M11xR2 A02 BIOS now available

EDIT: Brian has stated that an A03 is due to be posted by Dell either today or tomorrow - 08/09 or 08/10. Might want to wait for that one.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m11x/462447-m11x-fan-always-stuck-behavior-discussion-37.html#post6574455

Just posted to the R2's driver download site within the last 90 minutes.

Release Notes

A02 System BIOS Release Notes:
1. Added LoJack functionality.
2. Fixed POST screen issue when resuming from hibernate.
3. Added system boot up functionality with Dell Resource DVD disc.
4. Added external monitor display with lid closed while outside the OS.
5. Fixed POST screen issue when restarting with the lid closed.

 

Looks good thanks for the update Slickie!

 

Hmmm... I think I'll hold off. Nothing listed impacts me personally.

It's been loosely speculated that battery life might be improved with this. If that's borne out or confirmed officially then I'm in.

 

Thanks! Installed without a problem. First time flashing my M11x-R2, is that a new flash utility or have they always used InsydeFlash for the M11x?

 

You wish? The release note did not have item #6

 

Is there anyway to flash the BIOS outside of Windows? like what asus laptop has a flashing utility in the BIOS.

 

Although I get the humor behind this (and laughed as well), lets not derail the thread - why I removed it.

Questions, PM me. Thanks guys

 

No biggie.

 

i have never updated a bios before does anyone feel like posting a guide? or is it straight forward

 

Hmm, I tried to download it and got an error (in Chrome, "Error 10 (net::ERR_ACCESS_DENIED): Unknown error."). I tried it in FF and IE with similar results, and I tried to get another listing on the page with the same result.

edit: In case someone else has this problem, I got it in a roundabout route. Go to the listings as normal, choose to display only BIOS, click "More Download Options", then click on "M11xR2A02.exe"

 

Downloaded fine for me again just now.

 

Very straightforward.

 

1. To install the BIOS, download the executable and run it in Windows.

that is according to the release notes so i would do that

 

This release pretty much does what it says on the tin. Had no problems flashing either! Will do further testing later....

 

erawneila says that an A03 is going to be out today or tomorrow...

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m11x/462447-m11x-fan-always-stuck-behavior-discussion-37.html#post6574455

 

Well i'll wait for A03, since the A02 won't do much for me either. Thanks Slickie.

 

Well good to hear Dell keeping on top of things. For me I will hold off till I see something thats listed happening.

 

Methinks that's a typo. I don't have Alienware OSD installed to check for sure, though.

 

Why there are 2 different thing to download ? One is 97kb and another is 5mb.
Which one should I download?
Is it risky to flash the bios ?

 

why would they release two bios updates within days? if it was the case it would make more sense to wait 4 days and call the A03, A02 instead ?

 

Agreed, that's why I said it's probably a typo.

 

the A02 bios seems to fix this very annoying screen flickering bug i get when plugging it in to my 21.5inch external monitor via HDMI.

 

That's a possibility, but Brian's referenced A03 for the R2 in two different threads here today. He's also stated that A03 is supposed to have changes for the R2's fan, which is not mentioned in the A02 release notes. Guess we'll know in a day or two.

 

Ooh interesting. I only caught the one post you linked to.

Getting ahead of things, I wonder what the fan changes will be, since it already seems really good. Earlier today I timed how long it takes to go from an in-game temperature (60s C) to a normal temperature (45 C) after exiting, and it took 2 minutes. Considering the fan doesn't even kick up to max speed in the process, that's pretty nice.


On topic, I installed A02 and didn't notice any difference, but none of the problems listed in the release notes are problems I have had. That is not entirely useless info, though, because it shows it isn't detrimental in any way.

 

Yeah, right? I've never noticed any issues with the fan actuating too frequently or running full tilt all the time. Haven't seen any R2 owners complain about the fan either.

 

probably allowing the system to run a little hotter and the fan run a little less for better battery life?

 

If that's the case, do we really want that?

 

Yeah, but aren't people borderline not happy about how hot the R2 is compared to the R1? Personally, I wouldn't mind if they tweaked the threshold a little higher in favor of better battery, but that's because I don't often have this thing on my lap for extended periods of time.

It'll be interesting to see if A02 and/or A03 do actually have a positive impact on battery life. The guy who did the Hardware Haven R2 review said that his review unit had the A02 BIOS loaded.

 

Yes, please, if anyone could download/post their battery times, it would be super beneficial for the greater good.

 

has anyone noticed battery life

 

Personally I would like more fan than less.

 

same here less heat is better. i do not mind the sound and i would rather have lower operating temperatures

 

With A02? I had it on battery for ~3 hours yesterday and couldn't tell any difference.


edit (to avoid doubleposting):

On a different topic, I stared at a temperature monitor for awhile to verify the fan table. The fan turns on when the CPU hits 55C, stays on until it drops to 45C, and stays off it goes up to 55C again.

 

That's more or less what I see with A01.

Core0/1 44/46 = Off
Core0/1 53/56 = On

 

thanks for the tip is ao3 out now, can't check right now xD

 

nope, it isn't

 

Anyone that received their m11xr2 recently, was that A02 bios already installed?

 

Recieved mine today with A01.

 

it feels like the laptop is getting hotter now haven't monitored it though. could just be me thinking so. anyway to revert to the A01?

 

The fan is turning on and off at the same temperatures that A01 uses, so I'm not sure how it could be running hotter. A02 doesn't mention any changes to the fan tables either.

 

I thought the A03 was coming out yesterday? Also who said it? Is he a rep or something?

 

erawneila stated that A03 would be out by yesterday and that one of the things it was supposed to include is changes to the fan tables. Looks like he may have been mistaken or it's still pending. A02 was released on the 9th and the release notes for it don't mention anything specific to the fan.

 

erawneila (The public face of Alienware to NBR) stated that there'd be a new release of the BIOS for the M11xR1 (A05) and the M11xR2 (A03).

Both of these BIOS will have fan table improvements.

In the past there has been a delay of a week or so from announcement to deployment.

Through this process erawneila has also been instrumental in pushing the process along.

Maybe not today, but I have every faith in erawneila, and the new BIOS should arrive very soon...ish.

 

Is the fan update really needed? I haven't experienced much trouble with my R2 regarding fans.

 

Does the fan update improve or reduce cooling?

 

If we're to go by the release notes and our own observations of fan activity with A01 and A02 then there aren't any updates to the fan tables in A02.

erawneila twice stated that A03 was supposed to have available for the R2 earlier in the week and that /it/ had changes to the fan tables. Given the fact that A02 was just released, I'm guessing he misspoke. Or something...

 

yay 10char

 

where's the download?

 

Dell support site.

 

I did like the popup "Rewriting EC, please waiting" during the flash. Anyways, it was very easy and although I don't notice much of a change, I do like to think it's improved performance.