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Sager's Firmware update for fan controls

post #1 of 41
7/7/05 at 4:55pm
Thread Starter 
Has anybody checked out this link?

http://www.notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=93758

Sager has created a firmware update that allows fan speed to be controlled - normal mode and high mode - through keyboard commands. I Wonder if AW will do the same, or if the Sager update would work on the 7700?
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post #2 of 41
7/7/05 at 4:58pm
try it out and let us know!
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post #3 of 41
7/7/05 at 6:19pm
Is it a BIOS update? If it is, I wouldn't try it, but I'm a coward when it comes to voiding warranties.

AW likes to control what kind of BIOS goes into their machines, hence, they are typically locked down to a minimum number of options to keep people from screwing up their machines.
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post #4 of 41
7/7/05 at 9:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flapjacks
Is it a BIOS update? If it is, I wouldn't try it, but I'm a coward when it comes to voiding warranties.

AW likes to control what kind of BIOS goes into their machines, hence, they are typically locked down to a minimum number of options to keep people from screwing up their machines.
This isn't true Flapjacks. Alienware uses standard bios versions that are issued by the mobo manufacturer. You'll always get fully functional bios's with full options from Alienware.

They do require you to let them know if you have a problem that calls for a bios upgrade, because if you screw up a bios flash, the machine can be rendered useless.

Alienware does cover bios issues if you communicate with support to let them know of your issues. They'll help you flash your bios over the phone also if you need that.

The only custom bios issue I've ever seen is the flashing eyes on the laptops, but I think AW just had that added to the bios, they didn't rewrite the whole thing...
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post #5 of 41
7/7/05 at 10:13pm
yes update the status on the fan controller firmware updation thing.
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post #6 of 41
7/8/05 at 12:41am
it works for 7700's but im not sure if its a bios update yet or not
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post #7 of 41
7/8/05 at 1:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alien_Head13
yes update the status on the fan controller firmware updation thing.
lol

So who has the biggest balls?
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post #8 of 41
7/8/05 at 11:37am
I grabbed it and put it on a floppy but I haven't flashed it. I might not since it, apparently, won't control the GPU fan also. My main concern is setting the GPU fan to high before gaming, gethermal does a good job of that and if I'm going to have to run gethermal anyway for that, then what's the use of this flash?
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post #9 of 41
7/8/05 at 11:53am
keisur, the use of the flash is to determine which one of us has the bawls to apply it.
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post #10 of 41
7/8/05 at 12:44pm
I'll go apply it. Im running a sager flash on my machine anyway..

Runs off to grab the flash.

This looks more like a keyboard flash to control the fans more then a bios update.

Yep its not a system bios flash. Its a flash on the keyboard bios. It works fine but get thermal does the same thing better for me.
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post #11 of 41
7/8/05 at 1:03pm
Personnally, i'm waiting a new alienware laptop, the 7700 is good, but the video card isn't really greatly placed and your hand becomes harm, and the fan makes cricket noise.

As soon as aw will release a new lappy, i'll sold my 7700.
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post #12 of 41
7/8/05 at 1:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hammerhead
This isn't true Flapjacks. Alienware uses standard bios versions that are issued by the mobo manufacturer. You'll always get fully functional bios's with full options from Alienware.

...

The only custom bios issue I've ever seen is the flashing eyes on the laptops, but I think AW just had that added to the bios, they didn't rewrite the whole thing...
Their laptop BIOS, particularly the 5500/766 that I have is quite locked down. I know this is true because AW accidentally allowed an unlocked BIOS version (1.13ish iirc) to be DL'ed from their FTP site that allowed control of memory speed/timing, CPU clocks, etc.

My current BIOS offers no options other than lighted eye control, and whether the wireless card is on or off. There are a couple more options (neither of which are useful), but nowhere near as many as a desktop mobo.

I know they will let you update the BIOS, that's not the question...the question is whether they will let you install a non-AW approved BIOS. Even if you call Tech Support, as is the correct procedure, they still won't approve of a non-AW BIOS...possibly voiding the machine's warranty if the procedure is completed.
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post #13 of 41
7/8/05 at 1:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jaycat
keisur, the use of the flash is to determine which one of us has the bawls to apply it.
not my point. my point was why do it anyway if it doesn't control ALL fans. I have the gonads to do it but don't know if it's even worth it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Flapjacks
I know they will let you update the BIOS, that's not the question...the question is whether they will let you install a non-AW approved BIOS. Even if you call Tech Support, as is the correct procedure, they still won't approve of a non-AW BIOS...possibly voiding the machine's warranty if the procedure is completed.
When I called them for approval to flash from .01 to .02 they wouldn't give me the go ahead. The ho on the phone told me that unless something is going wrong and the flash will fix it (or so it was listed on here regurgiation sheet) then they won't let me flash. So I went ahead and approved my flash myself.
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post #14 of 41
7/8/05 at 1:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ramrod
Yep its not a system bios flash. Its a flash on the keyboard bios. It works fine but get thermal does the same thing better for me.
I'm flashing it as we speak. But you know, This won't take up the 27mb of ram like Gethermal and it does control the gpu fan (check the link in the first post here), Luke at PC Torque confirmed this.
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post #15 of 41
7/8/05 at 1:47pm
So I did it. No problem at all.
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post #16 of 41
7/8/05 at 1:55pm
scared the piss out of me because I was one my work desktop and letting the laptop flash and bam all the fans just shut off and a red banner comes up! all it says is to restart though.
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post #17 of 41
7/8/05 at 1:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by keisur
The ho on the phone told me that unless something is going wrong and the flash will fix it (or so it was listed on here regurgiation sheet) then they won't let me flash. So I went ahead and approved my flash myself.
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post #18 of 41
7/8/05 at 3:46pm
keisur, is the 'flash' only a flash? does it add extra settings somewhere? any chance of a screenshot?
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post #19 of 41
7/8/05 at 4:37pm
The only change you'll see is on the end of the keyboard revision is the S8 at the end. Other then that nothing is different.The isnt a system bios just a keyboard bios.
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post #20 of 41
7/8/05 at 4:57pm
so the only "value add" is fn+F2 fans on/off ? i may try that if indeed it's less overheard than gethermal.

any idea if usb kb's are supported, or is it just for the laptop kb?
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