New Alienware m18xR1 A05 BIOS - UNLOCKED, iRST OpRom 12.9.0 (Lower Ver Too) & IME Upgrade 7.1.80...

Hey All,
I've finally modded a BIOS for the M18Xr1 where it is now fully unlocked (I use slv7's unlocked BIOS as a starting point - credit for that goes to him). I then was able to upgrade the iRST OpRom Firmware to 10, 11, and 12 (and the sub versions of each, too). It now supports TRIM in RAID0. (Granted, intel says trim is supported in 11 and up, but for some reason their 11 & 12 OpRom wouldn't show trim working on my pc. As such, I used a MODDED iRST OpRom that supports TRIM in RAID0. Plus, the Accelerate Option is now shown in the Intel Raid Config Utility (GUI). I've also been able to make a small zip file with the IME 7.1.8 so you can upgrade the m18xR1 to the latest (and last) version our system supports! (The Mobile HM67 Series-6 laptops do not support v8+)! I do know that some other manufactured laptops do work with the HM67 6-series IME 8 & 8.1, but I have been unable to fingure out how to get it to work, YET! (Maybe it can, but I need to be careful, obviously! Don't want to brick).
Anyway, if anyone wants to try these out, please send me a PM. I'm happy to give away! Looking for testeers.
The one thing I do know is that if you installed OS in UEFI, not legacy mode, you MAY, I REPEAT, MAY need to reinstall OS. However, that was not the case for me... Just thought I'd let you know!
This has an install utility, so it can be done while in windows. Very simple to do, and the rewards are INSANE! My RW for my RAID0 (with TRIM working) increased by almost 30%. (To me, that's really good!)
I hope to hear from you all soon!
Swick

 

link for file? I'm always up for testing.

 

I just sent you a PM.
What version OpRom do you want in the bios. I made it with version 10.1, 10.5, 11.2, or 12.9.0. I believe there is a Modded version 13 that our system can use, too... But I'm told and the research that I've done says that 12.9.0 is the best OpRom for our system (m18xr1). So let me know what version you want and I'll upload!
Thanks,
Swick

 

I think both version 13 and 12.9 should be made. Please outline a test procedure if possible.

 

I tested the new OPROM version 12.9 as modified by swick, and it works perfectly. Hats off to another BIOS modder!

 

Okay, here is the procedure.
FIRST AND FOREMOST - IF THIS BRICKS YOUR SYSTEM I AM SORRY, but it shouldn't. You take full responsibility for doing this. (Though it does work!)
First, you will want to update the bios. The rar file posted has the flash utility (INSYDEFLASH.EXE). Just run it and it will do everything you want. (HOWEVER, if you have upgraded your Intel ME Firmware, you will want to restore it to the version that was on the original STOCK BIOS A05 from dell)
After you've upgraded to 12.9.0, then you can upgrade to the Intel ME firmware 7.1.80 (I think we were running 7.0... originally). When you run the IME flash (run.bat), it will make a backup of your ME firmware, just in case. Then you PROFIT!
I hope ya'll like!
12.9.0 is supposed to give out m18xr1 the best performance, however there is a modded v13 bios that I can put out for us, too. Please let me know if that's something I should do! But the 12.9.0 is the best!
Thanks,
Swick

Link to downlaods
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qlty4chq2f02n03/AABaofHk4f7fQT5HbH4xtuk1a?dl=0

 

So now it is time to figure out....how to retrofit UEFI into the M18x R1

 

Yeah, good luck with that... I'm thinking that's going to be hard because I thought the video drivers weren't UEFI supported. Plus, some m18xr1's have NVidia's 700 series cards, and I believe they are not supported with UEFI. (I read that somewhere, I THINK) Then again, I've been reading so much about bios upgrading, I could be confusing things - full disclosure! LoL
But, it's still worth a try, in my opinion! Talk about an insane task, though!

 

I have GTX 880M that is UEFI-era GPU mounted in AW18 and it works flawlessly in M18xR1. Plug & Play. There's some restriction or other crap in maxwell that checks something if it's supported I think. Will pascal be still restricted? That's a good question.

 

Oh wait, perhaps it was the GOP driver for the onboard Intel card that was the issue with UEFI. Not totally sure, I honestly can't remember, but I read something somewhere about UEFI and a certain video card (older intel or the 7000 NVidia?)? I don't know, can't remember now... heh
Still worth a try, would love to get UEFI on this thing!!

 

Really UEFI is crap. The ONLY reason I would even consider porting it to the M18x R1, is for possible Maxwell GPU support in the M18x R1. The 7970M/8970M and 680M/780M/880M all had UEFI vBIOS that were written in a way to work with legacy just fine, but not the 980M and rest of maxwell series cards for some reason.

 

ahhhh... Okay. Perhaps that was what I was reading then. (Maybe)
Like I said, I've been reading a ton, so sorry for the wrong info!
BTW, I sent you a PM. Let me know what you think!

 

OK since im total noob to BIOS modding and how it works id like to ask you what must i do to get best performance from my laptop?

1.im on STOCK A5 from Dell.
2.never updated firmware for any component except regular BIOS upgrades.
3.will now GTX980m be able to work in SLI on R1? Do these card work at all on R1 as single or dual cfg? Im looking to Upgrade but still wating for advice in my tread.
4.UEFI is good option because of Windows 10. I heared GTX980m require UEFI to work but someone managed to make them work on R2. Is that possible on R1?
5. if i flash everything will i be able to flashback if having some issiues and would be greatfull for GUIDE how to upgrade/downgrade.

 

@DaRk Rezonator please read 1st, 2nd and 3rd post in this thread