EFI Vs BIOS

For those people who read "Tech News" a lot I hope when you read them you take them (a fact all Tech News") with a pinch of salt and go find out about the real thing instead otherwise you will end up reading a load of crap like this.

Personally I prefer reading from the Developers themselves (who know about it better than they do?).

Here is a REAL article detailing EFI and BIOS.

I will just simplify certain concepts in the article.
1)UEFI supports increased drive partition size by using GPT (No MBR hacks)

2)Standardised design so your system can boot many different OS out of box. BIOS had a lot of different implementations by Phoenix, AMI and Award.

3)UEFI is actually a mini-OS it is coded in C therefore can run applications complied to run on EFI so it is possible to do without drivers.

4)EFI adds IPv6 to network boot, standardising networks.

Nothing to do with Fancy GUI or BIOS replacing firmware, rather a next step in BIOS evolution.

Read More

Weaning off Windows Xp

This article is dedicated to "Techies" who think they can get better performance by "upgrading" from Windows 7 to Windows Xp on their new laptops.
In fact they are downgrading from Windows 7 to Windows Xp.
Personally I think it is not a smart idea there are many reasons.

1)Windows 7 support ACPI 3.0 which is what programmed in many EFI of new laptops. Windows Xp doesn't support ACPI 3.0 so it will revert to older ACPI versions when installed so you lose some advance power optimization with Windows Xp.

2)Driver support you have to spend time hunting down obselete drivers for Windows Xp and Microsoft no longer provides updates to Windows Xp (Except Security Holes).

3)Legacy Functionality in Xp compared to Native Support in Windows 7.
When Xp was out WiFi was still not mainstream, Microsoft enabled WiFi by including a Client in 1 of their Service Packs. It is a hack to emulate Wireless Device as a Ethernet Device so WiFi can be used.
Windows 7 has WiFi Client built in so it is more of a part of OS than a dirty hack. Besides WiFi many features in Windows 7 is native while an add on in Windows Xp.

4)Security, UAC love it or hate it UAC provides better configuration of policy and security settings compared to Windows Xp.

5)For those new processors Windows 7 include NUMA support. You realise Intel and AMD removed the legacy Front Side Bus (FSB) and introduced their high bandwidth bus (Intel-QPI Quick Path Interconnect, AMD-HT HyperTransport) because FSB limits CPU scalability performance improvement.

It is a known fact x86 CPUs get better performance and power saving by increasing the number of processing cores rather than increasing the frequency so by reverting to Window Xp you are removing NUMA optimization from your laptop.

6)Windows 7 utilises the GPU to render Desktop so CPU can be left idle for more responsiveness. While Windows Xp driver architecture doesn't allow this so you are still using CPU to render the desktop.

7)Windows 7 has a finer grained power control policy than Windows Xp so you can save more power in Windows 7 than Xp it is a proven fact just google for some benchmark. In other words Windows 7 has better power efficiency.

Lastly the amount of changes from Windows Xp to Windows Vista to Windows 7 is so great that my blog can't cover everything.

If you still insist by installing Window Xp you get better performance let me ask you this: What is most important in an OS?
Pure Performance? If so you must as well install Windows NT on your Hardware it will practically fly along but why not?

Because a good OS is one that balance performance as well as functionality. Sure Windows Xp performs in someways because it has less services, less executable code but compare this to Window 7 where you get both performance and feature if you do a clean install, which is better?

Read More

Acer Aspire 4551G

The new update to the Acer Aspire 4540 is out.
It runs the first Mobile Phenom Quad Core N930 in the highest SKU version.

How hot it might get when coupled with the Radeon 5650HD I don't know, but personally I feel it will get really hot and power hungry so decide carefully what are your needs before purchasing it.

More Information about the new Processors here.

Users who bought this laptop might want to undervolt the processor to conserve power and reduce thermal output.

Expect the new Acer Aspire 45XX series which are emerging to have the same characteristics.

Read More

Simple Way To Improve Laptop Battery Life For Arrandale CPU

There is actually a simple way to improve Mobility Life on Laptop with the Mobile Core i3/5/7 CPU.
Windows Vista/7 Power Plans have often been overlooked.
If you checked the new Arrandale CPUS they have unique characteristics.
They have multiple Power-States that varies by multiplier so any Power State you set will be available instead of only having 3 fixed discrete Power States.
So 1 advantage you can take of this is to limit the Maximum Processor state in Windows 7 Advance Power plan.

I am sure many of you don't game on a battery supply therefore on Mobile usage on Battery usually all work that is done is usually Office Typing and WebSurfing that do not require the processor to run at maximum capability.
The good part about Arrandale is you gain what you set.

Meaning when you set 40% Maximium Processor state on battery the CPU clocks exactly at 40% of Max Processor state instead of a lower Power State thus making this a viable solution to power saving.

Formula: Core Speed = Bus Speed X Multiplier

On older Processors like the Core 2 Duo and the Turion II and Turion I this is not a good solution because when you set at X% the processor will lock its maximum at the Power State rounded of to the nearest Power state so you encounter more performance penalty. For the Core i3 330M this is not an issue because the multiplier scales very well as show below the frequency varies linearly.

Refer to the scaling comparison below to see the difference

Read More

Acer Aspire 4740G EFI and Memory Bug

SOLVED:

Acer sent me a EFI/BIOS Version 1.07 which fixed the DEP issue however no ability to activate switch able graphics was provided and 256MB is still being mysteriously eaten up by Intel HD Graphics.
It is officially out now in Acer Support Site so download from there directly.
Found a bug in Acer Aspire 4740G EFI Bug
From Intel Spec Site
http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=47663
The i3 330M Processor supports

Execute Disable Bit Yes

To verify this on your own Acer Aspire 4740/4740G
Download Securable here.
To access the Windows Advance Menu, Go to Control Panel >> System >> Advance System Settings >> Advance >> Performance Settings >> Data Execution Prevention.
Why is this vital?
Data Execution Prevention improves system security by flagging non executable code as non executable so malicious code cannot buffer overrun into execution hence if Acer really screwed this up Acer Aspire 4740G security could be potentially at risk.


I took a look into the EFI Firmware this is the feature which is not enabled:

Use XD Capability [Enable/Disable Processor XD Capability]

XD refers to Intel eXecute bit Disable Bit.

Add 1 more bug to the mix:

Acer if you are reading this and is sorry about the surprises you sprang please enable the Intel HD Switchable Graphics in the BIOS as an Apology to all AS4740 owners. I know it is there.
Either you remove Intel HD Graphics Memory reserve or you enable Switchable.
The Switchable Graphics Capability is as shown in the EFI firmware:

Set Display Mode Configure Type Integrated Graphics Discrete Graphcis Switchable Graphics

Read More

Acer Aspire 4740G Optimal Drivers

If your EFI/BIOS version < 1.05 please update the firmware to enable DEP.
Because I am using AS4740G therefore I will be sharing my Driver Findings here.

1. Intel Chipset Driver (Acer)
2. Intel Rapid Storage Driver http://www.station-drivers.com/page/intel%20raid.htm
3. Intel Management Engine http://www.station-drivers.com/page/intel%20chipset.htm
4. Nvidia Graphics Driver http://www.nvidia.com/page/drivers.html
5. Nvidia High Definition Audio Driver (Included in the Display Driver)
6. Realtek High Definition Audio Driver http://aspiregemstone.blogspot.com/2010/08/audio-driver-matching.html (Why this driver is the best? The MSI Gaming Notebook using this driver uses the same AL888 Realtek High Def chip, it has excellent driver customisation better than Acer Drivers)
7. Acer Launch Manager (Get it from Acer Site Don't use the 4740G Launch Manager use the 4540G if you want to customise the Backup Manager Shortcut Key)
8. BroadCom Bluetooth Driver (Get it from Acer Site driver updatedness doesn't matter too much)
9. Finger Print Driver (Available from Windows Updates Optional Driver updates)
10. SuYin/Chicony WebCam Software
11. Conexant Modem Driver (Get it from Acer Site driver updatedness doesn't matter too much who the h*ll uses Modem nowadays anyway??)
12. Synaptics/ALP Touchpad Driver http://aspiregemstone.blogspot.com/2010/03/must-see.html
13. Intel Management Engine Controller (Acer)
14. BroadCom NetLink LAN Driver (Get it from Acer Site driver updatedness doesn't matter too much)
15. Atheros/Intel Wireless Driver http://www.station-drivers.com/page/atheros.htm http://www.station-drivers.com/page/intel%20lan-wan.htm
16. Realtek Card Reader Driver (Get it from Acer Site driver updatedness doesn't matter too much)
17. Acer Smart Power Manager & Optical Driver Power Manager (Get it from Acer Site)
18. Turbo Boost (Only for Core i5/7) (Acer)

Read More

Modified RAM Timing using Thaiphoon Burner

 used Thaiphoon Burner 6.6 to do this the new 6.8 feature locked full SPD Rewrite.
Original:

Final
(I reverted to this SPD after someone reminded me that Core i3 only has a 1066MHZ Memory Controller):

Read More