heard nothing. I've tried checking which bios version I am running using the command pop out and typed 'wmic get bios......' and it says 1.03.03. How do I check the EC version? And what bios download should I use to stop this?
 
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Nage

Member
You can check BIOS and EC versions while booting your system up and pressing F2 key. XTU software also can show you BIOS version but not EC version. Use Hotkey program (theres a download for it on PCS site, you will have to log in) to enable "performance" regime so to be sure that all your laptops elements are getting the maximum power.

As I said if your PC throttles you probably have EC 1.03.03 and you need EC 1.03.04 or higher version to solve it.
 
a_a786

a_a786

Active member
So I have the Vortex IV 15.6" and seem to be getting this issue where I would be playing at 60 frames then the frame rate would drop to 20 to 30 frames then shoot back up again.

The bios is for the Defiance model so I'm 100% sure if it works for my laptop, can anyone point me to the direction of getting this fix or will the bios update here work?

My specs:
Chassis & Display Vortex Series: 15.6" Matte Full HD LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU) Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Mobile Processor i7-4910MQ (2.90GHz) 8MB
Memory (RAM) 16GB KINGSTON HYPER-X IMPACT 1600MHz SODIMM DDR3 (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 980M - 8.0GB DDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 11
 
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