Alienware M17x R3 system BIOS A10

Here is the link for the A10

Fixes & Enhancements
Change eDP ACPI ID to support updated NV-GTX2 adjust brightness.


so still havent fixed the SATA III bug
so i wouldnt advice update from A08 for ppl using Sata III

 

Can u download it? it says file not found. I want to give it a try before a downgrade to A08

 

think they must be playing with the servers , a tried also on the USA site and its down as well, give it a couple of hours and it should be ok to dowlaod
and if your sata III work again let us know , i cant try cause im still on Sata II

 

lemme know when its up Im using ssd on slot 0 -> if it would work -> that would be great!

A10 Bios not fixes SATA3 Issue on slot 0... going to A08 sigh... and in slot 0

ftp://ftp.dell.com/FOLDER00336067M/2/M17xR3_A10_W74_ZPE.exe

 

Maybe Dell didn't want to admit to a SATA issue and just left it out of the patch notes?

If I had SATA III, I would still give it a shot. It could include a "stealth" SATA patch?

 

its not fixes sata 3 issue

 

I don't have SATA III so I think I'll upgrade to this

 

I would like to know if it fixes the HDMI input for 3D screens. It may not really matter if it continues to break SATA III for Port 1. I am not willing to give up half my SSD speed for an HDMI input. I'm not terribly concerned about Port 0 if Port 1 works in SATA III like it does in A08.

 

If you do end up going to Dell HQ you should demonstrate the issue to them. I kind of think they still don't understand.

 

Doesn't appear they fixed anything that I can make use of, so I guess ill be sticking with A08 for the time being.

 

wise decision...... I would do the same.....

 

Why all the dell support keep saying that m17x R3 has only SATA2 support....

 

because they are having issues maintaining SATA3 for whatever reason....so its easier to solve the problem by just downclocking to SATA2. and they did that with the A09 bios.

I can 100% guarantee that you will have SATA3 speeds if you go to A08...AND you install the SSD into slot1 (which is in the middle of the laptop). All the read and write tests of SSD's here show speeds only achieveable with SATA3

 

I already did so its in slot1 with A08 in raid mode. Should i reinstall windows to use AHCI?

By the way, Slick, do u have issues like laptop sometimes hangs before raid check -> all i can see is a black screen with a single underscore, only restart helps.

 

There's no need to use AHCI...bootup will be a few seconds faster because you don't get the raid splash screen...and *maybe performance is a few points higher. not worth the reinstall IMO.

PS...i'm in raid mode too

I don't get the black screen you mention. How often does it happen?

 

it happens randomly, sometimes when i turn it on, sometimes after restart... I mean a black screen when u just pressed POWER button, theres a black screen with an underscore for a few secs (but it hangs on that picture for me sometimes). What it might be?

PS do u have a wake up after sleep issue with ur crucial?

 

i don't have that sleep issue...but it could be my config. I have to check later how i have it set

 

Have u turned off intel graphics?

i just noticed one more thing, when i switch from radeon to intel graphics my windows theme is switching to basic (not aero) its annoying, looking so cheap.

 

well...technically, integrated graphics isn't switched on until you change it from 6990m to intel HD3000. So its off. If you mean disabling it in the bios, no i have not

 

@Riko: How do you get PowerXpress? I searched for a download or something but I couldn't find anything...


Also, I downloaded the A10 Bios, and it extracts everything and then....nothing...Nothing happens after that.

 

Now A10 bios for m17x R3 totally disapeared from DELL download site.

 

Hopefully its getting revised we shall see what happens though.

 

Lets hope for 2 working sata3 slots

 

off-topic.
Not sure if it's any help but I had both these problems with my R3 about a month after purchase. the black screen happened rarely but the resume from sleep or hibernate started as a 'one in ten' thing and gradually got worse until it would never resume from hibernate and only occasionally from sleep.
Tried a bunch of things i found here including disabling the on-board graphics but no joy so I gave up. Well, recently my SSD started to disappear on boot (no operating system). Went into the bios and it was not detected. called Dell and they took me through a bunch of tests including switching to AHCI and eventually they sent me a new SSD and an engineer to reinstall windows.
Now the bit that might be pertinent. I had left the BIOS in AHCI and the engineer had reinstalled windows in that mode. I tried to put RAID back (even though I'm not using it) but win would not boot, it blue screened so I reverted to AHCI. The sleep issue is no longer there and I don't get the other problem either. Could be just a clean windows install or new SSD that fixed it (sleep) but if you do reinstall, and don't expect to use RAID it might be worth a try?

 

maybe i overlooked something but...

- Change eDP ACPI ID to support updated NV-GTX2 adjust brightness.

means what exactly?!

 

For users with the 3D screen and 580m. Sometimes after 3D use, screen brightness control becomes unchangeable. Maybe it's that?

 

they removed A10 for R3 anyways

 

So u're saying that reinstalling windows with AHCI would solve my problems?

 

Duplicate post

t did for me but the SSD was replaced so YMMV....

 

Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

A10 bios for r3 is out. It has been put for a long time actually 4/19/2012.

Has anyone tried it? What are the changes?


I had the A08 and I flashed to this. Ran crystaldiskmark. Yes it clamps to SATA2 speeds.

Fixes & Enhancements: Change eDP ACPI ID to support updated NV-GTX2 adjust brightness.


Also, according to anandtech (read the last para) a new version of AlienFX has been released. It is not there on the dell site. From where to download it?
http://www.anandtech.com/show/5799/alienware-m14x-m17x-and-m18x-now-with-ivy-bridge-and-new-gpus

 

the update went to EA, with current version you can enable 3rd party alienfx access and play BF3.
when you get hit the keyboard will flash red and so on.
alienfx has been plugged into ea games.

 

^^^ that's a cool idea. I'm still rockin on A08 because of SATA3

 

since i have raid ssd and having 1 port go loco is not an option.
for now im on a10 and raid0 m4 is fast enough on sata2 too
rather have a shiny 7970M

 

Hey guys,
I have been thinking of upgrading my BIOS to A10.
The only thing stopping me is a few threads about loss of SATA III, and downgrading to SATA II...

Also, what other updates, support, or upgrades are in the A10?

 

Nothing of significance really. I'm on the unlocked A08 and most people here use A08. If you own an SSD, then stick with A08.

 

i will mirror what widezu said...it only really makes a difference if you are using SATA3 SSD's...if you are using a regular harddrive, it won't make a difference

i'm on the unlocked A08 as well

 

I updated to A10 a few days ago. I don't have a SATA3 SSD. No difference noticeable at all from previous A09.

 

Thanks for the info guys,

Where can i get a modded A08?

 

Pana, look at my 7970m install gudie (in my sig)...I have a link to the unlocked A08 bios near the top of the guide

 

AlienFX Implementation in EA’s Battlefield 3™
Dell is also announcing its ongoing collaboration with EA to implement an AlienFX software and lighting control system as well as an exclusive Alienware Arena dog tag in Battlefield 3. Customers can experience these AlienFX implementations while playing Battlefield 3 today, which will provide gamers with a more personal experience by adjusting lighting colors and effects settings. Gamers will see unique loading and menu and player health lighting effects that will change throughout their Battlefield 3 gameplay experience.

 

Hi sorry if i sound stupid but will the A10 fix throttle with the 580m or do i stay on the mod A08
thanks!

 

A10 does not fix anything.

 

A08 still the best one? Also if I am on the unlocked bios and want to send the PC to Dell, do I need to revert back to the stock bios?

 

That's right, if you need to send DELL is necessary return to Bios A08 Stock.

 

Not that they could ever tell the difference

 

I thought SVL7 have the A10 bios with the fix on SATA3 already? I think I saw it on the 680M on R3 compatibility thread.

 

Just wondering, I did the blind flash method to the A8 Bios to fix the power throttle issue. I sent my R3 in today to Dell without the HDD's bc I believe it's a fried mono or GPU (no power after a few random shutdowns)
Will this be a problem?
Does the blind flash to A08 be considered a modded bios??

Thanks

 

If you flashed original Dell non-moded A08 bios, then its not modded