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    What BIOS is Everyone using on their M14x?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by soulhacker, Aug 28, 2011.

  1. soulhacker

    soulhacker Notebook Consultant

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    I have been reading up on the BIOS updates (A01, A03, A05) and am trying to figure out which is the best one...although I know this answer can be very subjective depending on what the uses are. Mine came from the factory with A03 installed and I did notice the loud fans and was really happy when the A05 came out. But I have been reading that the only real fix in the A05 is a limit on the fan rpm and incremental increases of rpm. ALthough its good, I am worried about overheating issues of the cpu as ppl have reported hikes in temp on A05...

    Mixed reports about the A03 are also a factor and I am getting the message that currently, the best one is the A01....what are everyones thoughts on this. Which BIOS are you all using and why??
     
    soulhacker, Aug 28, 2011
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  2. TitanGod

    TitanGod Notebook Evangelist

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    Been on A01 since it the M14x was released and I have yet to see any problems. I like the ability to control the video card performance myself since they removed it in A03 and above to resolve the battery problem.

    All the other BIOS updates don't seem like much improvements in my opinion. Yea A05 "might" stabilize the fan speeds but doesn't seem like much of a gain since you lose the ability of high-performance for the video card on battery.
     
    TitanGod, Aug 28, 2011
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  3. jimbo312

    jimbo312 Notebook Consultant

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    Is it possible to downgrade to AO1 if your system came with AO3?
     
    jimbo312, Aug 28, 2011
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  4. smokingjam

    smokingjam Notebook Evangelist

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    couldnt even tell you what im running now. im gonna update to A05 though
     
    smokingjam, Aug 28, 2011
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  5. ted264

    ted264 Notebook Consultant

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    i was running a01... was pretty solid.... i hardly ever game on battery so i decided to go up to A05.... so far... so good fan is better and sad seems more responsive
     
    ted264, Aug 28, 2011
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  6. fred2028

    fred2028 Sexy member

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    A05. A poll might do well for this topic OP
     
    fred2028, Aug 28, 2011
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  7. soulhacker

    soulhacker Notebook Consultant

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    soulhacker, Aug 28, 2011
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  8. jimbo312

    jimbo312 Notebook Consultant

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    jimbo312, Aug 28, 2011
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  9. smokingjam

    smokingjam Notebook Evangelist

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    ive just updated to A05.
    glad i did, fan noise is loads better. played deus ex human revolution. got temps around 55ish, fans were going but nothing like they were before.
     
    smokingjam, Aug 28, 2011
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  10. Mudig

    Mudig Notebook Consultant

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    I had A01 until A05 was released. I really wanted it since they made the fan less noisy. I love it and don't regret updating.
     
    Mudig, Aug 28, 2011
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  11. lucretius

    lucretius Notebook Guru

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    Running A05 right now. Previously had A01, A03, and A04. So far, I like A05 best.
     
    lucretius, Aug 28, 2011
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  12. Icebreeze

    Icebreeze Notebook Enthusiast

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    Running A05, the fans are quite a lot quieter now. Had A03, A04 previously.
     
    Icebreeze, Aug 28, 2011
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  13. Panchowska

    Panchowska Notebook Guru

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    A05 as most of the lads
     
    Panchowska, Aug 28, 2011
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  14. CGSDR

    CGSDR Alien Master Race

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    I receive my M14x with A03 then update to A04, now I'm with A05 and this is the best so far.
     
    CGSDR, Aug 29, 2011
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  15. /Drakk_

    /Drakk_ Notebook Consultant

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    Are temperatures any higher using A05, since it slows the fans?
     
    /Drakk_, Aug 29, 2011
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  16. johnspartan11712

    johnspartan11712 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Running A05 used to be on A03 seems that the laptop now runs less passivly now though seems like the fan is more pro active.
     
    johnspartan11712, Aug 29, 2011
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  17. Croatoan

    Croatoan Notebook Consultant

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    might give a05 a go, been on a01 myself since launch.
     
    Croatoan, Aug 29, 2011
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  18. Tsukurimashou

    Tsukurimashou Notebook Evangelist

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    My M14x had the A03 in stock, one time I tried to downgrade to A01 but my PC after running 3Dmarks on battery just shut down and didnt booted again until I unplug the battery so I returned to A03 :q
    and now I have the A05.
     
    Tsukurimashou, Aug 29, 2011
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  19. CGSDR

    CGSDR Alien Master Race

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    The temp seem to be lower than the A03, I consider A04 is useless since it said it for a compatibility with the newer Intel CPU.
     
    CGSDR, Aug 29, 2011
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  20. /Drakk_

    /Drakk_ Notebook Consultant

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    A04 might not be so useless when ivy bridge comes out...
     
    /Drakk_, Aug 29, 2011
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  21. CGSDR

    CGSDR Alien Master Race

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    That what I just said, it allow your M14x to be compatible with the newer Intel CPU which is the Ivy Bridge, but for now it is useless.
     
    CGSDR, Aug 29, 2011
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  22. shak541

    shak541 Notebook Consultant

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    i use A05 right now and regret my upgrade.. my fan still wont shut off and temp is around 46 degrees... with A03 it used to be off all the time! and kick on randomly. yes it was loud for maybe 5 seconds.. then it was silent.. now its constant fan on low all the time! :( :S thinking about downgrading but at the same time i cant risk having the laptop get really loud in a college class :( i wish was there something between A03 and A05 in terms of fan control :S
     
    shak541, Aug 29, 2011
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  23. soulhacker

    soulhacker Notebook Consultant

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    weird, i have been on A05 for a couple days now and the fan seems to be quieter than on A03, it does shutoff completely unlike what you are reporting, mine kicks in at new intervals depending on temps...
     
    soulhacker, Aug 29, 2011
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  24. soulhacker

    soulhacker Notebook Consultant

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    in terms of A01 vs A05...does anyone have any information regarding the GPU settings? I read somewhere that in A03, the GPU is limited and in A01 it is customizable...its this true for the A05?
     
    soulhacker, Aug 29, 2011
    #24