Unlocking hidden BIOS options is this easy? (or not)

[Gat Pelsinger]

This guy tried to unlock the power limits on his Razer Blade 2019. - 

 

He used AFUWIN to load, tinker, and then re-flash the BIOS ROM. He did eventually fail to complete his task. Even though I know how dangerous fiddling with the BIOS can be, is it actually that safe to use that program and hack the BIOS? My older laptop does use American Megatrends BIOS, so this should work. He wasn't successful removing the power limits, but I would be more than happy if I got the chance to fiddle with other settings.

[jaslion]

Fyi this is for some VERY SPECIFIC bios versions only. Basically ones that had accidental open gates. Also laptops usually have power limits for VERY GOOD REASONS especially razer since they use low end craptastic components that do not live a long life when pushed

[freeagent]

Its a dangerous game.

 

Its not worth it.

 

If you want a real computer, buy a desktop.

[flibberdipper]

Going that far is a bit excessive. Most laptops get far enough just by fucking with them using ThrottleStop or XTU, so going as far as to fuck with the BIOS isn't really helpful.

[Somerandomtechyboi]

Too lazy to watch but i assume thats just editing the bios rom to unhide settings in the bios

 

Should be quite risk free if you are just unhiding some settings that are already there, but if you do wanna change default settings then reconsider cause ive already tried on my p5q and that just bugs the bios out, probs a method out there but the field of bios modding and bios dev is very niche and you probs wont find much info (and yes i have searched around for this stuff before)

 

As for the bios flashing part the only risk is bricking the board but thats quite easy to fix, for socketed bioses just take the chip out and reprogram it, for non socketed which is like everything past haswell or skylake and basically all laptops theres unreliable testclips or desoldering the bios chip with a couple irons to take it out and reflash

 

If you dont have the equipment to reflash your bios incase a flash goes bad (really just consists of a cheap ch341a and some cheap soldering equipment) then it is not advisable to fuck around with bios modding but if you have the equipment then go right ahead and tinker around for yourself as there is no risk once bricking is out of the equation and easily reversible

 

 

i speak from experience with crossflashing mobos here and basically noone tinkers with bios hence the many MANY ridicolous misconceptions you see floating around the internet like bricking the board = mobo dead which is complete utter bullshit and somehow a bad bios can kill the board which is NEVER the case except for fringe cases like me crossflashing a p5k pro bios onto an asrock g31m vs (and that only died when i tried to set values in the bios) and those cases are usually because you are a nutcase and crossflash a very whacky bios and try setting values in em, so far only 1 case for me so ignorable one off and not a risk

 

I also mod bioses but only very basic stuff like swapping modules (like the ebb) or inserting microcode with mmtool and the aformentioned unhiding bios settings with amibcp and there have been quite a few failed bios modding attempts, usually because i swapped an ebb that just dont wanna work on that particular board, most of the time just gets stuck on one particular postcode and i reflash to a working bios then try again, never killed anything with bios modding and its problably not even possible in the first place