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    Possible fix for M17x R3 SATA downclock issues

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by widezu69, Apr 12, 2012.

  1. widezu69

    widezu69 Goodbye Alienware

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    So this can only be done with a complete reinstall, SSD configured in AHCI and not RAID. This is NOT for RAID users.

    Make sure you are on A08 and no higher. Unlocked or not, doesn't matter.
    After you install windows, install the newer M18x chipset drivers instead of the M17x R3 ones:
    Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]
    and
    Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

    Do not install Intel Rapid Storage Technology. Everytime I install Intel RST, it downclocks my SSD speed without fail.

    So this is my recommendation. Avoid Intel RST if you can. I go through this everytime I reinstall and both my SSDs are constant SATA III no problems and as soon as I install RST, my port0 is back to SATA II speeds.

    PS: To the noobs out there who say "I have no problems with speed, I have SATA 3Gb/s" This is incorrect. SATA III = Sata 6Gb/s, Sata 3Gb/s = SATA II
     
    widezu69, Apr 12, 2012
    #1
  2. j95

    j95 Notebook Deity

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    Yes, i did this with my first clean install , i used the Intel management interface driver from Dell M18X and the Chipset from Intel latest 9.​3.​0.​1019 with -overall command .
    I never had the GPU throttle, i'm using your Rom just in case due to Premiere Pro CS5.5 MPE can't have any fluctuations or it will crash.

    Both ports are Sata III

    Most important is the -overall command for installation.(for Intel Chipset)

    1 Download the exe and create a shortcut
    2 Go to shortcut properties - shortcut - Target -\infinst_autol.exe -overall hit apply
    3 Run from shortcut
     
    j95, Apr 12, 2012
    #2
  3. remedy1978

    remedy1978 Notebook Evangelist

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    Why do you need to do this extra step and install from the shortcut?
     
    remedy1978, Apr 13, 2012
    #3
  4. Xenn0X

    Xenn0X Notebook Evangelist

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    2 bad i have raid with ssd. using latest bios for stability and my alien is still smoking fast but would be faster on SATA 3
     
    Xenn0X, Apr 13, 2012
    #4
  5. j95

    j95 Notebook Deity

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    Updates all Intel Inf drivers over the Microsoft 2006 :D driver making the system more responsive

    you can run it from command prompt
    1 Run command prompt as administrator
    2 Drag infinst_autol -overall
     
    j95, Apr 13, 2012
    #5
  6. remedy1978

    remedy1978 Notebook Evangelist

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    After I install the chipset drivers and intel management engine, can I run crystal disk mark to see if I am getting SATA III speeds? Or do I need to install all the drivers?
     
    remedy1978, Apr 13, 2012
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  7. widezu69

    widezu69 Goodbye Alienware

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    Yeah by all means, run and check your Sata speeds. Other drivers don't affect anything :)
     
    widezu69, Apr 13, 2012
    #7
  8. remedy1978

    remedy1978 Notebook Evangelist

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    Do I put the drive in bay 0?
     
    remedy1978, Apr 13, 2012
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  9. widezu69

    widezu69 Goodbye Alienware

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    Yeah put it in drive one and test it. I want to see if this method works properly and you can be my guinea pig :)
     
    widezu69, Apr 13, 2012
    #9
  10. beast-alien

    beast-alien Notebook Enthusiast

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    If you do these steps widezu69 says, either bay shouldn't matter. Should get SATA 3 speeds in both ports
     
    beast-alien, Apr 13, 2012
    #10
  11. remedy1978

    remedy1978 Notebook Evangelist

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    Have you tried this yourself? Lol
     
    remedy1978, Apr 13, 2012
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  12. widezu69

    widezu69 Goodbye Alienware

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    Yeah I've got it like this at the moment. So far I have only 2 confirmed cases, beast-alien and I. You'll be the third confirming that this is a proper fix :)
     
    widezu69, Apr 13, 2012
    #12
  13. remedy1978

    remedy1978 Notebook Evangelist

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    Do I need to do the steps j95 indicated with the shortcut to install?
     
    remedy1978, Apr 13, 2012
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  14. GeoCake

    GeoCake http://ted.ph

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    Do you have to ask that many questions? Just do what the man says!

    I really need another SSD to try this.
     
    GeoCake, Apr 13, 2012
    #14
  15. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    OMG haha you brits and your dry sense of humour
     
    SlickDude80, Apr 13, 2012
    #15
  16. widezu69

    widezu69 Goodbye Alienware

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    Woah woah woah Geo calm down and give the guy a break :) He ain't as bad as some members who double/triple/quadruple post because they don't know how to edit. Also I hate people who put unjustified exclamation marks in the titles for every thread they make for attention (not you Geo, just realised you have an exclamation in your 675m thread hahaha :D)

    @remedy, no need really, you can if you want I don't think it'll make much difference.
     
    widezu69, Apr 13, 2012
    #16
  17. kakaroth1977

    kakaroth1977 Notebook Geek

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    I'll try it next week .
     
    kakaroth1977, Apr 13, 2012
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  18. nayilalien

    nayilalien Notebook Evangelist

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    I have RST installed currently...do I justuninstall it?
     
    nayilalien, Apr 13, 2012
    #18
  19. widezu69

    widezu69 Goodbye Alienware

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    I dunno, uninstalling it never did much for me. The port stayed at SATA II. I remedied this, because I use two SSDs, by swapping the SSDs around, using it like that for a few days then swapped back and I was at full SATA III speeds for both ports. As we all know it is erratic but the method in the OP should prevent this erratic behaviour.
     
    widezu69, Apr 13, 2012
    #19
  20. remedy1978

    remedy1978 Notebook Evangelist

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    Didn't know there was a quota as to how many questions one could ask. :rolleyes:

    Anyway, I had my SSD installed in the middle drive bay with A08 BIOS and still had SATA II speeds with the chipset drivers from the M17XR3 page. BTW, my drive is a OCZ Agility 3. Shouldn't that have worked at SATA III speeds in the middle bay?
     
    remedy1978, Apr 13, 2012
    #20
  21. widezu69

    widezu69 Goodbye Alienware

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    Post us a screenshot please :)
     
    widezu69, Apr 13, 2012
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  22. remedy1978

    remedy1978 Notebook Evangelist

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    [​IMG]


    Those are the results with the OCZ Agility 3 in the middle bay, fresh install, A08 BIOS, and the chipset drivers from the m17xr3 support page.
     
    remedy1978, Apr 13, 2012
    #22
  23. kakaroth1977

    kakaroth1977 Notebook Geek

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    The 4k is very good but i think you are in sata2 mode
     
    kakaroth1977, Apr 22, 2012
    #23