Area-51 m15x Update from Alienware

I am sorry I have been MIA for some time.... But I got the call too - just a few mins ago for the release BIOS.....I am at work now so shima please let us know how it goes.. Thanks.

Just to update the folk., I had the downclock issue as well and mine was pretty bad as it used to downclock after just 10-15mts of Crysis..After the beta bios all these problems pretty much disappeared but I am still saddened to report that the M15x really doesent do justice to Crysis - I have seen the game on DX10 - Very High on a friends desktop and that just blows you away - you wont want to play anything else after you've seen Crysis - Personally, I run Crysis at HIGH on everything except shadows - Medium for Shadows - Res set to 1152 * something and DX 9 (DX 9 I think runs better and smoother than DX 10).

 

Initial impression of x30 bios:

Idle temps are lower than x29b, from around 61-63 C to 55-58 C. That's a plus.

ATI Tool artifact scanner: ran for 30 minutes. At the 8 minute mark, temps reached 87 C which made the fans kick in high and lowered temps to 77 C. Doesn't appear to be a change in this new BIOS.
However, the remaining 22 mins it scanned, temps were stable at 83-84 C, and the fan didn't kick in high.

I ran ATI Tool's 3D view after the artifact scanner, and temps were stable at 83-84 C for another 10 mins without the fans going into full blast.

No downclocking for me throughout all of this.

 

yeah well, typical AW inconsistency: my tech told me there was no change other than fixing the checksum error that you get when you flash the bios.

we'll see.

 

I just sent an e-mail back to the person who originally gave me the BIOS and hopefully he will reply in sending me the new BIOS. Or alternatively, Shima you should PM me the link to the new one.

 

Looks like your tech was right. Fan still kicks in high at the 87 deg mark. Idle temps seem to be lower though.

PS: Lessaj7, check your PM

 

Running the new BIOS (x30), will be stress testing it now.

 

I wish he hadn't been

when you refer to idle temps, is that before or after you've loaded it for a while?

 

I wonder when they will allow us to use modified drivers for the 8800m GTX.

Anyone got a chance to ask that question to AW?

 

So far from my benchmarks, starting at 56C idle, it went up to 86C in around 30 seconds or so. Then when it hit 87 shortly after the fan kicked in to full and sent it down to 76. Then it slowly went back up and hovered around 84 for a while. When it hit 87, it did the same thing and now it's just repeating going up to 87, fan kicks in to full, goes down to 76 and crawls it's way back up to 87 with the fan at about 70% speed (5400 RPM -> 3500 RPM).

Shot:
http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/6892/temps4xz2.jpg

 

Hmm, after running ATI Tool, my idle temps are back to what they were with the beta bios, 62 C. Okay, maybe there really isn't a change, just got rid of the checksum prompts during bios flash.

 

After extensive testing all week, we have an official BIOS update for the m15x thermal profile issues. The finalized X30 BIOS can be downloaded at: http://support.alienware.com/Support_Pages/Restricted_Downloads/Mobile/m15x/BIOS/m15x_x30r.zip

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

We are actively working on the other issues reported and will keep you all updated.

 

Yay! Thanks. I am really nervous about this bit though:

"Performing this BIOS update without such assistance will void your system's warranty."

 

Frank.

am getting this massage.

Server Error in '/' Application.


i can't download it.

 

I just tried to download it via their site, and it works just fine.

 

No offense, but my QuadCore 2.9Ghz w/2GB ram, and a 8800GTX won't play at ultra level. Even on high it can be a little choppy. I wouldnt guess it'll do high. maybe medium with everything?

 

Not to sound too stupid, but after I burn the image to disk what do you do?

 

Put the disc in the CD/DVD drive, restart the computer, hit F12 to get into boot menu and choose to boot from CD/DVD.
Hit R once, and you're done!

 

Yeah, well, Nero tells me that the burn process failed. I have burned twice. Not sure what is going on...

Trying to DL the file again and starting over.

 

Ihad to burn it on my desktop. Tried to burn it 3 times with my M15x and it failed each time. I guess I should have updated Nero first lol.

 

I burned the disc using ImgBurn with no issue. It's a really lightweight burning program, and highly recommended.

 

I used the ImgBurn program.

Hit f12 at the alien head screen.

Select the CD rom

Get no cable attached. No OS dectected.

Nothing happens. Hit enter and then I boot to windows.

I guess I have an issue somewhere.

 

For me even when it said burn process failed, it still worked. Just pop the CD in when you're in windows and see if it sees it. You should only see the readme file on it, but it works.

 

I burned mine onto disc with Imgburn.

Here's the link: http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/ImgBurn/1128426215/1

or you can go to www.imgburn.com

Worked perfectly for me...

 

I updated Nero and the burn came out fine. Before the update however it told me it was bad.

 

It is normal for the "burn process to fail" using Nero. Just hit continue or finish and then continue with the process. This has been CONFIRMED by alienware supervising techs.

 

well. I have a little update on my cancellation process. I was called today by the infamous Gladys. I can tell you she must a jedi master....I tried to have a strong mind. It start out like this:

Gladys: "hello Mr. Wanks"
Wanks: "hello"
Gladys: " I have a ticket stating you want to cancel your order"
Wanks: "Yes, that is true. I'm not comfortable with the issues plaguing the m15x"
Gladys: "You don't want to cancel your order, weak one"
Wanks: "yes I do"
Gladys: "no, you still want your aw notebook and it comes with a 200 qc process that tests the notebook to failure"
Wanks: "Your jedi mind trick will not work on me. My mind is not weak"
Gladys: "You will not cancel your order weak one! Instead you will pick two games for free and will also receive a very ugly backpack to go with your new laptop"
Wanks: "Yes, I don't want cancel my order. Please send Crysis and COD4."

Gladys. Has mad skillz.

new eta after the upgraded shipping is March 28. I hold my breath.

 

I had the same problem when they contacted me today to install the final BIOS. He said that they are going to look into it and call me later. They want me to continue using the Beta until they figure it out.

By chance did you install Vista SP1? I did and was thinking that maybe that was the problem. What you think?

 

lmao wanks.. your awesome.....

 

lol wanks thats priceless.

 

Did anyone else get this error while trying to install the new BIOS? I'm confident that Alienware will find a fix soon.

Broadcom UNDI PXE-2.1 v10.0.9
Copyright © 2000-2006 Broadcom Corporation
Copyright © 1997-2000 Intel Corporation
All rights reserved.
PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable
PXE-M0F: Exiting Broadcom PXE ROM.
Operating System not found

 

I got the error that the image failed but it actually worked when I put in the CD

 

Yep, I got the same thing both times but the BETA BIOS worked fine

 

Sorry all you guys must go through all this drama to fix a brand new system. But hey look on the bright side of things you got a "free" Alienware Cap!!
-J.B.

 

Got it to install x30 but wifi fail to pick up any signal. Anyone have any problems with wifi ?

 

That indicates it was trying to do a network boot. Did you hit F12 while booting so that the boot menu came up? You want to do that and pick the optical drive option.

 

Does anyone know why I can't access the BIOS file on alienwares website everytime I try to get it I get sent to a page that says: Server Error in '/' Application. Any other way I can get this file?

 

Ok ..Thanks shima for the bios file.

I have installed and tested my heat and fan while playing COD4, before it was hiting 92-93 and go down to 90. but now it reach 86 max then go down to 76.
as Shima said, it go up to 80 to 82 and stay there for over 10 to 15 min. before it go back to 86 and kick down.

 

A little help here;

Burning ISO image using Nero (u need blank CD - no other data must be present)

1) once Nero fire up go to back up
2) pick "Burn image to disc"
3) Open and browse to your file "x30"
4) u should be at the final burn setting. DO NOT BURN NOW.
5) click on the arrow key (left side middle)
6) choose "track at once" and "write"
7) burn now.

If u choose "disc at once" u will receive a fail notice (it works though) choose "track at once" and it will have a success prompt.

Flashing method
1) Restart PC with disc in CD-ROM
2) when u see aw head, hit F12
3) Choose Boot from CD-ROM
4) Hit R
5) When it reach "E" it will shutdown automatically and restart
6) Hit F2 to go to Bios page. U should see your Bios X30 under system bios
7) Once u got loaded in windows & if your WIFI fail (not able to pick up any signals), right click on the wifi icon (at system tray) choose diagnose and repair - repair wireless connection (1st one).

U are all set.

Edit april 16 2008: Updating your bios on your own WILL NOT VOID YOUR WARRANTY. This has been confirmed by Alienware-Steve:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3245592&postcount=556

 

I am sure given the issues with the downclcoking GPU's if something did go wrong wih the BIOS flash AW will help you out. Just make sure you are on the m15x email that has been posted around. Sorry I don't have it near me now.

 

Hi there, does it mean that with this new bios x30 update production of the M15x in Eurpe will start again? + i assume the new bios will come already installed on the machine. Thanks.

 

Harry88, it won't start AGAIN cause it never started before . Anyway once they get all the parts all new systems will be with the new BIOS.

 

fiddled with ATI Tool a bit, had previously been just doing in-game loading.

pic 1 = 30 min run with ambient temps at 66F
pic 2 = 5 min run with ambient temps at 76F

note that the temps points at which the downclock occurs in the second pic are: first time, hit 89C, subsequent times only hit 86C. and yes the fan is on full-bore this whole time.

 

so you still have the downclocking issue?

 

Fusion, if I recall you have one of those wierd systems that downclocks earlier then most correct?

 

Ah...i see, they never actually started . Two other things i was wondering....these chasis we uk'ers are waiting on, do we know if they are the same ones which people had cracking problems with or new one's that have taken care of this problem? Secondly, have we heard anything more about the touch control issues etc.., whether AW have done anything about them? Thanks.

 

AW said they are working on the touch controls at the moment. As for the chassis, I have no idea.

 

Thanks man. I followed your instructios and it was all good. I never noticed any problems with the old BIOS, but I am glad I have the updated version for all my gaming needs!!

THANKS!

 

Yes, that is what I did 3 times with someone from the Critical Issues Team and we still got that error. So, now I'm still using the BETA BIOS. Thanks for trying to help though

 

Than you, thank you very much! This worked!!!!!! You rock and now I should be good to go , It must have been the way that we were burning the file. Thanks again!

 

seem to, yeah, at least when its not like a freezer in this office.

and actually sometimes when it is, its below "room temp" in here now, probably 70F, and i had short spikey downclocks 4 times in an hour-long COD4 session. nothing horrible, never felt it in game, but still its there, its measureable. make it warm in here, and it just gets worse.

and im going on and on about ambient temps because i've been through this before where i built a rig in winter and thought i had the cooling sorted out, and then came june and a tear down and new cooling setup

not sure about that, it downclocks at 86-87 most of the time, 89 some of the time, never really hits 90.. if thats earlier then, maybe so..