Board:asus/f2a85-m

Status

Supported Board Variants

Only the Asus F2A85-M and Asus F2A85-M CSM are supported. However there is a chance that "PRO" or other variants could be easily supported (contact via mailing list for details).

Supported CPUs

Note: Only the trinity CPU are supported (see list below) but with a hack also Richland CPUs might work (contact via mailing list for details).

• AMD Athlon X2 340
• AMD Athlon X4 740
• AMD Athlon X4 750k
• AMD FirePro A300
• AMD FirePro A320
• AMD A4-5300
• AMD A4-5300B
• AMD A6-5400K
• AMD A6-5400B
• AMD A8-5500
• AMD A8-5500B
• AMD A8-5600K
• AMD A10-5700
• AMD A10-5800B
• AMD A10-5800K

This list might be maintained more actively: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AMD_Accelerated_Processing_Unit_microprocessors#Virgo_-_.22Trinity.22_.282012.2C_32_nm.29

Notes

• Retrieve the VGA optionrom from the vendor EFI binary by running 'dd if=/dev/mem of=vgabios.bin bs=1k count=64 skip=768' (source: http://www.coreboot.org/pipermail/coreboot/2012-December/073133.html )

For internal VGA: Boot the legacy BIOS, and use VGA_support chapter

• Add the extracted VGA optionrom in menuconfig. The device ID for the APU graphics varies, run 'lspci -nn | grep VGA' to find the right ID.
• If you use PS/2 de-select legacy free
• De-select running option ROMs, Seabios will run the ROMs that coreboot loads into memory so you should get a text display from Seabios
• It is required that seabios is the coreboot payload for the F2A85-M or the internal VGA will not be initialized. But read SeaBIOS for how to add payloads to SeaBIOS and set SeaBIOS' boot order to run your payload.
  • its internal VGA comes up just fine (using Change ID I9e0df1669d73863c95c36a3a7fee40d58f6f097e), with unpatched SeaBIOS and these settings:
  • CONFIG_VGA_ROM_RUN=y
  • CONFIG_PCI_ROM_RUN=y
  • CONFIG_ON_DEVICE_ROM_RUN=y
• Hotswapping the PDIP BIOS chip has some issues (most likely USB3 XHCI, disable it in original bios before hot-flashing to coreboot). Drop a mail to mailing list if you have issues.

TODOs

• test virtualization
• test HDMI: video over hdmi works with the extracted vga optionrom, audio is untested.
• blink in suspend mode

Device/functionality	Status	Comments
CPU
CPU works	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK	the board will start with an AMD A8-5500
L1 cache enabled	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
L2 cache enabled	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
L3 cache enabled	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Multiple CPU support	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
Multi-core support	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
Hardware virtualization	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | Untested
RAM
EDO	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
SDRAM	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
SO-DIMM	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
DDR	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
DDR2	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
DDR3	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK	Please select right voltage in menuconfig! Default is 1.5V but some DIMMs need more or less!
Dual channel support	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
ECC support	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
On-board Hardware
On-board IDE 3.5"	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
On-board IDE 2.5"	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
On-board SATA	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK	Tested all ports of sixpack.
On-board SCSI	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
On-board USB	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK	Issues with XHCI exist with Asus' BIOS as well
On-board VGA	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK	Use dd to extract the legacy BIOS, HDMI untested
On-board Ethernet	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
On-board Audio	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK	tested with headphones in line-out (lime colored)
On-board Modem	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
On-board FireWire	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
On-board Smartcard reader	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
On-board CompactFlash	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
On-board PCMCIA	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
On-board Wifi	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
On-board Bluetooth	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
On-board SD card reader	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Add-on slots/cards
ISA add-on cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Audio/Modem-Riser (AMR/CNR) cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
PCI add-on cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
Mini-PCI add-on cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Mini-PCI-Express add-on cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | Unknown
PCI-X add-on cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
AGP graphics cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
PCI Express x1 add-on cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
PCI Express x2 add-on cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
PCI Express x4 add-on cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
PCI Express x8 add-on cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
PCI Express x16 add-on cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
PCI Express x32 add-on cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
HTX add-on cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Legacy / Super I/O
Floppy	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Serial port 1 (COM1)	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
Serial port 2 (COM2)	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Parallel port	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
PS/2 keyboard	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
PS/2 mouse	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | Untested
Game port	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Infrared	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | ?
PC speaker	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
DiskOnChip	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Input
Trackpoint	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Touchpad	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Fn Hotkeys	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Fingerprint Reader	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Laptop
Docking VGA	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Docking LAN	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Docking USB	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Docking Audio	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Docking Displayport	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Thinklight	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Webcam	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Miscellaneous
Sensors / fan control	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | Untested
Hardware watchdog	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | Unknown
SMBus	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | Unknown
CAN bus	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
CPU frequency scaling	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
Other powersaving features	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | ?
ACPI	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK	ACPI power button event works, suspend is WIP (work in progress).
Reboot	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK	warm reboot from Asus' BIOS to coreboot does not work, use reset button after the first time you flash coreboot
Poweroff	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
Suspend	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
Nonstandard LEDs	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
High precision event timers (HPET)	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
Random number generator (RNG)	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | ?
Wake on modem ring	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | Untested
Wake on LAN	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | Untested
Wake on keyboard	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | Untested
Wake on mouse	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | Untested
TPM	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | Unknown
Flashrom	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK

UEFI builds that allow flash chip access

• v5016 is untested, but expected to work as well
• v5018
• v5103
• v5104
• v5107
• v5202
• v6002
• v6004
• v6102
• v6402
• v6404 (requires downgrading to v6402 to flash coreboot)
• v6501 (requires downgrading to v6402 to flash coreboot)
• v6502 (requires downgrading to v6402 to flash coreboot)

Build v6502, v6501 and v6404 do not allow access to the flash chip.

Fortunately it is possible to downgrade build v6501 and v6404 to v6402, with EZFlash.

Downgrading is done by downloading build v6402 from http://www.asus.com/support/Download/1/43/F2A85M/8/ and copying it to (the root directory of) a FAT32 formatted USB flash drive.

Enter the EFI setup, switch to advanced mode if necessary, open the 'Tool' tab and select "ASUS EZ Flash 2 Utility".

Hardware info

This board ships with a socketed Winbond 25Q64F, 64 Mbit (8 Mbyte) chip, in PDIP 300 mil package:

Winbond 25Q64F

The chip manual is available here

For out of band flashing, I use a

 3M test clip model 923739-08-ND

It has .300" spacing, 8 pin DIP clip, gold finish and 'headless heads'. I hook this up to a bus pirate. This works but reading and writing take forever:

# time /usr/src/flashrom/flashrom -p buspirate_spi:dev=/dev/ttyUSB0 -w 20130826-coreboot.rom
flashrom v0.9.6.1-r1669 on Linux 3.8-2-amd64 (x86_64)
flashrom is free software, get the source code at http://www.flashrom.org

Calibrating delay loop... OK.
Found Winbond flash chip "W25Q64" (8192 kB, SPI) on buspirate_spi.
Reading old flash chip contents... done.
Erasing and writing flash chip... Erase/write done.
Verifying flash... VERIFIED.

real	35m35.409s
user	0m55.976s
sys	0m12.920s

DDR voltage controller

The DDR voltage controller is accessible through the AUX SMBUS device 0x15 and it is most likely driven by programmable current source NCT3933U (datasheet on nuvoton website).

The ASUS digi VRM

The ASUS digi voltage controller is accessible through the SMBUS device 0x20 and it is most likely driven by CHL8318 or similar chip (re-branded)

Memory

If you use single dimm plug it to DIMM_A2 or DIMM_B2.

I use:

2x 2GB DDR3 modules in blue slots:

#modprobe i2c-piix4
#modprobe eeprom
#decode-dimms

---=== Memory Characteristics ===---                                                        
Fine time base                                  2.500 ps                                    
Medium time base                                0.125 ns                                    
Maximum module speed                            1333MHz (PC3-10666)                         
Size                                            2048 MB                                     
Banks x Rows x Columns x Bits                   8 x 14 x 10 x 64                            
Ranks                                           2                                           
SDRAM Device Width                              8 bits                                      
tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS                               8-8-8-24                                    
Supported CAS Latencies (tCL)                   9T, 8T, 7T, 6T