ComPost007

Ah, OK, well I've already given the M18x R2 away with the 5M version installed on it, d'oh! I didn't see any issues with it, and it seemed to install without a hitch or any complaints. Its just that there's no explanation from Intel of the difference between the 2. I guess at this point I can only hope that the new owner doesn't run into any issues with it, although so far everything's running perfectly. But at least I'll know which version to install in the future, even if I don't know what the specific differences are. Thank you very much for that info.

Intel has 2 versions of the Intel management Engine 8 driver for win 7 64 listed on their download site. Versions 8.1.2.1318, and version 8.1.2.1318 5M, both listed for the exact same OSes, and both listed as the latest. So what is the difference, and which should I be using? They both seem to work, but the 5M driver is a bigger file, so I'm using that one currently. Other than than, I have no idea what the differences are, or even what they do. Does anyone have any information on this? Thanks.

Yes, GPU-Z, MSI AB, Precision X, and Inspector all show the same temps, and 0% fan. How can I get a reliable temp reading if I can't rely on these? And btw, thank you very much for your response.

Well, it seems there is no fan control on the Dell 680m vBIOS no voltage mod. Is there any way to get that back? I've tried Afterburner, Precision X, and nVidia Inspector, and the fan control is greyed out on all of them. Which BIOS should I use to have fan control? Right now the fan is at 0% even at 60+ degrees on my M18x R2, with no way to manually turn it up. Is that normal? Thanks

svl7, I don't know how you did it, but before your vBIOS mod (Dell 680m 2 gig, no voltage mod, second post on page 1), the throttling was awful. Not only that, but my 3840QM wouldn't stay overclocked from the BIOS. After a few seconds into windows, it would always drop back down to default 2.8 Ghz, and nothing I did would bring it back. NOW, after applying your vBIOS mod, the 680m STAYS at overclocked setting during usage (no crippling throttling), and as a bonus (and you can call me crazy for this), my 3840QM ALSO stays overclocked, rock solid at 4.2 Ghz, even at idle. And that's on the A08 locked BIOS of my Alienware M18x R2. I don't think you meant for that to happen, but it seems to be a happy side affect of the vBIOS, which I guess somehow indirectly affects or interacts with the main motherboard BIOS. Dell dropped the ball on these issues (deliberately it seems to me), and you picked it up and ran with it, and scored big time. Very nicely done. Very impressive. Thank you for a job very well done.