wiki/docs/projects/x1c6-hackintosh/BIOS.md

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BIOS Settings

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{ .md-button }

BIOS Modding

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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.

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BIOS Chip Location

• :octicons-git-branch-16:{ .foreground } digmorepaka/thinkpad-firmware-patches { .twemoji } { .twemoji } { .twemoji } { .twemoji }

/// announce | Credits Thank you to paranoidbashthot and \x for creating the patches. ///

:simple-youtube:{ .youtube } @notthebee similarly modded his BIOS in :simple-youtube:{ .youtube } Removing Wi-Fi Whitelist ... & Unlocking Advanced BIOS Settings

1. Use xx_80_patches-v*.txt, feel free to comment out the WWAN patches if unnecessary.

2. Remember to dump the vanilla twice and use diff to make sure things were dumped properly, store this backup somewhere safe.

3. Confirmed working BIOS-v1.45, I cannot be sure about other BIOS versions. Though they will most likely work as well.

4. 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.

5. 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``

/// 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.

graph LR
    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. ///

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 ///

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 ///

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:

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: ///

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: ///

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): ///

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;