L502X modded bioses download (GPU voltages and more!)

Thanks.
I guess I solved it by deactivating aggressive link power management(alpm) in the sata config section.

Do you have an idea about the memory timings at 1866?

 

hi all again.

I'm sorry for not reply before.

I had several issues including critical hardware damage.


I'm posting from an old computer with an AGP video card.

well, as a sumary of what happened, my motherboard died when I was fixing some stuff.

I had no money for a replacement, so I went for the cheap, I ordered a USED motherboard from a chinese site.

sadly it was faulty and did not solved my issue.

I have been trying to resurrect the machine, but with damaged hardware, even having the technical manuals is not posible.

specially if the damage is located on the ITE chip wich is like arround 100 small legs and I cant replace it with my current soldering skills/tools.

well, I would ask for someone selling his L502X but probably dont have enough money for it (considering I didn't even had for a decent motherboard replacement)

well, relating the BIOS
thanks to @carcrab I noticed about the new posts here.

since I dont have a working L502X machine, I will not be able to continue with this project.

while doing my last efforts to resurrect the motherboard, I found more interesting stuff.

more usb ports.

more info here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/xps-15-r2-l502x-internal-usb-how-to-and-proof.660542/page-8


carcrab also sugested me to post the last versions of my work, I wasnt going to relase them yet since I wanted to do more stuff, but my latest tests with them already had good resuls.

dont know exactly how many new features I added to the latest beta, but I think I managed to update microcodes and vbios and also add some minor changes in some menus and some minor fixes.

I'm sorry for not providing more info, but I cant check it.

here they are:

http://www.mediafire.com/download/c17la7tcmd96m6z/L502X_A12_525m_85_85_Unlocked_Menus_v7_beta.rar

and

http://www.mediafire.com/download/88l7snrlqv37r07/L502X_A12_540m_83_85_Unlocked_Menus_v7_beta.rar


I was working only on those two since they were the most famous versions and the ones wich gave better results to most people.

in other words, it seemed people's favorites


not sure if I will be able to keep giving support in my current status, but well, I will try , at least providing some info.


I will start repling some of the previous questions from where I disapeared.


@agalin

thank you for helping people

your help is really apreciated.




@dedos

L502X probably support all the proccesors from the second i core generation, including extreme edition proccesors.

sadly it dont have support for third i icore generation proccesors 3xxxm due firmware limitations.

i7-2960xm is the best one for this system as far I know

anyway, extreme proccesors are expensive, consume more power and produce more heat, have that in mind, you may have to do some tweaks to the cooling systems and use a 150w power supply if you want to use them.




@jonnyhotchkiss

I didnt tested yet the bypass method since I already got working on the hard way.

anyway not sure if someone got it working.

about the requirements for those hardware mods such as external flashing.

1 - at least basic soldering tools and skills, however it is a very delicated proccess and some parts are small, so you will need some skills and a steady hand.

2 - a external programmer, you can buy usb ones, or you can go to the cheap way like I did by building a cheap LPT programmer with just some resistors , wire and a battery.

3 - some spare winbond chips are recomended, also chip sockets for both programmer and motherboard side, it make easier everything when you need to flash more than once, the required windbond chip model and more info are everything on the first post, including the software I used for my programmer.



unlocked descriptor laptop include many benefits in modding like BCLK overclocking , on the fly backups and restore of the whole chip without the need of desoldering, and more stuff since youn unlock your hardware, more mods would be probably be made in the future.


also
Overclocking ram may be done from the modded BIOS if the ram support it, but the ram usually not handle those frecuency changes, for example, getting a 1333mhz module working on 1600 mhz usually never happen without get the system unstable.
anyway, when you do BCLK overclocking like I did, it overclock everything included Ram, thats is why you can only do little BCLK overclocking, thats caused because it overclock everything.


@ abhizok


I also had issues while trying to fix the cheap chinese motherboard, camera and other internal usb devices didnt got recogniced, if everything is plugged properly, probably is the motherboard wich still not fully repaired.

anyway, I may be interested on that, what kind of store did you visited to get your motherboard repaired?

It may be usefull in my current situation and I may be able to bring back my machine to life.


@Thiagodorta

It can be ram failure , try running a memtest to test system stability.
also restore to original bios will NOT probably fix any issue.

it also could be motherboard failure.

 

@capitankasar finally!
Sad to hear story about MB.
Also sad about no 0.83/0.83 beta as it's my favourite version.
Can you tell us how stable has been that beta release? Actually bricking my notebook is not an option, but it'd happen only if they're really unstable
that info about USB from touch screen also gives us knowledge that replacing screen to touch capable version IS an option, just really hard in realisation (probably needs soldering of touch screen connector).
@gilipollas now not. Need to restart PC and check BIOS options. Will check later. I had similar issues with performance and power management on my system SSD drive. Thought it was caused by SSD, seems more general.

 

@agalin

well, I would made versions for all GPU voltages, but since I had some stuff pending to do before my system died, I would like to finish the new version and add all the pending changes before.

well,it is fully working and have all the features the latest bios version have plus some updates, if I manage to get my machine back I would love to keep working on it, but as for the moment I cant, that is why I posted them, it would allow the unpacient people and also the smart people wich can mod them by theirselves to make minor tweaks into it to make it their desired bios.

about the touch screen, I think some people has been using them, not sure if they offered them as an option like the 120hz screen, it should probably use its own connector, so there is no need for soldering unless you want to install another usb device from your own, it doesnt matter if its a touch screen a flash memory, IR mouse or keyboard receiver.. etc.

thats why I found internal usb mods usefull, because they allow to expand the system capabilities even further than its original design and keep it fully customizable.

I was unable to test those ports yet since my machine is not in a working condition, however, relating to those schematics, I'm pretty sure they are definitly usb data + and - lines.

all you need is to find a nice 5v + spot at the motherboard.

the one I used for my internal usb mod caused trouble since I used the one from the optical drive, wich I was using already with a HDD inside in a hdd caddy for optical bay.

I started having issues with the secondary hard drive for some time, and took me lot of time to figure it was caused because I was powering the drive and the usb device with a limited power source, so that 5v point is not recomendable.

I found another 5v + point into the motherboard, however that point keeps on all the time, doesnt matter if the machine is on or off, so it will probably be a good idea since the battery will drain allways when the ac power is off powering a usb device that is not doing anything.

I saw other points where I can take 5v+ only when the system is on at the technical schematics.

but the system fully died before I were able to make the tests


relating the schematics they are really usefull for modding and some repairs.

if someone is interested on the schematic pdf here it is:

http://kythuatphancung.vn/uploads/download/4775a_Quanta_GM6C_MLK_UMA.pdf

 

Could we collect money for el capitan to get a motherboard? Maybe we could return some of the value we got from him. I think the unlocked bios options increase the value of our l502x at least 50 euro. Please post your bank account number;-)

 

It won't brick. I just tested 0.83/0.85 540m

 

That would be a great idea.

 

@capitankasar - Thanks man.

 

I also installed the beta-v7. Works fine.

 

@capitankasar - What is the difference between 'FLASH_the_modded_bios' and 'FLASH_the_modded_bios_custom_commands' ?

 

I compared them and found no difference.

 

Interesting. I have just flashed newest version for 540m. Don't know why (it haven't happened before) all my devices reinstalled. Like I turned on Native PCIe (which I have turned on after that to see if I haven't had turned it before - same reinstallation). Like some IDs changed.

 

@ gilipollas

Well, I dont know what to say, I really apreciate those kind of actitudes from people.

well I dont like to recive money from others , however this time I will not reject it if they do it as a donation if they really liked my bios project.

my paypal email is [email protected] , I can provide aditional details by PM, anyway keep in mind that donations are fully voluntary.


@ carcrab


oh, nice question

here is the answer:

well, I forgot about remove that script before upload it to the forum since I just copied the folders I was using by myself.

the flashing script is near identical from the other, except I removed the /cvar parameter

that script its the one I used for me.
the difference between the other one, is that that flashing script KEEP your BIOS setting after flashing the new bios

this mean that after flash the new BIOS you will have your previous settings there.

I use it because there was some time I flashed many times per day for testing, and imagine the task of modding , flashing and testing plus the extra task of reconfigure your stuff everytime, what a headache!

thats is why I made a modified version of the script for me to keep the BIOS custom settings.


reset the settings is recomendable while flashing new version of the bioses, but since the changes were so minimal per my tests, it was ok, you can use it if you want.

your choice

 

@ agalin


mmm, that is weird, that happened to me after I switched the broken motherboard with the cheap repared chinese motherboard when it partially worked some days, but it does not make sense that it happen with a normal bios update.

did others experienced the same issue while flashing the beta bios?

I just used some different versions of the phoenix slic tool editor, but that does not make sense.

could you guys confirm wich microcodes the new bios have?

(you can check them by using intel XTU, I think I posted where on a screenshot somewhere)

like I said, I was not sure what I finally implemented on the last bios and what were pending since I had to stop working sudenly on it due the issues I had.

 

ooops. I should have looked closer.

 

@capitankasar why didn't know the difference between flashing scripts before.. I never remember what exactly reconfigured last time (not counting disabling power management for SSD and enabling UEFI).
Will that option save NVRAM too? It's important as I need to boot PC from USB to get to EFI Shell and add OS X boot option again. The same with Linux kernel boot (booting kernel from F12 is funny, but gives some problems when using F2 BIOS menu - boot string too long probably).
Also I don't know if you have knowledge about UEFI. Is it possible to bind boot option to shortcut some way? Like F12 starts boot select screen, so I'd bind i. e. m to boot option number x which starts bootloader y?
Will now restart and check microcodes (XTU wants it).

Edit. I never remember to ask. What is asset number? For some time at least I have there line of y with - over letter.
2670QM that CPU is odd. Just ran benchmark in XTU. 90*C and it still hadn't drop frequency to stock 22x.
Everything I see about microcode of CPU is: Microcode update 0x29
Nothing about graphic microcode.

@gilipollas I don't see any RAM related options other than pure frequency, but I haven't entered thermal management section.

Edit2. GPU-Z says VBIOS 2170.

 

@ agalin


yes, I think nvram it saved too because I enabled a shortcut to the integrated efi shell, if default settings were loaded I had to run again a efi executable to add the entry again, so yes, I'm almost sure it does the trick.

relating the shortcuts, well, that executable I was talking about were compiled from one mate from bios-mods forum, it basically does what you do, bing something to a hotkey and if that key is pressed at startup, it boot the selected item.

asset number have something to do with the machine identification, not sure if it is the tag from the first bios info tab.
definitly something dell uses to identificate their computers.

yes, that is what I was talking about cpu microcodes.

nice find.

so as far I can see both cpu microcodes and intel vbios is running last version, at least the ones people told me to integrate.

thank you for testing

not sure if I added more stuff apart from that, or for example stuff like the asset number change option were present on my previous relase, anyway this minor changes will probably get many people happy.

 

I tested L502X_A12_540m_83_85_Unlocked_Menus_v7_beta and I didn't notice anything like @agalin has mentioned. I am testing Windows 10 as well. I used 'FLASH_the_modded_bios' option, not the other one.

I am happy to donate. I don't have paypal. I can donate via bitcoin. If @capitankasar don't have a bitcoin wallet, can anyone accept bitcoin on his behalf and donate the equal value via paypal to him as well?

I can verify that the bios has cpu microcode 0x29 and intel vbios 2170

 

@carcrab

pm sent

 

Gotcha. Replied.

 

Which timings should I use for the memory in the L502x?
1867 MHz @ CL 11 or
1600 MHz @ CL 9 or
1333 MHz @ CL 8
At least the Command Rate is always CR1. Although AIDA64 shows CR2 in the XMP profiles.

In the comments on the amazon website is a guy who also gets 1867 MHz @ CL11 instead of CL10, but with a Latitude E6520.

 

Bro please tell me where to download the modded a12 bios as the links are not working. Please share the bios link with me.

 

Bro please tell me where to download the modded a12 bios as the links are not working. Please share the bios link with me.

 

@gilipollas
I think I used cpu-z to check memory timings while running them, dont remember a setting to change Ram CL at the bios, even at the modded one.

this are the settings I remember


(image quoted from first post)
¿are you using some kind of software to alter memory settings?

I personally would go for the higher mhz in ram if it support it, but others may reply better than me.

@mithu226

links works for me, wich one you are trying to download (bios version, gpu model, and mod version)

 

It's better to have higher clock with higher timings. But I can't find anything about RAM params other than @capitankasar screenshot.

@mithu226 links working for me too.

 

well, I heard there is software wich let tweak the memory modules settings permanent, so if you plug them in other machine, the settings still there.

aparently it tweak its firmware parameters, however that can be also dangerous since if things go wrong, you will end with a bricked memory module.

 

The only adjustment I can do is the frequency(1067,1333,1600 or 1867) in the bios. The timings are chosen automatically.

The spd of crucial ram seems to be write protected. It is only possible to change some xmp profile but I suspect the l502x can't interpret these.

So I'll stick with 1867Mhz@cl11

 

Hi , please provide new link for modd bios download as link given in first page does not work

 

wich one?
last time I checked all were OK

 

OPs sorry , my country is great ,they have blocked "adf.ly" , got way around it , able to download now

 

Hello everyone,

Im posting here coz i have exactly the same problem as everyone here !
First of all, i tried this (install Nvidia system tools + change clock values) :

Then i did this (to clean up laptop) :


It worked for a few days then graphic card crashed again.

Then, i found your forum.

I installed modded bios A12 in 0.83/0.85
I uninstalled nvidia system tools and installed MSI afterburner
I kept to modified values i had done before. then surprise ... it didn't really work. i still had crashes. I tried different clock values, set memory in 1600 and even 1867 but nothing worked.

Whatever i did i couldn't make to graphic card to settle and work for one complete play session. i always had crashes while playing. sometimes after 10 mins play. some other times after an hour or two !

So i decided to buy a 150W charger. As this will definitely solve my graphic card crashes.

But then again ... What was my surprise to see that Dell blocked third-party chargers !!! When i plugged my 150W charger, the "quick set" pop up tells me that a 90W AC power has been plugged and the battery will takes more time to charge and laptop will be slower with this type of charger. So i went in the BIOS and had a look to see which kind of charger was plugged in. It also told me it was a 90W. I went back to the shop thinking it could have been a mistake in the packaging or libeling. The guy tested it in front of me and it showed it was a 150W.

So before i ask for a refund, is there a way to avoid Dell's restriction on third party chargers ?

Thanks for your help.


--
Nsan

 

it could be posible by two ways.

- hardware mod: as far I know, the dell power chargers have 3 pins instead just two, they have the clasic power + and power - pins, but it also have a data pin.

it basically carry a signal from a ident chip inside the charger to the machine itself.

this is basically done because dell doesnt want third party adapters in order to make money.

anyway, this could be modded by picking the ident chip from the 130w charger and installing at the 150w charger.

it will be detected as a 130w charger obviusly, but it would be a 150w charger.

it may be posible to install the chip directly inside the laptop, so it doesnt matter wich third adapter you use, it will detect it allways as a genuine charger.

it is also posible to build an adapter like this, this would be the best option.

http://hackaday.com/2014/03/03/hacking-dell-laptop-charger-identification

it can be done with the original chip of one of the chargers, or it also can be done via a custom PCB.

this can be a cool project and can also fix your issue.

here you also have another interesting links

http://forum.techinferno.com/alienware-m17x-aw-17/5072-[guide]-dell-330w-power-adapter-mod-m17x.html

https://jack380.wordpress.com/2009/...l-ac-power-adapter-type-cannot-be-determined/

in other hands we have the:


- software mod: theorically, it should be posible to alter the firmwares to remove the restrictions of the charger.

not sure if if can be done at the main bios chip, altering one of the modules like power efi related ones.

or if also it need EC firmware hacking too.

sadly, I cant try that since I dont have a working L502X anymore in my hands, the machine is totally dead and the electronic store was unable to fix the faulty motherboard even with reballing and advanced soldering desoldering methods.

so as for me, I will be unable to help with the software method.

(currently using a old desktop with AGP card and IDE hdds)

 

Thanks capitan for your answer !

I can't believe it is this much pain in the ass to use third party charger on this laptop. I can't believe they sell laptops with under-powered charger in the first place.

Anyway, i have read the links you gave me, but im not confident, neither a DIY guy to do that kind of work !
I was hoping for a software solution possibility. Obviously, it looks like compromised.

I think i will ask for a refund, and buy a genuine dell adaptater. i found one on ebay around $60. This is roughly the price i bought for the unofficial one.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/150W-Origin...ter-Battery-Charger-Supply-Cord-/200755967364

Anyway, if anyone as a software solution for this charger thingy, please let me know. Thanks

One more thing, how come poeple can use their graphic card "properly" with undervolting bios and some others can't ? I really tried all methods i found on internet, but none of them worked. Sadly for me.

Thanks capitan for your time and work on these Dell laptops. This is surely the last one i buy from them.

 

Some people can use undervolted graphic because chips aren't identical. Some work better than other.

 

yeah, picking an alienware power suply should be fine, I think someone already did.
its a shame dell put those stuff on their power supplies making harder to power the system externally without make it underclock.

and yes, like agalin said, there arent two identical chips.

for some people, they dont need undervolt at all, others need undervolt, others need undervolt and underclock, and for some others.... well... there isn¡t much to try ^^

well, dell laptops arent that bad, I really liked my L502X it cost me like less than 600€ when I bought it, and it worked fine all the time, and it worked flawesly with the mods,I was very happy with it, but well, I supose machines are like people, they are not eternal ^^

 

I bought 3 laptops from Dell and to be honest, i also really liked them. But if you have to buy accessories, and other components they usually double the price.

On each laptop i had to change at least one part of it. Hard drive, charger, memory. I always had a faulty component.

 

Is there any option in BIOS to disable the nvidia card gt525? If so, where?

 

There's no that option AFAIR. For what do you need it?

 

The reason is hackintosk, I'm having problems after installation, I am suspect to be a problem with the nvidia card.
It only starts in safe mode ..

 

You can easly disable Nvidia card using DSDT in hackintosh. I'm using that os without problems. Also deleting all kexts relating card should disable it too.

 

I know that does not concern the forum, but I already use DSDT, I installed Yosemite 10.10.3 retail unibest using the method, placing the DSDT in EXTRA folder on the flash drive and then put in HD https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-Bcaie21dGicVhDRTVMQWdUWTQ/view then give this error. .
(So I can only enter using -x flag)

 

Which bootloader are you using? Clover is probably best working one. Is there any error appearing after some time in that state?
Check this DSDT (it's my working one): http://1drv.ms/1FKSquu
Also included SSDT for working SpeedStep etc.
With this DSDT I have working sleep, graphic (ofc. not GF) etc.
If you want, I can also upload working Clover config and FakeSMC with included audio patch (audio working after os update).

 

I am using USB with unibest, have USB with clover and also locks in instalção that part too, I would be very grateful if I send clover configuration and fakeSMc and audio

 

There is my Clover dir (as config may not work on other version).
http://www.mediafire.com/download/436ghm94hujyero/Clover FakeSMC.zip
Deleted entries related to my specific hardware - S/N, MLB, etc. and kext patches for devices not normally included. Should work without any problems.
Included Realtek kext for lan card - in proper Clover kext directory.
In archive there is also my FakeSMC kext - which is updated to patch audio automatically (may not work for ~10 seconds after log in).Di
DSDT included is configured to work with Rehabmans battery kext (you can find it on his Github or in packages like MacPois0n). With this DSDT DisplayPort IS working on L502x, USB2.0 and eSATA too.

Edit.
Forgot to write: that's EFI version of Clover. But config should work for BIOS version too.

 

sorry noob in this part, how to include the files you sent me on the installation usb directory where I put them?

edit:clover I have found, replace it in efi partition usb, now fakesmc and dsdt and SSDT?

 

DSDT and SSDT should be in Clover DSDT patch dir - in archive I have sent they're in proper dir.
FakeSMC - don't know how do you include FakeSMC now. Just install it after successful boot.

 

You might want to check my guide over at insanelymac. Not giving any links here, but google should be fine with my nick name and UEFI Clover keywords. The guide sports L702x so far, but since motherboards are virtually identical 15 should not be a problem to handle.

Sent from my H30-U10 using Tapatalk

 

I am thinking about flashing a modded nVidia BIOS with GT 550m clocks for the 540m GPU. Is it possible to switch the device ID with Nibitor so that Windows will recognize the card as a real 550m? Did anyone try that before?

 

why do you need it to recognize your 540 as a 550?
there is no need of it, and that will probably cause a lot of issues.

why not just OC the 540M to higher clocks by using MSI afterburner?

if your card can handle it, you will probably reach the 550m clocks fine and safetly.

 

I flashed my bois to the 525m and it worked great, but now i cant use my usb ports at all have any suggestions to fix that any input would be nice.

after playing for awhile noticed freezing had to force shut down