Collection of appliable Mods & Tweaks (included, but not limited to libreboot).

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Any changes to the hardware or software listed here are usually tested (by atleast one user) and reproducible at your own reponsibility.

Some physical modifications might be UNREVERSIBLE, only replacable, keep in mind.

In case if you need any help or get another idea to include here, submit a patch on codeberg or get in contact on irc.

The EDK2-based images work with modern graphics cards, which often lack VGA ROMs these days; EDK2 does GOP ROM execution.

We do not enable PCI-E relocatable BAR by default, because it caused stability issues when libgfxinit is used on Intel integrated graphics.

To enable it, do:

./mk -m coreboot TARGET

Enable: Devices -> Extend resource window for PCIe devices above 4G

Enable: Devices -> Support PCIe Resizable BARs

Set that last one to the number of bits corresponding to your video RAM. Two to the power of thirty-two is 4GB; thirty-three becomes 8GB. Work it out accordingly. E.g. 16GB would be 33 bits. 39 bits is generally the maximum limit though some machines might not be stable past 36-bit.

Where only graphics cards are supported, we would enable this by default. On systems with integrated graphics, we turn it off by default.

This documentation pertains to desktops, not laptops. Libreboot only makes use of integrated onboard graphics at present, for laptops.

Do not follow this section on non-desktop computers.

Usually used for efficient power management, but can be used to focus/accelerate task/applications too on the more powerful and usually free unit.

(Using a graphics card with 2 gpu-s on it? Feel free to skip the I. part)

I. Part, Libreboot Firmware

On desktop computers, Libreboot by default disables the integrated graphics on the processors if a dedicated graphics card is present.

It needs to be force enabled in the device’s menuconfig:

./mk -m coreboot *device_name_in_lbmk*

Select Devices -> set Use onboard VGA as primary video device. Exit and build the rom image with -b instead of -m.

Flash the tweaked firmware and boot. Keep/connect the screen’s cable to the motherboard instead of the dedicated gpu (weird artifacts appears).

II. Part, OS

Boot into a linux distro (works with almost every distro) and install the switcheroo-control software;

Debian based:

sudo apt install switcheroo-control -y

Arch based:

sudo pacman -S install switcheroo-control

Fedora based:

sudo dnf install switcheroo-control -y

After installation, enable the belonging service (NOTE: systemd, adapt accordingly if you use something else):

sudo systemctl enable --now switcheroo-control

Done. Defaults less resources-needy ones (desktop environment, browser, …) to the integrated/1st gpu, and more needies (video/3D editors, games, …) to the dedicated/2nd unit.

Usually with a right mouse click on the application reveals the selectable gpu-s to choose from manually. (Confirmed on Gnome,Cosmic. probably on other DE-s too.).

Reference and more details for this part, Here.

Before replacing (or even ordering) one, check if it compatible with your eDP/LVDS panel;

X11:

xrandr

Wayland:

wlr-randr

For “LVDS-1 connected”, AMD’s 1st gen GCN cards are the newest and most powerful to support LVDS, According to this forum thread,

If you have an eDP panel, you should be able to use newer cards than that.

As long as the card has an onboard VBIOS, Libreboot will execute it and everything should work. However, this is currently untested.

[Reversible] Power On Mod for normal towers

Just in case any of these motherboards would be used in a different case with a 2 pin power(on) connector, connect it to the 1 (yellow/red) & 2 (Black/black) pins. (Black to black, red to yellow)

For LEDs, 3 (-/black) & 5 (+/red) (the black frame might needs to be pull carefully to reinsert it)

Reference here

[Partially Reversible] Chassis Mod (MT only) for bigger Cards (GPUs, Accelerators, …)

Remove the plastic 3.5" drive cage to fit bigger GPUs that exceed the stock 10-inch length limit.

Video walktrough here. (just found, not my)

A guide might be here soon with pictures.

SPDX-License-Identifier: GFDL-1.3-or-later

Markdown file for this page: https://canoeboot.org/extras.md

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