BIOS modding for GPU OC fun and profit!!

@seeker

Could you please make a 5730 version of the Dany|R A14? Looks like a potential safe long-term BIOS for all of us on the 5730.

Thanks in advance!

 

Hello again seeker!
Was hoping you could do a request for me. Basically if you could just implement the new code of A14 with the BIOS we had done a little while ago then I would be happy. Here's what we settled on in the end for my 1645 with a 4670:

220 300 0.7
300 300 0.8
300 400 1
300 500 0.9
450 600 1
300 750 1
400 750 1
700 850 1.1

Thanks!

 

First of all thanks for the reply.

Ok, if the only change was LoJack it doesn't mind, the A10 it's OK...

So... I would like to have an A10 bios with:

- Unlocked menus,
- Updated cpu microcode
- DSDT Compiling error solved (how can i help you?)
- GPU bios A7
- GPU Voltages:

220 300 0.7
300 300 0.8
300 400 1
300 500 0.9
450 600 1
300 750 1
400 750 1
750 900 1.2

- Updated Chipset ROM, (Raid & AHCI)

The link I gave you contains both the drivers that ROM, double check that (BTW i uploaded it to my dropbox folder... HERE

Let me know...
Thank You!

 

Seeker, do you know of anyway to mildly overclock the i5 processor?

 

Hello Seeker,
in the meantime, I dusted a little 'old knowledges and I did some of the work.

A working A10 bios for the 1647, with:

- A7 ATI4670 GPU Bios
- Unlocked menus (i used your module)
- GPU Voltages:

220 300 0.7
300 300 0.8
300 400 1
300 500 0.9
450 600 1
300 750 1
400 750 1
750 900 1.2

Updated Intel Microcode for 020652 & 020655 cpu codes.

I tested it and it's stable, the microcode update work!



It still remains to do:

- Update ahci & raid roms, i can't find modules (any ideas?)
- Debug DSDT (I have no idea how to do it)

You can find this bios HERE

 

There is no way to OC Core i-series CPUs directly (except for the Extreme Editions). Some laptops are able to OC the i CPUs indirectly by OCing the PLL (clock generator), but last time I checked, the PLL the 1645/47 uses isn't supported by the various PLL OCing tools, and would require physical pin modding even if they did.

 

Awesome, I'm glad it works for you!

As far as the DSDT goes, the compiler only identified two errors, both of which are minor min/max errors, which don't really matter (field lengths are defined by start/end/length, ie start 255, end 359, length 105; two are defined as start xxx, end xxx, length 0, but they shouldn't matter because the start and end are still correctly defined, and the computer can determine length by subtraction).

The 1647 DSDT doesn't have nearly the amount of errors that the 1645 has.

 

In the BIOS I posted, I changed your idle and max, but I didn't remove the intermediate freqs. I'll repost you a new one soon.

The 4670 and 5730 are completely different as far as clocks and voltages go. If you could post me something like what PapaSmurf lists below, I'll make it. The stock speed/voltage steps for both GPUs are listed in the 1st post of this thread.

No problem, I'll try to get to this soon.

 

Ok, so DSDT it's not a problem, what about rst & ahci roms?

 

RST is just Intel's name for their AHCI drivers. As far as the chipset ROM goes, I've never tried updating one. If you could find me a copy of an updated PM55 ROM, I could try and find something similar to it in the BIOS and update it. You also mentioned that you read about doing that somewhere, if you send me the link I'll take a look.

 

I would like to update the rst & ahci ROMS (they are separated) because I read that it can greatly improve the startup time and the time that elapses between the DELL screen and the start of loading as well as improving (very much) performance with ssd on non-windows OSes.

I've read about it HERE and HERE.

Let me know if you find something useful ...

 

Hey Seeker, just to see what happens, could you make a BIOS like the one you made me with the Revision 3 but with 820/1100 For clocks?

 

GUYS I NEED YOUR URGENT HELP PLEASE!

please reply asap i need your help. i was updating bios with the latest a14 firmware and the power got off (i know i was stupid not to prepare for this situation) so i ended up with a non working laptop. ive taken my XPS1645 to the local repair service and the guys are asking for the actual bios files to restore the firmware. they need original bios and microcontroller bios files that are inside the WPH 5Mb large file because they cannot extract it. so basically as i understand the large 5mb firmware file consists of separate bios portions that they need. please help me with it, they told me its easy to read them from a working unit (which apparently they dont have)..
i appreciate your assistance! thanks
Ilya

 

On the first post I put the links on how to do a BIOS recovery (though with the new forum software update the links are hard to see...).

The instructions are here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-xps-studio-xps/451601-bricked-xps-1645-help.html

And the link to the recovery tools (including the unpacked BIOS) are here:
dev.phoenix-consultancy.nl/dell/20100327_Dell_Studio_XPS_Bios_Tools.zip

All you need is a working computer with 32-bit Windows and a USB stick drive (4GB or under works best) to set it up. The Phoenix BIOS recovery tool will not install correctly if you do it from 64-bit Windows.

I've fried my BIOS a few times trying to figure out how all this works, and was always able to recover using the above tools. Good luck to you.

 

I looked through those sites, and none of the BIOS modules posted there were anywhere near the size of any of the modules in the 1645 BIOS (the BIOS modules on the website were much larger). It's possible that those BIOS modules are for desktop boards. Either way, they unfortunately won't work with the 1645.

 

Seeker, you're my savior!!! thanks man

can you also please update the links on dropbox for the A14 bioses, they're dead.

 

Hi, guys, I desperately need your help. My dell xps 1645 got bricked while updating bios – log story short: updated under windows went fine asked to restart than showed a white screen, I was stupid enough to unplug the power… Of course it never started after that. I went to the local repair shop and they mentioned that the multi controller bios part or KBS bios) is damaged, and the machine won’t even see the power. The main and the first part which is a multi controller firmware is dead (or wiped clean). Flashing with the large 5Mb WPH didn't work. What I need is only the multicontroller part which is about ~1Mb and the rest 4 megs are a regular PC bios.

I would appreciate someone with the working machine who can extract the multicontroller bios from their dell 1645 i7, it should be about 1 Mb in size, they said the phoenix utility should do the trick and extract a multicontroller bios. The thing is that we have a complete WPH file that contains both parts as a single stream instead of 2 separate..

I appreciate your time and assistance! Thanks
Ilya

 

When the BIOS is unpacked, there is no single module anywhere near 1MB in size. Do you know what 'Phoenix Utility' they are talking about?

 

Hi, there is a platform bios part which is ~1Mb and a main bios part is the rest 4Mb..

bios.wph = bios.rom + platform.bin

I just realized how I screwed up my 1645. After a recent upgrade I created a backup file in a phoenix utility, the copies only the 4Mb bios part and I flashed that bios that wiped out the platform (or multi controller) bios part and I ended up with a bricked xps. I was stupid to do that.

update: found someone with the sane issue http://forums.mydigitallife.info/archive/index.php/t-19771.html

P.S. can you try to backup your bios using this tool: http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/9856-Universal-BIOS-Backup-Toolkit

 

When I unpack bios.wph I get around 200 files, the largest of which is only 256kb. I don't know how you'd extract "platform.bin" from it. When I run the BIOS backup utility you linked to, I get a 2MB file (where the standard bios.wph is around 5MB). If you PM me your e-mail address I'll send it to you.

 

I too did this mistake :-[ needed the laptop badly so had to buy a new motherboard

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

Thanks for the bios, I will try it on Monday hope the guys from the service will be able to use it, fingers crossed. Yea I tried to unpack it with the Phoenix bios tool too with the same results, but the files I got are garbage, the whole folder is like 2.37Mb, not 5Mb. I just need to find a utility that can extract platform bios.
P.S. Please update your first post with a warning NOT to flash the backup bios file with a phoenix flashing utility

If anyone knows how to extract platform bios part ~1MB or can help me getting it please do so

Yeah, second week passed and I'm still with a bricked laptop..

 

Илья, если региональный сервис-центр означает что угодно кроме дорого СЦ - то молись, чтобы те неучи не сломали материнку.
Ты не пробовал просто в HEX редакторе поработать??? Если все как я думаю - проще некуда. Но могу ошибаться. Мой скайп Ajvard. Дмитрий

Ilya, if regional service center means everything but expensive SC then pray those lame workers won't brick your mobo.
Did you try simple HEX-Editor??? If it is what I think it is then there will be no problem. But I may be wrong.

 

Thanks Dmitriy I will send you a PM.
Спасибо

 

Did the BIOS I sent you work? Did you ever try to use the Crisis Flash yourself, or are you just going by what your tech shop told you?

 

Going to send them a platform bios that I got with the kind help of James D today. Right now without the platform rom bios computer won't even see the power thus crisis flash will not work. If it will work I will let you know guys and I will also upload the platform bios for such cases

 

Hey Seeker, sorry to bother you but could you make another BIOS for the 5730/1647 that has stock core clock and 1000mhz mem clock?

 

Could I do the same to my other mother board with failed bios chip? It could be worth 100 $then.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk 2

 

I'm looking for a modded BIOS that reduces heat in my XPS1645. I'm currently on the latest Dell A13 Bios, but the fan is frequently blasting to cool this laptop down, which is not good news for longevity.
Can someone recommend a modded BIOS that can help reduce heat - I'm not all that interested in overclocking, I just want the thing to run cooler.

My 1645 runs i7 Q720 1.6Ghz

Thanks.

 

I think you're better off opening the back and removing all the dust.
Also be aware that with the LCD open, the output vent is blocked. Furthermore, if you also have it on your lap/bed/whatever, the input vent is also blocked.
It will always get hot this way (epic design fail with XPS 1645)

 

Question Seeker...that Revision 3 800/1000mhz bios you gave me, for some reason my computer is still running 649/799...and at 60-67C Is something wrong?

 

Hey Seeker_mod
For some reason after reinstalling windows I'm unable to OC my 4670.. The OC tab in rivatuner is just gone. (i've got the modified .cfg)

Could you please make this bios but with 800/925 mhz as last (max) level? (so all steps same mhz except last), on this bios:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4h3nc2pa80ty2zj/O7VDnz61fa/1645_A14W_NoOC.zip

Thanks!!!

edit: nvm! I fixed the problem, see http://forum.notebookreview.com/del...t-oc-4670-anymore-xps-1645-a.html#post8944440

 

Hey guys whats the DanyR file in the dropbox?


Dell 1645-5730

 

It's: 1645/4670 A14W low150/250 | max750/900

 

Hi can you point me to the drop box folder

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk 2

 

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4h3nc2pa80ty2zj/ah2_2LavoX

 

I grabbed the BIOS I sent you out of my 'sent items' folder and unpacked it to double-check the clocks. The vBIOS is set to 800/1000/1.1v, and none of the possible clocks are 650/800. 550/800/1.0v would be the closest. I'm not sure why it's giving you that reading. You could try re-flashing and see if that fixes it.

 

I checked the GPU clocks with GPU-Z and it said that it was running at 649/799 almost as if it was turning itself down for some reason. Did you get my earlier post about possibly making a stock clock revision 3? I can't really tell that much of a difference between the 2 settings and if it helps make the computer run cooler...why not?

 

You do have to check the clocks under full load .
What if you flash the 840/1055 from dropbox? Perhaps seeker thought you had the 4670 or sth ^^

 

Here's a screenshot

 

Yeah, that's normal. Your GPU downclocks automatically when the load is low. Check when you're running something like FurMark, it will say 800/1000.

 

Seeker, sorry to bother you. I've been reading many of the posts here and wanted to ask you: What in your opinion is the most stable BIOS of yours for a XPS1645 Q840 5730? I doubt it matters, but it's also running Windows 8.

Thanks for all of the work you did on this!

 

They're all stable, the only differences between them are the target GPU and the clock speeds. Each individual GPU is different, there's no telling how high you can OC your particular laptop unless you do some testing (which is discussed several times back in this thread, might have to do some digging). Or you could just pick the one with the lowest OC and see if it works for you.

 

Hey great work with the BIOS mods! I am unsure of what to download for my pc though... I want to put the custom BIOS on my XPS.

Studio XPS 1645
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5730

not sure what more info ya need. Any help is much appreciated

Jordan,
Cocoa, FL

 

I have a XPS 1647 with a 5730 graphics chip, but when I tried to flash the bios nothing in the bios changed (1647_A10_5730_725_900-4670_750_900.zip). It was only when I tried the stock modded-bios that the bios changed...

Edit: The modified bios seems to have overclocked the GPU but there is no extra menu.

 

The newest version of the 1647 does not support the extra menu. If you want the unlocked menu, you will have to use one of the modded A9 BIOSes. Truth be told, you're not missing much, most options in the unlocked menu don't do anything. Unless you use virtualization and need VT-d, you can do without the menu.

 

@seeker_moc

Did you tried overvolting GPU in "1645_A14W_DanyR.zip" ?

Actually I am using "AMD GPU Clock Tool" to control GPU voltage and frequency, it allows a maximum 1.2V for 4670, do you know other similar software who can do this and allows a higher voltage ?

Thanks in advance

 

No, there's no overvolting in that BIOS. I can do overvolting, but I've never actually made one due to the temps on the 164* being high enough as it is. I have done undervolting before for others, but I don't know how much it dropped temps. I assume there were no stability problems though, because I never received any complaints.

With the GPU Clock Tool you can adjust within the voltage options set in the BIOS. 1.2V is the standard voltage for the rated clock speed on the 4670 (1.1V on the 5730). I do not know of any software that allows setting the voltage beyond what is allowed in the BIOS.

 

Sorry, I must have missed your post. I don't check the forum nearly as much as I used to. Anyway, if you want a BIOS truly customized for you, you'll need to test for your maximum GPU OC just like you would if you were using software to OC (the process is explained a couple of times in this thread, and hundreds of times in this forum). Once you determine your maximum clocks, let me know and I'll make you one. Or, you can try any of the other 1645 BIOSes that I've made (though if you're going to do it without testing for your max OC first, I'd start with the lower clocked ones). Start by reading the first post in this thread.