Dell :: M4400 BIOS A13 Released, UT3 FPS Doubled On My FX1700M
Mar 25, 2009
First of all, I have no idea if this has already been covered on the "Precision M4400 Owner's Lounge" thread, I have not been following it for it getting longer and longer.
So, I opened a new thread to tell everyone that Dell has released BIOS A13 for the M4400. I installed it yesterday, and not only is my machine quieter under light load, its graphics performance is also higher - much higher, actually.
I used to think that my FX1700M was not affected by the downclocking, but now I stand corrected.
It WAS indeed downclocking heavily as it seems. When I was playing some UT3 a couple of hours ago, I suddenly actually had double(!) the frame rate compared to what I had with BIOS A12.
I maxed out some settings to see what would happen, and at settings that I was not able to make it run smooth some weeks ago I now got 30 to 40 frames per second
Please update to the revision immediately and post your results here. It seems importance is rated as Recommended and not urgent, so I'm not sure whether or not the system downclock and fan issues have been fixed, which is quite an urgent matter.
If someone could get a log file of the changes from Dell that would be great.
Update: Thanks Weegie:
Fixes/Enhancements ------------------ 1. Added support for BIOS that is signed. 2. Updated to PSA build 4117. 3. Updated thermal table. 4. Fixed the issue where system is slow to boot to internal hard drive after failed PXE boot exits. 5. Fixed the issue where Some BIOS Setup parameters are not accessible with only the keyboard. 6. Fixed the issue where system will automatically shut down at resuming from S3. 7. Fixed the issue where the time of BIOS power event log in Setup is wrong for power button event. 8. Fixed the issue where presentation mode cannot be turned on/off from the DCP.
These things look sOoOoOoO important .
During the flash, the only thing that appeared was "Updating Keyboard Controller ROM", but I don't know if that's regular or not. I will be gaming with this new revision and posting results soon.
All in all, nothing to see here. Seems like Dell either a) does not read our threads, or b) does not care. Nothing to see here .
Dell has released A09 update for Studio XPS 1645 on 17-May-2010
The update resolves following issues:
*Features update: 1. Update Processor Power Management(PPM) from 0.60 to 0.63-1 . 2. Support 2nd source SPI ROM EN25F32(BIOS) and EN25F80(EC). 3. Update ME bin file in BIOS for 2nd source SPI ROM EN25F32(BIOS). 4. Modified flash part size to prevent BIOS crash in failsafe part for factory only. 5. Support over 230W adapter to treat as 130W(EC). 6. Update Clarksfield thermal table to V.03(EC). 7. Enhanced PPM RC code for P-state thread count.
*Issues fix: 1. Fix S4 long run failed on DC mode with BSOD 9F. 2. Paltrow freeze issue: Hang up when playing youtube HD film. 3. Fix unable to communicate with battery error under delldiag. 4. Fix ACPI_PSD error in "powercfg -energy" tool under windows. 5. Fix Micron DDR3 memory can not boot up issue.
There were many SR4 laptops sold in May 2009 in China suffering the problem of stopping responding randomly and frequently, which caused quite a lot of hot threads discussing.
Sony identified the problem as some bugs in BIOS firmware and hence released an update to fix this.
Official site:[url] (Chinese site, Google Translate may work)
Download link: [url]
As a "side effect" some customers noticed that Sony has officially enabled the option of VT in BIOS settings!
This is quite unbelievable according to the usual style of Sony. Maybe it is because of the pressure from XP mode in the upcoming Windows 7.
Unfortunately the BIOS update still does not give SLIC 2.1 so to activate Windows 7 we still need SLIC 2.1 from Lenovo or other brands.
Got my swap today! ( swapped cause heat/fan issues ). The first thing i noticed when i booted up eas that it came with A16 Bios. Latest on th Dell site is A15. Anyone got some info on this???
Which bios is the best for gaming to avoid gpu downclocking and overheating? It seems that both the A02 and A03 are both recommended here in this forum, but which is the better one for gaming?
-Fan isn't on as much as with A09, not running on lower speed when cooling is unnecessary -Still downclocking!! Though it seems weird because the GPU doesn't go over 81c even with OC @ 600/900/1590.
Besides that all is good actually.
I installed all other new updates etc. also HDD firmware for the seagate.....there is still a weird latency problem that's picked up by dcp latency checker but for me that doesn't give any audible problems (not even when producing music
Is anyone having problems with random complete system lockups under bios A19. Everything on my computer instantly freezes (no bsod) and I have to hold the powerbutton down to reboot
Ok so after all the speculation it has finally happened. Head over to dell.co.in and customise an xps 16 and you can upgrade the graphics card to a 5650. Unfortunately this wasn't the complete redesign many of us were hoping for, but at least its something. Anyone know what the performance difference will be?
Ubuntu 9.10 is perfect and to be true it too just works out of the box , given the fact that it has to support infinite pc configurations it is great !!!
Hail 9.10 .. and if you wont try you will surely miss something great. Where else do you have a resume and sleep time of 2-4 seconds. bootup time of less than 15 seconds ..
It doesnt have a lot more to take to catch up .. i am certain that in a year or so you will see emergence of linux everywhere .. Just that volume is what promotes things,
if a lot of people start using linux, a lot of hardware manufacturers will be forced to give better drivers and support.
FYI Dell released a new video driver for the studio laptops today. It said it increases compatibility with external monitors. I wouldn't know since I've never hookem mine up to an external. But I will dl just to stay up to date. You can find it here:
First take the battery out and remove the bottom part like so.
Then you have to take the fan off there are 3 screws to take out and unplug the fan connector.
After you take out the CPU heat sink "there is 4 screws".
Then the Video card heat sink 3 screws.
Once that is done I took the CPU out you don't have to take it out I just wanted to see it. You do have to take out all the extra thermal past from DELL from the CPU and GPU and the 2 heat sink like so.
I use a plastic card and paper towel to remove the extra paste and it workes grate.
Now for the AS5 put on each of the components you just clean as in the CPU and GPU and the 2 heat sink like so.
same go's for the CPU and GPU then jsut use a falt plastic card I just use a master card but any thing similer will do to even out the SA5 like don't try to get it all nice and flat just make sure it covers all the surface of contact of the CPU GPU and heatsink and you should be good, it soule look like that now.
Now just re insert the GPU heat sink and tight the 3 screws back.
After it's the CPU heatsink and it's 4 screws like so.
Now the fan 3 screws and one connoctor.
Close it all up and boot Hope it helps some of you.
Considering that this is a "heavy duty" notebook, how much would a 25W processor (e.g., P9600) increase battery life and decrease heat? In my experience, the difference has been very little for relatively similar notebooks.
They're about the same price where I live, and both have a similar lead time. I've had no major problems with Dell in the past, but the M4400 seems to have been slated here and elsewhere for its build quality and design issues. The HP is by no means immune, but it does seem to come off lighter .....
When I got my M4400 last week, it had Vista Business installed - wasn't bad and unlike most people, I've NEVER had issues with Vista Anyway being a Microsoft Gold customer, I got my hands on the Windows 7 Ultimate RTM version and installed this on the laptop.
It has transformed the laptop just like it did my PCMUCH quicker, the graphics seem a lot happier in W7 too.
I've installed all my other tools such as SQL2008, Office 07, Virtual PC with VMs, VS 2008 etc etc but it doesnt even flinch under pressure.
If you are happy with M4400 and Vista, you will be even happier with W7 - small mini review but I thought I should give you my quick thoughts on it.
