Add MSI Modern 15 A5M (155LEMS1.106) support

[teackot]

4

57 (partially)

[glpnk]

Add FM_SILENT_NAME 0xF4=D1/C1

Needs testing:

• webcam (2e bit 1), webcam block (2f bit 1)
• mute led (2c bit 2)
• micmute led (2b bit 2)
• FN swap (BF? bit 4)
• fan modes

[glpnk]

@teackot please add 155LEMS1.105 firmware #83. Dump here

[lmaxyz]

@glpnk Hi! How much time do you need to check and accept this pull request? I can't understand what flow is at your repo, half year gone, but pull request is still marked as draft. I have A5M too, and msi-ec-git from AUR doesn't work for me, because there is no config for my fw. Can I help you somehow?

[benitozh]

Hi, I think we're still here https://github.com/BeardOverflow/msi-ec/issues/83#issuecomment-1750295206 . Only I'm a computer geek, I don't know how to finish the job. Indeed, having compatibility with the Modern 15 A5M would be ideal, and it seems that many users are interested on this particular laptop given the previous posts shared on the forum for this specific platform. Until the work is finished, thanks for the effort and attention already put into the project.

[glpnk]

@lmaxyz Does all features from draft are working? I can't accept PR because I'm not maintainer.

@benitozh From the checklist you linked in the comment, it looks like all the main functions are supported, but:

• cpu/basic_fan_speed is unsupported (and reading unsupported values is fixed in some PR)
• number of fan modes is unknown. @ushinnary tested it but F4 address on screenshots is hidden.

Anyone has Windows to test F4 values again? I don't know how to test is mode supported on Linux because it provide no feedback. From models with indexes B_M and C_M I can assume that FM_BASIC_NAME is unsupported but may be it's default and can be read from Linux after reboot.

@teackot What do you think about this issue?

[benitozh]

@glpnk Thanks for letting me know. I'm actually using Win11, and will try eventually to test the designated value while adjusting fan speed for F4.

[benitozh]

Hi, After a few adjustments to get RWeverything working, here are the values obtained according to the different modes. I hope that this will be suitable, I have no idea how to interpret these values, hoping that everything is there :) If this doesn't work for you, let me know how to target the right value. I really want our MSI model to be supported.

Super battery mode :

Silent mode :

Balanced :

High performance enabled :

Quick CPU-Z just in case for BIOS version (not sure if this is linked to EC but still) :

[benitozh]

Forgot to share the last screenshot for auto mode :

[glpnk]

@benitozh Thanks for your effort. Can you explain how you managed to fix RWEverything?

Please check other settings inside high performance mode like on this screenshot (from @ushinnary research)

You don't need to change settings in fan curve mode, just enable it. Cooler boost seems default

I think fan modes are similar on modern series laptops, so FM_BASIC_NAME is excess. (Does anyone know a source of this setting for this model? I can assume it came from #4, but it can be some mistake or software difference)

.fan_mode = {
+++     .address = 0xf4,
        .modes = {
+++         { FM_AUTO_NAME,     0x0d },
+++         { FM_SILENT_NAME,   0x1d },
---         { FM_BASIC_NAME,    0x4d },
+++         { FM_ADVANCED_NAME, 0x8d },
            MSI_EC_MODE_NULL
        },
    },

[benitozh]

Hello,

I was able to fix the problem I was facing when launching RWEverything by applying the method explained in this post, modifying a value in my computer's registry to support the application's driver. --> https://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/comments/e9hezi/rw_everything_not_working_after_windows_build/

After consulting the parameters proposed in the High Performance mode, the "auto" mode is selected by default, with the option of replacing it with the cooler booster mode. Here's a screenshot of the values obtained by activating the cooler booster mode. --> Cooler boost :

--> As asked, the custom fan curve with default parameters enabled :

Finally, I can't say for sure whether the address you're referring to comes from #4, but if it does, it seems valid in the sense of the post written by @BeardOverflow https://github.com/BeardOverflow/msi-ec/issues/4#issuecomment-1286647536

[glpnk]

@benitozh So fan modes are similar to other "modern" models, and you have second ("dGPU") fan, but don't have dGPU, only in-CPU video. (please reply/dislike if I wrong or like if true)

My thoughts from comment above now confirmed.

[benitozh]

Hi @glpnk, indeed the A5M model has two fans, and no discrete video card but only one integrated in the CPU (R5 5500u). Here a screenshot of CPU-Z, if it can help you confirm your thoughts hardware wise :

Is there anything else that needs to be done so that the msi-ec driver can support our laptop ?

[glpnk]

@benitozh Thanks again, I think we done.

@teackot We need to remove fan mode { FM_BASIC_NAME, 0x4d }, and it ready to merge

.fan_mode = {
+++     .address = 0xf4,
        .modes = {
+++         { FM_AUTO_NAME,     0x0d },
+++         { FM_SILENT_NAME,   0x1d },
---         { FM_BASIC_NAME,    0x4d },
+++         { FM_ADVANCED_NAME, 0x8d },
            MSI_EC_MODE_NULL
        },
    },

[benitozh]

Awesome, can't wait to get my hands back on Arch :)

[benitozh]

Hi there, just quick question : is there a scheduled time until this repo get merged with the main msi-ec branch ? Thanks :)

EDIT : Hi @BeardOverflow, @teackot could you please merge this fork to the main msi-ec branch in order to get our laptop MSI Mordern 15 A5M working with the your driver ? We're still standing by since early december. Thanks in advance :)

[lmaxyz]

Hi guys! Is repository maintainer here? Can somebody merge the PR? @teackot , I see you are active on github. Do you have contact information to contact @BeardOverflow . I think he dropped repository maintaining and we should contact him somehow.

[teackot]

Hi, @lmaxyz

I haven't been active in this project for some time because of my university and got out of the loop. And then didn't have enough motivation to process everything that happened while I was away, I'm trying to get back to maintaining it though.

I'll look through this PR once I get home in a couple of hours, thanks for the bump!

[teackot]

Finally!

[teackot]

@lmaxyz

I have A5M too, and msi-ec-git from AUR doesn't work for me, because there is no config for my fw.

About that, the AUR package doesn't work with the latest kernel because of #71

[quaresmajose]

@lmaxyz

I have A5M too, and msi-ec-git from AUR doesn't work for me, because there is no config for my fw.

About that, the AUR package doesn't work with the latest kernel because of #71

I have this AUR package fork https://github.com/quaresmajose/msi-ec-dkms-git witch is working pretty well using the dkms.

[benitozh]

Hi there :) I was able to install successfully using the DKMS method to install msi-ec on Fedora, as well as Endeavour OS (I installed the DKMS package first before installing msi-ec, maybe that will help you @lmaxyz).

However, while the coolerboost function activates correctly when I change the appropriate file to on or off, the fan-mode function doesn't seem to respond to changing the value in the /sys/devices/platform/msi-ec/fan_mode file, even though I specify "auto" or "advanced", the fans run continuously. In principle, the auto function should turn the fans off until the computer's power level is too high.

Perhaps I've missed something important? I'd like your opinion on this. An important note though, I'm using the EC 155LEMS1.106 version, which is supported by the msi-ec driver.

Thanks in advance for your answers!

[lmaxyz]

Hi @benitozh and thanks for your advice! I'll try it later.

What about fans. I think you should try to use shift_mode option. It 's for power control but it affects fans too. When I set it to eco value my laptop fans stop until I give some load to laptop's CPU. Maybe it's what you want.

[teackot]

@benitozh Hi!

Have you tried watching the fan speed on fresh boot, in case it is because of some background processes or your DE/WM? My fans, for example, work much more when I use Gnome, even on fresh boot.

Also, try the "silent" option - the fans should probably work quieter and/or less often.

[benitozh]

@teackot @lmaxyz Thanks for your advices. I'll try your suggestions soon and will let you know if there is still an issue.

[benitozh]

It worked ! Thanks for your advice, i literally didn't think to change the value in the shift_mode folder in a first place. I'm still a newbie in there but I'm learning a lot thanks to you all. Also a subsequent question : each time I reboot my system, the value in shift_mode is replaced by the default one, aka comfort mode. Any idea to make it choose automatically the eco stance at start-up without having to use the terminal manually ?

[lmaxyz]

@benitozh Glad to help you) You can write and enable switch_to_eco_mode.service file, that will execute switch_to_eco_mode.sh script. Inside switch_to_eco_mode.sh script you just write command that changes shift_mode value. If you don't know about service files, you can google it, there is a lot of guides how to write it. For example this one.