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

Could this works for 980m too?

Now its working fine, thanks.

@Swick1981 is any of your M18-R1 mods can enable a 980M to work?

 

Only one way to find out. Go into your M18x R2, into BIOS, find the video config settings, run through all of them (forget which subsections), but make sure ASPM and ASPM DMI Link are both set to AUTO, save, exit, test and see what happens. I remember one of them already being set to auto, the other being disabled. Make sure both are on auto. i'm curious myself.

 

How long does it take to flash?


Well...Hello there 'bad flash'....

Good call putting the file for 'blind flash' along with the files. Excellent fail-safe switch!

 

Less than a minute.

 

So the missing text file from the bios flash is just from the flash application itself and not the bios to be flashed right? Ive minimal experience flashing from DOS the downgrades I did were from exe files from the official dell site.

Anyone have the link where to download the correct missing file from?

Edit nvm I found the file myself in svl7's mods!

Also successfully flashed my own M18Xr2 now its showing the svl7 and swick names in the bios so it looks to have worked. Doing some testing now on my system too see whats changed.

Edit: 1st Big check was a success my M18Xr2 IS WORKING IN LEGACY with both nvidia cards detected in the main bios menu!

Edit 2: The cards are throttling as expected even with the new bios with FFXIV on absolute max as I expected but the bios works and legacy mode is working on it with the 980m's installed so its all good by the looks of it!

 

@Raidriar
Just tested on my M18X-R2 with 980m all settings ASPM and ASPM DMI in auto yet it throttles as I'm testing in Heaven Benchmark. Any other options?

 

Thank you for the mention. I will let you know, of course, any that refer or mention you.

 

Determine what is causing the throttling. It might not be the bios, it might be the vbios or the restricted power you have, far too many things affecting throttling on the R2 to just assume its the bios right away, even if one bios and OS gave different behaviour then say windows 8.
It really is that finicky, maybe I can help you trouble shoot it, or determine whats what, powerwise.

 

What is the throttle reason, according to GPU-Z?

 

Swick..... you dont deserve a beer....... you deserve a whole CASE of Beer!

Sent you a few bob for the work its well worth it to fix the legacy mode!

 

@Raidriar
According to GPU-Z the reason was Pwr, SLI
My GPUs are not not overclocked, actually flashed with Prema's VBIOS V2
My CPU 3920XM is slighted overclocked with just 4.0 Mhz
Using default 330w PSU

Edit: Just disable SLI to test and I verified the throttle indeed continues this time GPU-Z indicates the cause just as Pwr

Can't be the PSU, maybe is something else managing the total power allowed for the GPUs. My bet goes to video drivers.

 

That might be the safest approach if you have concerns. However, I did not do that and I had no issues. I had A10 unlocked and went straight to this A11 @Swick1981 mod.

In your case this is important because you would have to remove your GPUs before flashing stock A11.

 

The fact that it brought up SLI has me inclined to think it is a driver fault. Problem is, I don't know how to get around it.

 

Thanks. I going to have to test that ASPM setting and see if it helps my 780M SLI work right with newer drivers.

Did you use ThrottleStop for the CPU? If not, that might fix the CPU issue. I use ThrottleStop for everything. Even my wife's XPS 15 runs @unclewebb magic.

Those are the exact same reasons for me with 980M SLI in the M18xR2 and 780M SLI in the M18xR2 and M18xR1 and Alienware 18. Has been that way since March of last year for 780M SLI unless I use 345.20 or older drivers. Nothing I tried could fix that problem for 980M (which has the same throttling problem using single GPU or SLI).

 

Thanks, I already flashed over A10 unlocked and its all right now.

I think is enough the work done in M18X-R2 sBIOS. Just the possiblility to install windows in legacy environment is incredible. To really solve the throttle issue would be needed a creation of a custom vBIOS for our 980M cards designed exclusivelly for R2 and a deep look inside the newly released video drivers to make better mods. But what do I know? Its just a guess..

 

It could be driver related, but if it is then it's still mostly an Alienware problem. I say this because using the same GPUs and drivers on my P570WM there is absolutely no throttling with 780M SLI or 980M SLI. So, more likely a nasty combination of driver and Alienware BIOS power caps problems. A digital allergic reaction between them, LOL.

 

Well perhaps the code can be ported from the Alienware 18 then

 

Great idea, but be careful with that. We don't know if the 18's inability to use more than 330W is a hardware or BIOS crippling tactic. It would be a shame to fix one problem and introduce a brand new one. For those with 980M SLI, 330W isn't nearly enough if you overclock them. It's barely enough for stock with an overclocked XM CPU.

 

That's interesting... PREMA said it was a lot more than just drivers, to me.
He said it was vBios, EC, Bios, and drivers, I THINK... (IF memory serves)
As such, it seems like it's a lot more complicated and he also said a vBios mod would not be a 1 size fits all, sadly!
Anyway, I'm working on a few other things, THANKS TO @Raidriar 's SPI Programmer! LoL!
Gonna see if we can just KILL all power management and go from there... heh

 

I assume theres no throttling with the 980M's under the same conditions on the A18 correct?

 

Now... if someone can Frankenstein the MOBO from the P570WM into the M18xR2 body so I can keep the 18" screen and unleash the beasts!

Homer

 

yes, I have the 980Ms in the Alienware 18 and there is no throttling.

 

@Raidriar
That testing with the bios setting is a huge find...
WELL DONE! (lets hope it stands up to ALL tests - but I have faith it will!)
GREAT JOB! Seriously, well done! This find could be a HUGE THING!
Also, I did upgrade to Intel ME Firmware 8.1.65..... As such, I'm gonna run some tests and see what this update has helped or harmed with the CPU & GPU! Wish me luck!

 

Yah please wish luck... I don't want to do manual BIOS programming thing again lol

 

How high of an overclock and overvolt have you tested with 980M SLI in the Alienware 18? My concern is that it may only be throttle-free running stock clocks and voltage, which would not be a good thing. Of course, with only 330W of available power, that won't sustain much of an overclock with 980M SLI.

 

Down clock the processor and try max OC on graphics. Use a Kill-a-watt so you can see you're on maximum power from Psu.

 

@Mr. Fox hey brother fox, you around?
Gimme a call if you have a few mins

 

I also dont think the throttling is merely bios problem.
My reason for this is, 980m works fine without any throttle one day (or at one moment) but after a power drain, the nightmare "throttle" happens again.

It is very strange. When it works fine, OC works very nicely. And it works perfect before power off, even for hours and days.
But when it starts to throttle after power drain, the gpu doesn't even work at stock clock.

If this phenomenon is merely a bios problem, why would this throttle happens randomly?
I honestly dont think anyone can fix this. ie, I think it is some kind of mobo power problem.

ps. win 10, with 352.84 works fine without throttle. But, when "throttle"mode is activated, even 352.84 driver wont enable OC. But at least 352.84 works good at stock clock.

 

Anyone wanna test an r1 with all my mods of the r2 AND the potential of legacy support? Lmk...
I have a bios mod rdy!

 

This is curiosity on my part, but if you can get Maxwell working for M18xR1 then it sounds like you could get it working for M17xR3 (same generation)? I'm probably more curious than serious, because if I was I serious I could only test by buying a 970M or 980M and trying whatever BIOS you produced. I can't help being curious though!

 

Well... unfortunatly, the version a11 bios in the 17r4 is slightly different in structure than the way my mod is setup. As such, i may have to use bios a12 or a13 (not unlocked), but u can use the bios tuning utility from intel to change the settings u want to even though its not an unlocked bios. In fact, my plan is to use those locked down versions because that bios tuning utility works on locked bios's... so, being locked, & using this tool, doesnt really matter at all...

 

Ah, I'm talking about the M17xR3 (not the M17xR4), I think you misread, unless I'm not understanding where you're coming from?

I'm curious about getting Maxwell working in M17xR3 - Mr. Fox tested Maxwell in M18xR1 and it beeped with fury (think it was beeping fury if I recall correctly) - your talk of getting Maxwell to work with M18xR1 makes it sound like it could be possible with M17xR3 (M17xR3 & M18xR1 = same generation of laptop)

 

Sorry, my bad...
Well, ive got an R1 mod rdy to go, LITERALLY! IT SHOULD work, but u never know, heh. IF it works, then it is certainly possible for the 17r3 to have it, too!

The only problem is ive got NO ONE to test, sadly.

Ive got a BRAND NEW modded & upgraded 17r4 ready to test for legacy support, and an m18xr1 to test, too! But no ones available to test, sadly... heh
I could CERTAINLY try the 17r3, but im not gonna even start this time unless ppl are WILLING to test. So, if ppl want it, and are willing to test, PM me.

 

This is super stupid ikr but as a human, a hope...Is it possible to crack the Secure Flash ?

 

On which Alienware Laptop? AW18?

 

Look, at the moment, I have a feeling that I could POSSIBLY get the following with legacy support - M17r1 - r4, m18xr1 (m18xR2 already has).
But, like I said before - I need testers. Asking me to do something is fine, as I'd be HAPPY TO DO IT! I enjoy this quite a bit! (I know, I've gotta find a girlfriend)
BUT... Before I do anything, I'm gonna need to know there are testers willing and able!
My one tester of the m17xr4 bricked his PC as he lost power during the middle of an update, sadly! (HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MY MOD, AS HE POINTS OUT!)
As such, his replacements parts are over 3 weeks away, so... In the mean time, I've got 1 person willing to test the R1, but he wasn't available today from the looks of it.
So, I need people with the 17r1-r3 willing to test. If they are, I can get the bios mod made and updated in under 30 mins, because the machines are all very similar and I know exactly what to do!

Spread the word if you want support on the other machines... I can POSSIBLY do it, but I need testers!

 

Alienware 17 And Alienware 18 both are victims of Secure Flash.

 

Oh shoot! I should have included Secure Flash cancer in my special tribute to BGA filth and Windows 10 garbage.
[parsehtml]<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pxp8k6eGKow?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>[/parsehtml]

 

Anyone installed windows 7 with 980m and legacy boot to give feedback on results? I would but I am waiting an ssd for the msata to make a clean win 7 install.

Also, may I suggest to the moderators to start a thread considering the throrttling issue so anyone with m18x r2 can post test results and findings?

I believe that can help identifing the problem and a possible solution!

 

I tested the legacy mode to confirm its working but then just set it back to uefi for the time being. I'll prolly do a test install of windows 7 at some point during the week when I'm free since I have my win 10 install image backed up on a reserve SDD on the m18x.

 

I did that with 970M. I actually already had Windows 7 installed and running in Legacy mode with 780M SLI and temporarily borrowed a 970M from the AW18 for testing. It worked like it was supposed to. I did not have to do anything special.

 

Thats why its so depressing... youre not gonna be able to test, mr fox. Im gonna need to lend this r2 back to u, just for that reason. Also, can you try (or promise) me that youll still hang around here (m18xr1/r2 forums), as your alienware knowledge is invaluable, frankly!

 

And for the record, yet again, how could my bios mod need more work? Ive done EVERYTHING that can be done to it. *sigh*
I mean, no one has updated it in over 3 years - 4 years in some cases, heh... go figure, again!

 

I guess Mr. Fox would never abandon the Alienware M18x R2 club, the bond they share is just invaluable. And his contribution to NBR as a whole is top notch.

 

Hey all, I have someone here willing to test a POSSIBLE legacy Support Module for the m17R4. However, what is the procedure to flash this bios mod I've made.
I ask becuase of the following reason. I don't know if the 17r4 has an onboard video card (even though it does have the vga bios modules in the bios, i was told something about onboard video on the 17r4. Anyway, he has the 17r4 and he has the 970m or 980m. I know this flash is to test legacy support, but how does one go about it in the 17r4? Switch bios setting to Legacy WITH UEFI. Reboot pc, rightr? But if you have the 970m or 980m already installed, will you get the 8 beeps? You need to be in legacy in order to boot into dos to be able to flash this bios I've made. As such, I really dont want tobring him down the wrong path. If you have onboard video, I'm THINKING you can switch to that, and then switch to legacy with UEFI and then boot into dos via flash drive with my flash tools?
Please let me know the way to do this.
THANKS!!!

 

I was the first person to test windows 7 in pure legacy with a single 980m , and SLI 980m installed. They work fine.

 

Yeah, but here is the prob... I'm told the 17r4 runs slightly different. Something about setting the internal GFX as default would brick the system, so I didn't do that ( @j95 told me NOT to do that, and he knows the system). As such, I'm afraid to tell the person running the 17r4 to change to igfx, cause I dont want him to brick it BEFORE we can test, lol. I know, I'm a selfish bastard, hehe!
ANyway, I'd LOVE to test this cause IF it works, like I think it will, there is a chance I can then unlock it - POSSIBLY! But I need someone to test the locked / stock version of a13, first! And if I can't unlock it, then I have the bios enablement tool and that will essentially give you an unlocked bios - you can change ALL setting sfrom within windows, for the bios. So, either way, it should work. but I hope to be able to change the bios to unlocked ONCE I know legacy support works, heh!

 

I think with the M17xR4 if you have a 120Hz screen and then you set the BIOS to internal GFX - that's when you get a bricked machine because intel can't output to 120Hz screen.

 

That makes sense, thanks!

 

im currently testing the the A11 bios you made. firstly let me say thanks, i do really appreciate your work. i have no idea what 90% of the settings in bios do
for some reason it feels alittle slower to boot? i did a fresh install and it took 4hrs, this was via usb. normally it doesnt take that long.
also is there a way to change how much dedicated video memory goes to the integrated graphics?
The HD4000 shows 64mb however i would like to increase it to 128 or higher.

EDIT

found it. changed it to 1024 now it wont post.
looks like another brick.
tried resetting COMS
tried blind flash - fans just keep spinning with no activity on esata usb. tried 3 usbs
removed cmos battery and ram. power up got 2 beeps so atleast there some life in it.
just wont post when ram is inserted again.
any ideas?