Intel Extreme Tuning Utility

worked for me.

It wasn't working for me either, so I just uninstalled it. Seemed to shorten my boot-up time.

I'll try the 2.x version when/if its released.

Also noticed it wasn't showing up in the Intel Control Panel (nor was the Intel RST HDD UI).

Since I don't have a RAID setup yet ... actually what I did was uninstall all 3 Intel apps (CP, OCer, RST) rebooted and then put the RST back on.

I have a basic question for you guys that use XTU ...

The old version wasn't working so I uninstalled it. When the new 2.x version is released and I install it ...

I've seen the OC options in the BIOS. I'm not currently running an OC. So, does the XTU app allows you to completely control the OC from inside Windows? You never have to use the BIOS settings other than to possibly jump in at boot and turn it back off?

I think you and I have pretty much the same config, except for the video as I upgraded to the GTX480.  I OC'd my CPU less than a week after I got it and it was so easy that I just don't care, frankly, if XTU ever works.  All I did was go into the BIOS and change the base frequency from 133 to 170 and it has been that way for some time now with no errors.  I left every other setting where it was to let the CMOS handle the voltage, etc.  Best is that it will still turbo when it wants giving even more clocks when I need them most.

I did try to go higher, but during heavy use it would BSOD.  Likely due to the stock 1333 RAM that Dell used.  If upped to something like 1600MHz RAM then it would probably go much higher.  Anyway, temps remain around 40 idle and about 50 at 100%.  If you are looking for an easy OC, that worked for me.  But, I was only looking for a little boost, not the max OC I could do.

@spaceengineer

Thanks. I will save your instructions if I have some time to kill. How do you like to stress-test?

However, I'm all about stability and dependability. I would never do anything to jeopardize that (I do a lot of "mission critical" stuff on this box). And like we know, the 930 will turbo up so I'm not sure what the point is. But if Dell is pre-clocking systems, it might not hurt to try. I would only shoot for:

i7-930 2.80GHz, OC 3.36GHz

That's where Dell OCs to ... so obviously the cooling system and other hardware can handle it, right?

I can't remember the name of the app (at work right now), but I will post it this afternoon.

Mark

I apologize for not posting sooner.  I completely forgot.  Anyway, the app I use for stress testing is Prime95.  Just run a google on it and you will find the latest version.  Make sure you get the 64bit version.

Any news on when the new version is being released? It's been 2 months since they said it would be "released soon."

I could never get it to work either....get half way done and it would crash my computer.

I just got rid of it....

I'm going to be reinstalling Windows 7 64 in a bit here and don't plan on re-installing Alienware thermal controls or FX either....get rid of all the other junk too..Datasafe( Toaster.exe) etc

I'm running BIOS A01 right now, would like to change that up to take advantage of O/C capabilities. Can someone suggest the best BIOS update to apply and step by step instructions on flashing BIOS please.

Chris any news on XTU 2.1 version or whichever Intel is on now? Getting my replacement PC finally tomorrow *crosses fingers* so would love to have all most current programs. Don't even see the old XTU on my downloads page anymore, and is GTX 480 drivers really only accepted by Dell 197.41 version??

No word on the XTU. You can use the retail drivers and they may have no issues. But, if you have issues, you must go back to our driver and verify that it also has the issue.

* If both the retail and our driver have the issue, Dell engineering will investigate
* If our driver does not have the issue but the retail does, Dell engineering will not investigate

Chris, where is the download link?  I need to reinstall this software but I cannot find it anywhere.

As of today, there is not an IXTU available for download. The latest version had issues with certain i7 CPUs. It should be on the Alienware Resource DVD.