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    M17x BIOS A03 Discussion Thread

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by DenverESullivan, Jan 7, 2010.

  1. Aristotelhs2060

    Aristotelhs2060 Notebook Virtuoso

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    i explained the situation to you before a while. its NOT A FIX really. what i understood is that the the no sound stutter causing red lines were due to the cpus reading (as referred on bios release notes) but the huge red lines which are still there are due to the gpus and still cause the same or more problems. the major green lines mean nothing.

    if you want to feel more happy uninstall the nvidia driver and do whatever you want without red lines at all. of course dedicated gpus wont work but it will be better. lool
     
  2. lewdvig

    lewdvig Notebook Virtuoso

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    I am one of those people. It worked great in Vista.

    This is just a game machine for me. The OS means nothing. I dislike all MS OSes equally.
     
  3. lewdvig

    lewdvig Notebook Virtuoso

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    Do people get these spikes in Stealth mode?

    Hybrid power saving?
     
  4. cpaqf1

    cpaqf1 Notebook Evangelist

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    Ok so I installed A03 and did a clean install aswell without OSD, CC is turned off and Wireless has the default windows drivers and is DISABLED, Bluetooth is completely disabled in the bios, Hybrid SLI is also disabled. I'm running windows in performance mode (classic theme) as I had a feeling it helped with A02. I get green bars but still get some stuttering sometimes(which is confirmed by 60k bars). Using a P8700.

    So I guess 50% is fixed (dpc) but the most annoying issue is still there (stuttering)

    Surely, if stuttering isnt present in linux and XP(i think) it should be quite easy to fix ?
     
  5. lewdvig

    lewdvig Notebook Virtuoso

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    in Hybrid power save mode I only get 15,000 spikes with no stutter. Hmm.
     
  6. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    My GPUs (so far only a single card can be run to max capabilities due to Nvidia crappy drivers) work fine under linux.
    Me, Stamatisx and a few others did a lot of testing in Ubuntu 9.10. I'm able to run games (those that can be tweaked into linux through WINE and Steam) with max settings with not a single glitch in sound/video. Not a single issue with multiple audio/video playbacks, and I do have those in W7.
    Vista was better, but still.
    The point is - it's a hardware problem for Vista/W7, since the system is not exactly compatible/optimized with/for Windows :D :eek:
    It's not a hardware problem in Linux and... I bet,.. in MAC O.S.

    Still I suggest annoying Dell and making a huge petition and maybe we can get a free upgrade to the new line soon.
     
  7. stamatisx

    stamatisx T|I

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    Unless they completely fix the stuttering issues, that actually sounds as an excellent idea
     
  8. lewdvig

    lewdvig Notebook Virtuoso

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    You are right. It is entirely the power state polling software Nvidia uses - it might be driver level or firmware (Linux or Mac might ignore this feature if it is firmware).

    I am 15-20 min now with no stutters using Hybrid Power Save mode BTW.
     
  9. Aristotelhs2060

    Aristotelhs2060 Notebook Virtuoso

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    so what you say is that you dont get any sound stuttering with linux or ubuntu while you do with win7 and vista? i have no experience on no microsoft oses. is there any program to measure dcp latency on linux or ubuntu?


    free upgrade to new line? i think you are still dreaming.
     
  10. SillyHoney

    SillyHoney Headphone Enthusiast

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    For me this BIOS is A LOT BETTER than the A02. Let put it this way:

    - In DPC Latency test, the red bar is still there but at much more lower frequency.

    - In real world with music playing and surfing web at the same time: sometimes there are sound popping but very rare and much harder to notice than it used to be. On A02 with my SLI Performance enabled, listen to music while surfing web is totally crap with audio stuttering, skipping, popping all the time. Now it's ok. Well not ok but much much much better.

    - In Save Power mode or Hybrid SLI and discrete cards disable I have never ever experienced audio issues with whatever BIOS version so I couldn't care less to test it in those modes.
     
  11. lewdvig

    lewdvig Notebook Virtuoso

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    They will just tell you to switch to Hybrid power mode. LOL

    Well this problem is solved as far as I am concerned. I have no reason to use three video cards while surfing.

    I'll go back to being happy and if a firmware update comes for the 280m cards I'll try it. That is what it will take - that or turn off the feature in the driver which polls the firmware.
     
  12. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    If you ever install linux on M17X (I suggest trying it without affecting the system first, from a LIVECD) you will understand right away, the stutter is gone forever. I was looking for DPClat for linux but it appears to be none.
    Anyway, if you need help installing Ubuntu, there is thread "Karmic Power" and the first post (updated today) gives you all you need for a basic install (video/audio/wireless)

    I'm still dreaming, but mark my word : I'll get a free upgrade on that one, the circumstances are perfect.
     
  13. Stinger61786

    Stinger61786 Notebook Consultant

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    I am calling Dell tommarow and getting my money back I have had it. Good luck to all of you guys exit stage left! ;)
     
  14. Aristotelhs2060

    Aristotelhs2060 Notebook Virtuoso

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    just tell us what will happen
     
  15. Cobraman10176

    Cobraman10176 Notebook Geek

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    Tried the new forceware drivers, and the beta Nvidia GPU driver, and calmed it down a bit, but still way too much for this type/quality (And I use "quality" loosely, considering the pile of crap this laptop has turned out to be)
     
  16. ifkamg

    ifkamg Notebook Enthusiast

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    Guys, I flashed the bios, and when it restarted the screen was black with a blinking cursor..

    It won't go away and my computer won't boot. What is wrong?
     
  17. 5150Joker

    5150Joker Tech|Inferno

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    Sounds like it's bricked.
     
  18. ifkamg

    ifkamg Notebook Enthusiast

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    EDIT: Now it says missing OS - Operating system not found. What...
     
  19. whitelight01

    whitelight01 Notebook Geek

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    Just updated Bios to A03...Awesome!! Latency & stuttering are no more. With the latency checker running, nothing but green now.
    Min 109/Max 900's

    Note: I have not done any of the tweaks that were mentioned before to reduce the latency on these machines. Running on integrated only for now. Tested it with the 260's...same thing. :D

    EDIT REASON: Adding screenshot.

    [​IMG]
     
  20. lewdvig

    lewdvig Notebook Virtuoso

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    I am using the Stealth mode to reduce stutters. It works and I can live with one button press to turn on perfromance mode.
     
  21. 5150Joker

    5150Joker Tech|Inferno

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    Well then you probably need to reinstall your OS.
     
  22. benthedogtrainer

    benthedogtrainer Notebook Evangelist

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    its not bricked...you need to redo your raid....in bios
     
  23. TurbodTalon

    TurbodTalon Notebook Virtuoso

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    Right. Whenever you flash the BIOS or pull the CMOS battery you'll have to turn your settings back to RAID in the BIOS. After that you'll boot just fine.
     
  24. ifkamg

    ifkamg Notebook Enthusiast

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    Figured it out. Sucks being stupid @ working with computers. Thanks guys.
     
  25. benthedogtrainer

    benthedogtrainer Notebook Evangelist

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    goto raid select raid then on the nvidia controller...enable enable....and then f10 and save ...ur good...
     
  26. jt-3

    jt-3 Notebook Consultant

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    Definitely an improvement for me. Went from 4k red spikes every other bar to a spike about every 15 seconds (all other bars are well under 500). The thing is that the big 15-second spike will vary from a slight increase (but still green) to a 65k whopper. Not sure what causes the variation.

    So... While it's better, I don't know if I'd call it a perfect fix yet.
     
  27. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    :D This is so true. The more experienced you get more stupid you feel when noobed by a simple issue :D
    Join da club! :cool:
     
  28. Dustydelux

    Dustydelux Notebook Guru

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    Just updated to A03 better but still stutters :(
     
  29. SillyHoney

    SillyHoney Headphone Enthusiast

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    How do you get the long app button on the task bar like that? Mine are squares

    I notice in your new avatar your sword sport is much less risky :D
     
  30. JPS3

    JPS3 Newbie

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    I still also get the some huge red spikes (up to 67k!) but oh well, it works for now...
     
  31. Rotsu

    Rotsu Notebook Consultant

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    So let me get this straight. DPC reading is better but sound stuttering which was the main issue is still there?

    When you play a game or listen to music, does it stutter for everyone?
     
  32. benthedogtrainer

    benthedogtrainer Notebook Evangelist

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    nope not on either one of mine i have 2.... :)
     
  33. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    'cause I removed the Santa's hat and can actually see around? :D
     
  34. Rotsu

    Rotsu Notebook Consultant

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    well you have the ATI cards, i think this issue was much worse on the nvidia cards with Windows 7.
     
  35. benthedogtrainer

    benthedogtrainer Notebook Evangelist

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    maybe i would agree with you ...but i had 3 of the nvidia systems....also...one was the 260 sli and the others the 280 set up....and never had or have ever seen it..maybe your sytem is lucky .....
     
  36. bjrebo

    bjrebo Notebook Consultant

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    i still get the audio stutter. this is ridiculous. this will be the last time that i spend 3k on a laptop... all this time waiting for a fix that did not fix anything... wack!!!! i will tell all to stay away from alienware. too bad, used to be a good company...
     
  37. benthedogtrainer

    benthedogtrainer Notebook Evangelist

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    do you have your processor overclocked
     
  38. bjrebo

    bjrebo Notebook Consultant

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    not sure who you were asking about oc, but i have tried it both ways to no avail. oc and not oc that is...
     
  39. Stinger61786

    Stinger61786 Notebook Consultant

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    I agree with you 100% my friend with the first p4 alienware laptop before Dell still runs perfect. I am getting a refund and getting a sager or auses. I will never buy from Dell again
     
  40. bjrebo

    bjrebo Notebook Consultant

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    i am going to try and get a refund, but good luck if you are out of the 21 day grace period. they know that these things are duds. as i am typing this, i have a youtube video playing and it stopped for like a second and a half. it has never done that before. once again dell has just lost a lot of business from me. the worst part about it is they really could care less.
     
  41. SillyHoney

    SillyHoney Headphone Enthusiast

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    Yeah! That's exactly what I'm talking about :p
     
  42. nobodyshero

    nobodyshero Notebook Speculator

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    Definately seems like an NVIDIA problem. M980nu is having alot of issues with audio stuttering as well with the SLI 280, makes one wonder how effective BIOS tweaks will even be in curing the problem.
     
  43. Rotsu

    Rotsu Notebook Consultant

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    Ok so did anyone have the audio problem fix after applying the bios update?
     
  44. bjrebo

    bjrebo Notebook Consultant

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    i can answer this for all... no
     
  45. bjrebo

    bjrebo Notebook Consultant

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    also, just noticed that my gpu temps on idle are running about 5 degrees warmer...may want to check your as well
     
  46. blaster

    blaster 1 tequila, 2,3,4,5, floor

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    here its my results, not what i expected from dellware [​IMG]
     
  47. BatBoy

    BatBoy Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Well, this is a bit disturbing. NVIDIA 186.82 installed, Hybrid Graphics and Integrated Graphics disabled in the BIOS. GPU#1 temp is whacked - see attached.

    Also, OSD 2.21 needs to be updated for this release.
     

    Attached Files:

  48. Rotsu

    Rotsu Notebook Consultant

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    is that idle or are you running a game?
     
  49. Dustydelux

    Dustydelux Notebook Guru

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    Hmmm... mine seem to also be a little bit higher what GFX driver are you using ?
     
  50. bjrebo

    bjrebo Notebook Consultant

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    wow that is weird. mine are both idleing higher, but only by a few degrees. bat and I are both using 186.82...
     
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