MSI Wind v1.09 BIOS update makes overclocking easy

We've long since known that MSI was a fan of overclocking. After all, just about every last one of its gaming notebooks come with one-button OC'ing courtesy of the Turbo Drive Engine technology. Now, it seems that the company is giving the spoils once reserved for the Crysis crowd to those with netbooks, or more specifically, the Wind. The freshly released (and absolutely official) v1.09 BIOS update enables simple overclocking by mashing Fn+F10, giving users the ability to push things 8%, 15% or 24% beyond their normally specified limits. Electric Feel over at ElectricVagabond has found that the update provides up to a 30% boost in performance, which he claims is quite noticeable in processor-intensive apps like Photoshop. You know you're dying to give your Wind a little lift, so hit the via below for the step-by-step of getting this installed.

[Kespar @ Oct 24th 2008 11:36AM]

Anyone know if this bios update will apply to the Advent branded UK version?

[ugotamesij @ Oct 24th 2008 11:46AM]

@ Kespar: I have the (old) MSI BIOS running on my Advent just fine.
I'll try this update when I get home tonight, but I don't see why it wouldn't work when the previous version did.

[Kespar @ Oct 24th 2008 12:03PM]

sweet...cheers.

Im close to making a decision on which to go for, and overclocking seems like a good deal swayer to me.

[Marko @ Oct 24th 2008 11:39AM]

So, can it play Crysis now?

[Matthew Hilario @ Oct 24th 2008 11:52AM]

not with that integrated GPU that you have!

[telepheedian @ Oct 24th 2008 11:39AM]

My Eee has an option like this, its pretty nice, but I wish it was more tweakable and coould OC higher. It's not as if the processor even generates much heat, its all in the clunky 945 chipset they picked.

[digitallysick @ Oct 24th 2008 11:56AM]

On the stock ram 2gb that came with my wind i can only reach 15% , with after market ram everyone else gets 24% =( its nice though

[Blondie @ Oct 24th 2008 11:57AM]

What's the word on this whole thing burning a hole in your lap and killing your battery in 25 seconds flat?

[webon @ Oct 24th 2008 12:22PM]

burning a hole in your lap and killing your Progeny in 25 seconds flat

fixed

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 24th 2008 12:23PM]

That was the word.

[digitallysick @ Oct 24th 2008 6:58PM]

The overclocking feature only works when its plugged into the charger, not on battery power. At 15% overclock i haven't noticed any heat difference from normal after heavy use.

[Waitrose Carpark @ Oct 24th 2008 12:07PM]

wtf is he doing running Photoshop on an MSI Wind?

[The Joker @ Oct 24th 2008 12:12PM]

Uhhh, I use Photoshop CS3 on my MSI Wind with no problems. Most of them time, it's with the Wind hooked up to my 22" monitor, but I have no problems using it on the native 10.2" display as well.

[Soop @ Oct 24th 2008 12:24PM]

Wow. A software update that upgrades your hardware. Maybe my girlfriend knows more than I thought about computers.

[phanbouy @ Oct 24th 2008 12:45PM]

yes, your hand is more knowledgeable than you think

[happy_penguin @ Oct 24th 2008 1:43PM]

OMG phanbouy stop it!! :D :D :D

[SAGExSDX @ Oct 24th 2008 2:21PM]

oh snap!

[FRZ @ Oct 24th 2008 1:40PM]

Why isn't there a netbook section yet?

[Alexandre Emond @ Oct 24th 2008 2:12PM]

+1
But where is the limit between Netbook and Notebook? 10in? 12 in? Single CPU?

[Jeff @ Oct 24th 2008 8:42PM]

I think it's called "Atom".

[James @ Oct 25th 2008 1:32AM]

I wonder if I can finally stream some low bitrate 1080p, and stutter free 720p now. tl;dr Is this independant of wether or not the AC jack is pluged in?

[Skeepax @ Oct 25th 2008 8:46AM]

Hmmm...installed it just now but now I have an unidentified hardware device with no drivers, and Fn+F10 doesn't do anything at all (used to put me in low power mode)...any advice? Do I have to enable in the BIOS first?

[Josh Ladella @ Oct 25th 2008 2:30PM]

winter's just around the corner...good thing i live in minneapolis...

[Callum @ Oct 26th 2008 11:28AM]

Argh! A missed opportunity by the editor. Title should have been:

"MSI Wind v1.09 BIOS update makes overclocking a breeze"

Why am I not an Engadget editor!

[Tynen @ Oct 29th 2008 6:34PM]

Oooo this makes me actually consider aproaching one now. I forget they exist untill I read an article about them.

[Electric Feel @ Oct 30th 2008 11:06AM]

Thanks for the mention Engadget but where's the link :D
For those that are interested in doing the upgrade: http://www.electricvagabond.com/2008/10/msi-wind-bios-109-update-overclock-and.html
Not a single person that's followed my guide (to the letter) has bricked their machine yet!

[Dan @ Nov 22nd 2008 12:27PM]

Great set of instructions, brilliant thanks, (http://www.electricvagabond.com/2008/10/msi-wind-bios-109-update-overclock-and.html)

flashed my Advent 4211with the 1.09 MSI BIOS and it works great all the way up to 24% , has been fine for days at 24% with standard 1Gb - will probably upgrade anyway to 2Gb of good quality ram.

Used HP's USB boot tool from: http://www.bootdisk.com/pendrive.htm and basic DOS 6.22 image from same site, then got 1.09 BIOS from MSI site and crossed fingers (and everything else!!).... but worked great from USB booting.

It feels a lot quicker, essp with photoshop etc .... and doesn't seem to be getting any hotter. Looks good so far.....

Yippiee (: Thanks to EF!

[Alex @ Nov 24th 2008 7:58PM]

I found a good article for german readers about how to flash at http://www.netbook-wiki.de/index.php?title=MSI_Wind_U100_Bios_Flashen
Might be useful for you, too as you can download a nice tool there which can format your usb stick to have it bootable!

[goinnutshere @ Dec 8th 2008 2:29AM]

OK ! Help me through this. I have a new MSI Wind U100 box stock with the 106 Bios. I runs it quiet and cool at 1.66 g and all the buttons are what they say. The 109 Bios offers segmented upspeeds to 24 or 27 % above mine with opportunity to run 800 on down power. Why? What is the purpose. Quiet and dependable at 1.6 gig is cool (no pun intended) and really if you can't hook on to the overclock when bat powered who cares. I may be wrong but the portbabitlity without wires is a big thing for the little computers. Everything works and blue and green are enough colors for a Power button for now. If MSI feels it is important to put on the Online Live I will go for it but I really think there will be a more important reason than leaving skidmarks on granite topped cafe tables. Keep the love on. - Jim