L502X modded bioses download (GPU voltages and more!)

yeah, it will take a while for sure, maybe 1 hour and a half, not sure, it also go a little slower while it detect damaged sectors.

anyway, make sure you backup all your important data first.

 

By the way my hard disk performance is not hampered at all. Its reading and writing speeds are still great. Copying files are not affected by the stuttering. Can it still be hard disk's issue?

 

well, you can run cpu and memory tests to be sure, but it seems a hdd issue for me.

 

I'll run full Dell Diagnostics now. Hope it displays the issue.

 

@alvester to use MHDD you need to change your sata controller mode in BIOS from SATA to ATA - then it will detect your HDD (I used it on my notebook). And if it'll find any bad sectors, you can remap them (using reallocation slots of drive) or wipe them (be sure to select wipe bad sector - you can write it's number - not all drive...) - and you don't lose any reallocation slots - lose bad block data, but save these blocks as functional.

 

I did change to ATA but MHDD didn't boot for me. So I used Hiren's boot CD instead. MHDD was included in it. It took 2 hrs to scan and showed 3 warnings. Don't know if it fixed them or not. I also used SeaTools after that and ran long tests. All tests were passed. Even Dell PC Doctor didn't show any issues with my hardware.

 

there is also another tool inside hiren's boot disk called hdd regenerator



it may help to improve at least the hdd health

 

Will try that too...

 

captainkaser, could you make a GT 525M A12 advanced bios 0.83/0.98 mod? would be greatly appreciated

 

done, check the first post to get DL links as usual

feedback apreciated

 

Basically MHDD don't do any changes to disk. But you can write note with numbers of bad sectors and use option erase delays - but you MUST select only these blocks - or you will lose all your data. It writes 0 to selected blocks - 255 sectors, so you CAN lose some files - but it's better than full disk wipe. Or you can just remap bad blocks - but you'll lose part of your remap space (but lose only data from sectors, not 255).

 

flashing it right now repasted my CPU and GPU too

 

Nvidia Inspector only shows the default voltages when I use it

 

I double checked the bios, the vbios settings for the 525m are definitly 0.83v 0.98v

try using HWmonitor to view the voltages.

 

Everything says 0.85/0.95

 

checked it again.
if you got the L502X_A12_525m_83_98_Unlocked_Menus_v5.rar file

and you definitly have a 525m, then it should get the correct voltage, it may be a driver issue.

try updating drivers and monitoring software after update the bios.

 

Reflashed the BIOS and it worked perfectly have the correct voltages now. thanks!

 

Hi all

story: had xps 15 for just over 1 year. About 6 months ago I started getting the locking up whilst playing games. I downloaded the BIOS from here back then and it seemed to solve the locking up. fast forward 6 months and over the last few weeks, started getting the locking up again more frequently. I've now reflashed with the latest recommended A11 bios for the 540m, but still I'm getting the lock ups randomly. Nothing is overclocked. I have the power options to give max 99%. Is there any further mods I can make in the bios or somewhere that can solve the locks ups? Failing that, I'm resigned to buy another laptop, and never again a dell.

Thanks

 

Hey ho
so i am realy glad that i found this bios thingy here ;D helped me out alot with gt 540m crashes ;>
But ! i experienced one tiny little big thing My xps 15 is now cured from any crashes except when i play "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare" its a directx 9 game and was ahead of its time but now it wierdly crashes my pc with this grafics bug!!! does someone know how to fix that?`even blackops 2 in high runs smoothly :O how is it possible that a 6 year old game can harm my dear fella so much ?
some advice maybe? or wrong threat to adress this? guess its kinda right because its about my graficchip ;D
thanks in advance

 

@Mang0



@pmn100 AND @Bergal

try cleaning dust from the fans, try also repaste and remove the dust filters.

if it still crashing you may have to underCLOCK a little until it stop crashing.

 

@ capitankasar: Thanks for the great work. Im using one of your modded bios for 3 month now and it works just fine. But I have one question. Is there any possibility to disable the gt540m graphiks card via the bios?

 

@mrbauer

thanks ^^

and nope, as far I know, there are no BIOS options to disable NVIDIA GPU

 

Okay I reinstalled the Windows and the stuttering issue still persists but the situation is little better than before. I finally figured out what the problem is. As I was expecting it isn't related to the hard drive. Its the DPC Latency issue. And now I'm figuring out how to resolve it.

 

One could edit dsdt to get rid of methods that drive optimus

 

@timewalker75a

oh, thats right, I noticed some recent activity at the bios-mods site, it seems you guys managed to alter the dsdt with a new version of the phoenix slic tool.

however did not tried anything yet from my side ^ ^

will give a read to the latest posts from bios-mods site

 

well the 64gb msta drive did not work
-_-

was wondering if it would be possible to code in the functionalty to enable it

Mini-SATA, which is distinct from the micro connector, was announced by the Serial ATA International Organization on September 21, 2009.[30] Applications include netbooks and other devices that require a smaller solid-state drive. The connector is similar in appearance to a PCI Express Mini Card interface,[31] and is electrically compatible; however, the data signals (TX±/RX± SATA, PETn0 PETp0 PERn0 PERp0 PCI-express) need connection to the SATA host controller instead of the PCI-express host controller

just need to get that pcie port to take in the data signals as said above and probably map the mini pcie port to the sata 3 in the bios would be an interesting task

it seems it can be done "All of the work is done entirely in Intel's RST 10.5 software, which will be made available for all 6-series chipsets but Smart Response Technology is artificially bound to Z68 alone (and some mobile chipsets—HM67, QM67)." since its artificially bound i thinks its a bios / software thing.

 

@timewalker75a

How could this be done? I'm looking foreward to find a way to disable my dgpu (gt540m), in order to use an egpu with full optimus support. Until now this is only possible with a software called setup 1.x.

 

I managed to get rid of the stuttering (the most of it). The DPC Latency is a huge issue on Windows 8 and hope it gets fixed in Windows Blue update. Those who are facing similar issue to mine, try this:

Launch Command Prompt as Administrator and type the following command. Then reboot.

To go back to the default setting, use the same command except no instead of yes at the end.

 

Nvidia GeForce 311.06 WHQL from Windows Update:

XP x32 : (148 mb)
http://download.windowsupdate.com/m..._0799ec1b3df242cbe18ae6b42cb4b123c79995a0.cab

XP x64 : (188 mb)
http://download.windowsupdate.com/m..._24285e035f70d4f106888cb513afd90c71530bc4.cab

Vista/Win7/Win8 x32 : (172.91 mb)
http://download.windowsupdate.com/m..._5e7775bac444ee4192dda74c4421baa3bb8ef48f.cab

Vista/Win7/Win8 x64 : (227.80 mb)
http://download.windowsupdate.com/m..._3cdf18b8840f06c4a2ea18a11897a80f1e94500a.cab

This driver GeForce 311.06 WHQL [r310_00-257] released around February 20, seems to be optimized for the latest Tomb Raider and runs cooler than 314.07 WHQL and 314.14 beta
Its very stable and very good feedbacks have been reported from most users using this. Good result have also been reported on Crysis 3 and many other games. You won't find this driver on nvidia's website.


PS: For those who are wondering how to install .cab files, check out this link: How to Install .CAB File on Windows | Scenario-Solution

 

@alvester

thank you for the info and the links!

 

@alvester I can;t install this driver. Seems to me that it's for normal GPU, not Optimus. Tried pkgmgr (says invalid patch or something like that, where it's 100% correct) and unpacking, running setup.exe - got message that there's no proper card detected.

 

I guess so. Anyways if you want other drivers specific to your OS, checkout this link: Microsoft Update Catalog

PS: Don't forget to use Internet Explorer

 

Hey ho me again. So the crashes previously accured only at call of duty 4 game, but now they accure as i now newly installed world of warcraft... the crashes take time up to 6 hours until they come, but they surely mess my day up -.- so i dont wana disable my whole laptop to check on thermopaste but i blew out the dust but the crashes ceep coming , -.- So what to do?

edit:so i disassemblyed it and made some snapshots with my phone...
is that okay or do i need to repaste ?!?! and what are my other options now? :>

 

@alvester newest driver for any nVidia card is from 31 January on that site. There's no any driver from February. And for 540m is only from that time... but for Vista. Win8 have last update 2012-08-18

 

@bregal

well, if you already took appart the unit and removed the heatsink, is recomended to repaste and clean dust from the heatsink and fan.

also the thermal paste seems a little dry.

repaste is recomended, clean the surface with alchohol and cotton until it is cleaned from old paste and apply the new thermal paste at the middle.

everything is well explained here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/del...stallation-cpu-gpu-repasting-56k-warning.html



also, if you didnt removed the dust filters yet, is recomended to do it

 

The driver link I provided works with GT 520M but sadly not with our GPU model. I don't know why because our GPU belongs to the same 500M series. Check the inf, it will tell which models are supported.

 

Kasar, I disassembled my laptop for the first time yesterday. I was surprised to see that the heatsink vents were blocked by the dust from the inside. Probably this thing was causing the games to lag after a while because of overheating. I cleaned the fan too. Do I really need to remove the dust filter beneath it? There are two other dust filters beneath RAM and WLAN, what about them?

Also I'm gonna change the thermal paste. I ordered Deepcool Z5 after reading its reviews. I avoided AS5 since its conductive and requires 200hrs break-in period. And ordering MX4 from other country would have made a hole in my pocket, its not available in India.

 

@kalvester

remove the dustfilter under the system fan is highly recomended, it greatly improves the airflow and decrease temperature.

as for the other dust filters at the ram expansion door, they are optional, I removed them, but up to you ; )

since you was having dust blocking issues, and you are going to clean it, repaste and remove the filters your temperatures will decrease and general system performance will increase

 

^^ Thanks for the tip kasar.

 

hey its me again ;D
So i repasted my cpu today and my gpu aswell but it ceeps crashing (( any thing else i could trY?

 

Can you give more details like max temperature at which crash occurs, which thermal paste you used and how did you apply it?

 

no cant tell you about the heat thing how do i do that? 2. i used mx4 and aplied it as discribed in the guide... i was realy careful und doubledchecked EVERYTHING

so i did it again and a looked at msi afterbuner to see gpu temp and it said 57°C as it crashed! .... ?!? i am going crazy x_X whats wrong with my baby?

 

The best way of applying the thermal paste is to drop a small pea size at the middle and then let the heatsink spread it. Since you're saying that GPU temp was 57C, it shouldn't crash. It might be due to the temp of CPU. Check its temp through HWMonitor.

 

I was realy down today and had no intention and doing anymore stuff so i just underclocked the and it solved my crashes for now , as i must state i am realy unhappy with this solution... to the repasting: It is not the problem ! I did it correct and doublechecked it with my friend . i also let him get a peek via videocall... so no more about it ;D i will however restore the original clock settings and provide you with the needed numbers of heat ... for now it is running smoothly on 75°C (running wow with bot (extra stressful)) on 100 fps so i am glad that it works ... need to finish my set -.- but as i said i will try to give you the needed numbers as soon as i get to it.

 

yeah, sadly sometimes underclock is the only way, tweaking the voltages and repasting fix things for many, but for others, it just improve the situation a little.

so underclock is the last resource, it usually works, but at cost of performance.

 

Found this right now: Re: Dell xps 15 l502x crashes /freezes on gaming - Laptop Video Forum - Laptop - Dell Community
i am gone try it

 

Tryed it, just updated msi afterburner and checked this option for software whatever as shown in the link that i posted ... so far so good removed underclocking and it didnt crash yet ... will report as soon as i get one or my pc ran the wohle night ;>

 

Using a modded BIOS helped out a little, but I started getting crashes before long, so I decided to renew my warranty with dell. Since using a modded BIOS will void the warranty, I need to install(or is it flash) the original one. It's been probably almost a year since I've been on this forum and messed with my BIOS, so I'm a little rusty on how all of this stuff works. Can someone point me in the right direction?

I did find a program on my computer called FLASH_the_original_bios which is a batch file. I double clicked it, and entered y for yes once that green and black screen came up and I got the following message: 'Winflash' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

 

Well thats good news for you. Just a heads up. Install this update: A platform update is available for Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

 

@Hunter13040

yes, to restore the original file, that is the right file.

however, you must run it also at the same folder with the bios package.

that error is because my script is looking for the winflash executable and it isnt at the same folder.

the procedure to restore the original bios is the same of the modded bios, download the proper rar file, extract the files to a folder, and then run the proper file original or modded.