Help! We need an unlocked BIOS for the new Alienware 18 - please promote on IdeaStorm ASAP.

I don't know if any of you guys posted on IdeaStorm about the crippled Bios which does not allow for proper overclocking of the Cpu. I think there's a guy who works for Dell running the Forum so maybe some of you guys could let your voice be heard and Dell might help you AW 18 owners get the maximum performance you paid for and deserve. Here is a link Idea Storm You have to register to make a comment.Thanks

Unlock the Bios on the new Alienware 18s | IdeaStorm

While you are there, please also promote this one also...

Alienware: Enhanced / Customizable Fan Control | IdeaStorm

These go hand-in-hand.

 

Thank you for posting this here. It appears one of our members have already posted there, and has received a response from one of the idea storm mods. Hopefully this will lead somewhere and getting something accomplished to get the performance out of these machines we have paid for.

 

I posted an idea there. It would be nice if more people would post and comment there instead of ranting here.

 

Alienware definitely needs to take action on this issue! It has been too long already. The cpu and system performance is crippled until there is a BIOS update. If there is no BIOS update to fix this problem it will definitely leave a sour taste in my mouth.

 

I would bet that this is also an issue with the AW 17, at least for those with the aforementioned 4930MX.

I'll promote & comment when I get the chance.

 

done. promoted

 

Also gave you guys my vote, I'm standing behind the community on this one.

 

Guys I think we are going to get the Alienware Teams attention The moderator over at IdeaStorm said he was letting the AW team know of our frustrations and problems. So keep em coming and maybe we'll get this issue addressed. Thanks.

 

Someone should also suggest desktop CPU's for the M18. That would be pretty in' sweet.

 

That would be sweet. But, we need this problem fixed first.

If you want to create the new submission at IdeaStorm and start a new thread here to gather support, I will definitely promote it.

Clevo has this so there is no reason for Alienware to not do it. By letting Clevo have it, they are surrendering the laptop performance crown.

It will require a higher capacity AC adapter or a dual AC adapter mod like the one Clevo offers. It will also need a good BIOS or it will be a waste of time. Up until only recently the Clevo laptops with the desktop CPU were not able to perform as well as the M18xR2, and that was because the Clevo machines had a screwed up BIOS.

 

Thanks Mr.Fox

 

Working for a topic on IdeaStorm for the desktop CPU's in Alienware M18.

EDIT

Here it is: http://www.ideastorm.com/idea2ReadIdea?Id=087700000008pDfAAI&v=1380143688768

Please comment on what I could improve :thumbsup:.

 

Idea promoted. Good work fellas!

Please also promote this idea while you're logged in: Alienware: Enhanced / Customizable Fan Control - they go hand in hand. Only 41 votes so far and yet I've heard hundreds of complaints.

 

Promoted as well. Let's keep the momentum going with this Idea. We need a fix.

 

Got my vote, too!

 

I see this sitting on someones back burner....

 

Seems like it. 4 1/2 months this thing has been out and still nothing. We are almost at the half way to the next CPU refresh.
What gives Dell ?!

 

I think it's unlikely that Dell will provide all the bios menus we want.
What we really need is much simpler, a way to flash a modified bios. In the current bios the loophole I used for the M18x R2 bios mods A05 newer is closed, so currently there's no easy way for flashing.
If Dell hadn't locked out the customers from the hardware completely then this issue would already have been solved months ago by a custom bios.

If anyone wants an unlocked bios right now then feel free to contact me, I can sell you a bios chip with an unlocked bios.

 

You think svl7 is right? In my gut I know Dell is never going to give us an unlocked bios. Would any of you guys go for the bios chip? It's $32

 

I think svl7 is right. Even the R2 wasn't fully unlocked without svl7's BIOS mod. I can't imagine Dell are suddenly going to concede and open up a loophole if they haven't already. Do you guys even have access to Flex ?

I'd definitely go for a bios chip for $32 if I had a little soldering for dummies guide and set of instructions on how to install it in the AW.

 

I just promoted as well and could not help but leave a fairly scathing comment. I just can't help but get more and more angry the more I think about this craptastic situation and the lack of any productive response from Dell or Alienware. When it comes down to it if they don't fix this I will absolutely contact svl7 for a chip and solder it on, no way am I letting the bad guys win.

 

If you look at Alienware's website, you see gimmicks like "ten trillion lighting combinations" and "lifelike audio experiences" instead of NBD coverage, highest performance in laptops, and factory-unlocked BIOS. I'wonder if Dell advertises like this out of ignorance, it is preying on consumer ignorance, or it is trying to keep the percentage of enthusiast buyers low so that it does not have to fix issues like this.

 

I just read over the post over at ideastorm, and I for one am glad to see all of the NBR community posting over there to get this fixed. I, like the rest of us, am hoping this gets there attention to make the fix.

 

Playing with audio and lighting don't cost dell a dime, bricking and burning motherboard/gpu do.

 

Touché. 10char

 

For myself I'm getting a chip from svl7 and try to find someone who can solder it on. Insyde is one of the very few Bios manufacturers that solder their chips in, the majority have pins and are plugged right into the mainboard. I'm seriously thinking of refusing delivery when the gimped rig comes.And wouldn't you know it my RipJaw 1866 came yesterday

 

Yes TBone we have 2nd advanced tab where you can jack up the flex as high as 99

 

Don't do that, Bro - just have delivery redirected to me.....

As for de-soldering and soldering:

How to Desolder an Electronics Joint - For Dummies

What Is Soldering and How Do You Use Solder Tools? - For Dummies

Get stuck in :thumbsup:

 

Of course I think svl7 is right

I don't think it is likely that they change the flash policy... but that would be easier for them (and imo more likely) than providing an unlocked bios (meaning all the options available), at least that's how I see it.
After all they fixed the loophole I've been using to provide modified version of the R2 A05 (and newer) bios... and I'm inclined to believe that this didn't happen incidentally...

 

+1

This community is great. I mean, we are influencing decisions made by Alienware to better their products and satisfy customers. Alienware is awesome for hearing us out and allowing us this opportunity. I hope it all works out! :thumbsup:

 

Promoted. I'll be monitoring the discussion over the next few days to see if there's anything else I can do to help.

 

This is one of the reasons you're a champ Brother Steve :thumbsup:

 

I'll 2nd that TBone

 

The A02 BIOS has been removed from the Dell driver page. Perhaps an update is incoming.

 

Lets keep our fingers crossed!

 

My fingers are crossed. New A03 BIOS is out!

http://www.dell.com/support/troubleshooting/us/en/19/Product/alienware-18

 

Good luck fellas

 

If it only takes care of the problem with the fans not running as they should it will be a nice start. If it also includes correct CPU power settings it will be excellent, because better overclocking with fans that run too slow, too late, would not be that beneficial.

 

Woohoo!! - I'm excited to see what you guys find out with the new BIOS...hope it's a good 'un! It certainly looks promising from the notes....

 

A glimmer of hope? This was a response from the AW team:

 

No need to hope for their involvement, just hope for an improvement! Alienware will listen to their customers. That's just how awesome they are. It's only a matter of time...

By the way, promoted. :thumbsup:

 

Hopefully, those who haven't responded, please promote the BIOS update. We shouldn't settle for anything but a fix to this issue.

 

I couldnt agree more, especially since Alienware advertises on the product page the overclocking and the speeds. It is not unreasonable to expect these machines to do what they advertise.

 

Problem is, a lot of users/consumers, even here, read and take what they need but when it comes to contribution, well it isn't there. Even taking out 2 minutes to promote such a critical issue is not important for those.

It's really a shame but look at the number of people who promoted. 19 votes from 1897 views, 1% people who viewed the thread, deemed it important to vote.

 

I agree and the same kind of lame response has happened with other important IdeaStorm submissions. The one for Alienware fan control was the same way and so was the one for Microsoft Product Keys. And there were two or three other worthy ideas. The low response rate from our community on these things is really pathetic. I suspect that many of the folks that read it and do nothing because they are simply too lazy to promote the ideas that benefit everyone do some of the loudest whining and moaning about their own problems. Politics is the same way, LOL. If you don't care enough to vote, then you're part of the problem and need to keep your trap shut.

 

Added my vote to this as well, even though I can't even order the AW 18 I truly want due to website problems on Dells part. But would be great if it was fixed by the time I can order

 

Promoted and commented.

 

voted for it. Hopefully, we will get the answers need

 

stop helping people unless you see there names on the promote idea, add the idea to every post, in every thread if you have too. everyone wants it, everyone even needs it.

 

speaking of starting a new idea, might start a new idea regarding the sleeve cloth