New BIOS update for 17 and 18 starting... today?

Back on my home forum, this bit of news piece came out, and here are the main points.

(*Wish I knew how to enlarge photos on here, but just click on it).
The BIOS update should release today, but I checked and it hasn't yet. It doesn't seem like old news either since the last BIOS update mentions warning about OC dialing or something like that.
However, their config pages show that the processors are indeed overclocked.

So this is real. Was going to put this in one of the sub forums, but it pertains to two laptops.
Too bad the 14 gets squat...

 

They finally unlocked the BIOS? Sweet...

 

Only took them a year.. if that's what it is.

 

So this enables a factory overclock of 200mhz, that's pretty sweet.

 

Let's hope the fan tables are fixed as well.

I don't see the BIOS on the download page.

 

I doubt they unlocked it, probably finally fixed the factory overclock though. If they did somehow unlock it, it's a step it the right direction.

 

Wow! awesome! so now I can have a 4GHz unlock with the change of a single setting?!? sweet!!

and I guess the BIOS will adjust the voltage and other parameters automatically for this OC to work heh?

Can't wait to get it!

 

I just updated to it.. But uhm... what does it do?

Sorry for being retarded.

 

Downloaded and installed. Good news and bad news!

Good news:
Overclocking has been enabled! There are now overclocking levels in the BIOS. :thumbsup:

Bad news:
Failenware strikes again.



Further testing needed! Installing 3DMark now.

 

Hmm, just installed it and loaded Optimized Defaults but I don't see it one bit different to BIOS A09. I also couldn't find that Alienware OC feature which I thought would give me an easy configuration for a 200 MHz. Overclock

 

With threads from J.Dre and Ferris23 saying it has some success, I feel as if this was a good update.

 

refer to this post:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...ios-a14-overclocking-enabled.html#post9796966

 

Fixes & Enhancements
Enhancements:
1. Update Microcode 0x306C3 Rev.1C.
2. Support OverClocking level 1.

 

Windows has always shown 2.1Ghz for my overclocked processor. Windows can not load the correct Value.

 

Mine never showed the "incorrect" value until I installed this BIOS. So, not sure why yours did.

 

Mine was also only showing one Value before the update, but now it shows two.

Running Windows 8.1

 

Even when I tried editing the Microprocessor CPU code from reg edit to make it show 4 GHz. once I reboot it goes back to 2.8 GHz

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\0]

Changed the name for all the 8 CPUs but no luck making it stick

 

Mine shows 2.8Ghz(2.80Ghz 2.80Ghz) for the 4900MQ even if it's "overclocked."

On my desktop I have a 4Ghz overclock with no power savings enabled so it always runs at 4Ghz. That one shows 4Ghz in windows (2.93Ghz 4.00Ghz).

Guess it depends what clock speed your cpu is running when the os checks.

 

Same speed reported by my overclocked 4810MQ shows @ 2.80 GHz.

I even edited the CPU text via reg edit but if I reboot it reverts back to 2.8 GHz

 

A couple of observations. I haven't applied this BIOS yet. It says "Support OverClocking level 1" which is basically nothing to be excited about.

With a locked BIOS Windows is typically going to show the stock clock speed, not the speed the CPU is capable of boosting to. This is normal. You need an unlocked BIOS and the ability to disable c-states, then run WEI before the maximum clock setting shows up in the Windows System Information.

Long story short, I don't know if this BIOS is any good, but what you guys are seeing reported by Windows is expected behavior.

If you disable c-states and run WEI, Windows may (if it captures it) report the stock speed and the overclock speed, like this:



With the Alienware 18 not having an unlocked BIOS and no way to disable c-states (power saving crap) it is going to look like this no matter what clock speed the CPU is running unless you can get the CPU to lock at its max clock speed before running WEI.

This is generally the case. WEI is what captures this information and saves it.

 

I think not, since processor is most likely on a higher speeds.

 

The other thing to consider is, Alienware doesn't count overclocking based on 4 cores/8 threads. They generally only count the single-core clock speed, which may be much higher than 4 cores under load. Unless you are running a single-threaded application this is going to be irrelevant.

Unless Alienware has changed how it defines overclocking and advertised clock speeds...

...doesn't mean 4.1GHz or 4.4GHz or 3.7GHz on all cores. They count it as an overclock even if it is just one core and the rest are stock, or close to stock.

 

Yeah, I've noticed that. That also means paying extra for their "overclocked" CPU's are pointless, lol.

 

It looks like Dell has increased the actual voltage on Vcore too high in the new overclocking profile. At a clock speed of 4.2ghz, they run on 1.279mv at the maximum. I think this is crazy. I'm going to continue and use xtu and trottlestop for and have more adjustment possibilities and better results. The new overclocking profile (new bios) is really nonsense, as the highest value applies to one core. I mean it's just nonsense. There are not many programs today that can only go on one core. It is also certain that many heat problems gradually due to the high volts (thermal Grese going and degrade much faster with the high actual voltage = heat)

 

So from what I've been reading so far, it doesn't seem like they unlocked the BIOS correct?

If so why even bother with another update lol

 

It is certainly fine to update anyway. But if anyone wants a (hefty :laugh overclocking on one core, it is certainly an ok update.
I live well with Xtu and trottlestop I, since this is better choice.

 

It overclocks fine on ALL cores with this and the previous BIOSes. This BIOS update did nothing detectable, good or bad.

Too bad there's no power left for overclocking the 780M SLI. With a pantywaisted 330W AC adapter, there's no overclocking room at all for 780M SLI after the 4930MX hogs up 141W. There's only enough juice left for one 780M. I had not used the 18 in a good while. I forgot how bad it sucks having a totally inadequate 330W AC adapter. As such, this machine will never be satisfactory for anything except gaming. It does a superior job of that, but that's simply not good enough.

View attachment 116521

 

If Alenware holders should use the new overclocking profiles with (adaptive voltage control), then it is too high, many get an unnecessarily high temperature of its processor and coming to turn off the laptop during the benchmark test (bad thermal grease and fan control) . The high voltage the 70 - 90MV is too high. For there is no i7 stationary processor that has such a high voltage (almost 1.28mv) in such a low Overclock from Dell.

 

For anyone reading this that is trying to figure out why your machine still doesn't overclock worth a crap, this may help...

 

So basically they brought back the existing profiles way back from A05 or A06, tweaked them a bit to work on A SINGLE CORE, did not unlock the BIOS, but made a big deal out of it anyway?

Alienware, I am disappoint. :/

 

Well, what I do not know is what this BIOS update might do for AW17 and AW18 owners with lesser Core i7 CPUs. It is possible that it does something that helps them achieve better performance than before. I have no way of knowing since I only have access to a 4930MX at this time. If I remember correctly, there were a bunch of settings that could not be changed with XTU with a 4700MQ or 4800MQ. It may have some benefit for them that is not applicable to 4930MX.

 

I'm awful glad I have Xtu and Trottlestop. Do not think I have seen such a miserable overclocking profile ever, no matter what computer manufacturer.

 

There is no other way of doing it, and than test the overclocking profile with Cinebench 11.5 (Wprime) and compare with what prossesos score is standard. As well as and check all facts with hwinfo under the test.

 

Actually that's a good point. Hopefully A10 actually benefits those without an MX CPU, otherwise it simply sounds like a rebranded A05 to me.

 

I have an AW17 with a i7 4710, and it ran at 2.5ghz before the update and still runs at 2.5ghz after. Do I need to enable it somewhere?

 

CPU turbo mode and overclocking feature is probably not turned on in the bios. Start up the computer and start the bios with f2 during startup and enable these tabs.

 

You have to go into the bios by pressing f12 when your computer boots up. Go down to enter setup and press enter. Go right to advance the go down to performance option and press enter. Go down to overclock feature and enable it. Then go down to extreme edition correct ratio limits and switch it to oc lv1 press enter. Then press f10 to save and exit. That's it your done.

 

Or, press F2 to go directly into the BIOS and skip the boot menu.

 

Thanks .didn't know that. I learn something new every time I come on this forum. Great stuff.

 

Thanks alot!

For all it's worth, I dont know about this, but I've been having some problems in WoW with a bottlenecked CPU i think. Enabling this OC feature just improved my FPS by 20 (50%) inside of cities. Too good to be true?

 

It may be smart and confirm with software (hwinfo64 or similar) that your hardware runs at the speed it is intended for.:thumbsup:

 

I found that a custom overclock, without using the OC LV 1 option in the BIOS, is actually better with the new BIOS than it was before. But it's still far from good.

 

What change do you see, with the use of custom overclock?

 

Lower voltages resulting in lower temperatures. Haven't tested it much yet. Used to reach 1.278v and now only reaches 1.190v under the same overclock.

I overclocked it the same as the OC LV 1 option has, but with different power limits, etc. and it seems to be better so far.

 

Have you tested with Cinebench 11.5 and seen the results and temperature you got under test?

 

Well I installed the new BIOS and then 20 minutes later went back into BIOS and disabled the Over Clock. The new BIOS with OC enabled was causing the fans to run intermittently when all I was doing was MS Office stuff and the internet. I work in a reasonably quiet office and while the fans weren't loud they were load enough to be a distraction for everyone else. It is good to know that the extra power is there though if I ever need it.

 

That you should do instead of turning off Overclock, you should install Trottlestop and make you several profiles on the clock speed you want. :thumbsup:

Edit: Another option is to apply Liquid Ultra thermalgreas, the fan will not start up at all during the regular work tasks when you do it this way.

 

i wonder what the power consumption is with the new BIOS and my personal GPU overclock is using out of the 240W power brick!

i haven't encountered any issues with both the CPU and GPU overclocked.

 

With your CPU and GPU even if they are overclocked, you can not maxing out your power supply. You need to have a much more powerful processor if you are going max out the power supply. :hi2:

I use just under 251 watts under test skywalker in 3DMark with a little Overclock 79/1444 on the graphics card. and with a standard VBIOS. It's my processor that draws the power consumption, Shall I clock higher on the graphics card with a mod VBIOS I must buy a 330W power supply from Alienware 18.

 

OK, though it might be an interesting bit of stat information to see what it's using.