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author | Michael Büchler <michael.buechler@posteo.net> | 2021-08-04 23:53:26 +0200 |
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committer | Felix Held <felix-coreboot@felixheld.de> | 2021-12-26 10:03:14 +0000 |
commit | b84476bcea4f4ba443e6b3db413cf2cc14d50296 (patch) | |
tree | 8b84b6ed73928c8d4968033674f5e9f911824ba7 /Documentation | |
parent | b09459fcef7625cae449ea61ca0e29b5b47934f7 (diff) |
mb/acer/g43t-am3: Add documentation
Signed-off-by: Michael Büchler <michael.buechler@posteo.net>
Change-Id: I0e296b3efbff0260f32badc699f1062f9885fa53
Reviewed-on: https://review.coreboot.org/c/coreboot/+/56838
Tested-by: build bot (Jenkins) <no-reply@coreboot.org>
Reviewed-by: Angel Pons <th3fanbus@gmail.com>
Diffstat (limited to 'Documentation')
-rw-r--r-- | Documentation/mainboard/acer/g43t-am3.md | 177 | ||||
-rw-r--r-- | Documentation/mainboard/index.md | 4 |
2 files changed, 181 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/Documentation/mainboard/acer/g43t-am3.md b/Documentation/mainboard/acer/g43t-am3.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..2e9b8d658c --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/mainboard/acer/g43t-am3.md @@ -0,0 +1,177 @@ +# Acer G43T-AM3 + +The Acer G43T-AM3 is a microATX-sized desktop board. It was used for the +Acer models Aspire M3800, Aspire M5800 and possibly more. + +## Technology + +```eval_rst ++------------------+--------------------------------------------------+ +| Northbridge | Intel G43 (called x4x in coreboot code) | ++------------------+--------------------------------------------------+ +| Southbridge | Intel ICH10R (called i82801jx in coreboot code) | ++------------------+--------------------------------------------------+ +| CPU socket | LGA 775 | ++------------------+--------------------------------------------------+ +| RAM | 4 x DDR3-1066 | ++------------------+--------------------------------------------------+ +| SuperIO | ITE IT8720F | ++------------------+--------------------------------------------------+ +| Audio | Realtek ALC888S | ++------------------+--------------------------------------------------+ +| Network | Intel 82567V-2 Gigabit Ethernet | ++------------------+--------------------------------------------------+ +``` + +There is no serial port. Serial console output is possible by soldering +to a point at the corresponding Super I/O pin and patching the +mainboard-specific code accordingly. + +## Status + +### Working + +Tests were done with SeaBIOS 1.14.0 and slackware64-live from 2019-07-12 +(linux-4.19.50). + ++ Intel Core 2 processors at up to FSB 1333 ++ All four DIMM slots at 1066 MHz (tested 2x2GB + 2x4GB) ++ Integrated graphics (libgfxinit) ++ HDMI and VGA ports ++ Both PCI slots ++ Both PCI-e slots ++ USB (8 internal, 4 external) ++ All six SATA ports ++ Onboard Ethernet ++ Onboard sound card with output on the rear stereo connector ++ PS/2 mouse and keyboard + + With SeaBIOS, use CONFIG_SEABIOS_PS2_TIMEOUT, tested: 500 + + With FILO it works without further settings ++ Temperature readings from the Super I/O (including the CPU temperature + via PECI) ++ Super I/O EC automatic fan control ++ S3 suspend/resume ++ Poweroff + +### Not working + ++ DDR3 memory with 512Mx8 chips (G43 limitation) ++ 4x4GB of DDR3 memory (works, but showed a single bit error within one + pass of Memtest86+ 5.01) ++ Super I/O voltage reading conversions + +### Untested + ++ Other audio jacks or the front panel header ++ S/PDIF output ++ On-board Firewire ++ Wake-on-LAN + +## Flashing coreboot + +```eval_rst ++-------------------+---------------------+ +| Type | Value | ++===================+=====================+ +| Socketed flash | No | ++-------------------+---------------------+ +| Model | Macronix MX25L1605D | ++-------------------+---------------------+ +| Size | 2 MiB | ++-------------------+---------------------+ +| Package | 8-Pin SOP | ++-------------------+---------------------+ +| Write protection | No | ++-------------------+---------------------+ +| Dual BIOS feature | No | ++-------------------+---------------------+ +| Internal flashing | Yes | ++-------------------+---------------------+ +``` + +The flash is divided into the following regions, as obtained with +`ifdtool -f rom.layout backup.rom`: +``` +00000000:00001fff fd +00100000:001fffff bios +00006000:000fffff me +00002000:00005fff gbe +``` + +In general, flashing is possible internally and from an external header. It +might be necessary to specify the chip type; `MX25L1605D/MX25L1608D/MX25L1673E` +is the correct one, not `MX25L1605`. + +### Internal flashing + +Internal access to the flash chip is unrestricted. When installing coreboot, +only the BIOS region should be updated by passing the `--ifd` and `-i bios` +parameters to flashrom. A full backup is advisable. + +Here is an example: + +``` +$ sudo flashrom \ + -p internal \ + -c "MX25L1605D/MX25L1608D/MX25L1673E" \ + -r backup.rom +$ sudo flashrom \ + -p internal \ + -c "MX25L1605D/MX25L1608D/MX25L1673E" \ + --ifd -i bios \ + -w coreboot.rom +``` + +```eval_rst +In addition to the information here, please see the +:doc:`../../flash_tutorial/index`. +``` + +### External flashing + +The SPI flash chip on this board can be flashed externally through the +SPI_ROM1 header while the board is off and disconnected from power. There +seems to be a diode that prevents the external programmer from powering the +whole board. + +The signal assigment on the header is identical to the pinout of the flash +chip. The pinout diagram below is valid when the PCI slots are on the left +and the CPU is on the right. Note that HOLD# and WP# must be pulled high +(to VCC) to be able to flash the chip. + + +---+---+ + SPI_CSn <- | x | x | -> VCC + +---+---+ + SPI_MISO <- | x | x | -> HOLDn + +---+---+ + WPn <- | x | x | -> SPI_CLK + +---+---+ + GND <- | x | x | -> SPI_MOSI + +---+---+ + +## Intel Management Engine + +The Intel Management Engine (ME) can be disabled by setting the ME_DISABLE +jumper on the board. It pulls GPIO33 on the ICH10 low, causing the "Flash +Descriptor Security Override Strap" to be set. This disables the ME and also +disables any read/write restrictions to the flash chip that may be set in the +Intel Flash Descriptor (IFD) (none on this board). Note that changing this +jumper only comes into effect when starting the board from a shutdown or +suspend state, not during normal operation. + +To completely remove the ME blob from the flash image and to decrease the size +of the ME region, thus increasing the size of the BIOS region, `me_cleaner` can +be used with the `-t`, `-r` and `-S` options. + +## Fan control + +There are two fan connectors that can be controlled individually. CPU_FAN +can only control a fan by a PWM signal and SYS_FAN only by voltage. See +the mainboard's `devicetree.cb` file for how coreboot configures the Super +I/O to control the fans. + +## Variants + +Various similar mainboards exist, like the Acer Q45T-AM. During a discussion +in #coreboot on IRC, ECS was suspected to be the original designer of this +series of mainboards. They have similar models such as the ECS G43T-WM. diff --git a/Documentation/mainboard/index.md b/Documentation/mainboard/index.md index fc602de1a9..67af86f058 100644 --- a/Documentation/mainboard/index.md +++ b/Documentation/mainboard/index.md @@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ This section contains documentation about coreboot on specific mainboards. - [X210](51nb/x210.md) +## Acer + +- [G43T-AM3](acer/g43t-am3.md) + ## AMD - [padmelon](amd/padmelon/padmelon.md) |