Essential BIOS 1.3.0 update for Alienware x15 and x17 owners now available to boost performance and enable hybrid graphics switching

The 15.6-inch Alienware x15 R1 and 17.3-inch x17 R1 laptops started shipping not too long ago to replace the older Alienware m15 and m17 series, respectively. The newer models are complete redesigns from the ground up to include brand new hardware changes such as gallium-silicone thermal paste and even more internal fans to aid in cooling. However, the option to run on discrete graphics mode only was mysteriously missing on both the x15 and x17 models meaning users would be forced to run on Optimus mode at all times.

Fortunately, Dell was quick to release a BIOS update (v1.3.0) this week for both the x15 and x17 to address those concerns. The update both enables the MUX switch in the systems and adds the option to toggle Optimus via the BIOS which users can access by pressing F2 during bootup. Dell says owners will see a very minor boost in graphics performance when running on discrete GPU mode but at the obvious cost of battery life.

We ran 3DMark Fire Strike both before and after applying the BIOS update and only saw a slightly higher graphics score of just 1 percent (25471 to 25730 points). We suppose it's better than nothing and users may still see greater gains when gaming.

Alienware x15 and x17 owners can find the new BIOS update here or via the pre-installed Dell Update software on their machines.

See our full review on the Alienware x17 here to learn more about the ins and outs of the system.