X36 BIOS are out!

The X36 BIOS can be found either in the MyHive or downloaded here:
http://www.audicracy.com/alien/m15x_X36_BIOS.zip

I have uploaded it on my server in case there are some out there who cannot access the MyHive or for those living in the UK. Hope that helps.

For those who aren't sure how to flash the BIOS, you can take a look at the manual that is provided by Alienware:
http://4help.alienware.com/cgi-bin/alienware.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_sid=b4lS5Nbh&p_lva=&p_faqid=5787

 

Thats awesome news! Thanks for uploading it to your server bud. Now.. if only I had a blank disc.

Cheers once again guys for all the effort you put in to getting this sorted.

 

I won't be able to do this BIOS update until after school, so if anyone could post their findings with this new BIOS, that would be appreciated.

 

You can use USB , dont waste your CD

Here is how....

1) Get UltraISO or MagicISO

2) Open this ISO with them and Save the Boot Information Boot Information->Save Boot File

3) Download WinIMAGE to open this Boot Image File and Extract its contents to some folder

4) Download HP Drive Key from Here

5) Run it to format your USB with it, filesystem should be FAT and select quick format, Create a dos startup disk

6) Select option "using dos system files located at" and browse to location where you extracted the files from floppy image

7) Now once done, copy all the files over to USB and do not replace the existing files.

8) Boot from the USB now...



Another option... I am keeping the above option for generic purpose how to boot from USB. To avoid downloading all these tools and going through lots of steps... here is a simple option which I created for you.

1) Download this file, BIOS.rar

2) Extract its contents to some folder

3) Run HPUSBFW.exe from extracted files

4) Format your USB with it, filesystem should be FAT and select quick format, Create a dos startup disk

5) Select option "using dos system files located at" and browse to location where you extracted the files from floppy image

6) Now once done, copy all the files over to USB and do not replace the existing files.

7) Boot from the USB now...

 

CAUTION: Improperly updating or flashing the BIOS CMOS chip on a motherboard can damage it to the point of rendering it useless. Accordingly, you should perform this BIOS update only with the assistance of an Alienware technical support agent. Performing this BIOS update without such assistance will void your system's warranty.

Just so everyone sees that

 

Bolded it for you. 8)

 

****, I don't have a flashpen handy nor a CD :<

I can wait - I'll ask my ICT teacher for one tomoz

 

good news. still, as with any BIOS update, i'll wait and see what early adopters say

 

Excellent! thanks for informing me Oceanus, and have a rep
Its going on the disk now and ill post back in about 10-15 mins when my other downloads are done with the results...

Fingers Crossed

Tom

 

Well i've done it... (No fires or explosions yet) main thing that i have noticed is that i dont have to force the power button to work, it actually responds to your touch now, generally nicer touch controls imo. If i can find the Latency checker program ill try that out too Oh and yes, the fan is working a lot harder in this update. More to follow if it stays in one piece

Tom

Btw: "Add support for Nvidia NB9E-GT2" whats this about? the 9 series gfx cards or something?

 

Here is the DPC Latency Checker

 

It adds support for the 9800M GT. This BIOS update should also include the updates from the X34 BIOS but without the latency, so the fan working harder and the touch keys being more responsive should be part of the update.

 

any chance this updat will fix my stealth button?

 

Well ive tried the latency tool and its onyl gone over into the yellow once so better than before me thinks



My god is this fan is starting to annoy me

Tom

 

Here are the steps if you want to use CD ROM
http://4help.alienware.com/cgi-bin/...td_adp.php?p_sid=b4lS5Nbh&p_lva=&p_faqid=5787

If you want to use the USB Key

1) Download this file, BIOS.rar

2) Extract its contents to some folder

3) Run HPUSBFW.exe from extracted files

4) Format your USB with it, filesystem should be FAT and select quick format, Create a dos startup disk

5) Select option "using dos system files located at" and browse to location where you extracted the files from floppy image

6) Now once done, copy all the files over to USB and do not replace the existing files.

7) Boot from the USB now and follow the on screen instructions

 

I want to try it now

 

I have a USB Flash Drive mini key chain about 2gb on it...will i be able to update with it??? i never knew that it was even possible to change the boot order and select usb as first...?????

 

You won't know until you try it out.

 

Hmm i may ave figured out this fan business...
My 'System Temp's shot up to 80 degrees, CPU @ 50-ish, im sure it never use to be that hot. Anyone care to offer input?

Tom

EDIT: Didnt they give an updated thermofan last time a bios came out? as it could easily be that

 

you need not to change your boot order... just press the F12 key on boot screen and it will give you menu to select USB from there,


oh yeah... it require only 2mb so anything above that will work.

 

I will test it out first thing as soon as I reach home... cant wait....

 

Things I've noticed after the update:

- Latency between 65-1400 (Absolute minimum - Absolute maximum)
- Keyboard lag in Source games is way less, but still there.
- No more Audio popping sound (Yay!)

Other notes:

- Touch controls still has the same response (They have been perfect since the m15x came anyways)
- The Audio control is flickering approx. every 30mins

 

1000 is still a lot of latency... my x32 gives me max 250

 

The temperatures normally increase for a short while right after you either flash the BIOS or install new GPU drivers. Give it awhile before it goes down to its normal state.

 

@findvikas
I guess it depends on the OS installed because my X32 used to give me 1400 too. While you and topper have low latency's I am guessing because you are using Vista 64

 

Oceanus: i have had it on for about an hour now and the temperature hasnt moved atall from 80. thats why i thought it may be the software being iffy..

Tom

 

I see what you're talking about. I doubt the temperature is 80 though. Even the GPU temperatures aren't moving...

EDIT: I put the system in Stealth mode and the GPU temperature is going down (53 now), but the CPU is still reading 80 although it's not.

 

I have 4 OSs thanks to 1TB

Vista x64, Vista x86, WinXP x86 & uBuntu

I have faced similar latency with windows while running with x34.. even with x32 I haven't noticed much of change in the latency

 

I am not sure what could it be then but it's fine for me as long as there is no more audio popping sound, I am happy

 

Hm, I was hoping for a solid update but there are some issues it seems? Also, anyone have X32 uploaded incase I also get X36 issues?

 

Good to know that the new BIOS is out.

I flashed back to x32 a few weeks ago because of the latency issues with x34. Problem is, touch controls became unresponsive again, especially after sleep or closing the lid.

Will flashing the x36 bios fix unresponsive touch controls? Or do i have to flash x34 again, and then flash to x36?

 

You can directly upgrade to x36 and only you can tell if it will fix the touch control issue or not

 

Thanks for that clarificattion findvikas. I'll give it a try later on

 

OK im at step 5 right now but i have to browse to what file? This is my first time flashing my bios so could you make the last couple of steps a tad more detailed? cheers

 

Ok those files are missing in the Bios's floppy ... download them here... sorry for so much download

EDIT: updated my BIOS.rar so now that file contains DOS Boot Files as well

 

lol thats allright, i just want to get rid of those audio pops.
ok so i downloaded the file, extracted it and thats the folder that i should select for "using dos system files located at"? but when does the actualy x36 bios come into all this. I apologize for being a noob when it comes to this

 

You might not want to upgrade to it... check out my other thread I just started to share the feedback on new BIOS

We all are noob in something or other, so np!

EDIT:

If you have not passed the Step 5 and stuck there... then you need to select the option in tool -"using dos system files located at"
then there is a button next to the text box , press it and browse for the files that you extracted from BIOS.rar
Click Start to format it... once it is formated
Copy all the extracted files over to USB once the stick is formatted. certain files already exist on USB after you format it, do not overwrite them

 

cha let me know if it fixes your sleep issues... when the computer is asleep and i wake it up , the computer will go back on and everything but the screen would stay black forcing me to do a restart.. sucks

 

Oh, I don't have that kind of problem with sleep shackenbakenyc.

My computer wakes up from sleep without problems, it's the touch controls that become unresponsive after waking the comp up from sleep

 

Shak... that is Vista bug and this BIOS as expected could not fix it. I have tested that and the problem is as is

 

i flashed my BIOS earlier today, and although it happens less, the keyboard still lags. also, now my touchpad will not turn on/off with the function key combo.

any idea on how to fix my touchpad?

running vista ultimate sp1
on m15x

 

if its a vista bug then howcome everybody elses wakes up from sleep?

 

It depends upon various factors, especially the video card and service pack level that you have. I cannot give you a definitive answer on this but AFAIK it is a vista bug and there are various variants of this.

 

The keyboard lag fix is not in this BIOS update, but I myself did notice the keyboard is more responsive especially in source games.

 

Hmm. It may just be a bug with the sensors. We'll have to get them to fix that.

Edit: Here we go. Finally found the time to flash my BIOS with the new BIOS. Looks like I'm experiencing the same bug also. I wouldn't worry about the real temperature because I know for a fact it is not 80 degrees. The only thing I would be worried is if this influences how fast the fans run and if that's going to drain my battery faster.



I'll go ahead and inform Alienware about this and the other issues experienced by this update. Please continue to use the BIOS and test it out to see if you can find any other faults with it.

 

There you go. Uploaded it for you.

http://www.audicracy.com/alien/m15x_x32_BIOS.zip

 

Great, atlast it's out. But needing to call alienware to do it sucks. How come we could flash older bios without alienware?

 

I have noticed that my system clock has been lagging due the x34 bios update. Any word if the x36 will update that?

 

All of the BIO (version) descriptions have that message.

 

Yea they do, but some older posts have alienware staff's permition to do it without supervising