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    SSD, GPU (BIOS related) and HDD in caddy problem

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by willww, Jan 24, 2012.

  1. willww

    willww Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi,
    I recently received a replacement m14x after having an unfixable microphone problem.
    I have installed a 128GB M4 SSD with the latest 0009 firmware as a primary drive and I have also put the stock 500GB drive into a caddy in place of the optical drive.

    A few problems:
    1. I'm trying to get the M4 to make use of the SATAIII speeds, and I can confirm it works using A05 BIOS (Dell official and unlocked), however, using this BIOS, the GPU is no longer recognised! Tried every GPU driver (Nvidia site, dell site and also driver in the thread which mentions this problem)

    2. If I update to A08 BIOS, this fixes the GPU detection problem, however I'm now limited to SATAII speeds (confirmed in benchmarks, although HWInfo says I'm on Sata600...) :(. This is the BIOS I'm currently using, any ideas?

    3. I keep running into file copy problems when I try to copy files onto the HDD in the caddy:
    [​IMG]
    When you click 'Try Again' it copies fine. I suspect it has something to do with the speed of the connection/drive? I'm currently sourcing a 2mm jumper to limit the speed of the HDD to SATAI and see if that'll fix it, but has anyone got any ideas?

    Any input is greatly appreciated.
    Thanks.
     
    willww, Jan 24, 2012
    #1
  2. willww

    willww Notebook Enthusiast

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    I can confirm that attaching a 2mm jumper to the HDD in the Optical drive to limit SATAI speeds fixes the IO problems :)
     
    willww, Jan 28, 2012
    #2
  3. jostefan13

    jostefan13 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Also, intel RST driver fixes IO problems for me, BUT may not play nice with your SSD.
     
    jostefan13, Jan 28, 2012
    #3
  4. willww

    willww Notebook Enthusiast

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    I tried installing Intel RST as well, and it wouldn't boot into windows :(
     
    willww, Jan 29, 2012
    #4
  5. iMaster

    iMaster Notebook Guru

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    I have the exact same problem as you with the same SSD. I want to use SATA3 speeds but whenever i downgrade my BIOS from A08 (shipped with this BIOS unfortunately) to A05 i get the same GPU problem.

    Any solutions found yet?
     
    iMaster, Jan 30, 2012
    #5
  6. custom90gt

    custom90gt Doc Mod Super Moderator

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    Maybe try going to A03 and then back to A05 and see if that works?
     
    custom90gt, Jan 31, 2012
    #6