How to downgrade BIOS on Predator Helios 300 [G3-571] ?

JohnVonNeumann
JohnVonNeumann Member Posts: 4 New User
edited November 2023 in 2020 Archives
After updating the BIOS on my G3-571 to the latest one (1.22), I lost the ability to tweak the core & cache voltage. Without undervolting, CPU quickly reaches 100 C degrees and thermal throttling kicks-in every minute, rendering the PC unusuable for several seconds. This issue persists even after reapplying thermal paste, so undervolting was the only way to bring the CPU temps down to 90-95C range, which was enough to avoid thermal throttling. Downgrading BIOS by official means is not possible.

Acer did not mention any warning regarding any of this in their BIOS update notes and offered no solution to those affected, thus rendering themselves utterly incompetent. So I was wondering if any user here was able to find a way to downgrade the BIOS of G3-571? 

Best Answer

  • phasmaphobic
    phasmaphobic Member Posts: 5

    Tinkerer

    Answer ✓
    Hello! New user here. In the process of researching my own issues relating to a Helios 300 laptop, I learned how to downgrade the BIOS as I made the mistake of installing the flawed 1.22. After a lot of searching I found this post from last year:

    https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/536571/is-it-possible-to-downgrade-a-bios

    Near the bottom another community user linked and detailed a 5-step process that I tried and was able to successfully use to downgrade to 1.21.

    BE WARNED THAT THIS IS DANGEROUS. I am not an Acer rep, and you should not follow the instructions of random strangers, and so on and so on. But, it did work for me. Hope it helps you.

Answers

  • phasmaphobic
    phasmaphobic Member Posts: 5

    Tinkerer

    Answer ✓
    Hello! New user here. In the process of researching my own issues relating to a Helios 300 laptop, I learned how to downgrade the BIOS as I made the mistake of installing the flawed 1.22. After a lot of searching I found this post from last year:

    https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/536571/is-it-possible-to-downgrade-a-bios

    Near the bottom another community user linked and detailed a 5-step process that I tried and was able to successfully use to downgrade to 1.21.

    BE WARNED THAT THIS IS DANGEROUS. I am not an Acer rep, and you should not follow the instructions of random strangers, and so on and so on. But, it did work for me. Hope it helps you.
  • phasmaphobic
    phasmaphobic Member Posts: 5

    Tinkerer

    I should note that I have the exact same model as yours, G3-571. I'm having a pain in the butt of a time getting PredatorSense installed =(
  • JohnVonNeumann
    JohnVonNeumann Member Posts: 4 New User
    I should note that I have the exact same model as yours, G3-571. I'm having a pain in the butt of a time getting PredatorSense installed =(
    Hmm, that's weird, never had issues with PS. What's the problem exactly? And thanks for the link to the post, I'm going to try it right now.


  • phasmaphobic
    phasmaphobic Member Posts: 5

    Tinkerer

    edited December 2020
    Good luck! The link I shared has steps and includes a second link to extended breakdown of how to find the exact files needed. ONce explained it was actually a super simple thing to do and worked for me without issue.

    The problem I'm seeing is that I can't install the PredatorSense app version downloaded from the G3-571 product page. Every time I try it says "Sorry! This computer is not supported." It seems to be a common bug, sadly. I believe that it has something to do with my System Model in the BIOS (and thus msinfo32) showing "G3-571" when apparently it is supposed to show "Predator G3-571" and that screws up the installer.
  • JohnVonNeumann
    JohnVonNeumann Member Posts: 4 New User
    Good luck! The link I shared has steps and includes a second link to extended breakdown of how to find the exact files needed. ONce explained it was actually a super simple thing to do and worked for me without issue.

    The problem I'm seeing is that I can't install the PredatorSense app version downloaded from the G3-571 product page. Every time I try it says "Sorry! This computer is not supported." It seems to be a common bug, sadly. I believe that it has something to do with my System Model in the BIOS (and thus msinfo32) showing "G3-571" when apparently it is supposed to show "Predator G3-571" and that screws up the installer.
    I tried the method and it worked! I had to reset BIOS settings and install an older version of Intel XTU, and now I am finally able once again to tweak the voltage to avoid melting down my laptop. Thanks a lot, mate, regular users here are way more helpful than the "official" moderators.

    And sorry to hear about that system model issue of yours. I checked it in my msinfo32 and it indeed shows as "Predator G3-571". Wish I could help you as you helped me :/ Anyway, I hope your issue will be sorted out soon as well. Take care!