Board:lenovo/w520: Difference between revisions

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(Include T520 image as it looks similar to W520)
(Update based on new flash)
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'''Disclaimer''': the current version of this page is entirely reconstructed from mailinglist posts from November 2016 by [https://www.mail-archive.com/search?l=coreboot@coreboot.org&q=from:%22Charlotte+Plusplus%22 Charlotte Plusplus]
== Specification ==
== Specification ==
The W520 comes in 4 quad-core configurations, and 1 dual-core configuration. The quad-core configurations support RAM up to 32GB.
The W520 comes in 4 quad-core configurations, and 1 dual-core configuration. The quad-core configurations support RAM up to 32GB.
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For more detailed specifications, please refer to the [http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:W520 ThinkWiki]
For more detailed specifications, please refer to the [http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:W520 ThinkWiki]
== Work in progress ==
Getting the W520 to work is still a work in progress.
In November 2016 Charlotte Plusplus has made an initial attempt ([https://www.mail-archive.com/search?l=coreboot@coreboot.org&q=from:%22Charlotte+Plusplus%22 mailinglist posts]) based on the T520 firmware, with added romstage additions for ram init. This patch was committed in full to the mailing list, but not as a diff to the Gerrit infrastructure.
Starting January 2018 Nico Rikken has flashed a W520 based on the T520 firmware, with promising results.


== Proprietary components status ==
== Proprietary components status ==
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== Coreboot patch ==
== Coreboot patch ==
An archive containing the W520 board support [https://www.mail-archive.com/coreboot@coreboot.org/msg47353.html was posted] on the Coreboot mailinglist. The patchset is based on the T530, but romstage additions for ram init were required.
An archive containing the W520 board support [https://www.mail-archive.com/coreboot@coreboot.org/msg47353.html was posted] on the Coreboot mailinglist. The patchset is based on the T520, but romstage additions for ram init were required.


=== Known issues ===
=== Known issues ===
* RAM Init seems to cause issues ([https://www.mail-archive.com/coreboot@coreboot.org/msg47391.html discussion thread]).
* RAM Init seems to cause issues ([https://www.mail-archive.com/coreboot@coreboot.org/msg47391.html discussion thread]).
* Native VGA init is not working reliably ([https://www.mail-archive.com/coreboot@coreboot.org/msg47449.html discussion thread]).
* Native VGA init is not working reliably ([https://www.mail-archive.com/coreboot@coreboot.org/msg47449.html discussion thread]).
* The coreboot configuration consumes more power than the vendor BIOS does ([https://www.mail-archive.com/coreboot@coreboot.org/msg47462.html discussion thread]).
* The coreboot configuration consumes more power than the vendor BIOS does, so some additional settings might be required. ([https://www.mail-archive.com/coreboot@coreboot.org/msg47462.html discussion thread]).
* No ACPI event when (dis)connecting the bay.
 
== Straight T520 firmware ==
An attempt in January 2018 based on the T520 firmware, with stripped Management Engine, SeaBIOS as payload, and a copied IFD. Video BIOS Table was not tried.
 
=== Known issues ===
* Only two of the four DIMM slots work correctly:
** The deapest one underneath the keyboard (2 nested slots present)
** The black one from underneath the case (2 slots side-by-side present)
* The 2 USB 3.0 slots on the side are not working for boot media, just the USB 2.0 slot on the back.
* WIFI card needs replacement for a blob-free one.
 
=== Works ===
* CPU (4 cores, 8 threads)
* Suspend and resume
* Ethernet port (GbE blob was put into place)
* Speakers
* Webcam (which is an internal USB-device)
* 2 RAM-slots
 
=== Next steps for improvement ===
* Replacing WIFI card for verification
* Work on Native RAMinit to support 4 slots and in different configurations.
* Trying Video Bios Table
* Verifying issues noted by Charlotte Plusplus


== Flashing ==
== Flashing ==


On first glance the W520 shows similarities to the T520:
The location of the chip is similar to the T520:


[[File:J100.jpg|400px]]
[[File:J100.jpg|400px]]


* As the plastic casing it conductive make sure to trim the leads when attaching a J100 header.
When flashing with a Raspberry Pi no external power is needed. The 3V source from the GPIO is sufficient. The pins WP and HOLD can be left floating.
* When flashing with a Raspberry Pi no external power is needed. The 3V source from pin 17 is sufficient. The pins WP and HOLD can be left floating. Make sure to insert all pins as once, as otherwise the W25Q64 might fail to respond.




{{Cc-by-4.0}}
{{Cc-by-4.0}}

Revision as of 07:40, 22 January 2018

Specification

The W520 comes in 4 quad-core configurations, and 1 dual-core configuration. The quad-core configurations support RAM up to 32GB.

Compared to the superseding W530 model it notably features the conventional keyboard, an eSATA port, and full-size DisplayPort connector.

For more detailed specifications, please refer to the ThinkWiki

Work in progress

Getting the W520 to work is still a work in progress. In November 2016 Charlotte Plusplus has made an initial attempt (mailinglist posts) based on the T520 firmware, with added romstage additions for ram init. This patch was committed in full to the mailing list, but not as a diff to the Gerrit infrastructure. Starting January 2018 Nico Rikken has flashed a W520 based on the T520 firmware, with promising results.

Proprietary components status

  • CPU Microcode (optional)
  • VGA Option ROM (optional): the native graphics initialization tested gave video artifacts in SeaBIOS. When using VGA Bios there were none.
  • ME(Management Engine) => you do not have to touch it (just leave it where it is). Also the stripped down T420 version can be re-used.
  • EC(Embedded Controller) => you do not have to touch it (just leave it where it is)

Coreboot patch

An archive containing the W520 board support was posted on the Coreboot mailinglist. The patchset is based on the T520, but romstage additions for ram init were required.

Known issues

  • RAM Init seems to cause issues (discussion thread).
  • Native VGA init is not working reliably (discussion thread).
  • The coreboot configuration consumes more power than the vendor BIOS does, so some additional settings might be required. (discussion thread).
  • No ACPI event when (dis)connecting the bay.

Straight T520 firmware

An attempt in January 2018 based on the T520 firmware, with stripped Management Engine, SeaBIOS as payload, and a copied IFD. Video BIOS Table was not tried.

Known issues

  • Only two of the four DIMM slots work correctly:
    • The deapest one underneath the keyboard (2 nested slots present)
    • The black one from underneath the case (2 slots side-by-side present)
  • The 2 USB 3.0 slots on the side are not working for boot media, just the USB 2.0 slot on the back.
  • WIFI card needs replacement for a blob-free one.

Works

  • CPU (4 cores, 8 threads)
  • Suspend and resume
  • Ethernet port (GbE blob was put into place)
  • Speakers
  • Webcam (which is an internal USB-device)
  • 2 RAM-slots

Next steps for improvement

  • Replacing WIFI card for verification
  • Work on Native RAMinit to support 4 slots and in different configurations.
  • Trying Video Bios Table
  • Verifying issues noted by Charlotte Plusplus

Flashing

The location of the chip is similar to the T520:

When flashing with a Raspberry Pi no external power is needed. The 3V source from the GPIO is sufficient. The pins WP and HOLD can be left floating.


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