The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Question about M17x recommended BIOS settings

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by KCMO, Jan 12, 2010.

  1. KCMO

    KCMO Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    There are so many "Enable vs. Disable" choices on numerous BIOS setting options.

    Can someone recommend a web site or post buried in this forum that might suggest the best settings?

    For the record, I am not trying to overclock.
     
  2. WaR

    WaR Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    2,391
    Messages:
    2,128
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    If you are not going to overclock I would leave it default. Only changes I have made are Disabling Hibrid SLI and disabling the integrated card. Also Enabled VT to use Virtualization correctly.

    That's about it, man. I don't suggest playing around there unless you know what you are looking for. Friendly advice ;)
     
  3. dave-p

    dave-p Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    730
    Messages:
    1,715
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    56
    x 2

    but if you do decide to tinker with OC, and you really mess things up, three reboots set the BIOS back default
     
  4. BatBoy

    BatBoy Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    7,395
    Messages:
    7,964
    Likes Received:
    25
    Trophy Points:
    206
  5. KCMO

    KCMO Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I guess the two settings that puzzled me was:
    whether to enable or disable Virtualization Technology and
    whether to enable or disable ASPM
     
  6. BatBoy

    BatBoy Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    7,395
    Messages:
    7,964
    Likes Received:
    25
    Trophy Points:
    206
    I would leave both @ default - for more info try Google. I'm mobile at the moment or I would provide links to each :(
     
  7. lewdvig

    lewdvig Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    1,049
    Messages:
    2,319
    Likes Received:
    26
    Trophy Points:
    66
    In BIOS A02 the ASPM setting caused crashes if turned on. Leave it off (the default).

    It's kind of like the 'red button' in movies.
     
  8. KCMO

    KCMO Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Sounds good, Thanks for the help guys
     
  9. dave-p

    dave-p Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    730
    Messages:
    1,715
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    56
    ASPM workes in A03 BIOS FYI
     
  10. KCMO

    KCMO Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Okay, thanks for checking on that.

    Oh what the heck - I'll try enabling Virtualization Technology too. It wouldn't boot for me in A02 but this ain't A02 anymore....
     
  11. KCMO

    KCMO Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    As you will recall, I had been wondering about whether to enable or disable Virtualization Technology

    Interesting test results using M17x, Windows 7, BIOS A03.

    I used Guitar Pro 5 as a test, with dpclat latency utility.

    At idle using A03 I no longer got spikes, however.....

    If I played this particular song over and over using Guitar Pro 5, the audio would stutter in the same places in the song accompanied by spikes in latency.

    I then enabled Virtualization Technology in BIOS.

    Following that, the song didn't stutter and there were no more latency spikes.

    I know not to make any claims of success - this could just be a fluke, but if anyone wants to experiment, let me know if you see the same improvement in your audio.
     
  12. SillyHoney

    SillyHoney Headphone Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    543
    Messages:
    1,202
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Enable VT, no luck with audio stutter :p

    KCMO, you are into guitar huh :D Me too ;)
     
  13. KCMO

    KCMO Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    SillyHoney, okay, thanks for checking - as much as I am reluctant to admit it, each computer seems to have it's own "personality".

    And, yes, I am a bit into guitar but the Guitar Pro software is my son's who hopes to someday use his M17x for recording his band. If I can get the audio stuttering down to zero, then maybe he can start diving into multi track software.