AW 15 R3 / Aw 17 R4 BIOS 1.0.9

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us...roductCode=alienware-15-laptop&driverId=F3JKD
Fixes & Enhancements
Fixes:
- Not Applicable
Enhancements:
- Improve Alienware Graphic Amplifier behavior.
- Improve system performance while CPU performance option is enabled
- Modify Thunderbolt function for Thunderbolt enhancement.
As well, a new Thunderbolt driver was released.

 

I try this Bios yersterday and it's ok on my AW17 + GTX 1080

 

is your internal GTX 1060/1070 automatically disabled when you connect AGA with 1080?

 

Notice any differences in "behavior?"

 

Oh excuse me. I dont have amplifier with my aw17. No différence

 

Tried 1.09 for 2 days and reverted back to 1.08.

It intermittently freezes the USB for a split second. I get no mouse response. It'll happen twice every 8 hours. And games would freeze for a split second too. Anyone else experience this problem with 1.09? Average temps higher by 2c.

15r3 1070 6700hq.

 

I would suggest trying a reflash again to see if you experience the same exact issue. Also it might be a good idea to clear the CMOS after the flash.
Seems like a fluke imo.

 

Used new bios with my aga with a 1080gtx. Went from 122 fps in firestrike to 8fps

Something isn't right. Reverted back and I am back to 122fps again.

Classic dell bios.... sigh

 

When you connect AGA, do internal graphics get disabled? For me all three( Intel, GTX 1070 and AGA 1080) are enabled. It is suppose to disable 1070.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

I'm going back to 1.0.8. 1.0.9 completely broke my AlienFx lighting.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

I haven't seen any odd behavior on my unit with this BIOS. Going to test a bit more to ensure its stable

Sent from my LG-H830 using Tapatalk

 

I'm gonna try reflashing 1.0.9 before I roll back completely. Forgot that mine didn't reboot after flashing at first. Had to manually shut down by hand.

Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk

 

Yep mine is the same however this behaviour has been the same for all bios versions. The good thing is you can set the gtx 1070 to do all the physx calculations and let the 1080 do the rendering .

 

Could you please guide me how to set 1070 for physx and 1080 for rendering?

 

Sure mate. Make sure the amp is on and plugged in.

Right click the desktop in a blank area and select Nvidia control panel. Click configure surround/physx. Then on the right under physx settings change it from auto to he 1070, tick dedicate to physx and then click apply

 

Thanks Mate. The games that do not provide option to select GPU still runs with my builtin 1070. I am not sure how to make all the games to utilize my 1080.

 

If you are plugging in a monitor to your amp it will use your aga card. There used to be an option in the panel to select which card to use globally with my old 17r3 but that had a 970m and it disappeared when the aga was in.... weird. Though a good way to tell is use firestrike 3D benchmark with the aga and then without. A different score will tell you if the aga is used when plugged in.

 

Let us know how you go mate I am curious. I feel like I am missing something.

 

After the 1.0.9 update it runs a bit smoother, but the tobi tracker stopt working, and now even when reverting to 1.0.8 it does not work anymore..

Edit:

I fixed the eyetracking by downloading usbdeview-x64 ( http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html) and disable 'eyedevice' and then uninstall the 'eyedevice' Note: you must run the application with 'run as admin'

Did a reboot and now the tobii eyetracker works again (bios 1.0.8) I'll check if this solution also works on the new bios.

 

Will the 1.0.9 update remove the power limit for the processor?

 

Update: Tobi is not working with the 1.0.9 update, no matter what I do, it does not recognize the tracker. It is connected as a USB device but I'm not able to install drivers for it..

 

i think it does cause now my cpu is running ever hotter

 

Tested Bios 1.0.9 on my 15R3 with CPU Performance mod disabled.
Here's an OCCT 8 threads CPU freq records :



After reaching 75°C the CPU won't boost anymore even if temps are below 70°C and cruises at 2.8 GHz most of the time.



And when you complain about overheating DELL ask you to update Bios and disable CPU Performance mod before using Dell Assist to test the CPU.
Of course it won't overheat in those conditions !

But it isn't the 3.6 GHz up to 4.0 GHz advertised CPU anymore ...

 

1.0.9...
6700hq undervolt : -160mV
And temps aren't going higher than 70°C

 

I personally flashed the new BIOS but I had to actually turn down the machine because it was left on (just the fans), was quite creepy.

Didn't like that and flashed back to 1.08

 

I had the same problem while updating the bios in my 17r4. Reverted back to 1.08.

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Same exact thing happened to me! I reflashed 1.0.9 and problem solved.

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Your undervolted I7-6700HQ is cruising at higher frequency than my I7-6820HK @stock ! WTF ???!

 

But isn't that because the boost clock on the 6700 is just higher than the stock 2.7GHz on the 6820? My 6820 has the boost clock set to 4.2GHz which you can't do on the 6700 for various reasons

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

If you look at my I7-6820HK frequency chart, it starts @3.6GHz then sinks deeper at 2.8GHz and stays there, that's what happens when Bios performance mode is disabled with 1.0.9 and CPU hits 75°C (Or maybe Power Limit ?)

Has the 6700HQ a Bios CPU performance mode with greater Power Limit like the I7-6820HK ?

 

Yes I managed to get my 6820HK at better clocks by turning on the overclock level 1

here: http://imgur.com/F1nqrik

 

Here's another test.

OCCT 5mn Stock Clock, Undervolt -160mV


OCCT 5mn Stock Clock, No Undervolt


There is a clearly another policy in the Bios to avoid overheating. And it reduces the CPU performances even more.

 

can you post screenshots of all BIOS settings that are related to overclocking?

 

Have you enabled CPU performance ON in the bios?
Also, try with 1.08 bios and share if there's some difference? I am happy with 1.08

EDIT, check the bench I shared above, I have the exact same config.

 

@sarou tested with Bios 1.0.2 and had the same results, it looks like all 17R4/15R3's Bios behave the same to avoid overheating at stock clocks and voltage with above Bios settings.

Edit : Here's the default Bios settings for OC mode (CPU preformance mode)

 

See post 1 for customizing http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...-settings-for-4-0ghz-to-4-3ghz-stable.787791/

 

I just have to set PL1 and PL2 to 100W to avoid the CPU to throtlle back to nominal speed (2.7GHz)


Even with this bios settings i had to set PL1 ton 100W with XTU because he was back to 45W ...

And with four cores @3.2GHz Core0 already reached 87°C under OCCT load so 4.0GHz is out of reach.





Edit : This time CPU package Power Reached 63W



What i'm tryin to show is that PL2 kicks in when DELL ask you to test your CPU with Performance mod disabled when complaining about an overheating CPU. Increase PL1 and PL2 to 100W without OC (3.2GHz is boost clock) and CPU will overheat.

 

Yep, 4GHz is well within the reach if you repaste with Conductonaut. I happily run at 4.2GHz. Can't get 4.3 stable just yet, need a bit more work but not too bothered. Temps are fantastic. The highest loads peak only in the high 60s or low 70s with average in low to mid 60s at 4.2GHz

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First thing I've done is giving Conductonaut a try. But with my warped heatsink i only got even worst temps. Conductonaut without contact is useless.

DELL's technician is coming today with a new heatsink. I hope it will fix all my troubles those Bios only managed to hide.

 

Could you let me know if there are improvementes in the temperatures with the new heatsink? My AW 17 is in depot and they were going to replace my heatsink too. Sadly, they give me my laptop until friday.

Greetings

 

Oh man, if your AW is in the depot I would be very worried if it even turns on when you get it back.


@iunlock

 

Have Dell fixed the problems or not? Aka you can use max advertised Oc within normal max temperatures and with NO throttling? Or is the Band-aid fix a firmware with crippled power settings? The fix should be implemented in all models from 7 December. Or is what @Alienware-Frank aka Mr. Azor said a lie?

 

The tech came with a new heatsink and a reconditioned mobo. He told me the mobo had passed factory test. It had the new pads layout with thermal tape on the chokes, and 2 thinner termal stomps on CPU and GPU he started to remove. He was about to apply good old AS5 (The conductive one) and I told him i had Gelid Extreme if he doesn't mind.

The result was not perfect, but still better. Now i have 10°C gab between core 0 and 3.

Here's OCCT result @stock and PL1/PL2 100W no UnderVolt and No Cooling Pad :

 

1.0.9 unlocked all power limit for the cpu 6820HK according to @vasilis80
No need for XTU anymore

 

But what with the rest? Is the problem fixed now for all models they push out?

 

Mine performed worse with 1.0.9 so I flashed 1.0.8 back, my system is very stable with this Bios, also had a black screen and just the fans On when trying to flash 1.09 anyone with this problem also??

 

On my original flash of 1.0.9, I got the same thing. Was fine after reflashing again.

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The swapped mobo is on 1.0.8 Bios, i didn't upgrade because i had instabilities with 1.0.9 on the previous one.

The new CPU reached 4.0GHz with 83°C and a 15°C Gap without Undervolt and with Fan performance mode disabled after 10mn OCCT 8 threads stress test.

So the heatsink's pressure is still uneven on the CPU. But at least it's less uneven with full contact.