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    M18x - BIOS A03 Released - Discuss Here...

    Discussion in 'Alienware 18 and M18x' started by Shaden, Aug 8, 2011.

  1. Shaden

    Shaden Notebook Deity

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    Shaden, Aug 8, 2011
    #1
  2. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    Nice find! Anyone brave enough to try it, lol?
     
    Aikimox, Aug 8, 2011
    #2
  3. vestitas

    vestitas Notebook Guru

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    Yeh but hasnt sorted the issues with overclocking the 580's unfortunately :(
     
    vestitas, Aug 8, 2011
    #3
  4. oni222

    oni222 Notebook Deity

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    I'll try it as soon as I get home.

    I still have a laptop that I have not returned to AW so ill try it on that one.
     
    oni222, Aug 8, 2011
    #4
  5. Shaden

    Shaden Notebook Deity

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    Vestitas ... have you loaded it ???
     
    Shaden, Aug 8, 2011
    #5
  6. vestitas

    vestitas Notebook Guru

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    Yeh and hasn't caused any issues that I can see.

    OC'd my cards and ran 3dmark11 and still got the stuttering so not the fix i was hoping for.
     
    vestitas, Aug 8, 2011
    #6
  7. ARGH

    ARGH Notebook Deity

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    is this a gpu bios or motherboard bios or keyboard bios or what?
     
    ARGH, Aug 8, 2011
    #7
  8. vzachari

    vzachari Notebook Evangelist

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    Looks like a motherboard bios to me.

    P.S. Keyboard Bios?????
     
    vzachari, Aug 8, 2011
    #8
  9. debaucher

    debaucher Notebook Deity

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    lol.... it is the main system bios.

    I am hitting refresh every 10min or so on the dell site to see if I cant find some change notes.

    D.
     
    debaucher, Aug 8, 2011
    #9
  10. ARGH

    ARGH Notebook Deity

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    yes my clevo laptops also had keyboard bioses ;)
     
    ARGH, Aug 8, 2011
    #10
  11. pmassey31545

    pmassey31545 Whats the mission sir?

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    Updated about 3 hours ago. No issue yet.
     
    pmassey31545, Aug 8, 2011
    #11
  12. Zero989

    Zero989 Notebook Virtuoso

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    BIOS dated 7/29/2011 :)
     
    Zero989, Aug 8, 2011
    #12
  13. pmassey31545

    pmassey31545 Whats the mission sir?

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    Uh, What???!!! They just released AO2 on 8/3/2011. AO3 is dated today-8/8/2011
     
    pmassey31545, Aug 8, 2011
    #13
  14. debaucher

    debaucher Notebook Deity

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    Uploaded on the ftp site on 8/8/11 but dated from the engineers as 7/29/11 most likely

    D.
     
    debaucher, Aug 8, 2011
    #14
  15. wraithrsw

    wraithrsw Notebook Consultant

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    "Supports new CPUs" it says. I would hope they'd have a lot more fixes than just that, lol.
     
    wraithrsw, Aug 8, 2011
    #15
  16. pmassey31545

    pmassey31545 Whats the mission sir?

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    What CPUs?

    EDIT: Nevermind. Must be the 2X60 series of chips......
     
    pmassey31545, Aug 8, 2011
    #16
  17. koelle

    koelle Notebook Consultant

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    Or 3x20, jeje
     
    koelle, Aug 8, 2011
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  18. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    Ok, switched to th A03, so far so good.
     
    Aikimox, Aug 8, 2011
    #18
  19. ARGH

    ARGH Notebook Deity

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    would be interested to see if it adjust the fan operations. btw, how do you check what bios you have?
     
    ARGH, Aug 8, 2011
    #19
  20. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    CPU-Z -> mainboard tab
     
    Aikimox, Aug 8, 2011
    #20
  21. bar-code

    bar-code Notebook Evangelist

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    sorry didnt know we had a A03 thread

    I'm finding A03 a lot more restrictive on 580m cant overclock as high now as to A02!

    A02 highest stable overclock on 580m for me is 724/819/1620
    A03 tested briefly on the same overclocking setting which resulted in crashes and freezes and the fans would not turn when there suppose to, as opposed to A02 running the same 3dmark11 test at those overclocks.

    So looks like some fan control has taken place, to what diagree who knows :)

    Just my experience so far! Went back to A02 and all is good again This must be the quickest update ever since A02 only just come out last week!

    Anyway i'm sure more bios updates will follow to limit the m18x further or maybe refine it.

    Overall loving the M18X so far. Seems to be putting my desktop to shame.
     
    bar-code, Aug 9, 2011
    #21
  22. ARGH

    ARGH Notebook Deity

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    this is why you should always scale back the overclock by 5% from your highest "stable" numbers to ensure stability throughout all the updates and environments you going to face.
     
    ARGH, Aug 9, 2011
    #22
  23. sev7en

    sev7en Notebook Consultant

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    Hi to everyone,
    does it is the way to update the BIOS without the battery?


    Cheers,
     
    sev7en, Aug 10, 2011
    #23
  24. F0RZA

    F0RZA Notebook Guru

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    How do I update the BIOS? Just download from dell and install?
     
    F0RZA, Aug 10, 2011
    #24
  25. Rykoshet

    Rykoshet Notebook Deity

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    Aikimox, have you managed to enable manual fan control on any of your Dell Business laptops? Particularly e6520?

    I have tried Speedfan which works for some, but it doesn't work.

    I have also tried FN+SHIFT+1,5,3,2,4, (got flashing lights), then FN+SHIFT+R (got nothing) to disable BIOS thermal control....but no luck.

    Have you been successful?

    Thanks.
     
    Rykoshet, Aug 10, 2011
    #25
  26. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    Contact Mumak @ Tech Inferno forums. He's the only hope :)
     
    Aikimox, Aug 10, 2011
    #26
  27. vzachari

    vzachari Notebook Evangelist

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    Run the .exe from elevated CMD (command prompt) and use the extension /forceit (name of bios .exe not the 7zip file /forceit)

    Or you can change the platform.ini file so that it doesn't check for battery

    I am not sure if it will work and I don't recommend it. Just plug in the battery for two seconds and update. I keep my battery in refrigeration but I might bring it out for the update if I decide to go with the A03
     
    vzachari, Aug 10, 2011
    #27
  28. sev7en

    sev7en Notebook Consultant

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    Thank you for getting me back soon!
    I did it by editing the platform configuration file because the command line switch doesn't work (it always requires the battery).


    Cheers, ^_^
     
    sev7en, Aug 10, 2011
    #28
  29. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    A03 bios triggers the secondary GPU to go in 45-65C cycles :(
     
    Aikimox, Aug 10, 2011
    #29
  30. Shaden

    Shaden Notebook Deity

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    Can you clairify what you mean Aiki ? Like ... the fan or something ? Cycling on and off or what ?
     
    Shaden, Aug 10, 2011
    #30
  31. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    Yes, same cycling as with the A00 bios. With the A02 the secondary card always stayed @ 45-50C on my machine.
     
    Aikimox, Aug 10, 2011
    #31
  32. Shaden

    Shaden Notebook Deity

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    Thanks for the testing info, as usual, yur the man. +rep
    Looks like I am staying with 02 until they fix that crap ... and give us damn fan control !!!
     
    Shaden, Aug 10, 2011
    #32
  33. ARGH

    ARGH Notebook Deity

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    how do you get the older A02 bios? i installed the A03 on a brand new machine but never got a chance to see what the A02 behaived like.
     
    ARGH, Aug 10, 2011
    #33
  34. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    I saved the A02 before upgrading and can email it to you if u wish.
     
    Aikimox, Aug 11, 2011
    #34
  35. ARGH

    ARGH Notebook Deity

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    i think i found the link.

    Drivers and Downloads
     
    ARGH, Aug 11, 2011
    #35
  36. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    Yup, that's the one
     
    Aikimox, Aug 11, 2011
    #36
  37. Nigel8600

    Nigel8600 Notebook Evangelist

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    Anyone have A01? That might be a good one to hang onto as well cause of the non-throttling in it. Kinda take A03 and A01 and make a A03A :)
     
    Nigel8600, Aug 12, 2011
    #37
  38. Kamzan

    Kamzan Notebook Deity

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    is it me or the fans are going nuts ever since i installed a03 ?
    just starting to run a game and i hear the fans as if they are at 90% power...?
     
    Kamzan, Aug 14, 2011
    #38
  39. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    have u checked the temps?
     
    Aikimox, Aug 14, 2011
    #39
  40. Nicholaus.rossi

    Nicholaus.rossi Notebook Evangelist

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    My fans are kicking up more often as well, but the overall temps are better now. It seems like they go to 90% after 55ishºc
     
    Nicholaus.rossi, Aug 14, 2011
    #40
  41. Kamzan

    Kamzan Notebook Deity

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    temp are low...20 seconds into loading WoW and i hear them go berserk...
    something is wrong ?
     
    Kamzan, Aug 15, 2011
    #41
  42. debaucher

    debaucher Notebook Deity

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    But what are the temps when the fans spin up?
     
    debaucher, Aug 15, 2011
    #42
  43. Xeneize

    Xeneize Notebook Deity

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    Yes your AW wants a more challenging game!! Try RIFT :D
     
    Xeneize, Aug 15, 2011
    #43
  44. Endless Shock

    Endless Shock Notebook Guru

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    I play WoW on mine at times. The fans stay quiet unless I'm fishing :). Water seems to upset the fans I noticed.

    One thing I did notice is that the "Launcher" does NOT work on this rig. I don't know why...
     
    Endless Shock, Aug 15, 2011
    #44
  45. littleone562

    littleone562 Notebook Deity

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    Launcher problem is a documented bug due to the Killer network card software, they are working on a fix.
     
    littleone562, Aug 15, 2011
    #45
  46. Endless Shock

    Endless Shock Notebook Guru

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    I did not know that. Thanks :).
     
    Endless Shock, Aug 16, 2011
    #46
  47. debaucher

    debaucher Notebook Deity

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    I had no idea about that either... (well, I knew there were some issues with the 1103 card.. just thought it was a latency thing) but then again I have not played wow or rift in months (no fun when everyone you know is no longer playing)


    As for the OP's question... what temperatures are you getting when you fans "go berserk"?

    D.
     
    debaucher, Aug 16, 2011
    #47
  48. OsOs

    OsOs Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi there! I got a new MB for my labtop with bios R00! Sould I stick with it or update to R03?
     
    OsOs, Aug 18, 2011
    #48
  49. Zero989

    Zero989 Notebook Virtuoso

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    backup that bios! its legendary. could be the key to 580 throttling.
     
    Zero989, Aug 18, 2011
    #49
  50. johnnobts

    johnnobts Notebook Deity

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    well, been getting 4 dreaded beeps after updating to a03 bios off and on, nothing wrong with my memory (4 beeps indicates memory problem) though, so I'm supposed to be getting a new mobo. My first M18X was defective too, this will be my third repair/replacement. Wondering if I should demand a 6990m upgrade or something for all the hassle.
     
    johnnobts, Aug 19, 2011
    #50
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