Area-51 m15x Update from Alienware

I think that AW are sorting one problem at once. It's a shame that us end-users are having to complete the testing process. Mins you, it' only like Microsoft or Apple, they release software with bugs and rely on the end-users to bug fix stuff so...

OB

 

Good point. If only we end-users always didn't get the bad end of the stick though. haha

 

Very true mind you it makes me wonder...

"What do the expert programmers and such like actually do, when they Test software, i mean it seems to take a few thousand end-users to find bugs that the testing program.....eh.....missed!!! "

OB

 

Update: April 16, 2008

We are releasing the RC1 version of the X32 BIOS for the m15x that will resolve any remaining downclocking issues left open by the previous beta version. (X30)

We are continuing to vigorously test this BIOS as we work towards a final version. Customers can download this BIOS at: http://4help.alienware.com/cgi-bin/...td_adp.php?p_sid=b4lS5Nbh&p_lva=&p_faqid=5779

For further questions or information, please email your account information to [email protected]

Thank you for your support,
Frank Azor
VP, Product Group, Alienware

 

Awesome! Are we allowed to install this BIOS RC1 on our systems without supervision without violating the system warranties?

 

installing the new BIOS by yourself will not void the warranty.

 

Thanks Steve & Frank. I was waiting for this. I was getting worried about my new m15x.

 

anyone that tries this please post ur results!

 

Dear Steve/Frank,
has alienware again stopped production and delivery of the m15x (especially in europe) regarding the release of the new bios as it has been with the X30?
thanks

 

sweet, will try this now

 

Thanks, just in time (before my m15x will arrive )

 

Very good news. I honestly hope that this will make it... I honestly hope I can get my M15x soon! Cheers and, although we have to be a bit cautious... thanks for listening to your costumers and coming up with a (hopefully final) solution.
Maybe... AW is the best!

 

@Frank... a quick question. What does the new bios do? Thermal profiles again? How did AW tackled the problem this time?

 

I think frank is the guy to ask not steve

 

VERY preliminary test results are positive... I tested a condition which, for me, always resulted in downclocking (which is windowed Crysis, no matter what the BIOS, X30 or otherwise) and with X32 RC1 the fans engaged properly and no downclocking occured.

Of course, need to do more endurance testing, but come on, I'm eating dinner and the BIOS just came out an hour ago

 

Ahahahaha.... GRB, do the fans spin faster or they just don't fail to start spining after a slowndown cycle?
Tell us... temps, graphs. What's the noise like? etc...
Enjoy your dineer... but do it fast.

 

Well it's more your second point. I haven't tested a slowdown cycle yet, but one condition for me when the fans would never start, no matter what, was 3D windowed applications. Now, they are starting.

Anyway, I'm done now and am gonna get back to testing.

 

Cheers GRB. Can a M15x owner create a new thread about the v32 bios to discuss improvements, tests, results, problems, etc etc? I'm eager to know everything... (and I'm sure lots of people out there as well).

 

Ran FurMark for about five minutes and the fans properly engaged with no downclocking. I don't have RivaTuner installed anymore, so I can only describe with words (what I see with GPU-Z). Fan engages around 88-90 degrees and stops when it gets down to 75-76.

Also tried a slowdown cycle (minimized FurMark, let the GPU cool down and the fans shut off, then maximized it again) and the fan also worked then. So, so far, it's all good.

 

Come on GRB, start a new thread then and use it to collect and share information between you lucky guys.
Very happy to hear that info... Keep pushing that thing to the limit (don't set it on fire though.).

 

which link in myhive do i click to get the bios. i cant seem to find it.

 

should be under your graphics card

 

strange the only clickable links i have are

Area 51 M15X 15'' WXGA + W/CAM SIL-RIP-PNT
Intel Pro Wireless 4965 A/B/G Draft N mini card
Alienware command center 1.0
Cyberlink Youcam webcam application
nero 7 R5.9 DL
Cyberlink powerdvd BD 7.3 8CH build
System personalization
nero 7 R5.9

the m15x nvidia 8800m gtx 512mb option is grayed out :/

 

That is strange, but yeah, it is under the graphics card heading. Here's the direct link: http://support.alienware.com/Support_Pages/Restricted_Downloads/Mobile/m15x/BIOS/m15x_x32RC1.zip (I hope it's alright to directly link to the file, I mean, it asks for your password anyway if you haven't logged in, so I shouldn't be breaching AW rules)

Did more Crysis testing, played the first 20 minutes of the game with no problems anymore. Man, that game is so much easier when you aren't dealing with downclocking

Gonna try some CS:S, that was the other game which still downclocked all the time after X30

 

Are you serious? You used to downclock in CS:S ?! I never downclocked in source games.

Anyways, Thanks GRB for keeping us up to date. I hope this downclocking issue will be fixed once and for all

 

thanks for posting the direct link. +rep

 

Yep, but now, it's silky smooth with >100 fps at max all the time.

 

Alienware-Frank could you also let us know if tilting the system a little bit, like using a Zalman cooler will effect the system in anyway? I heard of peoples system downclocking when their system was tilted a little bit ebcause it was on top a notebook cooler, would like an offical response so we all know whether to buy a cooler or not.

 

I don't think i've ever heard that... i know that tilting the system by lifting the front (exhaust pointing down) causes the system to heat up.

 

It was posted I will try to find the post, I think one of the people that experianced this was GRB, but I could be wrong but I know at lease 2-3 people posted, and theres so much post that deals with the downclocking so I will try to find it

 

That's great news, i'm thinking that a lot of people will be very happy to know that Crysis plays without any downclocking etc.

Lol you could be responsible for boosting the M15X sales figures when they read that the Bios fixed the speed issues ha ha ha

Maybe you should ask for commission...

Don't suppose you can give an average fps reading for Crysis could you?

OB

 

I'm gone for 6 maybe 7 hours and what do I come back to find ?
Alienware updated the BIOS to version X32 RC1 !! Really hoping it clears up the DC issue for everyone

Link to the post for all newcomers - http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=3245536#post3245536
Link to bios -
http://4help.alienware.com/cgi-bin/...td_adp.php?p_sid=b4lS5Nbh&p_lva=&p_faqid=5779

Note:

 

Hi Frank,

That's great news, i know that it's relieving to know that you guys are still testing bios.

I'm guessing that this testing has been useful for bug-fixing the M17X, should it have any that show up during testing?

OB

 

Is this bios available for european customers?? thanks

 

Daft question warning...

Have you tried downloading it from the main site?

Or is there some kind of access problem?

OB

 

haha well it's not really anything new, but rather the FPS now doesn't cut down to 50-60 every minute and a half because the card is downclocking.

Crysis seems to vary a lot, with fog being the thing that really kills this card. Without the information now, I would say the average sits around the low 20s and tanking when you get into scenes with fog (which thankfully isn't that frequent).

 

Thanks for the update. It's surprising that it's fog that kills the graphics cards lol i'd of thought it would have been water or something!

I wonder if it's any better with two 8800M gtx's, i'll try it on the M17X when i get it and let you know.

I have recently played far cry, it's old i know but it was only £5 so i got it lol. Saying that i can only play it on low as my work laptop can't handle the grpahics otherwise ha ha ha

I'm looking forward to far cry 2, looks good, I really want tp play Oblivion but that needs good graphics too.

OB

 

Yes i have tried to download it from Alienware US but I can't because i have an european account.

 

Oh, i didn't know that the accounts only gave you access to the part of the world you were from.

I wonder why they haven;t put it onto the Euro websites yet? Can't be different machines etc?

Guess it's a question for AW-Frank/Steve...

OB

 

im really glad to hear this, so no more over heating / downclocking? Even though this just came out any idea on when the final version will be out? ill be ordering mine after i get my grad money and i want it to be money well spent!

Quick random question: How does the m15x work with external monitors ?

 

i've only got my m15x to work with one out of 10 hdtv monitors... so if you're going to buy one.. bring your laptop to the store and test it out first !

 

That's funny, I was talking to a Roswell Tech Support, about downclocking/HDMI-HDTV issues and he wanted me to "Reinstall Windows to eliminate a software problem" for the downclocking..... I told him that reinstalling windows would be a waste of time

 

What seems to be the issue with connecting the m15x to an external monitor? Is it the software or is it something to do with the hardware? And jl1989. which monitor brand worked as an external monitor?

 

Update: April 17, 2008

The RC1 version of the X32 BIOS for the m15x addresses an issue that was present with an ambient temperature sensor. The graphics cards have been working as designed, however, one of the failsafes implemented that induces the downclocking was not working correctly.

-Frank

Update: April 17, 2008

The m15x’s thermals were designed to work with the system placed on a hard and flat surface such as a desk. Any material or items that block the air intakes will affect the flow of air and increase the temperature of the system. If you are using or planning to use a cooler, make sure you don’t block any of the intakes on the bottom of the m15x and that the cooler’s fans are blowing air into the intakes, not away from the them.

The m15x does not require any additional cooling devices to work at peak performance.

-Frank

 

Thanks Frank! We hope that the problem will be fixed definitely this time.

 

i tried sharp, sony, viewsonic, samsung, and toshiba.

only samsung worked.

it could be that they're just older models or something i don't know... i emailed sharp support, maybe they can help

 

Cheers Frank, that's good to know. Praise also to the obvious thing... a computer like this shouldn't need a cooler to work.
Well done.

 

Hey everyone,
Need some help here on identifying any underclocking. First thing, playing around with rivatuner(completley new to me) I am looking under the hardware monitoring and see the following-
core clock\ROP domain, MHz=540.0
core clock shader domain, MHz=1350.00
memory clock=799.20
core temp=53.00

I'm hoping that is normal after playing an hour of The Witcher? The right side was getting pretty warm.

Is there any guide on using rivatuner, or is just running the hardware monitor in the background the way to go to see if the speeds of the GPU change?

Thanks for the help. Man this forum has got me seriously paranoid now. I'm having nightmares that my m15x is downclocking.

 

53 seems like a pretty low idle temperature... mine's around 60+ at idle.

Yes, i think monitoring by just letting the program run while you play games. You could alt-tab to see whats happening to your GPU.

 

Anyone tell me if this is the updated BIOS and driver?
Thanks

BIOS Information

Manufacturer: Quanta
Name: PhoenixBIOS 4.0 Release 6.1
Version: vX30 P3
Version: ALWARE - 6040000

Motherboard Information

Manufacturer: Alienware
Product: m15x
Serial Number:
Version: Not Applicable
Verified Hardware Device against Order: MB-MD2WXGASILRIPNT
Verify correct motherboard
Power settings optimized

Video Adapter

Caption: NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX
Adapter RAM: 512MB
DriverVersion: 7.15.11.6755
Verified Hardware Device against Order: MOBL-VMD2NB8PGTX512
Test Video Card