---
icon: material/chip
---
# BIOS Prep
Modding the machine's BIOS is **optional** and will unlock hidden advanced settings. These settings allow for better optimizations under macOS.
/// danger
The BIOS mod will **permanently** break TPM.
Only mod the BIOS if you do not need TPM under Windows or Linux.
///
[:material-fast-forward-outline: Skip to Vanilla BIOS Settings](#vanilla-bios-settings){ .md-button }
## BIOS Modding
{ align=right width=200 }
The CH341a SPI Programmer and SOIC8 Clip are needed to dump and flash the BIOS chip. An inexpensive one from Amazon/eBay is sufficient.
The BIOS chip is located just above the CPU, hidden under the sticker shield.
{ width=300 }
BIOS Chip Location
/// announce | Credits
Thank you to `paranoidbashthot` and `\x` for creating the patches.
///
[:simple-youtube:{ .youtube } @notthebee](https://github.com/notthebee) similarly modded his BIOS in [:simple-youtube:{ .youtube } Removing Wi-Fi Whitelist ... & Unlocking Advanced BIOS Settings](https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/ce7kqUEccUM)
1. Use `xx_80_patches-v*.txt`, feel free to comment out the WWAN patches if unnecessary.
3. Remember to **dump the vanilla twice and use `diff` to make sure things were dumped properly**, store this backup somewhere safe.
4. Confirmed working `BIOS-v1.45`, I cannot be sure about other BIOS versions. Though they will most likely work as well.
5. The modded BIOS does not need to be signed by `thinkpad-eufi-sign`. Remember to replace `4C 4E 56 42 42 53 45 43 FB` with `4C 4E 56 42 42 53 45 43 FF` on the patched BIOS.
6. Your BIOS chip may not be made by Winbond, but by Macronix instead. In that case, add the argument `-c MX25L12835F/MX25L12845E/MX25L12865E` to `flashrom`. See [Issue #116](https://github.com/tylernguyen/x1c6-hackintosh/issues/116#issuecomment-778654320)``
/// success
Successfully modding your BIOS will reveal the `Advance Menu` tab.
It is safe to update the BIOS. However, the patches will have to be reapplied and reflashed.
///
## Modded BIOS Settings
DVMT Pre-Allocated will enable 4K HDMI output.
Disabling CFG Lock gives Kernel (XNU) and AppleIntelPowerManagement the ability to write to the MSR 0xE2 register.
``` mermaid
graph TD
id1[Advance Tab]-->id2[Intel Advanced Menu];
id2-->id3[System Agent Configuration];
id2-->id4[Power & Performance];
id3-->id5[Graphics Configuration];
id4-->id6[CPU - Power Management Control];
id5-->|DVMT Pre-Allocated|64M;
id6-->id7[CPU Lock Configuration];
id7-->|CFG Lock|Disabled;
```
### Optimization Settings
/// tip | Undervolting
I also recommend undervolting your machine. Be sure to verify your resulting by stress testing with `Prime95` and `Heaven Benchmark`.
The following are stable settings for my x1c6 with `i7-8650U`, repasted with Thermal Grizzly.
///
``` mermaid
graph LR
id1[Advance Tab]-->id2[Intel Advanced Menu];
id2-->id3[OverClocking Performance Menu];
id3-->|OverClocking Feature|Enabled;
id3-->Processor;
id3-->GT;
id3-->Uncore;
Processor-.->|Voltage Offset|100;
Processor-.->|Offset Prefix|id4[-];
GT-.->|GT Voltage Offset|id8[80];
GT-.->|Offset Prefix|id5[-];
GT-.->|GTU Voltage Offset|id8;
GT-.->|Offset Prefix|id5;
Uncore-.->|Uncore Voltage Offset|80;
Uncore-.->|Offset Prefix|id6[-];
```
/// setting | Optimize CPU **performance** at the cost of battery
///
``` mermaid
graph LR
id1[Advance Tab]-->id2[Power & Performance];
id2-->id3[CPU - Power Management Control];
id3-->|Boot Performance Mode|id4[Turbo Performance];
id3-->|Config TDP Configurations|Up;
```
/// setting | Optimize **battery time** at the cost of performance
///
``` mermaid
graph LR
id1[Advance Tab]-->id2[Power & Performance];
id2-->id3[CPU - Power Management Control];
id3-->|Boot Performance Mode|id4[Max Battery];
id3-->|Config TDP Configurations|Down;
```
## Vanilla BIOS Settings
These BIOS settings must be made to install and run macOS without any problems:
``` mermaid
graph LR
id1[Main Menu]-->Security;
id1-->Config;
id1-->Startup;
Security-->TPM[Security Chip];
Security-->Fingerprint;
Security-->SBC[Secure Boot Configuration];
Config-->Network;
Startup-.->|UEFI/Legacy Boot|id4[UEFI Only];
Startup-.->|CSM Support|No;
TPM-.->|Security Chip|id2[Disabled];
Fingerprint-.->|Predesktop Authentication|id2;
SBC-.->|Secure Boot|id2;
Network-.->|Wake on LAN|id3[Disabled];
Network-.->|Wake on LAN from Dock|id3;
Network-.->|UEFI IPv4 Network Stack|id3;
Network-.->|UEFI IPv6 Network Stack|id3;
```
/// tip
You can also disable hardware/features you do not need to save power, some examples are:
///
``` mermaid
graph LR
id1[Main Menu]-->Security;
id1-->Config;
Security-->id2[I/O Port Access];
Config-->USB;
id2-->|Wireless WAN|id3[Disabled];
id2-->|Fingerprint Reader|id3;
id2-->|Memory Card Slot|id3;
USB-->|Always on USB|Disabled;
```
### Thunderbolt 3 Settings
/// setting | Thunderbolt 3 Coldplug
If you **DO NOT use Thunderbolt 3 hotplug** in macOS (don't mind shutting down the machine to connect TB3 devices), this will drastically lower power consumption:
///
``` mermaid
graph LR
id1[Main Menu]-->Config;
Config-->id2[Thunderbolt 3];
id2-.->|Thunderbolt BIOS Assist Mode|Enabled;
id2-.->|Thunderbolt Device|Enabled;
```
/// setting | Thunderbolt 3 Hotplug
If you **DO use Thunderbolt 3 hotplug in macOS** (at the expense of idle power consumption):
///
``` mermaid
graph LR
id1[Main Menu]-->Config;
Config-->id2[Thunderbolt 3];
id2-.->|Thunderbolt BIOS Assist Mode|Disabled;
id2-.->|Security Level|id3[No Security];
id2-.->|Support in Pre Boot Environment: Thunderbolt Device|Disabled;
```
