x34 BIOS release for m15x

As of today, Alienware has made the x34 BIOS update available for download via your MyHive at http://support.alienware.com

This update has been released to resolve CPU down-clocking issues, as reported by some customers. For complete assistance on installing this update, feel free to contact our Technical Support team and walk through its installation over the phone.

Thank you,

James

 

I don't have any CD's with me. Anyone care to check if it's good? Also, I'm undervolting anyway, so it's fine for me right now.

 

Alright, great for the people that has the x9000!

 

Or x7900! Maybe.

 

Three month late... but better late than never.
Can we have the old ones looking into this?
Taco?

 

very nice. are there any other changes beyond the CPU downclocking fix? e.g. do i need to upgrade to this even if i don't have a downclocking CPU?

 

Features and fixes in this BIOS release:

* Fixes Multimedia Board buttons not functional after sleep when opening the lid.
* Default profiles for screen brightness set to AC 100% and DC 40%.
* Fixes CPU speed profiles.

Additionally, we will be releasing a temperature utility that will properly display your current temps. This is expected for release shortly and is to be used with x34 - you may still update your BIOS'

 

well those certainly are good news! looking forward to the temp monitor...

 

how does european customers download the new BIOS? I went to myHive but it still displays the old BIOS x32 RC1?

 

Can i be a noob and ask about bios?

i have no idea about bios so please don't castrate me on the spot for asking this.

are V41 and x34 the same thing or not? if they are, hurray i made an idiot out of myself. if not then what is the difference?

 

V41 is the BIOS for the multimedia board i think, in other words it is the BIOS for the touchcontrols, while x34 is the BIOS for the motherboard.

There are different BIOS in your system basically, this one (x34) is for ur motherboard, while V41 is for your touchcontrols.

 

ah, thats interesting, and good to know.

so i should install both?

 

if you're having issues with the touchcontrols, why not?

 

well i am, very annoying issues

 

I wonder if with these new 'CPU speed profiles' overclocking will be possible
Just a thought !!

Oh and I'm looking forward to news on how well the problems are fixed with this BIOS..
dhoang ? exiled ? taco ? (since you all are in the US )

Edit: So the new brightness profiles causes the brightness to lower automatically to 40% when switching to battery now ? What used to happen before ?

 

Haven't tried the new bios yet Wraithers, but I'm going to see if it changes anything since I don't have an extreme processor. Once again, thanks AW-James. I hopes this helps with the downclocking CPU's on Milc's and Taco's m15x's. ^^

 

ill try this out too but i dont have a extreme processor as well. maybe it can let us control fans or make the fans go on at a earlier temp for gpu. that would help with alot of people's overheating.

btw i dont think milcs is getting the m15x anymore. he kinda gave up on the m15x.

 

Oh yeah.. My bad.. Think I need to head to bed and give the ol' noggin a rest
Well, I guess I look forward to yous testing the Temp utility they're coming out with & compare it to the ones you all currently use.

@ dhoang417 - Have you checked my recent post on your reveiw ?

Night all !!

 

well this is great news but I'm out of town and I can't find a CD!!! I'll find a radio shack and try it out. I will update everyone as soon as I can test.

 

Ok guys quick update. Been testing for about 20 min still no downclocking everything looks good so far will test for an hour longer just to make sure also seems the temps are a lot lower didn't hit over 80 in those 20 min. Anyone want to stress there GPU to see if it help with those temps that would be great. Also looking through the bios to see what they fixed guess what!!!??? they lowered the voltage just like I told them to do!!! Others please post your test results. Thanks AW for finally getting us a fix.

 

Hi Alienware-James ,I can not see this new Bios on my UK Hive, can you upload this somewhere please?

 

haha you won't see it there for a while... i guess someone from the states or canada will do have to show some heart for us poor europeans and upload it...

 

would of uploaded earlier if i knew europeans needed. just got home from tennis so here you go

Bios X34

http://www.sendspace.com/file/xu72y8

 

ok guys I've been testing the new bios all afternoon. Here is my mini review of it

Pros: NO cpu downclocking! Which was my major issue I ran stress test for 1 hour and the highest temp I got was 77c which is great right now i'm at 43c. Next the touch controls do seem a little better haven't had any problems using them after sleep. More good news is that my GPU idle temp is much lower. With x32 my idle temps where low 70s which I thought was way to high. Now i'm looking at low 60s on idle. I also ran ati tool for while my highest temp was 80c.

Cons: The only con I've been able to find is that my cpu fan is running @ 5000 rpm all the time. Right now its 5067rpm and the cpu is 42c.

Conclusion: For me the new bios is great. Everything working great I have no downclocking, but like I said with the new bios the cpu fan is running all the time the and the only way to get the fan to slow down is to put it in stealth mode then it will drop to around 4200 rpm and also even when stressed for an hour my cpu fan didn't cross the 6000 rpm mark. Overall I can honestly say that i'm happy with the new bios. If anyone else can test let us know how it goes. O and before I forget before someone asks me you still cannot overclock the x9000 (yet). If you have any questions just let me know!

EDIT: Ok guys I set my computer down for a little while came back and noticed that my cpu fan was off I was sitting at 41c cpu and 48c system. Looks like the cpu fan will turn off after a while I'm trying to figure out when as soon as I find out when I'll let you guys know. (unless AW wants to throw in its two cents.)

 

taco, does the new bios help your system wake up from sleep?

I'm still having a problem with that. I set the power button so it puts my machine to sleep. The screen and keyboard turn off and the alien head pulses. When I press the alien head to wake it back up, the keyboard turns back on and it sounds like it's on, but the screen doesn't turn back on. I've tried everything.

Hibernate, on the other hand, does work.

 

yay....for all that needed the fix...

but a noobish question...will the newer orders have this in place? they should right?

and AW-James....when will the 15 be avial in black?...

 

the new m15xs always have the latest bios in them. even if it didnt the bios update is very easy. the only wish i have with the bios update is that you can update the bios in windows like a dell instead of booting it from a cd. kind of waste a cd since i know im never using that cd again.

 

i just received my m15x on monday, how can i know which bios ive got?

 

it's in system properties somewhere... alternatively, you can download and run Everest Home Edition, that should tell you your BIOS version as well.

 

The BIOS x34 has been released to European customers aswell, I can now find it in myHive for everyones information.

 

I'm very happy for all of the affected owners. Hope it solves all the major overheating problems. Whenever you guys have time, can you see what changes in terms of temperatures (iddle, gaming, etc...)?

The only thing that would drive me insane though, would be the CPU fan always on. Back when I had mine, the fan was on most of the time and it really drove me nuts!

Appart from that... Hope it will make everyone's experience more enjoyable.

Keep smilling and all will come,
M.

 

That Rocks James!! Thanks amigo..

 

this could change my plans



ugh, i actually hoped alienware didnt release the fix or a new ntoebook for a long while, so i could happily buy something else without always stressing about whether or not i should have got alienware! ugh

thanks though

 

Well I never had any problems coming out of sleep so I really couldn't tell you. I have mine to sleep when I close my lid. Then when its opened it comes right up.

 

gaz333 - now it's the time to get an m15x!

taco - I've been testing the new BIOS. My peak CPU temps around 56C according to HWmonitor and GPU still peaks at 88C after half an hour of Crysis. Touch buttons seem more responsive, especially the volume slider. Sleep works fine as well as hibernation.

 

Dhoang, have you tried stressing your CPU?
How's the fan behaviour now? Any other differences you have noticed?

 

I want to try these but NERO won't burn them to a disk. I've used multiple disks and nothing works..... don't tell me i need to wait for my USB floppy... that makes me sad

 

What error does it give you? (NERO that is?)

 

have you selected to burn them as an image?

 

start -> all programs -> accessories -> system tools -> system information

 

Nero would also give me an error when it was done burning. It would say burn failed but the disk worked fine. Also as Whizzo said make sure your burning image to disk.

 

i was, and the disk was empty. can i do this with a usb drive, i bet not.

i guess i'll wait till my floppy comes.

 

sorry to say but you have to use a cd.

 

bollocks, then i'll wait till i get easy media creator.

 

have you tried any other iso program? What OS are you using?

 

i use XP. Nero is the only one i have since it came with the machine. I'll have media creator by the end of the week. no i haven't tried any other programs.

 

check this out this is a utility for xp http://www.petri.co.il/how_to_write_iso_files_to_cd.htm

 

cool, thx, ill try it when i get home (oops boss coming)

back to work for me!

 

We're always looking for ways to improve customer experience. We even have a team dedicated to having such issues reviewed and resolved. Unfortunately, this takes some time and we greatly appreciate your patience.

 

I'd also like to say thanks James It looks like you guys took your time and really went through this bios. Thanks again o yeah and whether not AW will admit it or not glad to see they followed my suggestion.