XPS L501X Modded Video card Bios

Want to modify your L501x bios? Want to overvolt / undervolt the video card? Look here!
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First, I want to give a big thanks to capitankasar for guiding me through the whole process and pretty much doing everything. He's also the one whos doing the L502x bios mods.

I also want to give credit to kizwan who modified the original bios which unlocks some CPU options in the bios

Second, THERE ARE RISKS!!
You may brick your laptop! I'm sure this voids any warranty on it. Be prepareddd. I've tested this on my own XPS 15 laptop and have no problems..but I can't guarantee anything.
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Note: I am using A06 bios which is a bit older, but the newer versions of the bios (A07 and A08) don't really add anything important. If you want a mod for that, let me know.

What you need
+empty flash drive (it's going to be formatted)
+usb format program ---> usb_format.rar (see below to format)
+files to put on usb ---> UsbFiles.rar | Game Front (extract the files)
+modded bios file ( xxx.WPH)
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Steps:
Create a DOS bootable disk for your usb (note, it will erase all files on it)
http://forum.notebookreview.com/ace...enix-bios-bios-mod-request-7.html#post6280013

Download these usb files, extract them, and put it on your newly formatted usb UsbFiles.rar | Game Front

Download a bios file (xxx.wph) and put it on the usb drive so the drive should have these files on it:
Crisis Recovery Disk Dell XPS L501x A06 <--this is for emergency
PHLASH16.exe
XXX.wph
readme.txt

Make sure you plug in the usb on the right hand side in the eSATA port.

Reboot and hit F12 and boot with the usb drive

Make sure your laptop is plugged in and you have a battery in.

When you can type something, type in
"phlash16.exe /x /s xxx.wph" without the quotes and hit enter.
It should do a lot of stuff and then restart the computer.

When its all done, you can fire up GPU-Z and check the voltage


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Bios Files:

FOR GT 420M ONLY ( NOT GT 435m) (I recommend renaming the file after you download it)
L501x_85.WPH | Game Front (0.85v) (undervolt)

NEW MIRROR FOR OVERVOLT!!! http://www.mediafire.com/?4s4axd4al6i48gk (0.95v) (overvolt) <--created by capitankasar


FOR FOR GT 435M ONLY ( NOT GT 420m)
http://www.gamefront.com/files/21951122/435mOVERVOLT99_WPH (.99v overvolt)
http://www.gamefront.com/files/21951125/435mUNDERVOLT85_WPH (0.85v undervolt)

NOTE: I have not tested these but they should work fine. Beware, undervolting may lead to instability (aka video card crashes in the middle of a game. This doesn't damage anything but can be very annoying. Overvolting can lead to higher temperatures, but allows you to overclock more.



Why overvolt / undervolt?
Overvolting allows you to overclock further. On default voltages, I can only OC my GT420m up to 665mhz core. With overvolted (0.95v) I can overclock to at least 700mhz. However, overvolting/overclocking leads to higher temperatures which isn't that good for your video card. For me, I didn't see my video card go into any danger levels so 0.95v is pretty safe.

Undervolting saves power, and should keep a cooler laptop, though when I tested it, it was only a few degrees celsius cooler. However, you can't overclock as much...so it's really up to what you want with your laptop.

Any questions, let me know.

Big thanks again to capitankasar and kizwan as they pretty much did all the bios work.

EDIT 1: BIOS is the A06 version and has the advanced CPU settings unlocked by kizwan. This can be used to turn on / off hyperthreading. To turn it back on, i found that you have to set the bios to default settings to actually turn it on.

EDIT 2: I noticed something funny when installing new drivers. GPu-Z would report 0.95v voltage even if im using defualt 0.9v or 0.85v but I think that's just not showing the right voltage since temps/max overclock matches the correct voltage.

 

Again warning, modifying any BIOS has the ability to screw up your system, proceed at your own risk!

 

I have the AO8 bios.

Will this work with the current files you uploaded?

 

awesome work mate!

i wish I had a L501X to test them ^_^

do the advanced cpu options are also avalible at this bios? are you also considering to release modded bioses for the gt435m?

subscribed!

 

CPU advanced options are unlocked by as far as I've tested, the only thing you can do is disable / enable HT. Ill update the first post.

435m mods can be made upon request but I don't have that machine so people will have to test it themselves.

 

I have to find some help to unlock the l502x menus, I allways wanted that ^_^

about the other card, dont worry, the procedure is almost the same but modding the another vbios file ^_^

even you cant test it, it will work, I dont have a 540m card to test (have a 525m) but all the people with those cards said the 540m bioses work fine ^_^

 

Does the BIOS also have the advanced C-states control option? (CX, C6.. etc)
And also does it have the fan control menu?

 

The modified A06 bios (made by kizwan) has the different C states in the bios and it also has some thermal configuration but no fan speeds.

I haven't tested any of those so they may or may not actually work. I just know that they're there.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/7187628-post1702.html this is the one without any video bios mods.

 

Tried out the BIOS today! It's perfectly stable!
Thanks a lot!!
BTW is is possible to MOD the CPU voltages too? And also is it possible to unlock lower multiplier for the CPU in the BIOS??

Thanks Again!!

 

Nope. as far as i know, the i7 / i5 / i3 voltages are all locked to the processor/self controlled and cant be changed

 

I'm unable to turn HT back on. Any suggestions?
Tried restoring defaults in the BIOS but no dice.

Anyways thanks for the MOD. With HT off I get lower temps on the CPU!!

 

Dunno whats going on. WOrks for me:
I just tried disabling HT, works. Then I went back into bios, hit F9 (load setup defaults) then F10 (save and reboot?) and HT was back on.

Try loading setup defaults, then reflash the bios.

 

Hi,
I was wondering if you can please make the modded bios (undervolt and overvolt) for L501X with the gt435m card. Or if possible can you please guide me on the procedures and tools to mod the bios file.
Thank you.

 

Hey,

I just uploaded undervolt/overvolted 435m bioses. They are in the .wph file format so follow the steps to flash via USB.

Please note:
The default voltage for the 435m is 0.96v (when running at full speed). The undervolted one is 0.85v which is a large decrease and may lead to INSTABILITY issues. Example of instability: playing a game and then the screen goes black for a few seconds and the game might even crash/close. The overvolted bios is 0.99v which isnt as large of a step so temperatures should only rise a little bit.

I would write a guide, but that takes too much time. Maybe another day.

 

Can you do a Unlocked Bios A08 without effekting the Graphics pls.

 

Interesting thread. Thanks!

 

thanks a lot for this thread!!

but i just can't download files hosted on gamefront.. it returns err403 or 404! any suggest?

add: due to pm restrictions i cant pm nobody of you so if somebody could mail attached files (for preparing usb and gt435) @ *mynickname* *at* gmail *do* com i would appreciate a lot ^^ thanks in advance


edit 2:
thanks to conscriptvirus i've just reuploaded
usbFiles.rar
and 435mUNDERVOLTbios.wph

here is the link to the mediafire folder: http://www.mediafire.com/?wra7cb2kgyga6

 

Great, thanks for reuploading the files!

 

I just find this. Could anybody re-upload 420M over volt? Thanks!

 

Hey, I'll try to re-upload this weekend. I have to find the original files

EDIT: file is in the OP.

 

Thanks for re-uploading!

 

The links were broken now. Could you reupload both overvolt and undervolt for GT 435M please?
Great thanks!

 

Can you repost the 435m overvolt file with the unlocked cpu bios? - 435mOVERVOLT99_WPH - http://www.gamefront.com/files/21951122/435mOVERVOLT99_WPH link isnt working

 

Hey! Can you make one for A08? It won't let me downgrade!