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    A04-a09

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by MegaSquishyMan, Mar 16, 2012.

  1. MegaSquishyMan

    MegaSquishyMan Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hey I am running an i7-2720qm and a 580m on my r3. I was wondering if there is much difference between the A04 and the A09 bios. Will it impact my computer greatly? Performance wise? Will I get bugs and crashes if I switch back to A04?
     
    MegaSquishyMan, Mar 16, 2012
    #1
  2. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    A08 is probably where you want to go. Its the most stable of the bunch. A09 has some issues like the SATAs running at SATA2 speeds.

    Here is a link to the A08 unlocked bios. Its the same as Dell's A08, but with all the features available:

    ALIENWARE 17XR3 UNLOCKED A08 BIOS.rar
     
    SlickDude80, Mar 16, 2012
    #2
  3. beast-alien

    beast-alien Notebook Enthusiast

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    +1 A08 unlocked!
     
    beast-alien, Mar 16, 2012
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  4. MegaSquishyMan

    MegaSquishyMan Notebook Enthusiast

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    wasn't the 78c thermal throttle introduced at a05 and is still in a08?
     
    MegaSquishyMan, Mar 16, 2012
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  5. widezu69

    widezu69 Goodbye Alienware

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    No the 78C throttle exists throughout. All the bioses after A04 introduced a power throttle for some users with more power hungry graphics cards. Just go with either the A08 or the unlocked A08, any other problems can be addressed after you make the leap :D
     
    widezu69, Mar 16, 2012
    #5
  6. MegaSquishyMan

    MegaSquishyMan Notebook Enthusiast

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    Ok done. I'm running the a08 unlocked. I see in your sig that you have a 580m throttling fix...is that the "power throttle" or the thermal throttle fix?
     
    MegaSquishyMan, Mar 16, 2012
    #6
  7. eggzeon

    eggzeon Notebook Geek

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    How do you install an unlocked bios? Link? And is there a reason not to?
     
    eggzeon, Mar 16, 2012
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  8. BlackestNight21

    BlackestNight21 Notebook Consultant

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    You just flash the bios. The programs for doing so have come quite a long way from the old days of flashing. It's quite self explanatory.

    The only reason I could think not to would be if you're the type who goes poking around inside and messing with things that you don't rightly know what they do.
     
    BlackestNight21, Mar 16, 2012
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  9. widezu69

    widezu69 Goodbye Alienware

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    The throttlefix is for the 65C power throttle. Yoda has a temporary throttlefix.
     
    widezu69, Mar 17, 2012
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  10. SlimShady

    SlimShady ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒ&

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    To flash this bios that your download is linked to do you just run the downloaded program or is there another method to doing so?

    When I went from A09 to A08 while trying to figure out the ongoing issues with this laptop that's all I did however that was a Dell bios and this isn't so I wanted to confirm before doing so.
     
    SlimShady, Mar 17, 2012
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  11. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    Slim, just run the install exe from within windows. This is the easiest bios flash you will ever do
     
    SlickDude80, Mar 17, 2012
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  12. SlimShady

    SlimShady ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒ&

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    Thanks Slick,

    What are the benefits to running the unlocked A08 vs the standard? I'm honestly not sure if I need to install this or not.
     
    SlimShady, Mar 18, 2012
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  13. widezu69

    widezu69 Goodbye Alienware

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    For benefits, go to the link in my sig about Tips and Tricks with modded bios :)
     
    widezu69, Mar 18, 2012
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  14. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    The main advantage is that you get all the bios options available. THe one that dell gives you hides a ton of options. It is the exact same bios that Dell offers. There is nothing funny about this except for the ability to tweak a million things

    Now, user beware...don't go and start messing with everything or you can screw something up. I've found that the unlocked bios is much better if you want to stabilize your system and if you're doing any overclocking. Widezu offers some tips
     
    SlickDude80, Mar 18, 2012
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  15. SlimShady

    SlimShady ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒ&

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    Thanks again gents, definitely not planning on any over clocking or anything of that nature, hell I'll be happy if I can just get it to work half way decently stock.
     
    SlimShady, Mar 18, 2012
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  16. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    LOL...i hear ya, Slim
     
    SlickDude80, Mar 18, 2012
    #16