A4500 MXM - Need help getting this working!

[ssj92]

Ok guys I am in need of help. I will make this as short as I can but here goes...

 

A4500 MXM originally did NOT post in M18xR2 OR AW18 (6 beeps) in SG (Optimus) mode!!

 

I found a Dell Precision A4500 vBIOS and the card now is posting and recognized in AW 18 in BIOS & Windows. 

 

M18xR2 POSTS now but does NOT see the card in BIOS OR Windows! 

 

Here's the worse part, upon installing drivers, I am getting Code 43 error. I tried modifying multiple INFs in drivers but they all give me code 43. 

 

I either need someone who knows someone with a HP machine with A4500 for HP vBIOS OR someone who can take a look at the stock vBIOS and compare to Dell vBIOS to see why it's not posting. I even got a custom heatsink made for this card lol 

 

@Prema    @johnksss  @Mr. Fox  @Reciever  @Meaker

 

Does anyone know anyone who can help? I'm so close and it would suck if this is the end for A4500 upgrade. 

 

 

A4500_vBIOS.zip

[Reciever]

Perhaps @Tenoroon might be able to get a look at it, lately has been dabbling into the similar arena's 

[Tenoroon]

@ssj92 While the Dell vBIOS is able to post, some parts of the card (mostly sensors, but some other things) can't be read at all, which is why the card works at a very basic level and gives a code 43 (code 43 usually meaning important information from the GPU can't be read or are being read wrong.) This is probably because the Dell vBIOS is most likely too different from the stock vBIOS, and the card which is intended to read off of the stock vBIOS doesn't bode well with the "foreign" Dell vBIOS.

The good news is you know that the card works, which is great, but you may need to modify the stock vBIOS with some values from the Dell vBIOS in order to get everything smooth sailing.

 

I'll take a look at the two vBIOSes and see if the software I have can read them well. Contrary to what Reciever thinks, I'm actually not to good at this stuff lol, especially vBIOSes, but I'm trying to get there. I'll see what I can do, and I may be able to point you in the right direction if it comes down to you needing to significantly change the stock vBIOS in order to get the A4500 to work.

 

Just to be safe, I wouldn't toy around with the card too much with the Dell vBIOS as you are already in deep waters, and a wrong move could permanently damage or break the card. I would also advise you to search for an HP A4500 vBIOS in the meantime just to see if it works or not. It would be unwise to not test it.

Also, have you tried disconnecting the AW18 display and only plugging in an external monitor with the stock vBIOS? My second "Dell" 1070 would only post if there was an external monitor connected and if the internal display was not connected. I know it sounds dumb, but computers are weird.

 

[ssj92]

1 hour ago, Tenoroon said:

@ssj92 While the Dell vBIOS is able to post, some parts of the card (mostly sensors, but some other things) can't be read at all, which is why the card works at a very basic level and gives a code 43 (code 43 usually meaning important information from the GPU can't be read or are being read wrong.) This is probably because the Dell vBIOS is most likely too different from the stock vBIOS, and the card which is intended to read off of the stock vBIOS doesn't bode well with the "foreign" Dell vBIOS.

The good news is you know that the card works, which is great, but you may need to modify the stock vBIOS with some values from the Dell vBIOS in order to get everything smooth sailing.

 

I'll take a look at the two vBIOSes and see if the software I have can read them well. Contrary to what Reciever thinks, I'm actually not to good at this stuff lol, especially vBIOSes, but I'm trying to get there. I'll see what I can do, and I may be able to point you in the right direction if it comes down to you needing to significantly change the stock vBIOS in order to get the A4500 to work.

 

Just to be safe, I wouldn't toy around with the card too much with the Dell vBIOS as you are already in deep waters, and a wrong move could permanently damage or break the card. I would also advise you to search for an HP A4500 vBIOS in the meantime just to see if it works or not. It would be unwise to not test it.

Also, have you tried disconnecting the AW18 display and only plugging in an external monitor with the stock vBIOS? My second "Dell" 1070 would only post if there was an external monitor connected and if the internal display was not connected. I know it sounds dumb, but computers are weird.

 

Unfortunately I cannot find a HP A4500 vBIOS. There is one on TPU but it's actually a A5000 vBIOS which I did flash but still had error 43. I'm back on Dell vBIOS. I am not sure if a modded vBIOS works for these Quadros as they require signed vBIOS, but if the edit is minor, even a copy/paste a portion of dell vBIOS then it may work. If we can figure out what is different in dell vBIOS allowing it to post, that may be the only thing needed to change.

 

If the change requires a re-signed vBIOS, I can ask Aetina to do the mod (assuming they are willing to) if I am specific enough on the change. 

 

I did unplug the internal display and hook up external but because I am in SG mode (Optimus) the iGPU was still showing up as well. I think I need to change to PEG (PCI Express Graphics) only but am worried I'll have no video output then I'll be stuck. 

 

Something was changed in vBIOS because RTX 3000 (previous gen Quadro) works fine 

[Komputers-Best]

I understand that these cards are not so easy to buy, they are already on sale together with laptops ..? The performance is approximately RTX 3070 ti.

[Tenoroon]

Also @ssj92I forgot to mention, but with the stock vBIOS, could you put the card in the slave slot and a working GPU in the master slot and see if windows or the BIOS recognizes something in the slave slot?

[win32asmguy]

Attached is the A4500M vbios from a Zbook Fury 16 G9. I dumped it with GPU-Z. Let me know if you have any issues and I can try dumping it again. This one reports as 100W in Nvidia Control Panel.

 

HPA4500M.zip

[ssj92]

1 hour ago, win32asmguy said:

Attached is the A4500M vbios from a Zbook Fury 16 G9. I dumped it with GPU-Z. Let me know if you have any issues and I can try dumping it again. This one reports as 100W in Nvidia Control Panel.

 

HPA4500M.zip 429.5 kB · 1 download

 

Thanks, will give this a shot. 

  

2 hours ago, Tenoroon said:

Also @ssj92I forgot to mention, but with the stock vBIOS, could you put the card in the slave slot and a working GPU in the master slot and see if windows or the BIOS recognizes something in the slave slot?

 

 

I don't think this should matter but I can give it a try. It will most likely not post. This is what I tried with RX 580 MXM before as well. 

 

How good are you at bios mod? I have this crazy idea to add above 4g decoding & resizable bar to the bios lol 

 

One of the manufacturers said this...see attached ss

 

  

3 hours ago, Komputers-Best said:

I understand that these cards are not so easy to buy, they are already on sale together with laptops ..? The performance is approximately RTX 3070 ti.

 

They are not in laptops. These are embedded cards sold to military, medical, aerospace, etc. You won't find any in laptops. 

 

Performance should be 3070Ti Mobile or slightly better due to better vram speed. But it's limited to 125w tdp (stock vbios) 

[Komputers-Best]

What other aerospace and medical centers. Here on this site is sold freely. Embedded MXM | AI Accelerator Module and GPGPU Solution || Aetina Corporation👀

[ssj92]

1 hour ago, Komputers-Best said:

What other aerospace and medical centers. Here on this site is sold freely. Embedded MXM | AI Accelerator Module and GPGPU Solution || Aetina Corporation👀

There is no buy button. You must contact them to buy. You tell them it's for a laptop and they will not sell it to you. PNY won't even look at us unless we are buying 10,000+ units. ADLink will also sell it seems one at a time but they stopped replying. So be careful if you decide to order one. 

 

I purchased through my company. It's extremely expensive. More expensive than 3090Ti original MSRP. But as of right now it's not working in M18xR2 at all. And in AW18 it won't get past code 43 error in windows. So maybe RTX 5000 from Aetina would have been a better choice. 

[Reciever]

This is originally intended for embedded as I understand it? 

 

Is it possible to determine in the vBIOS if LVDS or eDP signals are possible options? 

[jaybee83]

21 hours ago, ssj92 said:

Ok guys I am in need of help. I will make this as short as I can but here goes...

 

A4500 MXM originally did NOT post in M18xR2 OR AW18 (6 beeps) in SG (Optimus) mode!!

 

I found a Dell Precision A4500 vBIOS and the card now is posting and recognized in AW 18 in BIOS & Windows. 

 

M18xR2 POSTS now but does NOT see the card in BIOS OR Windows! 

 

Here's the worse part, upon installing drivers, I am getting Code 43 error. I tried modifying multiple INFs in drivers but they all give me code 43. 

 

I either need someone who knows someone with a HP machine with A4500 for HP vBIOS OR someone who can take a look at the stock vBIOS and compare to Dell vBIOS to see why it's not posting. I even got a custom heatsink made for this card lol 

 

@Prema    @johnksss  @Mr. Fox  @Reciever  @Meaker

 

Does anyone know anyone who can help? I'm so close and it would suck if this is the end for A4500 upgrade. 

 

 

A4500_vBIOS.zip 822.57 kB · 4 downloads

 

oh shes a beaut! hope u get it working man! awesome to see so much help already on site here and trying to provide support 🙂 keeping an eye on this!

[ssj92]

2 hours ago, Reciever said:

This is originally intended for embedded as I understand it? 

 

Is it possible to determine in the vBIOS if LVDS or eDP signals are possible options? 

According to Aetina, before I even purchased, they said A4500 no longer supports eDP. LVDS has been out since Pascal. Even the spec sheet says 4xDP (does not support, LVDS, eDP, VGA). What's interesting is, a member on another forum told me, this is vBIOS controlled. Unless they physically disconnect the pins needed, eDP should be supported through vBIOS mod. But for our purposes, this shouldn't matter since I'm running SG mode. 

 

What I want to know is , why does the dell vBIOS post but not the stock one. I'm about to try the HP vBIOS now, let's see how it goes. 

[Tenoroon]

3 minutes ago, ssj92 said:

According to Aetina, before I even purchased, they said A4500 no longer supports eDP. LVDS has been out since Pascal. Even the spec sheet says 4xDP (does not support, LVDS, eDP, VGA). What's interesting is, a member on another forum told me, this is vBIOS controlled. Unless they physically disconnect the pins needed, eDP should be supported through vBIOS mod. But for our purposes, this shouldn't matter since I'm running SG mode. 

 

What I want to know is , why does the dell vBIOS post but not the stock one. I'm about to try the HP vBIOS now, let's see how it goes. 

I'm actively trying to work things out, but most of BIOS reading stuff won't read the vBIOSes. I'm going to try to see if I can do anything in HxD, but I am starting to exaust options. Worse case scenario, you can find someone who has tools to modify and create vBIOSes, but it won't be cheap, and you will only be given a new vBIOS file, not the software to do it. The only problem is that it would cost a lot of money, and finding someone who either knows someone else, or who can do it will be tough.

I know there's such tools out there, but they aren't spread all too well and are obtained by sketchy means. They aren't really available to find and use as if everyone knew about such tools, then Nvidia and other companies would take action against the software and the people.

[ssj92]

39 minutes ago, Tenoroon said:

I'm actively trying to work things out, but most of BIOS reading stuff won't read the vBIOSes. I'm going to try to see if I can do anything in HxD, but I am starting to exaust options. Worse case scenario, you can find someone who has tools to modify and create vBIOSes, but it won't be cheap, and you will only be given a new vBIOS file, not the software to do it. The only problem is that it would cost a lot of money, and finding someone who either knows someone else, or who can do it will be tough.

I know there's such tools out there, but they aren't spread all too well and are obtained by sketchy means. They aren't really available to find and use as if everyone knew about such tools, then Nvidia and other companies would take action against the software and the people.

Same issue with HP vBIOS. The manufacturer had told me above 4gb decoding and resizable bar is why my system doesn't post. But the thing is HP/Dell vBIOS posts but not stock vBIOS. 

 

Do you think you can help me add 4gb decoding support in BIOS? I added the resizable bar module already but it requires above 4gb decoding to be enabled and that part I don't know how to mod in bios. 

 

I did this part: https://winraid.level1techs.com/t/experimental-resizable-bar-dxe-driver/89534

 

But I need to see how to get above 4gb decoding working in bios

 

https://winraid.level1techs.com/t/success-above-4g-decoding-and-resizable-bar-bios-mod-for-asus-p8z77-v-pro/90465 

 

If they can get it working on ivy bridge system, we should be able to get it working on haswell 

 

I tried asking for help but as you can see people don't want to help over there lol: 

 

https://winraid.level1techs.com/t/request-above-4g-decoding-resizable-bar-for-insyde-bios/91159

 

 

[Tenoroon]

52 minutes ago, ssj92 said:

Same issue with HP vBIOS. The manufacturer had told me above 4gb decoding and resizable bar is why my system doesn't post. But the thing is HP/Dell vBIOS posts but not stock vBIOS. 

 

Do you think you can help me add 4gb decoding support in BIOS? I added the resizable bar module already but it requires above 4gb decoding to be enabled and that part I don't know how to mod in bios. 

 

I did this part: https://winraid.level1techs.com/t/experimental-resizable-bar-dxe-driver/89534

 

But I need to see how to get above 4gb decoding working in bios

 

https://winraid.level1techs.com/t/success-above-4g-decoding-and-resizable-bar-bios-mod-for-asus-p8z77-v-pro/90465 

 

If they can get it working on ivy bridge system, we should be able to get it working on haswell 

 

I tried asking for help but as you can see people don't want to help over there lol: 

 

https://winraid.level1techs.com/t/request-above-4g-decoding-resizable-bar-for-insyde-bios/91159

 

 

Yeah, I completely forgot about UEFI Tool. I've heard it is useful, but I could never wrap my head around it when I was trying to use it for the microcode bug for Haswell MQ processors. I'm no BIOS modding guru, but I might be able to utilize UEFI Tool to incorporate some stuff. I can take a look at it tomorrow.

Win-Raid has useful information, but some of the people aren't very helpful. I've learned a lot from there, but I've never gained anything from asking a question which irks me quite a bit.

I looked at the Dell and Stock vBIOSes that you used in a hex editor, and the hex editor said nothing was similar at all. I'm sure there are similar groups of hex, but just not in the same consecutive order between the vBIOSes. Though, I did notice the Stock vBIOS had a lot of dead space at the end of it compared to the Dell vBIOS.

But yeah, I'll take a look at everything tomorrow when I have a bit of time to sit down and just focus on everything. To fully understand things, I have to dig to the very root of the task I'm trying to do (I tend to ask "why?" until I can't ask "why?" anymore), which is extremely time consuming, but once I can get to that "root," everything else feels like it comes naturally, and I can easily wrap my head around what I'm trying to do. My point being that you might beat me to figuring everything out.
 

[ssj92]

1 hour ago, Tenoroon said:

Yeah, I completely forgot about UEFI Tool. I've heard it is useful, but I could never wrap my head around it when I was trying to use it for the microcode bug for Haswell MQ processors. I'm no BIOS modding guru, but I might be able to utilize UEFI Tool to incorporate some stuff. I can take a look at it tomorrow.

Win-Raid has useful information, but some of the people aren't very helpful. I've learned a lot from there, but I've never gained anything from asking a question which irks me quite a bit.

I looked at the Dell and Stock vBIOSes that you used in a hex editor, and the hex editor said nothing was similar at all. I'm sure there are similar groups of hex, but just not in the same consecutive order between the vBIOSes. Though, I did notice the Stock vBIOS had a lot of dead space at the end of it compared to the Dell vBIOS.

But yeah, I'll take a look at everything tomorrow when I have a bit of time to sit down and just focus on everything. To fully understand things, I have to dig to the very root of the task I'm trying to do (I tend to ask "why?" until I can't ask "why?" anymore), which is extremely time consuming, but once I can get to that "root," everything else feels like it comes naturally, and I can easily wrap my head around what I'm trying to do. My point being that you might beat me to figuring everything out.
 

There are two ways to approach this. 

 

1) Figure out the difference in vBIOS allowing HP/Dell vBIOS to post and not stock one to post. Then either mod vBIOS or try whatever we learn from the difference to make it work. 

 

 

2) Get Above 4G Decoding/Resizable BAR working in BIOS. This method may be easier, as the Resizable BAR part I have already gotten (as far as I think). The only part that is hard is above 4g decoding. Without this , resizable bar will not work. If these two are ported to AW18 BIOS, we can re-try stock vBIOS and see if manufacturer was correct. 

 

As you saw in links above, someone has ivy bridge motherboard with above 4g decoding and resizable bar working, so I assume haswell should work as well. Just a matter of modding insyde bios. 

 

I have attached insyde bios editor tool. I also added a gpu-z screenshot showing my M18xR2 (AW18 says same thing) not support above 4g decoding in bios right now. 

 

The BIOS file is available in the Alienware Club but I can add it here too. 

H20EZE_x86_WIN_100.00.02.13.zip

[Reciever]

Have you tried running Linux with the Dell vBIOS? 

 

There were some modifications on the M4600 and aftermarket GPU's where there was success in Linux and XP but not in Windows 7/10. I dont believe it has merit here but should be simple enough to rule out as a variable?

 

 

[ssj92]

19 minutes ago, Reciever said:

Have you tried running Linux with the Dell vBIOS? 

 

There were some modifications on the M4600 and aftermarket GPU's where there was success in Linux and XP but not in Windows 7/10. I dont believe it has merit here but should be simple enough to rule out as a variable?

 

 

Any distro/app I can use to check if it's working? Like a benchmark in linux? We have 3dmark in windows but I barely have used linux. 

[Reciever]

9 hours ago, ssj92 said:

Any distro/app I can use to check if it's working? Like a benchmark in linux? We have 3dmark in windows but I barely have used linux. 

I assume you have steam? Dell officially supports Ubuntu so I would start with that and/or PoP_OS which is a distro more tailored to Laptops (plays well with Optimus) and has a package with Nvidia drivers.

 

Steam has a large list of compatible titles you should be able to run without any effort IIRC under Linux.

[Expresstyle]

code 43 error could be a problem with nvidia dirvers or bios being not compatible with gpu, u can try older drivers, or try to flash original vbios and sit the gpu on the slave mxm who knows, might to post.

unfortunately there are just two vbios on techpower an hp and dell one with different Device Id.
just try to put it with original bios on slave slot, it probably will avoid the no post

[Tenoroon]

@ssj92I've gotten as far as you have on your thread over at Winraid. I think you need to use that IRF Extractor after you extract the 4G Decode part from the BIOS. I'll keep cracking at it, but I'm in the same bucket as you, waiting on Kuri0 to respond.

[ssj92]

Unfortunately I am running out of things to try. 

 

Tried removing internal panel and output to hdmi or miniDP but get 8 beeps (Dell/HP vBIOS) or 6 beeps (stock vbios)

 

Also tried in secondary slot but same exact issues. 

 

 

  

On 11/18/2022 at 8:39 AM, Tenoroon said:

@ssj92I've gotten as far as you have on your thread over at Winraid. I think you need to use that IRF Extractor after you extract the 4G Decode part from the BIOS. I'll keep cracking at it, but I'm in the same bucket as you, waiting on Kuri0 to respond.

 

I searched for "4G Decod" but it doesn't find anything in BIOS. I think it means this BIOS doesn't have it and I have no idea how to add it manually.

 

They also mentioned "Above 4GB MMIO BIOS assignment" can be another option but again, no idea where to even start for this.

 

I've attached the bios ifr txt file that has all the options, and I don't see anything for these. 

setup IFR.txt

[Komputers-Best]

Have you ever tried to run it on other similar laptops except R2 and A18..?

[aldarxt]

What systems does this card work on? And not meaning civilian Dell with BGA cards.

Did you compare the vBios from the manufacturer (adlink) to the downloadable vBios they provide? As to the Dell and HP vBios. Just   a difference from the military/medical versus civilian setups. And the difference of rtx 3000 vBios.