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    Alienware M17x-R3 BIOS Project

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by TheWiz, Feb 23, 2011.

  1. TheWiz

    TheWiz Notebook Guru

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    Hello all,

    After the excitement from the R2, and the pending R1 release, I am ready to take into consideration the R3 platform.

    So far, I see the following options that may be of interest:
    *CPU Throttling
    *CPU VCore Control
    *MCP79 Core Voltage
    *Memory Throttling
    *Power Saver Menu
    *Enhanced C-States
    *DDR3 Voltage
    *Deep Power Down Technology

    Also, I do not know if the R3 has the same limitation as teh R2 did, but does The CPU MUlti options and OC options work with non extreme CPUs?

    I am interested to hear your feedback.

    TheWiz
     
    TheWiz, Feb 23, 2011
    #1
  2. kunekaden

    kunekaden Notebook Deity

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    kunekaden, Feb 23, 2011
    #2
  3. DaneGRClose

    DaneGRClose Notebook Virtuoso

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    I would be VERY VERY interested in this. I know my CPU recently displayed some throttling behavior. If we could find something that resulted in a stabled OC of even 5-10% I would be happy as the BCLK overclocking doesn't seem to work well and isn't stable enough on SB to use to any benefit. If you need a guinea pig I'd be more than happy to help.
     
    DaneGRClose, Feb 23, 2011
    #3
  4. TheWiz

    TheWiz Notebook Guru

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    Hi kunekaden,

    It is possible I do not have the right file on record for the Amilenware R3. I have an "A03" version from Dell, but it shows it is a Phoenix BIOS and not an Insyde BIOS. I need to confirm what kind of BIOS this is, as my initial post was based of my knowledge of it being a Phoenix BIOS.

    Thanks,
    TheWiz
     
    TheWiz, Feb 23, 2011
    #4
  5. kunekaden

    kunekaden Notebook Deity

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    kunekaden, Feb 23, 2011
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  6. DaneGRClose

    DaneGRClose Notebook Virtuoso

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    Hey TheWiz, is there any way you know of to extract the bios from the computer, basically just creating a backup of the existing BIOS from the computer? If there is I'd be more than willing to do it this afternoon. Thanks.
     
    DaneGRClose, Feb 23, 2011
    #6
  7. kunekaden

    kunekaden Notebook Deity

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    Ditto.
    Sign me up for guinea pig status.
     
    kunekaden, Feb 23, 2011
    #7
  8. TheWiz

    TheWiz Notebook Guru

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    Hi guys,

    The Insyde platform is currently considered research based over at BIOS-Mods because we haven't finished developing our method for unlocking it, but I will move this up in the case study as the primary example in hopes it can be the first to get unlocked. This tool always works for Award/AMI, shouldn't be a problem for Insyde.

    http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1525839/Programs/Universal_Bios_Backup.EXE

    Also, I reccommend you disable your anti-virus when running that as some anti-virus programs flip out when they see a program reading form protected memory.

    Thanks,
    TheWiz
     
    TheWiz, Feb 23, 2011
    #8
  9. faiz23

    faiz23 Macbook FTW

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    me tooo....three :twitchy:
     
    faiz23, Feb 23, 2011
    #9
  10. kunekaden

    kunekaden Notebook Deity

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    Check pms. Sent you a backup of my BIOS.
     
    kunekaden, Feb 23, 2011
    #10
  11. DaneGRClose

    DaneGRClose Notebook Virtuoso

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    Schweet! Thanks for doing that Kune, you beat me to it +1.
     
    DaneGRClose, Feb 23, 2011
    #11
  12. Joebarchuck

    Joebarchuck Notebook Virtuoso

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    If you can do what was done with the R2 BIOS, it would be awesome. The idea of being able to OC the CPU, memory and control fans from the BIOS is something that Dell should have included standard for all CPU not just the XM. Thanks TheWiz for working on this.
     
    Joebarchuck, Feb 23, 2011
    #12
  13. TheWiz

    TheWiz Notebook Guru

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    Hi guys,

    The Insyde platform is vastly different from the Phoenix. Fortunately your BIOS can be decompiled and reassembled, and I have been able to look at the strings table successfully. I will ahve to do a lot of research and ASM work to come up with any conclusive findings on the R3, so please be very patient.

    Thanks,
    TheWiz
     
    TheWiz, Feb 23, 2011
    #13
  14. kunekaden

    kunekaden Notebook Deity

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    We appreciate it. Just let us know if you need anything else.
     
    kunekaden, Feb 23, 2011
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  15. inap

    inap .........................

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    i don't have an r3 but would like to say thanks anyways for helping the aw over clocking community. +1 awesome!!!!
     
    inap, Feb 23, 2011
    #15
  16. DaneGRClose

    DaneGRClose Notebook Virtuoso

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    Seriously, thanks for the work TheWiz.
     
    DaneGRClose, Feb 23, 2011
    #16
  17. Kamin_Majere

    Kamin_Majere =][= Ordo Hereticus

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    As a reminder please keep any mentions of Donations confined to PM's, as it isnt allowed in the normal forums.

    Thanks for understanding

    K_M
     
    Kamin_Majere, Feb 23, 2011
    #17
  18. DaneGRClose

    DaneGRClose Notebook Virtuoso

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    Sorry KM, didn't realize I couldn't mention making one, thought it was just soliciting them. Won't happen again ;)
     
    DaneGRClose, Feb 23, 2011
    #18
  19. KillerBunny

    KillerBunny Notebook Evangelist

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    Any support for the gtx485 or the 6970m for the 120hz screen would be amazing :)
     
    KillerBunny, Feb 23, 2011
    #19
  20. kunekaden

    kunekaden Notebook Deity

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    I've been playing with existing BIOS overclocking and thought TheWiz would like to hear about it.

    I was able to push my bclk to 101.9 / 102.5 with no problems. I then restarted to turn it up another notch (102.9 / 103.5 - wouldn't stick at 130).

    Result: PCI and/or SATA corruption.
    System started on first boot, and I saw it load windows because external monitor was still plugged in (screen was blank, but on - LED backlight was active) but that only flickered for 1 second.

    2nd boot....nothing

    Had to pop out the CMOS battery to reset the mobo, which in turn lead to another set of problems as default ATA operatoin = RAID and the r3 gets 100% chance of bsod on RAID + sandforce (or maybe just ocz sandforce) + 2 drives. Luckily, switching back to ATA didn't destroy my OS image, or I'd have lost today's work thus far :(

    In short, the 5%-7% max bclk people are reporting in regards to sandy bridge cpus is 100% true, if not overstated (this even applies to XM/K models). I can get 2%, but not 3% - I'm sure it will vary by CPU, even among same models.



    Hopefully, once you get the BIOS unlocked, you'll be able to help us out with short/long duration power limit and/or multipliers!
     
    kunekaden, Feb 25, 2011
    #20
  21. Zukoff

    Zukoff Notebook Enthusiast

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    Zukoff, Apr 12, 2011
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  22. Zukoff

    Zukoff Notebook Enthusiast

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    Is it possible to enable menu for switchable graphics? I want to disable one of video cards, because of linux issues. I want to stay with ATI alone.
     
    Zukoff, Apr 14, 2011
    #22
  23. K-nabeesse

    K-nabeesse Notebook Consultant

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    I don't think they are moding bios for the R3..???
     
    K-nabeesse, Apr 14, 2011
    #23
  24. psymin

    psymin Notebook Enthusiast

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    +1 to Zukoff's request. Having the ability to force the AMD Radeon card (or nVidia GeForce card) to have priority would be great. :) It is looking like linux users might be forced into using the Intel card instead :(
     
    psymin, Apr 14, 2011
    #24
  25. Geoffxx

    Geoffxx Notebook Evangelist

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    we believe the 485m 3D issue not being enabled on the internal lcd is a system bios issue, the 460m works fine, a few people here have paid almost $1k to buy and install their own 485m, it works in all ways except internal 3D, we believe Dell has a conditional lookup in the system bios for the 460m to enable the 3D, if you want to help some folks out right now with this it would be very very appriciated by many people, you could consider this as maybe like a pilot project, we would all also be willing to donate if you cracked this one

    thread here http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/567689-m17x-r3-485m-nvidia-solution-discussion.html
     
    Geoffxx, Apr 15, 2011
    #25