Alienware M18xR2 New/Updated BIOS Mods - NOW WITH MAXWELL LEGACY SUPPORT - Testers Needed

I've updated mine this past weekend and happily back to Win 7SP1/Legacy. Win 8.1 is gone! Had one snag and one question.

Snag: I forgot to switch to IGFX before flashing and experienced the joy of 8 beeps, just in time for the holidays! Gave me an opportunity to pull the cards and reassemble. I *love* doing that...

Question: Any issue with leaving the graphics set in the BIOS to Auto for daily use?

I'm using this driver but have not had a chance to bench anything.

Homer

 

I wouldn't leave it on auto, better to have exact control about it.

I tried to follow your link but it looks like TechInferno is now using Anti-Adblock. I will just stop using their forum then.

 

I haven't had any luck with the sleep trick yet, something I'm doing wrong? Not sure if I trust sleep ether... I've had a laptop wake up in my bag before and I managed to save it but it was beeping and angry at me, not sure why it turned back on or how, it was folded up.

 

any updates?

 

have tested this bios to work with NVidia gtx 1060 in SG mode today!

 

is there a simple way to avoid OS reinstall after BIOS install? win 8.1 64 pro 980m

EDIT: did windows 8 startup repair and booted right in...very nice

EDIT2: tried to set gpu/cpu settings as in previous bios and got a 8 then 4 beep no-boot...had to reset bios...confused

now i changed settings again, boooted into windows, then clicked restart and now im getting the 8 beeps again.....very confused...im supposed to be in PEG mode right? because otherwise i can't even install the drivers

EDIT3: ok so just switching to PEG gives me 8 beeps....am i misunderstanding something here? win 8.1 980m UEFI install...

EDIT4: just so im not missing the obvious - do i NEED to be in legacy mode for this BIOS to work with PEG? aka i HAVE to reinstall windows?

EDIT5: ok after reading the thread looks like its bye bye to UEFI and mandatory reinstall...man i did not know what i was getting into lol

 

okk so i reinstalled windows 8 in legacy mode and still getting 8 beeps switching to PEG....what am i doing wrong? does the option "always enable PEG" have to be enabled for this to work?

EDIT: ok im out of ideas at this point...i tried the "always enable PEG", tried disabling integrated option, still 8 beeps...ugh

EDIT2: do i need to update my vbios to Prema or something for this to work? getting pretty irritated just hit with 8 beeps whatever i change

EDIT3: i can't believe it but i got it to work - by switching to SG mode...this is the ONLY mode that doesn't give me 8 beeps besides IGFX....very confused why other people do not have this issue and I do....

 

I've run a similar issue last month, I think your 980m (from signature, because you have not specified your system) is a G-Sync version and its microcode was not included in this bios.

Regards!

 

im just confused why this isn't a huge issue....obviously i wouldn't have flashed my BIOS if i knew about this why was there no warning or what about all the other people with 900-series GPU's that have flashed this?

 

You could always copy the gsync vbios and flash a non gsync bios onto the card to get it working though.....

 

Look out for info first.
If I remember right the viceversa is not possible
( so flashing gsync to non gsync= ok
reflashing non gsync to gsync= not ok)

ri-EDIT:

Or you have a wrong vbios or your device ID is not included in Radriar's/Swisck's modded bios

 

can someone give me steps to downgrade from Swick's back to A12 unlocked - do i have to flash A03 first? i haven't been able to find any good solution to the fact that PEG mode makes me 8-beep so i don't really see what else to do now

 

ok so giving this another go today - 980m 8GB Device ID 10DE-13D7 1028 (Dell) Vbios 84.04.22.00.12 - 8 beeps trying to switch to PEG with this BIOS and i need to know what the fix is

when booting in SG, i can see the dGPU in BIOS, in windows, even install drivers for it, but im still running on Intel

my GPU is NOT G-sync

 

Has there/will there be anything like this made available for the M18xR1?

 

No, I don't have enough room on the M18x R1 flash memory size to incorporate the necessary modules. The M18x R2 flash size is 1MB bigger than the M18x R1

 

So wouldn't be possible to replace all old GPU modules inside M18R1 BIOS with only one exclusive for 980M GPU? Kinda off deleting to save space and replace with necessary data. Is this achievable?

 

Not quite because the gpupolicy still requires UEFI resources to function properly, which is why it works on M18x R2 and Alienware 18. M18x R1 doesn't have enough room to add all the UEFI resources + GPUPolicy

 

Food for thought.....

Maybe if the bios chip of the R1 can be replaced with the R2 bios chip; R2 bios chip will be already flashed initially with the R1 rom to ensure proper boot and functionallity.
Afterwards, an expanded version of the R1 rom with the gpupolicy and uefi modules, might have the room it needs to be flashed on.

Would it work?

 

It could be tried, but there may be other modules that I don't know about could impact compatibility.

 

My idea is that aquaring both BIOS dumps, adding the ones that R1 needs (like GPU) and creating a newer dump (larger one). Leaving modules like chipset, memory controller, audio etc that are different between R1 and R2 intact.

Afterwards, preparing a blind flash disc, removing the original bios from R1 and soldering the R2 bios chip.

My estimate is that it won't boot, but the blind flash procedure will let the bios to be flashed with the modded one.
Although, I think a modded bios cannot be flashed via blind method, only an official one?

 

The problem is, a lot of the module structure is different on the R1, whereas the R2 and A18 had very similar module structure, so it was just a matter of copying a module over. All the GPU hooks and POST policy's are different because they all have UEFI calls in them. The problem is, I'm not sure the GPU modules from the M18x R2/Alienware 18 would be able to communicate with the rest of the system.

And you can definitely blind flash my modded BIOS, I've done it several times and so have others.

 

I've been thinking about this...

So how is the R2 able to boot pure legacy mode with 980M but R1 cannot? It still requires UEFI resources? I'm trying to figure out what exactly the reason is, the R1 cannot boot the 980M but the R2 can boot 980M and even the newer 1060 series.

 

uses some hooks in the UEFI module to allow it to post despite being in legacy. M18x R1 flash size is too small to incorporate the UEFI modules, its about 1MB less tan the M18x R2 flash size

 

I remembered what I was going to say..LOL

The m15x supports 970m/980m and is a pure legacy laptop, older than the m18xr1.

Was that laptop's flash size bigger or something or it just happened to work out perfectly with the newer GPUs despite UEFI?

 

Different POST procedure, Insyde does some weird crap with POST requirements that PhoenixBIOS does not.

 

@Raidriar wondering if you could help me

 

With what exactly?

 

Are you familiar with spi programming the bios of M18x r2?

 

why do you need to do that? did you brick the m18x r2, or do you wanna try to make a bios for m18x r1 with maxwell/pascal support?
the m18x r2 has 3 different bioses if i remember correctly...

Sent from my LG-H850 using Tapatalk

 

Hey all,
I think I MIGHT have a way to get the R1 to work in legacy with 800m+ gpu's! Anyone willing to try?
If not, no big. Just thought I'd offer... heh

 

IF someone wants to try flashing a bios mod for the R1... Please let me know. I MIGHT finally have the answer to get this sucker working. there are NO GUARANTEES and it's probably a good thing if you know how to use an SPI programmer as the flash may NOT be successful! Though, I have a pretty good feeling about this, frankly! I could be wrong, but... anyone wanna take the dive?
If so, PM me... I'll be around today! (For once)

 

I don't mind flashing a BIOS, but at the moment I don't have a 900M+ series GPU. =[

Why would an SPI programmer be needed though? Can't we flash back using the blind flash method?

@Raidriar @GodlikeRU

 

I don't have 900M too sadly but im waiting for the results. I may buy one if it will work.

 

I think he just needs a guinea pig to try the new BIOS on an R1... that is half the battle.

Homer

 

Nice to see you back @Swick1981 . Hows your health and well being ? I hope you are doing great bro.

 

I would try it , but I don't have an R1

 

Welcome back brother, and thank-you so much for your work on our BIOS, without it 980M wouldn't be possible.

 

I'm ready to dive the GTX 980 Desktop in the M18X R2 soon. I'm just waiting on parts to arrive.

 

Nice, it will be interesting to see how well those are going to fit. Power might be an issue as well, looking forward to your posts.

 

a little setback at the moment. I was supposed to received the final part (motherboard) of the M18X R2 today , but I didn't. Not sure when i can get the test going ....

 

Desktop GTX 980 in the R2?! I didn't even know that was possible!

 

I haven’t got a chance to test it yet. There has been a delay in the process ... I’ll keep you posted.

 

Keep me posted