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Dell recently posted a new BIOS for the M11x R3 on their support site - A05. Grab it here: M11x R3 - BIOS A05 Release notes: Since that's only half the fun I also unlocked the hidden menus, see attachment. As always with modified BIOS - use at your own risk, don't change anything you aren't familiar with. _ M11x-R3_A05_[unlocked].zip

NOTE: The US$180 BPlus TH05 (inc Thunderbolt cable) native Thunderbolt adapter used in this implementation was recalled in Jan 2013 due to (presumably) threats by Intel/Apple per TH05 recall notice. As a result refer to this solution that can be implemented today: [URL]http://forum.techinferno.com/diy-e-gpu-projects/4570-%5Bguide%5D-2012-13-rmbp-gtx660-sonnet-echo-express-se-%40-10gbps.html#post63754[/URL] (recommended for 15" rMBP/MBP due to iGPU issues) or 2013 11" Macbook Air + Win7 + Sonnet Echo ExpressCard + PE4L + Internal LCD [US$250]. While reading some threads about EFI-Boot on Mac I finally made my eGPU work. I fixed my "error 12" by enabling VGA Output on the PCI bridge connected to my Thunderbolt ports using the EFI-Shell. For this task I installed rEFIt and used "pci -i -b" / "pci xx xx xx -i -b" to find VGA devices and their bridges. I noted all Bus/Dev/Func as well as the required registars. After that I had to set those registars using "mm". On a Mac Book Pro 15" 2012 you'll have to do the following: 1. Install rEFIt 2. In Mac OS mount the EFI partition using terminal: mkdir /Volumes/EFI sudo mount -t msdos /dev/disk0s1 /Volumes/EFI 3. Create a textfile called "startup.nsh" in it's root: echo -off echo "Setting Registars" # IGPU Intel HD 4000 # I noticed some improvements in boottimings while deactivating the Intel HD # (don't use this if your running a 13" single gpu model) mm 00020004 1 ;PCI :0 # eGPU PCI Bridge # this line does the magic by enabling VGA Output mm 0001013E 1 ;PCI :8 echo "Booting Windows" fs0:EFIBootootx64.efi 4. Reboot while eGPU is connected (SW1=1) and select "start EFI-Shell" in rEFIt. "startup.nsh" launches and Windows 8 starts up with eGPU enabled. Update: Replaced rEFIt with rEFInd which is is a fork of rEFIt. I'm now able to create an menuentry which boots Windows using my startup script. I'm also able to hide the non functional Windows entries. Here's my current refind.conf: timeout 20 hideui banner showtools shell, reboot, shutdown dont_scan_dirs EFI/Boot, EFI/Microsoft menuentry "Windows 8 with eGPU" { icon EFI efindiconsos_win.icns loader EFI oolsshell.efi options "fs0:StartupseGPU.nsh" } Update (experimental): Thanks to Linux's "apple-gmux" developer Andreas Heider I was able to switch graphics before booting Windows and enable Intel HD as primary VGA device. Though Intel HD is still bugged this probably allow us to enable Optimus functionality in the future. You can also boot with Intel HD enable by installing gfxCardStatus 2.1.1(!) and setting it to integrated only, too. For now you'll receive a black screen and reboot due to some "igdkmd64.sys" error. Add this to your startup.nsh before "mm 0001013E 1 ;PCI :8": echo Switch select mm 7C2 1 ;IO :1 stall 100000 mm 7D4 1 ;IO :28 echo Switch display mm 7C2 1 ;IO :2 stall 100000 mm 7D4 1 ;IO :10 echo Switch DDC mm 7C2 1 ;IO :2 stall 100000 mm 7D4 1 ;IO :40 echo Power down discrete graphics mm 7C2 1 ;IO :1 stall 100000 mm 7D4 1 ;IO :50 mm 7C2 1 ;IO :0 stall 100000 mm 7D4 1 ;IO :50 echo enable eGPU mm 0001013E 1 ;PCI :8 echo Boot Windows fs0:EFIBootootx64.efi Some numbers: Model: rMBP 15" OS: Windows 8 EFI-Boot CPU: Intel-i7 3820QM @ 2.7gHz RAM: 16GB iGPU: Intel HD Graphics 4000 (broken for Win8) dGPU: Nvidia GT 650m Adapter: TH05 I tried some overclocking and ended up with some strange results for 3D Mark 06. No matter what you change you'll have lower points than default settings. dGPU GT650m eGPU GTX 560Ti eGPU GTX660Ti eGPU GTX660Ti OC 3DMark 2011: 2431p 4415p 7110 p 7463 p 3DMark Vantage: 10633p 16755 p 23810p 24702p 3DMark 2006: 15289p 17479p 17979 p like 15900? This might work for BIOS boot aswell but I don't know how to launch an MBR partition. (Update: BIOS method by nando) I'll try to tweak this a bit and hope for an Intel fix. Is there anyone with some more knowledge in EFI Shell?

Release notes (click on spoiler) Download Links: Win 7/8 x32 Version Win 7/8 x64 Version Modified inf attached to the post. nv_disp.zip

@svl7 I just donated a little something as a thank you and support for your effort - - - Updated - - - Great to hear! So you were really lucky to have a fellow 9150 owner around at the right time hehe

Just the graphics card, the M15X is pretty easy to upgrade. =]

<span style="font-size:large">Win8: Perform a DSDT substitution within Setup 1.x to overcome TOLUD issues<span> Moved to http://forum.techinferno.com/diy-e-gpu-projects/7476-%5Bguide%5D-dsdt-override-fix-error-12-a.html#post102526

DSDT override testing with Win8 I did a brief test using Win8 without secure boot confirming your results with the DSDT override failing to register at all. I used a standard bios/MBR boot. DIY eGPU Setup 1.1x works, chainloading works. Got rid of the painfully slow graphical bootloader UI using 'bcdedit /set {current} bootmenupolicy Legacy' The DSDT override is completely ignored in Windows 8. 'asl /loadtable dsdt.aml' changes the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ACPI\Parameters\DSDT\DELL__\CBX3___\00000021 key on my machine. I manually also modified HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE\ACPI\DSDT\DELL__\CBX3___\00000021 key to match the one loaded by 'asl /loadtable dsdt.aml' finding that a Win8 had reset it back to it's original form on a reboot. It appears Win8 enumerates the ACPI on every reboot based on the in-memory/BIOS copy. Potential workarounds?? - seek some override switch/registry setting somewhere. Google hasn't shown anything as yet - get acpiexec compiled for FreeDOS. Then load the DSDT override prior to chainloading Win8 in Setup 1.1x - revert back to Win7 where the DSDT override works well

Sorry for misunderstanding! Yes i tried to set it back to defaults too but this doesn't helped. i try that now with the coin cell battery. What i can say svl7 you give way better support than dell itself EDIT: I've solved it! I used it this guide http://forum.techinferno.com/alienware-m18x/1981-how-recover-bad-flash-alienware-m18x-r2.html and flashed back from A08 to A03 and now SLI is there again so this is an bios issue