@Fernando
Hey do you have any other useful pointer for me??? In a bit I'm going to update the CPU Microcode and vBIOS... But as far as... I don't know... Intel® RST drivers??? I currently have installed RST v12.9.0.1001 and everything is fine.... Magician performance test are where they're supposed to be... BUT I still have this nagging thorn in my side concerning AS SSD, Anvil & CrystalDiskMark... The 4K Qeue-Depth 1 speeds are still really low... ~ 25 MB/s Read and ~ 45 MB/s Write... I'm confused because Magician 4K IOPS show the complete opposite:

But anyways... Any other helpful tips??? Oh one thing... This latest clean install of Win8.1, I installed the OEM Intel® MEI drivers as well as the RST drivers... Then updated to the latest ones... For some reason I cannot update the MEI drivers... The only ones that install correctly are the latest MEI v 8.1.40.1416 1.5M package which install v9.0.0.1287... I've tried ALL v9.5 drivers... 1.5M & 5M and they all fail to install... Before I clean installed I could update to any version I wanted compatible with ME 8 with no issues except for one version I think was the v9.5.15.1730... But now I'm stuck with the version I mentioned... Any ideas??? It seems that each time I clean install Win8.1 it behaves and performs differently!!!

@Fernando

Zitat von Fernando im Beitrag #46

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Zitat von @JSebastian im Beitrag #45

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Btw, Is there a way to "Add" RAID support on my laptop?? I ask because I found that I can replace the DVD-RW with an expansion tray, thus adding a 2nd drive... Possibly giving me RAID capabilities...

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The ability to set the SATA mode to RAID requires a RAID Controller, which obviously is not onboard of your laptop. By the way: The amount of available SATA drives is important for the creation of a RAID array, but is not relevant for the RAID mode. You can run 1 single HDD or SSD in RAID mode (if the system supports RAID at all).

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@Fernando

Zitat von Fernando im Beitrag #49

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That is the highest Intel ME driver version for my Z77 system as well.

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@lordkag
I just wanted to let you know that I successfully updated the CPU Microcode with the latest included in UBU v2.1.1 and went ahead and updated the Realtek PXE and IRST... Now I'm kind of nervous with updating the vBIOS... Is it just as easy and safe using the same procedures I've performed with the other mods??? Do I just replace the 8086_0126 & 8086_0166 with 162mod.bin & 166mod.bin using MMTool Replace tab selecting the Option ROM Link Present clicking "Replace" for each .bin file respectively... Saving, renaming file to BIOSBCK.BIN and flashing like before using BIOSBCK-FLASH.BAT... That's the final step still pending to complete my mods...

To disable Enhanced SpeedStep you should look in BIOS options, if it is not hidden. But before doing that, you should read what it does, here and here. You should instead disable C-States and select Performance as a power plan. You can do a lot of thing with ThrottleStop, but I won't (yet) give you any advices, because you should read the uses yourself, to avoid any damage. Once you have read the manual and understood it, you can come and discuss about settings and what else.

For the latency part. Add this code to a new file, save it as Device_ShowAll.bat

set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1
cd %SystemRoot%\System32
start devmgmt.msc

Run it, check "View" -> "Show hidden devices" and look for devices that are hidden, disabled or have problems. Post a screenshot with the problematics one. Download DriverIdentifier from here and copy the link it gives you after scanning or save the entire page. Post the link or source here to have a look at your drivers.

Download LatencyMon from here, set it to "Interrupt to user process latency" (for Win8/Win8.1 only) in Tools -> Options. Run it for a few minutes during idle, playing a Youtube clip, playing a movie from the hard drive, copying some files. Write or post a screenshot of the "Drivers" tab with each test. I am looking for the Highest Execution Time.

Run WinTimerTest and post a screenshot after a minute of running. Look into BIOS options and see if you have HPET enabled or disabled.

After running Device_ShowAll.bat, check "Show hidden devices", view "Resources by type", expand IRQ and go to (PCI) 0x.... devices. Post a screenshot. I am looking for devices with old interrupts or new MSI interrupts (the ones with negative values).


For the ME drivers:
They have added a check in latest packages to prevent installing on older platforms. Only beta packages can be installed on older platforms. However, you only need the MEI drivers, so update from Device Manager by using the ones Fernando posted somewhere in this forum. You can even install the latest 9.5.24.1790, but it is better to keep the latest 8.x drivers.

For the VBIOS:
Do as you please or need. The procedure is the one you described and I am confident it will work. But I won't say it is as safe as the others. If you do update them, please test with CSM Enabled. Run videos coded with H.264, VC1 or MPEG2 with hardware acceleration, run games, change resolution etc... Also test the external ports (HDMI, VGA/D-SUB) for problems.

Finally, please use a question at a time. It is hard enough to deal with each one, but it is impossible to write miles of replies and deal with all of them without loosing tracks.

@lordkag
Hey! Here are the requested screenshots...
1: Device Manger with the script you provided... I high-lighted the device of interest... Intel® 7 Series/C216 Chipset Family Thermal Control - 1E24. I should add that it almost always is hidden and disconnected... But sometimes out of nowhere it shows up as connected, un-hidden but using no resources because it has a problem...


2: Here's the screenshot of Device Manger -> Resources by Connection -> IRQ (PCI)


3: Here's the WinTimerTester


4: Here's Driver ID: http://www.driveridentifier.com/scan/des...7F4A16C2FFD4CB6
I should point out that I have the latest Chipset INF available from Asus... It is out-dated since 2012... Should I update to the latest from Intel®???

5: Here's the LatencyMon data...
a: Transfering a 4.3 GB ISO from USB 3.0 Seagate HDD to D: ( I'm curious as to why USBPORT.SYS values are high since I'm connected to a USB 3.0 port with a 3.0 device... Could that explain why my USB 2.0 port is enumerated under xHCI Root?)


b: Playing an MP4 video 1080p

c: Movie on Netflix


**BIOS** I don't have an Advanced Tab in my BIOS... I have absolutely NO options fro SpeedStep, HPET or Enhanced Halt State (C-States) They are enabled according to Aida64... I am including a CPUID TXT from Aida64 indicating SpeedStep & C-States are enabled... That brings me back to the whole idea I had in un-locking ME or BIOS completely so I can have access to those features...

**ThrottleStop** I await your decision on this matter... I am reviewing the Guide for this software... Let me know if you can provide guidance using ThrottleStop as per the data I have provided on this post...

**vBIOS** I will go ahead and update the vBIOS mod following the steps I previously posted and test with CSM enabled... So far the updated GOP is working fine... What steps can I take to fully test that the GOP driver is functioning correctly... Other than the OEM splash screen at boot... Which loads a bit faster now...

It is not a problem that "Intel ... Thermal Control" is disabled. I have always seen it that way and it should trigger only when the Thermal Monitors in CPU gets activated, meaning your CPU overheats. I have also seen it activated when playing with SMBus driver or possible others. Again, nothing to worry. What you can do is provide a screenshot of HWiNFO's summary (example image) to look for disabled features (in red).

You have 6 devices which can be switched to MSI interrupt, but it involves adding a reg key and be prepared to use "last known good configuration". Read here and if you think it is worth it, I can supervise your work. Only USB 2.x won't move, since they are always waiting. Others won't simply work, giving yellow mark or BSOD, thus the need to restore last good configuration.

WinTimer looks OK, you have HPET enabled only in BIOS, which is the natural way. What you can do is run CoreInfo from SysinternalsSuite and look for the string "TSC Invariant" - a star means it is activated and you have the best timer.

For LatencyMon: it would have been best to order them by Highest Execution (ms). Above 0,5 is a warning, above 1,0 is a big problem. Nevertheless, I can see that ndis.sys (Lan driver) gives you the highest latency. Realtek won't simply learn!

Driver updates:
You can use the latest Intel RST 12.8.11.1000 for AHCI, but you must uninstall the current ones, restart 2-3 times, then install the new ones (newer than 12.9 beta).
ASUS Touchpad 1.0.0.197 or ASUS Touchpad 1.0.0.194
Atheros Wireless 10.0.0.279 or Atheros Wireless 10.0.0.276 (I used short link for this one because it breaks forum posting)
Realtek PCIe GBE 8.25.108.2014
Intel Chipset 9.4.0.1027 - unrar, search within Device Manager all those devices with 9.3.0.x drivers from DriverIdentifier link and use "Have disk" method, browse to the folder All from the package. Note: there is no drivers in any Intel Chipset package, just some infs.
Intel MEI 9.5.24.1790 - use again the previous method (like here, points 3 to 9)
Realtek HD Audio 7183/7188/7195
TSSTcorp CDDVDW SN-208BB firmware SN05 or firmware SB03 - you DON'T (!!!) have to use them, I just offered them as a possibility.
Samsung 840 Firmware - by reading the changelog, it is what you need.
Intel HD 3431 or Intel HD 3496
Realtek PCIE CardReader 6.3.273.37 or Realtek PCIE CardReader 6.3.9600.29075
Atheros Bluetooth 8.0.1.316 or Atheros Bluetooth 8.0.1.314
Read about USB 3.0 here and here
Yo should also look in Asus K55A Support for Win8 drivers and test them for your needs: ATKACPI driver and hotkey-related utilities 1.0.0025, Instant On 3.0.4, ASUS USB Charger Plus 2.1.5, ASUS Virtual Camera Utility 1.0.26, Power4Gear Hybrid Utility 2.0.4

For BIOS advanced options: if (and a big IF) I am to look at unlocking hidden options, I would need 3 thing - the biosbkc.bin to extract some variables; your full agreement to test it as it is; your promise that you will study on your own what each option does BEFORE switching it.

ThrottleStop is very powerful and I used on another laptop to prevent overheating, on my own to keep the freq. in the specs. I will only guide with the final steps, but I won't set it for you!

Test the VBIOS and GOP as explained in the previous message.

@lordkag
- Here's the HWinfo64 screenshot... Nothing in red...


- Concerning modifying my hardware IRQ to MSI... I'm willing to give it a shot! That is if you will guide me thru it, please! I'll just have to set up Win8.1 to show recovery options when needed... Currently when I get a BSOD (Happened trying to install HD 4000 BETA drivers without uninstalling the previous installed drivers using Windows uninstall method) Win8.1 just restarts following BSOD... No recovery options appear... Directly recovers Windows to "Last known good configuration"
- Just let me know what I have to do, and I'll follow your instructions to the letter ok!

Zitat von lordkag im Beitrag #54

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Samsung 840 Firmware - by reading the changelog, it is what you need.

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Zitat von lordkag im Beitrag #54

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Yo should also look in Asus K55A Support for Win8 drivers and test them for your needs: ATKACPI driver and hotkey-related utilities 1.0.0025, Instant On 3.0.4, ASUS USB Charger Plus 2.1.5, ASUS Virtual Camera Utility 1.0.26, Power4Gear Hybrid Utility 2.0.4

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Zitat von lordkag im Beitrag #54

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For BIOS advanced options: if (and a big IF) I am to look at unlocking hidden options, I would need 3 thing - the biosbkc.bin to extract some variables; your full agreement to test it as it is; your promise that you will study on your own what each option does BEFORE switching it.

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Zitat von lordkag im Beitrag #54

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Test the VBIOS and GOP as explained in the previous message.

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@@JSebastian

About BIOS unlocking: it might not be as easy as I thought. I can flip individual settings, but I can't unlock a full tab. If you want me to investigate further, you need to get your hands dirty. Use AMIBCP with your BIOS file and compare the options from there with the options from your BIOS screen. Post screenshots of the main tabs from your BIOS screen, but also write down the missing top-line individual settings (example: if Thermal Configuration is hidden, there is no need to write the others from its branch).

The MSI interrupts can only be done by yourself through regedit. Someone did a small app for this, but you won't have the same control as the manual way. That thread gives all the info one would need, so I don't see how I could help without repeating the same guidelines and wasting valuable time.

I see that your Samsung Magician complains about some OS optimizations. Either look for SSD optimization in Win8.1, or ask someone with better experience in this matter. I don't have enough info about this.

Intel officially released 3496, so it is time to do a clean install: disconnect internet by removing lan cable and disabling wifi -> change Windows Updates to "Download updates but let me choose whether to install them" -> change "Device Installation Settings" to "Let me choose..." -> uninstall current driver and clean -> restart and let Windows install a driver (offline!!!) -> uninstall the graphic driver from Device Manager and scan for new devices until you will have no checkbox with "Delete the driver software for this device" meaning you will have the default graphic driver -> restart again -> install the new driver, try the zip file first. Test the OpenCL version with GPU Caps Viewer, test hardware decoding with LavFilters, run WinSat.

You should run your system in pure UEFI = CSM disabled, unless you have problems with this setting. I would favor running with Secure Boot and disable Fast Boot. I think you need the place the shell.efi onto a FAT32 partition or USB, but I also think you should read what it actually does.

Remove the Generic USB Hub and rescan. If it goes the same, then it is by design.

@lordkag

Zitat von lordkag im Beitrag #56

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About BIOS unlocking: it might not be as easy as I thought. I can flip individual settings, but I can't unlock a full tab. If you want me to investigate further, you need to get your hands dirty. Use AMIBCP with your BIOS file and compare the options from there with the options from your BIOS screen. Post screenshots of the main tabs from your BIOS screen, but also write down the missing top-line individual settings (example: if Thermal Configuration is hidden, there is no need to write the others from its branch).

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Zitat von lordkag im Beitrag #56

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I see that your Samsung Magician complains about some OS optimizations. Either look for SSD optimization in Win8.1, or ask someone with better experience in this matter. I don't have enough info about this.

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Zitat von lordkag im Beitrag #56

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Remove the Generic USB Hub and rescan. If it goes the same, then it is by design.

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Zitat von lordkag im Beitrag #56

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Intel officially released 3496, so it is time to do a clean install: disconnect internet by removing lan cable and disabling wifi -> change Windows Updates to "Download updates but let me choose whether to install them" -> change "Device Installation Settings" to "Let me choose..." -> uninstall current driver and clean -> restart and let Windows install a driver (offline!!!) -> uninstall the graphic driver from Device Manager and scan for new devices until you will have no checkbox with "Delete the driver software for this device" meaning you will have the default graphic driver -> restart again -> install the new driver, try the zip file first. Test the OpenCL version with GPU Caps Viewer, test hardware decoding with LavFilters, run WinSat.

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For the last time: there is no hardware RAID controller in your laptop! Even if I unlock that option, you will still see nothing. You should have checked the specs for the HM76 chipset and you would have known that it is missing. Only HMx7/HM77 and above have RAID.

I have attached some test files.
- You have "AMITSE - Chipset.ffs" which should be used to replace AMITSE / GUID B1DA0ADF-.... Check if the main Chipset tab is unlocked.
- You have "AMITSE - CPU+PPM.ffs" which should be used to replace AMITSE / GUID B1DA0ADF-... Check if [Advanced -> CPU PPM Configuration] is unlocked.
- You have "Setup - UEFIBoot.ffs" which uses another method and should be used to replace Setup / GUID 899407D7-... Check if [BOOT -> UEFI Boot] is unlocked.

You have been warned about the risk of this modding.

@lordkag
Hey! Let me test the mods and I'll post back! I do have a question, what's the difference between unlocking BIOS features directly using AMIBCP and replacing files by way of MMTool??? I.e using the files you have just provided? I should add that I have read a bunch of cases detailing failures by just using AMIBCP... I just want to learn as much as possible on the matter... With the correct methods... Not just imitating whatever others have done all over the internet... Hence why I'm seeking guidence on this forum and from you! You know what you're talking about... Anyways... Let me test these out and I'll post back my results...

@lordkag

Zitat von lordkag im Beitrag #58

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I have attached some test files.
- You have "AMITSE - Chipset.ffs" which should be used to replace AMITSE / GUID B1DA0ADF-.... Check if the main Chipset tab is unlocked.
- You have "AMITSE - CPU+PPM.ffs" which should be used to replace AMITSE / GUID B1DA0ADF-... Check if [Advanced -> CPU PPM Configuration] is unlocked.
- You have "Setup - UEFIBoot.ffs" which uses another method and should be used to replace Setup / GUID 899407D7-... Check if [BOOT -> UEFI Boot] is unlocked.

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