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    M1530 best bios to use?

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by frito124, May 6, 2009.

  1. frito124

    frito124 Newbie

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    currently i have A12 installed but i heard that some other bios's might make the laptop run cooler like A08. Is this true?
     
    frito124, May 6, 2009
    #1
  2. bogdi1988

    bogdi1988 Notebook Guru

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    a08 is the best... runs cooler, longer battery, etc... use a08 :D
     
    bogdi1988, May 6, 2009
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  3. frito124

    frito124 Newbie

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    actually i just felt the back of my laptop vent and there was no air coming out so i cleaned it and it runs alot cooler now
     
    frito124, May 7, 2009
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  4. fluffboy

    fluffboy Notebook Evangelist

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    is A08 really the best bios?

    edit : whats the difference between a12 and a08
     
    fluffboy, May 7, 2009
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  5. BenUK

    BenUK Notebook Consultant

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    You need A12 to install the latest Nvidia drivers
     
    BenUK, May 7, 2009
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  6. Kilador

    Kilador Notebook Consultant

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    You don't need A12 for the latest Nvidia drivers. They say it's recommendable, but you don't really need it.

    I use nVidia official notebook drivers with my A09 bios just fine.
    I got my highest 3dmark score with them btw.
     
    Kilador, May 7, 2009
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  7. fluffboy

    fluffboy Notebook Evangelist

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    so should i downgrade to a08? will it give me better battery life
     
    fluffboy, May 7, 2009
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  8. mirage_bg

    mirage_bg Notebook Deity

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    I have not mentioned that the temps are higher with A12 bios, for me all of them gave the same temp results, may be in systems with different revisions of cooling assembly is more important which bios they use.
     
    mirage_bg, May 7, 2009
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  9. REY619

    REY619 Notebook Geek

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    Im using A09.. It came installed with my 1530.. Havnt upgraded since then.. people said newer BIOS updates were not good..
     
    REY619, May 7, 2009
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  10. yomamasfavourite

    yomamasfavourite Notebook Evangelist

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    I was of the opinion that they only released new bios updates to fix certain bugs.
    Considering the 1530s 8600m fiasco, I would imagine the latest bios would be the most centered on preventing thermal cycliing. I've certainly noticed that with A12 the fan is very hesitant to come on. Wheras with my previous A09 the fan was on at the first spike in temps.
     
    yomamasfavourite, May 7, 2009
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  11. kanehi

    kanehi Notebook Deity

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    The A12 will let you install up to 8gb RAM and improved wireless.
     
    kanehi, May 8, 2009
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  12. Fountainhead

    Fountainhead Notebook Deity

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    Is this true? A12 officially supports 8 GB of RAM? I don't see this listed as one of the enhancements? Do you have any documentation on A12?
     
    Fountainhead, May 8, 2009
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  13. BenUK

    BenUK Notebook Consultant

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    A11 added 8Gb support but that was pulled and replaced with A12 - which still supports 8Gb
     
    BenUK, May 8, 2009
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  14. Koer

    Koer Notebook Deity

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    Bios Revisions have never really influenced my temps at all, maybe 1-2 C but thats it, what did help a lot was BIOS A12, it removed that loud noise my HD did, it was kind of annoying, and previews bios revisions had that problem, not to mention in A09, when the fan comes on it makes a lot more noise than in A12, because this one turns the fan on at lower RPMs...

    just my opinion :D
     
    Koer, May 8, 2009
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  15. frito124

    frito124 Newbie

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    i was using a12 and having issues with the battery where when i unplugged from ac power the battery only lasted about 40 mins. I flashed back to a09 and it didnt help so maybe my battery is bad? its a 6 cell
     
    frito124, Jan 10, 2010
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  16. Koer

    Koer Notebook Deity

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    *sigh* old thread... yeah, its normal for a battery to start loosing capacity with time, my old laptop only lasts 14 minutes on battery. when it was new, it would last about 2 hours.

    if your battery is not older than a year, then its still under warranty and dell can replace it, if not, then just buy a new one if you need the extra time.

    cheers
     
    Koer, Jan 11, 2010
    #16
  17. Unreasnbl

    Unreasnbl Notebook Guru

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    Yes, with a current BIOS you can use 8GB RAM in the M1530.

    My wife's early 2008 M1530 Owner's Manual specifically says 4GB is the maximum. Hers came with 32 bit Vista and 3GB RAM.

    My 2009 came with 64 bit Vista, 4GB Ram and a newer BIOS (I think it was A09). Mine did not come with a manual, so I downloaded a .pdf from the Dell support section. It was named "RU335A02MR.pdf" and dated October 2008.

    It clearly states that you can use 8GB.

    Memory     (page 160)

    Memory module connector two user-accessible SODIMM connectors

    Memory module capacities 512 MB, 1 GB, 2 GB, 4 GB

    Memory type 667 MHz SODIMM DDR2

    Minimum memory 1 GB

    Maximum memory 8 GB

    NOTE: In order to take advantage of the dual channel bandwidth capability, both memory slots must be populated and must match in size.
    NOTE: The available memory displayed does not reflect the complete maximum memory installed because some memory is reserved for system files.

    You can even buy the two 4GB sticks from Dell (too expensive). I am not sure about the 667 speed though, my FSB runs at 800.

    Take a look at the first post in this forum     http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=238640 . Rhodan mentions the 8GB and even has 8GB in his M1530. The thread says it's not officially supported by Dell, but it is now. Sometimes 6GB and 8GB M1530s go up for sale on the Dell Outlet website, as well.
     
    Unreasnbl, Jan 11, 2010
    #17