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    Unlocking XPS 16 BIOS

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by Casual864, Nov 18, 2009.

  1. Casual864

    Casual864 Notebook Consultant

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    What are the benefits of unlocking the xps 16 bios? Will you be able to overclock the processor and graphics card? Can that even be achieved even if you do unlock the bios? :confused:
     
    Casual864, Nov 18, 2009
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  2. Fidget08

    Fidget08 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I thought Dell locked their BIOS at the factory and there is no way to unlock them? I could be wrong though.
     
    Fidget08, Nov 18, 2009
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  3. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    You can overclock the GPU and CPU without messing with the BIOS.

    A BIOS mod could add CPU support, you could maybe get a quad core working.
     
    moral hazard, Nov 18, 2009
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  4. Casual864

    Casual864 Notebook Consultant

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    Well it might be possible to unlock the bios. ;]
     
    Casual864, Nov 18, 2009
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  5. Casual864

    Casual864 Notebook Consultant

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    I read that you cannot, because dell locked the bios. Is it a admin password?
     
    Casual864, Nov 18, 2009
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  6. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    You should be able to overclock the GPU with software.
    Also the CPU would either need some software like setfsb or a clock generator pin mod.
     
    moral hazard, Nov 18, 2009
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  7. Casual864

    Casual864 Notebook Consultant

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    Casual864, Nov 18, 2009
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  8. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Still overclocking the CPU would be easy. Just need to find the clock generator:
    http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5454421#post5454421

    Then download the datasheet for the PLL, try to get setfsb to work. If you can't I will help.

    If it fails then a PLL pin mod should do the trick.

    I guess you would need to modify the VGA BIOS, which sounds like a bit of work.
     
    moral hazard, Nov 18, 2009
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  9. funky monk

    funky monk Notebook Deity

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    If it has a password then it can probably be cracked quite easily (it's not gonna have fancy hashes and encryption, it's only BIOS), I did notice that it required you to enter in a code to get to some of the advanced functions.

    If we can find the section dedicated to the chipset then we might be able to splice in stuff from alienware BIOS. As I recall it, alienware have laptops which also have the PM45 chipset since it is one of the best that intel do and I know for a fact that quads are an option in alienwares so that should add quad core support
     
    funky monk, Nov 18, 2009
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  10. Casual864

    Casual864 Notebook Consultant

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    Yes, that's what I've noticed also whenever I try to log into the admin account in the bios settings, it locks me out. I'm trying to figure out where the PLL ICS might be in the laptop. If anyone gets a engineer to remove the mobo of their xps 16 make sure to get the ICS number asap!
     
    Casual864, Nov 18, 2009
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  11. funky monk

    funky monk Notebook Deity

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    Is there a way to decompile code? At the moment all we have is the exe file for the BIOS which pretty much useless in terms of splicing things together
     
    funky monk, Nov 19, 2009
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  12. gaah

    gaah Notebook Deity

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    I'm interested in knowing more about these BIOS passwords, and unlocking hidden options. No way will I install a hex'd/modded BIOS.
     
    gaah, Nov 19, 2009
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  13. funky monk

    funky monk Notebook Deity

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    I can't find the original thread about overclocking the SXPS16 but I remember people talking about the setFSB guy and how he would make another version if we could find the PLL. So far no one has been able to but do you think it could be on the other side of the mobo, out of sight?
     
    funky monk, Dec 27, 2009
    #13