(UEFI) Dell XPS 15z L511z modded BIOS - and HOWTO

[Florin9doi]

The microcode aren't bios dependent. The microcode module is byte by byte distributed by Intel.

[TimeWalker]

It doesn't necessarily mean that a successor of L502x (much like 3450 -> 3460) will use the same bios version. Just got L521x bios of off DELL, there you go:

woop woop - Insyde BIOS

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The microcode module is most likely embedded into the other PEI module, which in hands limits the possibility of locating and replacing it with a donor-module.

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on a positive note though kizwan from MDL has posted this a while ago:

Your notebook BIOS have older microcode update for i7-2630QM (CPUID 0206A7h). BIOS have microcode update revision 14 for CPUID 0206A7h (2000h bytes). Latest revision is 1B (2400h bytes). Looking at the size, AES-NI instruction/data might now available in latest revision.

Hi andyp,

I modded Dell Vostro 3750 BIOS to update CPU Microcode Update for CPUID 0206A7h to latest version. It is Phoenix SecureCore Tiano. Can you check it for me whether I did repacked the BIOS properly or not? I use your Phoenix SLIC Mod v1.95. The reason for latest microcode is because the original microcode doesn't support AES-NI.

Original BIOS: http://www.sendspace.com/file/838xk4
Modded BIOS: http://www.sendspace.com/file/n501nq
Modded Module: http://www.sendspace.com/file/g2n0yp
Microcode Update for CPUID 0206A7h: http://www.sendspace.com/file/mu6mki

but the links are all dead ... so we don't even know the module name .. yay...

[jkbuha]

In case anyone is interested I can show you how to mod the bios microcode.

I just haven't really found the need to do so (my i7-2620m cpu is @ 0x25h, latest ucode is 0x28h) but the Phoenix Dell method is slightly different to what is out there. Let me know if you'd like to do so.

Why would you need the L521x though? All you need is to download the latest microcode from intel...?

[kasar]

@timewalker

thanks for the info

gave u some rep points.

@jkbuha

I'm interested!

there is a guy with a ivy bridge plugged on his l502x laptop posting at the other forums waiting for an answer, he will be our tester

if this goes good, this means I will be able to upgreade my crappy i3 sandy Bridge proccesor later for a good i7 Ivi Bridge proccesor

I have absolutly no idea about where to start with the microcode update, so all the help at this subject is welcome

@all

any clue about how I can tweak/raise the BCLK (I know this allow very little overclocking and it can lead system inestability, but I am still interested.)

[TimeWalker]

That'd be nice, jkbuha. Stick the link to a post (if you decide to do a mini guide) in the OP, so that it would be more easy to find.
In case it can result in processor swapping for an Ivy Bridge then it would be cool, we even have a person willingly stepping out for testing.
22nm should run cooler and HD4000 should operate faster, on par with some discrete solutions even .. so having this as an option without the need of upgrading the laptop is sure a nice perspective in the roadmap if you ask me

[DoiX]

@TimeWalker, i'll take a peak just tell me where, inside a specific module from the bios or the chameleon video dump?

[TimeWalker]

@TimeWalker, i'll take a peak just tell me where, inside a specific module from the bios or the chameleon video dump?

It's one of the modules, it's exactly 64kb in size and the header starts with 'IBM VGA Compatible BIOS'.
For my particular model the GUID is 29206FC2-9EAB-4612-ACA1-1E3D098FB1B3
Look for a similar table to the one I had posted above.

[DoiX]

@TimeWalker, i'll take a peak just tell me where, inside a specific module from the bios or the chameleon video dump?

It's one of the modules, it's exactly 64kb in size and the header starts with 'IBM VGA Compatible BIOS'.
For my particular model the GUID is 29206FC2-9EAB-4612-ACA1-1E3D098FB1B3
Look for a similar table to the one I had posted above.

Got it, i will take a look tomorrow and report back. It's 12:00 here and i have to wake up at 6.

Have a good night.

[kasar]

@all

ok, while waiting jkbuha reply, I talked with Paralel (the guy with the l502x and the ivy bridge proccesor)

and he agreed to help us testing stuff

as for the moment, he said he can put l502x's i7-2670 proccesor in The 17R without any trouble.
but while moving the i7-2670 sandy bridge processor to his L502X a black screen is all he got.

In the other hand, I tested some stuff relating BCLK, also got my cpu microcode version






installed intel extreme utility (latest version refused to install, so I used another one wich was arround 17mb, I can upload it if you need it.)

most interesting options seems grey out. but it seems I can control the system bus. (a little)

the ammount of changes I can do is ridiculus, but I noticed it work, I checked CPUz and it changes the bus speed.

however while seting 100 mhz, GPUz report 99.8mhz and it kills like 5 mhz from the proccesor, not a big slowdown but its annoying I cant even reach the max speed of the proccesor :/

not sure if it is a software limitation, but if I can move the bus speed to 103- 105 mhz, I definitly will get a improvement, I noticed most ppl are able to get 105 mhz, higher speeds make sata and another things unstable, but I would like the extra performance.

anyway I cant get it using intel extreme utility, since it just let me to reduce a minimal range.

[Paralel]

Hey, I'm the guy with the L502X from the other forum.

The 17R I have access to which runs the Ivy Bridge i7-3612 without a problem is also a Phoenix Tiano.

The BIOS listed on the Dell site for the 17R is completely wrong. The 17R I'm using is running BIOS revision A12, but the only one listed on the Dell site is A04, I don't see how they went through 8 revisions in about 3 months. It doesn't make any sense. Also, even when I try to flash the A04 file the WinFlash SCT won't proceed because the layout in the BIOS file is wrong.

I have been trying to backup the Phoenix Tiano BIOS from the 17R without any luck. The Phoenix utility won't backup the BIOS without a valid BIOS image on hand and there isn't one to use, since the BIOS on the Dell site is apparently the wrong one for this system.

Is there any alternative method for backing up the Phoenix Tiano BIOS in the 17R without having a valid BIOS image on hand either using the Phoenix utility or another utility?