AW17 Bios A13

a new one! same enhancement as 12 version ?
Alienware 17 System BIOS
AW17A13.exe | Windows/DOS (11 MB)
Date: 30/07/2014

Enhancement:
Modify warning message for dialog of OC setting.

 

another one they just released 12

 

Hmm, anyone tried it yet?

 

im on a13 and i cant really tell what changed..they dont even say...hmm

 

They release all these new bios and none of them have yet fixed the 880M!

 

yea...still same issues they change about this notification on OC option i heard this on the last 2 bios aswell...i am about to sell my aw17 880m and get a clevo with sli 780 seriously

 

Yeah it's ridiculous! Or you can sell the 880M and buy a 780M or trade it for the 780M + cash and that way you will have a headache free machine that is an absolute beast!

 

the problem is that the whole aw17 is mainboard power limited so even if i get a 780 or a xm cpu i wont be able to use the full potential..i really dont like the new model ;( i mean i bought a 330w supply to Overclock and even though the temps are low it doesnt let me cause of the power limits on the mainboard.

 

This was the same issue I ran into with my M15x! The fix is to get a L shape adapter jack and take off the center pin and conntect it to your PSU and you will be fed unlimited power into your laptop!

 

Are you sure that Alienware18 (330W) power supply does not work with Alienware 17? Is this correct? I am now pushing my 240W power supply to the limit under the new 3dmark test (skywalker). During the test my overclocked machine uses 250-251 watts. I can't understand there is a power limits on the mainboard. I must have a more powerful power supply (330W), if I'm going to get a higher Overclock on my alienware 17. Thinking to buy the Alienware 18's power supply.

Is there anyone who can confirm what is correct?

 

It works. He's saying the BIOS is limiting the capability of the system, which is true.

 

This is incorrect, the 330watt power supply does work. I use it and draw 280+ watts.

 

Same here, and that's even with both the CPU and GPU overclocked moderately. Well, not as of today as I've just flashed my stock vbios back to my 880m because I was growing nervous knowing that my core clock was running at 993mhz at all times.

 

I got the 330W ofcourse it works but it wont let you overclock higher than 240W does.... yes Dell did a bad job on the new model theres a power limit on the mainboard sadly its been confirmed often dont waste ur time.

my AW17 Running 4910mq @ ( 4x 4ghz) 1.130V stable) and 880M 1030Core / + 500Memory @ +12mv stable)

7 hours of watchdogs tested.. all benchmarks aswell.

all this with 240W. I tested higher with 330W but still crashes the same way it does on 240W cause its limited!

 

If its crashing it could mean simply that the overclocks are not stable. I run my cpu at lower voltage with a 4ghz overclock.

 

what is urs running at? and u got it on static in xtu?

 

1.1v with adaptive so it runs 1.114. But I noticed trying any higher voltage then that and I get crashing.

Core Settings

Cache Settings

 

thats adaptive u are not really running 1.1 only if u set static 1.1. check hwinfo while benchmark

 

Yes I know its at a constant 1.114 while benching.

 

So, I've installed this, and the fan tables are still all screwed up. Why won't they just fix the damn fans already? My CPU fan doesn't kick on until it reaches 75C~ and then it drops the temperature down to like 60C almost instantly, then the fans turn off, and it repeats. It's annoying as hell.

How many years has it been since we've started complaining about the fans? I hope Alienware releases fan control and other features with their systems, like the Aorus X series has. It would be so very helpful...

Spoiler

 

You can look at this thread.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...ofiles-new-alienware-17-18-a.html#post9738327

 

You'd think after investing $5000 in a system, they'd listen to you about problems. But, I guess we're not that important to them. I mean... How difficult can it really be? Adjusting the fan profiles would probably take less than a day with testing. I'm starting to think everything Michael Dell said was just a smoke screen for smoothing out the transition of Dell going private. Nothing has changed.

 

Why do not Dell fix the fan profile? Are they afraid of a bad reputation? That Alienware machines is too noisy? It is much better that the fans go up in speed while the temperature goes up. Then it is not so loud sound that fans do, when they have to start at max speed. They will not start up until the temperature is too high. Then they spin at max. (It is completely idiotic)

 

Hey Nightdex

I am on slv's vbios as well. Do your recommend I go back to the stock one?
I had some concerns as well when playing Bioshock a couple days ago when I realized that the GPU temps had reached 92 degrees. Core clock stayed at 993Mhz at all times which I am sure explain the high temps.

However I did face a completely different scenario last night when playing Murdered Soul Suspect. I played for 2 hours straight and the max temp I got was 76 degrees. The core clock was alternating between 830 an 993Mhz though as I guess it's not a demanding game. In some sequences where you basically get a slideshow of images (memories) the core clock dropped as low as 100Mhz with temps falling very quickly to sub-60 levels.

I am planning to flash back to stock vbios if only to check again max temps in Bioshock. Will be testing Tomb Raider as well with both slv and stock vbios.

If my performance takes a big hit (which I doubt it will), do you think using some quality thermal paste will help ?

I found some posts on overclockers and some other forums about other users (on Asus, MSI...) all reporting similar high temperatures and getting replies from the manufacturers that these are normal temps. Some even applied some ICD or MX-4 and only reported a drop of 2-3 degrees on load.

 

To be honest, it's probably Intel's problem. I agree with Mr. Fox when he said it's possibly Haswell itself. That's what I've been thinking lately as well. "Customizing" the fan profiles will help with the issue, but it should not be necessary, and it is. That is why I suggested Alienware release their own fan control software on the previous page.

 

I had had it installed for a few days now and have not noticed anything adverse but I am not OCing my CPU or anything like that. Firestrike scores remain about the same as does general operation for me

 

It's like beating a dead horse when it comes to Dell and this issue with their fan tables. Mr Fox and others (I believe) have posted in Dells Idea Storm that it would be beneficial if they updated the command center to emulate the version used on the desktops. Keep the stock profile as the minimum (which should be more aggressive) but allow users to set their own fan curves for more aggressive cooling. Hell I would even be happy with a Ctrl f1 like Clevo to set them at 100% while gaming.

 

I think you speak for most of us stop beating that dead horse. We have done all we can except boycotting the systekm . Baha like us enthusiasts will do that.

 

Hi all,

Not sure if this is BIOS related or not since installing A13 but my I?D GFX hot button no longer work's and I can no longer switch graphics cards. Anyone else got this issue?

 

Mine still working

 

I have issue too! My issue is slightly different than yours. I can switch graphics card. But I lost optimus completely. I only can switch either intel or Nvidia.
Very strange.