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    New A11 Bios for XPS 1340 ?

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by Free-Way, Sep 17, 2009.

  1. Free-Way

    Free-Way Notebook Enthusiast

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    Free-Way, Sep 17, 2009
    #1
  2. mr_bots

    mr_bots Notebook Evangelist

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    Just installed it. Fan seems to run more and it greatly reduced the DPC latency issue. I had a bar just over the yellow every now and then with none in the red.
     
    mr_bots, Sep 17, 2009
    #2
  3. rudefyet

    rudefyet Notebook Enthusiast

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    Also noticed the fan running a bit higher speed when the laptop is doing nothing.

    Looks like on Windows 7 you can now control the display brightness settings (also allows W7 to automatically dim the screen after so many minutes) in the power options control panel. I assume this is new, never showed up for me before.
     
    rudefyet, Sep 17, 2009
    #3
  4. Sephoroth

    Sephoroth Notebook Evangelist

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    Zomg, A07 -> A08 (which is soon pulled from the support site) -> A11? Where did A09 and A10 go?

    Atleast we know it Enhabces system stability :D. Once again chipset B02 is mentioned....
     
    Sephoroth, Sep 17, 2009
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  5. Free-Way

    Free-Way Notebook Enthusiast

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    also noticed keyboard seems to auto dim after a while that no key was pressed... anyone know how to control this option ?
     
    Free-Way, Sep 17, 2009
    #5
  6. don_diablo91

    don_diablo91 Notebook Enthusiast

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    No, the keyboard has always been like that. But yeah the screen does dim automatically now. I wish Dell would post the whole changelog for this BIOS update.
     
    don_diablo91, Sep 17, 2009
    #6
  7. Sephoroth

    Sephoroth Notebook Evangelist

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    It didn't do this before? I rarely use the back light but thought it did this on A07/A08 also. I wish Dell would provide more descriptive change logs....
     
    Sephoroth, Sep 17, 2009
    #7
  8. don_diablo91

    don_diablo91 Notebook Enthusiast

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    UPDATE: The DPC Latency has been fixed ! No more Red bars, I only get a short yellow bar once in a while. But this is way better than the every 5us Red bar in the previous BIOS !
     
    don_diablo91, Sep 17, 2009
    #8
  9. peterf

    peterf Notebook Consultant

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    While that is nice, the fan runs more often? That is annoying.
     
    peterf, Sep 17, 2009
    #9
  10. Sephoroth

    Sephoroth Notebook Evangelist

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    Does the fan run more often? I haven't noticed a change...though that could be because I've been running a ceiling fan also XD. I also haven't noticed an internal temperature change also though....
     
    Sephoroth, Sep 17, 2009
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  11. DemonicHawk

    DemonicHawk Notebook Consultant

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    Thank you Dell!! About time!!! :D

    I know I'm repeating what's already been said, but DPC Latency is fixed! Not that it was even a problem for me :p

    There's some new options in the power too! Maybe this bios update improves battery life..
     

    Attached Files:

    DemonicHawk, Sep 17, 2009
    #11
  12. chrusti

    chrusti Notebook Evangelist

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    But when will there be a new Bios Update for our Studio XPS 1640?!!!!!
     
    chrusti, Sep 17, 2009
    #12
  13. DemonicHawk

    DemonicHawk Notebook Consultant

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    Oh stop complaining, you guys got plenty of updates already! :p

    We don't even have Win 7 Drivers yet! :(
     
    DemonicHawk, Sep 17, 2009
    #13
  14. KompressorV12

    KompressorV12 Notebook Guru

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    I never complained, but now I never will.. sry man vista was awful for the week I had it (came from W7 RC2, then 7 years of XP)

     
    KompressorV12, Sep 17, 2009
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  15. Sephoroth

    Sephoroth Notebook Evangelist

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    You've been on A10 for a while now whereas we've been on A07 (with a few on A08)!
     
    Sephoroth, Sep 17, 2009
    #15
  16. chrusti

    chrusti Notebook Evangelist

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    Not true! We can not download anything but Bios A08 !
     
    chrusti, Sep 17, 2009
    #16
  17. Sephoroth

    Sephoroth Notebook Evangelist

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    Oh right, that was only a few people who have A10 with new computers. In either case, most SXPS 13 users had been stuck on A07 and there was no noticeable difference between A07 and A08 anyways.
     
    Sephoroth, Sep 17, 2009
    #17
  18. mr_bots

    mr_bots Notebook Evangelist

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    As for A09 and A10 not being released. It's not uncommon for Dell to have a few internal versions tested before releasing a stable one that skips a number or two.
     
    mr_bots, Sep 17, 2009
    #18
  19. Koer

    Koer Notebook Deity

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    LOL! don't you just love when dell tells you JUST what it does ? Awesome typo :D
     
    Koer, Sep 17, 2009
    #19
  20. Stormeh

    Stormeh Notebook Enthusiast

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    As someone mentioned the B1 B2 thing, so I guess since my board is revision B01, I'm stucking with A07?
     
    Stormeh, Sep 17, 2009
    #20
  21. Sephoroth

    Sephoroth Notebook Evangelist

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    Nope. As was with A08 before it (or was it A07?) which advertised the same clause, it will run on B01.
     
    Sephoroth, Sep 17, 2009
    #21
  22. ctbear01

    ctbear01 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have a B01 board and it seems to run fine. However I don't see the dimming option in power settings?
     
    ctbear01, Sep 18, 2009
    #22
  23. amihalceanu

    amihalceanu Notebook Consultant

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    I have B1 and installed it anyway since freezes with all other bios versions drove me nuts. I was just about to return the computer when I saw this latest bios today. I'm giving it one more chance, if it freezes one more time it's back to the shop with my XPS 13.
     
    amihalceanu, Sep 18, 2009
    #23
  24. jb1007

    jb1007 Full Customization

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    Great update... good job Dell!
     
    jb1007, Sep 18, 2009
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  25. DemonicHawk

    DemonicHawk Notebook Consultant

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    Don't forget to reset your bios to defaults after flashing, otherwise it can cause potential problems.
     
    DemonicHawk, Sep 18, 2009
    #25
  26. nr_volto

    nr_volto Newbie

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    Don't you guys see a problem with Dell not signing the update file and not providing MD5 and SHA1 hashes?
     
    nr_volto, Sep 19, 2009
    #26
  27. bcc

    bcc Notebook Consultant

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    Unfortunately with A11 bios, ESATA still malfunctions with drives running at 3.0gbps.
     
    bcc, Sep 19, 2009
    #27
  28. bcc

    bcc Notebook Consultant

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    Only if you don't trust files from ftp.us.dell.com.
    If you were a little paranoid, you could dig around and see that the IP network for the ftp server is the same as their secure http server.

    Heck, there aren't even signed drivers for the graphics hardware under windows 7 yet.
     
    bcc, Sep 19, 2009
    #28
  29. don_diablo91

    don_diablo91 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Besides that Latency has been fixed, I also notice a better GPU in SLI mode. During COD 4 I noticed a significant better amount of FPS, however I have not captured it, therefore no numbers, but I do see a significant better performance !
     
    don_diablo91, Sep 19, 2009
    #29
  30. srbbnd

    srbbnd Notebook Guru

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    cheers!!! Thanks for the info m8.
     
    srbbnd, Sep 19, 2009
    #30
  31. srbbnd

    srbbnd Notebook Guru

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    ^Definately a noticeable increase in FPS difference in games like Street Fighter 4 and Left 4 Dead with hybrid sli on with new bios!!! Also quickset buttons seem to be stabily working now. However, I still got some sound crackling occassionally. All in all a very good bios update.
     
    srbbnd, Sep 19, 2009
    #31
  32. Sephoroth

    Sephoroth Notebook Evangelist

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    Hmmm....I haven't noticed any improvement while using 186.81 nor has WEI.
     
    Sephoroth, Sep 19, 2009
    #32
  33. computernerd

    computernerd Notebook Consultant

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    Can anyone who monitored their temperatures before they updated say anything about temp changes? Do the fans just go on more or are the temperatures actually higher?
     
    computernerd, Sep 19, 2009
    #33
  34. Sephoroth

    Sephoroth Notebook Evangelist

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    I've seen no notable differences in performance and internal temperatures coming from A08 with 186.81 GPU drivers and the 9500M GE. That said, I don't think there has been increased activity of my fans either....
     
    Sephoroth, Sep 19, 2009
    #34
  35. don_diablo91

    don_diablo91 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I use DOX 185.85 Forceware as Vid Driver. Maybe you should try that.
     
    don_diablo91, Sep 19, 2009
    #35
  36. Sephoroth

    Sephoroth Notebook Evangelist

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    Errm, how do I know I wasn't already getting better performance to 185.85? I haven't seen any benchmarks on the forums comparing 185.85 to 186.12 or 186.83.
     
    Sephoroth, Sep 19, 2009
    #36
  37. Mr.High-Pinger

    Mr.High-Pinger Notebook Consultant

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    flash back yo the old bios and then do the testa?
     
    Mr.High-Pinger, Sep 19, 2009
    #37
  38. riscy00

    riscy00 Newbie

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    Just installed A11 and noticed improvement with wifi, run more smoothly now.

    Curious What is DPC Latency?, where red/yellow bar come from?

    Does not seem to fix keyboard repeat issue. Any suggestion. My impression that Dell seem to ignore this issue for which I mentioned in the Dell forum about 2 month ago as well as other posted earlier.

    ========================================================

    I'm looking for large monitor for work (27/30"), which value model is best for technical drawing. Color accuracy is not important....

    Should I upgrade to Win-7 (home) and use vista driver from dell?

    Riscy
     
    riscy00, Sep 20, 2009
    #38
  39. srbbnd

    srbbnd Notebook Guru

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    ^^When your drivers don't work correctly it f's up your video and audio. At least that is my non-technical understanding of DPC Latency. Could be wrong.
     
    srbbnd, Sep 20, 2009
    #39
  40. Sephoroth

    Sephoroth Notebook Evangelist

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    Sephoroth, Sep 20, 2009
    #40
  41. Student Driver

    Student Driver Notebook Consultant

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    Just wanted to add that I'm another (finally) happy customer with the A11 update. The sound crackling seems to be gone, my temps make more sense, and the system has been rock solid for the past four days. I just couldn't believe how it would crash at a *minimum* of every day, but usually every 4-6 hours. Now, I just treat it like my Mini 9 and close it up when I'm done, and just keep it running (it was suspending, hibernating, and resuming from the same boot for 3 days). Very nice. Now if it would just game faster when in SLI mode, but I think that's still a driver thing; I might have to try Dox setup.
     
    Student Driver, Sep 25, 2009
    #41
  42. amihalceanu

    amihalceanu Notebook Consultant

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    Hehe I've had almost the exact same experience. Had the system since early spring and the freezes were unbearable. It's been solid ever since I installed the new bios.
    One more thing: SLI performance improved dramatically for me with the new bios. Also a very annoying video rescaling bug of the integrated 9400m card has been fixed. Now I can finally say I love the SXPS 13 :)
     
    amihalceanu, Sep 25, 2009
    #42
  43. nokiac

    nokiac Notebook Enthusiast

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    Sorry for the noobie question.. but where can I see what revision of chipset I have?
     
    nokiac, Sep 25, 2009
    #43
  44. freddy6128

    freddy6128 Newbie

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    i updated the bios but its not fix it

    the sound gone and back i can hear but very low!!

    the volume on the top !!

    any help plz !?
     
    freddy6128, Sep 26, 2009
    #44
  45. bcc

    bcc Notebook Consultant

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    To be sure, you lift the heat sync off of the mcp79mx chip. cpu-z invariably reports B01 it seems. My chip itself says B2 (though the system was built back in Feb.)

    There's no evidence that you have to care about this at all when it comes to updating your bios.
     
    bcc, Sep 26, 2009
    #45
  46. Jidonsu

    Jidonsu Notebook Enthusiast

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    What are the temps that you guys are getting with the A11 Revision? My fans don't seem to turn on until the mid 70s, so the temperature will just creep up until the fans turn on, cooling it back to the mid 50's, then it will creep back up, etc. I just bought this 1340 from the Dell Outlet. Am I just expecting too much? Other than the temp, I'm fairly happy with my purchase.

    Anyone using the Zalman NC1000 or NC2000 with this?
     
    Jidonsu, Oct 24, 2009
    #46
  47. jharaul

    jharaul Newbie

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    Yes. I got my laptop today and the first thing I did was to install the A11 bios update. and its been running smooth ever since. . heat is not an issue no more !!
     
    jharaul, Oct 24, 2009
    #47
  48. Student Driver

    Student Driver Notebook Consultant

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    Temps are in the upper 50s for the GPU when running without the cooler (Zalman NC1000) and in the upper 40s with it on the cooler. The cooler is great.
     
    Student Driver, Oct 25, 2009
    #48
  49. Jidonsu

    Jidonsu Notebook Enthusiast

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    I just placed an order for the Zalman NC1000. I'm looking forward to it. It turns out my temps are find. I was using HWMonitor, which I believe has the wrong Tjmax set. Core Temp and Real Temp both report temps that are 10 degrees lower because Tjmax is set at 90, so my CPU idles are in the 40s. That makes a whole lot more sense.
     
    Jidonsu, Oct 25, 2009
    #49
  50. Student Driver

    Student Driver Notebook Consultant

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    I monitor temps with Everest, and it's been pretty consistent.
     
    Student Driver, Oct 25, 2009
    #50
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