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    Alienware M17x R4 A05 BIOS released

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by somms, Jul 18, 2012.

  1. somms

    somms Notebook Evangelist

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    somms, Jul 18, 2012
    #1
  2. jellyheadz

    jellyheadz Notebook Enthusiast

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    jellyheadz, Jul 18, 2012
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  3. somms

    somms Notebook Evangelist

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    somms, Jul 18, 2012
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  4. jellyheadz

    jellyheadz Notebook Enthusiast

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    Not flashed yet, my m17x came with a04 and there's no description of the A05...

    You post the thread while i writted lol
     
    jellyheadz, Jul 18, 2012
    #4
  5. Prasad

    Prasad NBR Reviewer 1337 NBR Reviewer

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    I don't see any fixes or changelog mentioned. Flashing it now anyway..

    Can someone please upload and mirror the executable BIOS flash file, please? I'm talking about this one. I'm getting the "File Not Found." error from Dell servers like before..
     
    Prasad, Jul 18, 2012
    #5
  6. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

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    Raidriar, Jul 18, 2012
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  7. eliteone

    eliteone Notebook Guru

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    Im getting file not found...... somebody wanna share the file? :)
     
    eliteone, Jul 18, 2012
    #7
  8. Prasad

    Prasad NBR Reviewer 1337 NBR Reviewer

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    Here you are..

    Thanks! :) +rep.
     
    Prasad, Jul 18, 2012
    #8
  9. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

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    For others that need it and can't get it from Dell:
    M17xR4 Bios A05.zip

    Thread needs to be merged.

    EDIT prasad beat me to it
     
    Raidriar, Jul 18, 2012
    #9
  10. eliteone

    eliteone Notebook Guru

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    awsome thanks guys
     
    eliteone, Jul 18, 2012
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  11. somms

    somms Notebook Evangelist

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    [​IMG]

    Flashed under DOS upto A05...successful but haven't been able to notice any obvious changes thus far! ;)
     
    somms, Jul 18, 2012
    #11
  12. Prasad

    Prasad NBR Reviewer 1337 NBR Reviewer

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    Likewise.. I'd like to know the changelog as well!
     
    Prasad, Jul 18, 2012
    #12
  13. eliteone

    eliteone Notebook Guru

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    as per louis_pardo on another thread the new bios fixes some 3d bugs.

    "The only thing you would need would be the screen, and the new BIOS version that will be released later this week which will fix some bugs with 3D support. (Also a Nvidia card if you ordered AMD)

    Hope this helps!"
     
    eliteone, Jul 18, 2012
    #13
  14. funkybudda

    funkybudda Notebook Consultant

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    hi guys,

    my new M17X might be here in few days, if I need to update, how is the BIOS update handled? Does Alienware provide you an app to do it? Sorry, but this will be my first Alienware, so I just want to be prepared if I have to do it...
     
    funkybudda, Jul 18, 2012
    #14
  15. Shipwreck79

    Shipwreck79 Notebook Guru

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    GUYS, REJOICE!!!!

    BIOS A5 finally allowes for GPU OVERCLOCK! Running @ 894 MHz now ;)
     
    Shipwreck79, Jul 18, 2012
    #15
  16. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

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    Yes, there is a windows based flasher that Dell provides, just follow on screen instructions and you'll be fine! :D

    IGP I assume?
     
    Raidriar, Jul 18, 2012
    #16
  17. Shipwreck79

    Shipwreck79 Notebook Guru

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    Just installed the newly released A05 BIOS and much to my surprise, realized that for the GTX680m, GPU boost is now working and overclock is now possible up the a maximum of +135MHz (which combine for a clockspeed of 894 MHz, not much below desktop GTX670 clocks!)

    Best of all: Temps have gone up only about 2-3 degrees at most!

    Rocking awesome ;)

    Nope, the GTX 680m actually (which refused any GPU overclock before) - see my other post!
     
    Shipwreck79, Jul 18, 2012
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  18. jinda

    jinda Notebook Evangelist

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    Nice! Post bench results pls :D

    Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk 2
     
    jinda, Jul 18, 2012
    #18
  19. Cloudfire

    Cloudfire (Really odd person)

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    Super great news for all Alienware owners :D
     
    Cloudfire, Jul 18, 2012
    #19
  20. littleone562

    littleone562 Notebook Deity

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    Now when will they for the m18x...
     
    littleone562, Jul 18, 2012
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  21. bigtonyman

    bigtonyman Desktop Powa!!!

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    Glad Dell finally fixed it!! Now lets see some benchmarks! :D
     
    bigtonyman, Jul 18, 2012
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  22. svl7

    svl7 T|I

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    Wow, cool! It was BIOS related then? Interesting... so I guess I can stop looking at the vbios for unlocking the software overclocking of my Clevo 660m in the M15x... might be somehow BIOS related after all. :eek: :confused: :cool:
     
    svl7, Jul 18, 2012
    #22
  23. littleone562

    littleone562 Notebook Deity

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    Shipwreck can you show us some Screenshots with the clocks during gaming of GPU clock graphs?
     
    littleone562, Jul 18, 2012
    #23
  24. bigtonyman

    bigtonyman Desktop Powa!!!

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    So if the 680m overclocks, you think the 660m will be fixed as well? Just curious :)
     
    bigtonyman, Jul 18, 2012
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  25. eliteone

    eliteone Notebook Guru

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    So then maybe an unlocked A05 bios would allow our little 660m's to be overclocked?
     
    eliteone, Jul 18, 2012
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  26. Shipwreck79

    Shipwreck79 Notebook Guru

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    Here you go!
     

    Attached Files:

    Shipwreck79, Jul 18, 2012
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  27. bigtonyman

    bigtonyman Desktop Powa!!!

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    Did you try and install the bios? Maybe it will work for you too. :)
     
    bigtonyman, Jul 18, 2012
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  28. littleone562

    littleone562 Notebook Deity

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    Awesome Shipwreck.
     
    littleone562, Jul 18, 2012
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  29. eliteone

    eliteone Notebook Guru

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    Ya installed, that was the very first thing I checked :) the gt overclock option in the bios is still locked.....

     
    eliteone, Jul 18, 2012
    #29
  30. bigtonyman

    bigtonyman Desktop Powa!!!

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    ohh alright thats not good. Gives me some ammo for trying to not get a 660m if I end up with a new machine I guess.
     
    bigtonyman, Jul 18, 2012
    #30
  31. littleone562

    littleone562 Notebook Deity

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    The Gt overclock option is for the integrated graphic is think?
     
    littleone562, Jul 18, 2012
    #31
  32. bigtonyman

    bigtonyman Desktop Powa!!!

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    thats true as well... do you happen to have GPUz installed? I think that will tell us what we need to know. :)
     
    bigtonyman, Jul 18, 2012
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  33. littleone562

    littleone562 Notebook Deity

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    Hey shipwreck does it also give you control of the clocks or is it 100% automated boost now.
     
    littleone562, Jul 18, 2012
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  34. eliteone

    eliteone Notebook Guru

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    hah! Im a dumb a** works a treat :) 660m clocks up to +135 now kombustor showed the clock at 1080 :)
     
    eliteone, Jul 18, 2012
    #34
  35. Shipwreck79

    Shipwreck79 Notebook Guru

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    The boost is automatic, but you can additionally overclock up to a maximum of +135 MHz, thus reaching a maximum of 894 MHz core - I'd say that's pretty much enough anyway ;)

    VDDC is 0,9870v at max freq BTW.
     
    Shipwreck79, Jul 18, 2012
    #35
  36. caima48

    caima48 Notebook Enthusiast

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    hello guys . stupid question . how i update the bios ??????
     
    caima48, Jul 18, 2012
    #36
  37. eliteone

    eliteone Notebook Guru

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    Pretty simple download the .exe run it while youre plugged it and wait for the reboot......

     
    eliteone, Jul 18, 2012
    #37
  38. Quagmire LXIX

    Quagmire LXIX Have Laptop, Will Travel!

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    Grats ppl, nice to get hardware unlocked!
     
    Quagmire LXIX, Jul 18, 2012
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  39. Robert_84

    Robert_84 Notebook Guru

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    Dose bios fix usb 3.0 problems
     
    Robert_84, Jul 19, 2012
    #39
  40. xxiv24

    xxiv24 Notebook Consultant

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    Does it do anything for 675m guys?
     
    xxiv24, Jul 19, 2012
    #40
  41. Robert_84

    Robert_84 Notebook Guru

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    No!!! nothing
     
    Robert_84, Jul 19, 2012
    #41
  42. Chris_c81

    Chris_c81 Notebook Consultant

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    From what I can see, no. I updated:

    ImageUploadedByTapatalk1342702464.419903.jpg

    But can't see anywhere I can overclock GPU:

    ImageUploadedByTapatalk1342702390.830023.jpg


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    Chris_c81, Jul 19, 2012
    #42
  43. Shipwreck79

    Shipwreck79 Notebook Guru

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    You can overclock the GPU in Windows using programs like MSI Afterburner, EVGA Precision X, nVidia System Tools, nVidia Inspector or the like.

    If you don't know much about overclocking, start with Afterburner or EVGA Precision X, they're the most user friendly.

    For Kepler GPUs, you do not set an absolut clock speed any more, but rather an offset, which, at least for now, is a maximum of + 135 MHz core.

    Seeing that you have the GTX675m, that's still a Fermi part, so you can just set your desired clock speed. I had a GTX580m before (basically, the same card), and it let me overclock up to 740 MHz core without overvolting.
     
    Shipwreck79, Jul 19, 2012
    #43
  44. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

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    I don't know if you guys have seen my other thread, but PLEASE be careful when updating your BIOS. My laptop bricked after the update. I began the update and 2 seconds in the screen went black, fan fullspeed and then shut off. I STRONGLY advise DOS flash over windows flash.
     
    Raidriar, Jul 19, 2012
    #44
  45. jack34

    jack34 Notebook Geek

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    Thank you very much for the warning and sorry about your problem.
     
    jack34, Jul 19, 2012
    #45
  46. funkybudda

    funkybudda Notebook Consultant

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    hi,

    I am very new to the windows side (been a Mac guy all my life), can someone post a link, thread or simple instruction on flash Bios via DOS mode?
     
    funkybudda, Jul 19, 2012
    #46
  47. Prasad

    Prasad NBR Reviewer 1337 NBR Reviewer

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    Burn the flash files on a disc, reboot into disc before hard drive and flash.
     
    Prasad, Jul 19, 2012
    #47
  48. maplingstorie

    maplingstorie Notebook Guru

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    just flashed my M17X R4 with GTX 660M to A05 with no problems. GPU can now turbo boost to 950 and can be overclocked to 1085Mhz with MSI AfterBurner. Cheers :D
     
    maplingstorie, Jul 19, 2012
    #48
  49. quickie

    quickie Notebook Evangelist

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    Does this allow OC on the 7970?
     
    quickie, Jul 19, 2012
    #49
  50. bigtonyman

    bigtonyman Desktop Powa!!!

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    You can already Overclock the 7970. ;)
     
    bigtonyman, Jul 19, 2012
    #50
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