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    What is the latest unlocked BIOS for M17x R4?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Johndill, May 30, 2019.

  1. Johndill

    Johndill Notebook Consultant

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    Hi, I've been reading up to find the answer and the latest information I've found is that A11 BIOS is the latest unlocked BIOS, is there a newer version available as I've noticed on the Dell support page that the latest official BIOS for the M17x R4 is A15. Is there an unlocked BIOS for this system newer than A11? Thanks :)
     
    Johndill, May 30, 2019
    #1
  2. Imonk86

    Imonk86 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I know this is a few months old, but check this out. http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/alienware-m17x-r4-unlocked-bios-thread-a14.830285/
     
    Imonk86, Sep 4, 2019
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  3. Johndill

    Johndill Notebook Consultant

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    Johndill, Sep 4, 2019
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  4. thewizardoz

    thewizardoz Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hiya Johndill

    Did you manage to get an unlocked A15 BIOS for the Alienware M17x R4?

    If so any chance that I could get a link to it please?

    Thanks in advance mate.

    Mark
     
    thewizardoz, Nov 7, 2019
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  5. Johndill

    Johndill Notebook Consultant

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    Hi, as the unlocked bios is unique to the system it's made for, you can go to bios-mods.com (link in my previous post) and have a search on there for information on the M17x R4 bios, if you can't find any then you can make a thread and request one. A user from there was kind enough to give me some of his time to unlock my bios dump. :)
     
    Johndill, Nov 7, 2019
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  6. 2CPU

    2CPU Notebook Evangelist

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    2CPU, Nov 8, 2019
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  7. Johndill

    Johndill Notebook Consultant

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    Johndill, Nov 9, 2019
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  8. 2CPU

    2CPU Notebook Evangelist

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    Going back to an earlier BIOS will put you on the older microcode CPU patch. (removes Spectre fix)
     
    2CPU, Nov 9, 2019
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  9. thewizardoz

    thewizardoz Notebook Enthusiast

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    "I believe the best latest BIOS for the M17x R4 is A12, the rest are 2018 Spectre patched BIOS""

    Have you checked out the latest A15 from Dell/Alienware??

    Thanks.
     
    thewizardoz, Nov 10, 2019
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  10. Johndill

    Johndill Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks. :)

    Yes, to the everyday user the latest bios will be fine. :)

    For the performance enthusiasts, both A14 and A15 add CPU microcode patches that slow performance. :)
     
    Johndill, Nov 10, 2019
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  11. IVHOTEP

    IVHOTEP Notebook Consultant

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    I'm preparing for a BIOS unlocked on my AW17R1 so if I can ask something here...
    I'm on stock A14 Bios right now and the HWinfo reads uCU (I belive that is the microcode) as 25.
    As I can see in the bios unlocked thread one would want for it to be v22.
    My question is - does the microcode change only through BIOS flash or is it something windows update will also do?
    I did not perform BIOS flash ever but I know it has somehow changed from v1C to v25 at some point which I am not aware of (I have a prtscrn from 2015).
     
    IVHOTEP, Nov 10, 2019
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  12. 2CPU

    2CPU Notebook Evangelist

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    The OS has the ability to side-load a microcode but not sure if client win10 does that.
     
    2CPU, Nov 10, 2019
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  13. thewizardoz

    thewizardoz Notebook Enthusiast

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    Is therer a way to remove the microcode patches that slow performance please Johndill?

    In any case, do you have an unlocked A15 BIOS for the Alienware M17x R4 pleae?

    If not what can I use to unlock/modify it please?

    Thanks a lot!
     
    thewizardoz, May 25, 2020
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  14. Johndill

    Johndill Notebook Consultant

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    Hi, you can create a post on this forum below for any bios modding as it is unique to your system. :)
    https://www.win-raid.com/f54-BIOS-Modding-Requests.html
     
    Johndill, May 25, 2020
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  15. 2CPU

    2CPU Notebook Evangelist

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    Get a BIOS that sets the default core current to 112A vs 32A too!
     
    2CPU, May 25, 2020
    #15