These are a set of instructions or checklists of sorts for me to follow. This repo is focused mostly on the 6800U variant of the WIN 4 because that is the one I have but most of the information should be relevant for the refresh. For BIOS files press here.
How do you know which BIOS your device uses? | 6800u | 7x40u | |
---|---|---|---|
v3.00 | v0.40 | ||
v3.03 | v0.42 | ||
v3.04 | v0.44 | ||
v3.05 | v0.46 | ||
v3.06 | v0.47 | ||
v0.52 |
for those of us who would love to 3D print some accessories. 3D model file Shoulder Buttons - L & R Trigger Buttons Grip Case
DROIX Knowledge base Droix has a lot of great information about different issues, and questions. Droix Knowledge base
🚨🚨WARNING!🚨🚨 PLEASE IF YOU PLAN ON DOING A FRESH INSTALL I WOULD SUGGEST NOT USING APPS SUCH AS DRIVEREASY, OR CCLEANER AS THOSE APPS WILL FIND THE LATEST DRIVERS BUT THOSE DRIVERS COULD BE FOR A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DEVICE, SUCH AS AYANEO WHICH HAS A PORTRAIT SCREEN, AND COULD CAUSE SCREEN ISSUES! THANKS TO N1CKN4M3 FOR BRINGING THIS POINT🚨🚨
Test GPU under load, look for black screens. (Use graphically intensive software. ie. AAA games, 3Dmark, photoshop, etc.)
Check the bios version (Only update if necessary, see #1 ^^ Above ^^)
Test all keyboard keys and buttons.
Test all the ports.
Test the micro sd card slot. Look for disconnecting and reconnecting issues, and have patience as this might take a day or two of using the slot to notice any unexpected behavior. If testing Micro SD card slot speed, make sure you use UHS-I cards, not UHS-II. The GPD Win4 does not utilize the second-row pins of UHS-II.
<img src="https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/950574522011119707/1086109017358745660/StorageReview-SanDisk-Extreme-microSD-1TB-Bottom.jpg"> </details>
Test analog dead-zones and update firmware if needed. GAMEPAD TESTER.
Test the screen
Test the Touch screen for dead-zones. (dragging your finger across the entire screen could help find any)
Test the small touchpad ( if it doesn't work or is not working properly update firmware)
Look for any gaps in the devices.
Make sure your keycaps, top and bottom shells do not have any cracks.
Do a full malware scan or reinstall OS.
All these tests were done on a battery, with a stock device. Not a fresh install of windows. The USB C test where performed with a TB cable, Crucial P3, and an NVME enclosure. USB A Test was performed with a regular high-speed USB memory card. This information could be useful when trying out different OS or seeing if an update broke something that should not have been broken.
Port speeds
Battery Life
Solution: Log-In into your google account. This is the best overall solution for GPD and for us too as, I would rather have decently quick access through google drive that having to have to go to a website that most likely than not it will hosted in china thus slower for people not close to china.
The touch input is not the same as the register input. This issue could have been caused because of the use of the DriverEasy app After a fresh installation the screen is not inputting the right spot where it was touched. You press in an area but the input is registered in a different area of the screen. Discord Message To fix this issue install this driver For More information on this issue check this Reddit post Discord message confirmation from Fulbringer of it working.
The touchscreen stops responding after a couple of hours of use. This issue since to be affecting all units using the bios 3.0.3 which is the one used for almost all of the 16GB RAM models. My unit is affected by it but I am not planning on updating the bios yet.
The screen has sync problems and/or jitters This issue for what has been talked about on Discord affects everyone unless someone shows proof otherwise because review units from December are affected by this... GPD fixed the issue and published a screen firmware update. **This issue only affects 6800u units as GPD implemented their fixes on any unit release and/or manufacture after may 2023 the month they publicly release the update. OLD TEXT ~GPD seems to be working on a fix but so far it seems that the problem is being caused by the Chip that turns the screen from portrait to landscape~. If you would like to test your unit to see if it is affected or are just curious to know how to test for the issue try this site and focus your eyes on the UFO (subject). Also, this issue is mentioned that it is most noticeable in 2d games.
**
**
Joystick dead zones are huge! I need a fix To fix The deadzone fix issue update the firmware of your joystick so that you can use the new WinControl dead zone fixed that GPD has provided. The deadzone fix works on every Win device not only Win4 6800u, 7640u, and 7840u. WinControl 1.14 + Firmware download
Steps To Install: 1) update the firmware of the controller using the file name GPD.Gamepad.Win4.X408K407.exe (Controller has to be in gamepad mode). 2) once the update is complete, shutdown the device. 3) power on the device, install the new wincontrol app GPD.WinControls.V1.14.exe, and restart the device. 4) launch Wincontrol, go to mouse customization, deadzone adjustment sliders at the bottom right of the mouse customization menu. (Current recommended settings by early users suggest putting both sticks to -8 on center; per > Saracchini’s quick test, -8 gives about 6~8% deadzone and re-centers perfectly; -10 reduces to ~4% deadzone but causes slight jitter during re-centering)
Things To Note: 1) Version number on ZIP shows 1.14 but Wincontrol UI shows v1.11 - this will be rectified in the next update release; no impact to functionality. 2) Windows Defender may falsely flag it as malware, but as mod n1ckn4m3 has mentioned, per his checks yesterday, this is a false positive.
GPD Drive link Discord Instructions to update by Brother Chenwk
To see all the domestic issues press here
When installing the GPD Provided Windows image do not forget these steps: 1. Format the USB Drive to NTFS. 2. Rename the USB Drive to WINPE 3. Extract the files to USB Drive
Windows
SteamOS
Useful repo if venturing into Steam os. Proton's Direct3D 12 implementation
How not to get scammed by power banks To have an accurate idea of how much energy a power bank has or if the advertised mAh rating is correct or close to what is advertised we can follow these guidelines to gauge the information.
Note: Power Banks tend to base their mAh ratings on their Single Cell Voltage which usually is 3.2 - 3.7v. So if we average that to 3.5v that would give us an approximate results.
The formula is: Device needed Voltage / Battery Cell Voltage. ex. The WIN 4 requires a 20V and if we estimate a 3.5V per cell in the power bank that would be about ~5.71. 20/3.5 = ~5.71
Then we divide the advertised capacity of the power bank by 5.71 figure in order to get a more accurate mAh rating for the Voltage that the WIN 4 requires ie. 20V. The formula would look like this if we assume a Power Bank mAh rating of 24000: 24000/5.71 = ~4203 mAh. Which is a 4.2amp hours.
Now that we know the amp hours of our battery bank we can multiple the voltage required by the WIN 4 (or any other device voltage) by the amp hours that we just learned. *204.2 = 84 Watt hours.** So given the WIN 4 internal battery is 45.6 Watt hours, the assume 24000 mAh pack is expected to charge the battery from 0 to 100% once and then 0 to 75% a second time. This is calculated by taking the battery's calculated 20V Watt hour rating (84Wh) and then dividing it by the WIN 4 battery capacity of about 45.6 Watt Hours.
Keep in mind this is best case scenario as it doesn't account for:
Thank you Mouseish for the explanation.
Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) DDU is a great utility to uninstall all GPU drivers in case you install more than one during the set-up of your devices or if you would like to revert back to a more stable or performant driver on your device.
Before uninstalling anything keep in mind that you will uninstall your GPU drivers which can cause issues. Read the manual about the tool in the link. Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU)
WIN 4 keeps asking for the BitLocker recovery key
bcdedit /set default bootmenupolicy legacy
Once this is done the system can resume after sleep, hibernate, and shut down without prompting for a BitLocker recovery key. Thanks to mouseish for the tidbit!
Smokeless UMAF does the same as alt+f5 | Reboot
Thank you Andrebraga for the info!
Win4 7840u BIOS chip
Use case for documenting the BIOS Chip is in case anyone needs to reflash with a reprogrammer. The BIOS chip could be the same chip use on the 6800u and 7640u devices but I have not checked mine 6800u and nobody has posted about regarding the 7640u.
- it’s on the back of the motherboard.
- BIOS chip: Winbond 25Q256JWEQ
Thank you to Awkwabear
Booting from a USB Drive
*Turning off the LEDs on the WIN 4
Reducing the CPU Temps
Charral Message: Gelid GP-Ultimate thermal pads size 1.5mm & 1mm work perfectly on the VRMs with NT-H2 significantly reducing the CPU temps due to the original paste not being so fantastic.
- Using thermals pads, and repasting the WIN4 could reduce the temps from 79c to 67c, see this message
- Pads
- Paste
- PTM7950
Use Custom Resolution Utility (CRU) to create different screen refresh rates ie. 40hz
GPD took away the option of 40hz on the WIN4 panel because of frame skipping, and stability. CRU allows you to create that refresh rate and use it.
Setting Up RSR
RSR is AMD's solution to AI upscaling, similar to FSR but instead of it being game dependent it is game independent as it upscales at a driver level and not an application/game level.
Changing the iGPU vRAM allocation
Note: The ram on the GPD Win 4 is shared meaning that the 16GB or 32GB of RAM of the device will go to both the CPU and GPU which could hamper the performance of the devices depending on the configuration. The recommended amount of VRAM is 4GB for the 16GB RAM model, and 8GB for the 32GB RAM model.
btprice2001 shared these images on the discord to show the difference between different vRAM allocations at different TDPs.
Setting up Gyro on Motion Assistant
PS; I am not able to use the gyro controller on Steam games because for some reason I have two controllers recognized and the one that Steam is using had to be the non-gyro one. :/ I will continue this guide on the troubleshooting area
GPD Official release drivers are out! Folloq the link to get them. GPD Download page
🚨🚨Be careful using these files as they could cause issues if you do not know what you are doing!🚨🚨
Make sure that during the upgrading or downgrading your device is charging or at least at 100% battery
To downgrade the Bios follow these steps:
- Format a USB Drive to FAT32. 2. Copy the files to the ROOT of the USB drive.
3. Use FN + F7 to boot using the USB. 4. Wait 5. When all the lights are off, turn the device back on. 6. Wait. If it doesn't boot after 10 minutes, reset the BIOS using the PIN hole 7. Wait. 8. After 10 to 20 minutes, it should be downgraded.
- Format a USB drive to FAT32. 2. Copy the files to the ROOT of the USB drive. 3. Press FN + F7 to boot using the USB. 4. Select the USB drive. 5. Wait. 6. Wait. If it doesn't boot after 10 minutes, reset the BIOS using the PIN hole. 7. Now it should be upgraded.
🚨🚨BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH A BIOS UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE PLEASE BOTHER TO READ WHAT THE REPO SAYS ABOUT EACH VERSION AND DEVICE MODEL AS FLASHING A 6800U BIOS ON THE 7X40U DEVICE WOULD BRICK IT.🚨🚨 🚨🚨IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES ON YOUR DEVICE DO NOT START FLASHING BIOS FILES AS THAT COULD CAUSE ISSUES.🚨🚨 THE TABLE IS TO HELP YOU IDENTIFY FOR WHICH DEVICE EACH BIOS VERSION IS SUPPOSE TO GO BUT YOU HAVE TO VERIFY.
6800u | 7x40u | |
---|---|---|
v3.00 | v0.40 | |
v3.03 | v0.42 | |
v3.04 | v0.44 | |
v3.05 | v0.46 | |
v3.06 | v0.47 | |
[](() | v0.52 |
BIOS v3.00 6800u This Version has unlocked TDP, and Fan controls.
BIOS v3.03 6800u This version fixes some issues? I do not have a changelog for it but is the one my device was shipped with. It has an unresponsive touchscreen, The volume buttons should work on Linux, and has a USB C port issue.
BIOS v3.04 6800u This version fixes the unresponsive touchscreen, and USB C ports Issue. It is not fixed for the hz and panel skipped frames.
BIOS v3.05 6800u This version fixes the unresponsive touchscreen, and USB C ports Issue just as 3.04. It also fixes the issue that 3.04 introduced of not outputting video from the USB-C ports. It is not fixed for the hz and panel skipped frames.
BIOS v3.06 6800u This version should fix the WIN4 volume buttons not working when waking up from sleep in Linux, Fixes the problem where the USB-C port at the bottom does not display in v3.04, It resolves some issues where the device may crash under abnormal conditions, Additionally, it adds support for screen firmware updates by providing a screen firmware upgrade interface by updating the EC to version 8.0 from version 7.8.
These BIOS firmware is only applicable for the upgrade of WIN 4 models with 7840U and 7640U processors. It resolves the issue of being unable to modify the memory frequency.
These files were provided by GPD. See the video description.
Use CRU a third-party application CRU
Gifs are from Sabrina's GitHub.
Out of all the TDP Tools, I would ask myself any of these questions before deciding:
Hopefully, these helped you decide too. Also, give them all a try as you might find some more intuitive than others or you might find some exoteric function that you didn't know was possible.
Motion Assistant is so much more than just a TDP Tool. It has fan controls, Gyro settings, Hotkeys, and a framerate limit. Best for people who want an all-in-one solution.
a. Original Source b. download link for MA 1.1.73 c. Motion Assistant Manual d. Motion Assistant setup and benefits
SmarterTDP is an awesome solution that manages only TDP but it does a great job at that! Perfect if you want a simple, one-click TDP solution to set it and forget it but that will adapt to your device needs.
Ciphray.bat has a high learning curve but the amount of controls and granularity that you get from it is amazing. If you love to tinker or maybe learn more about all the different settings, nuts and bolts to put something unique to your needs Ciphray bat will be it. a. The Phawk made a video explaining how to set the bat up in 6800U devices. It should be fairly similar for 7x40u or 8x40u. LINK
Project SBC contributed to Universal x86 Tuning Utility project. Universal x86 Tuning Utility. which is cool to see someone that has provided us with so many great tools contribute to others so that we get more and more options!
Manage, Control, and change the TDP and other settings of any x86 device Intel or AMD. https://github.com/JamesCJ60/Universal-x86-Tuning-Utility-Handheld/releases
Project SBC is working on adding and solving as many of the pain points that handheld users have with this software!
Manage, Control, and change the TDP and other settings of the compatible devices. https://github.com/project-sbc/Handheld-Control-Panel
Project SBC The Devs of Power Control Panel V2 (PCP V2) have moved all the new features and development to a new project called Handheld Control Panel (HCP) and are working on a new version that will add more TDP features. If interested Please see above ⬆️⬆️⬆️ I will keep the stale info here so that people looking for PCPV2 know of the new software.
Control and change the TDP of the compatible devices. https://github.com/project-sbc/Power-Control-Panel-v2
Use cases taken from the Handheld companion repo:
" You want to add universal motion controls (UMC) to any game.
You want to add high-precision motion controls to your Windows game library through Steam.
You want to play your Sony Playstation 4 library through PlayStation Now or PS4 Remote Play.
You want to enjoy all your Wii, WiiU, and Switch games with full motion controls through UDP motion control protocol. "
https://github.com/Valkirie/HandheldCompanion/tree/0.14.0.9
Upstream project of the handheld version of the tool name the same but for handheld PCs.
Manage, Control, and change the TDP and other settings of any x86 device Intel or AMD. https://github.com/JamesCJ60/Universal-x86-Tuning-Utility
GPU https://github.com/kruzer/poclmembench/tree/0.91
CPU, GPU, RAM, & Others https://www.passmark.com/products/performancetest/index.php
DROIX Knowledge base Droix has a lot of great information about different issues, and questions. Droix Knowledge base
Gyro is not working :(
For some reason HIDHIDE is not hiding one of the controllers to steam, and to the OS. So I still get two different controllers running on my Device Manager.
USB A speeds are not as advertised
If after testing your USB A port your speeds are not up to the standard of USB 3.2 and your device has speeds closer to USB 2 than USB 3 then this could be a temporary solution/workaround. Thanks to DesignGears on Discord Message Link :)
DesignGears tests screenshots before and after the fix/workaround.
TouchScreen is not working
If you used an SSD or SD Card from another device and that storage device had the screen drivers from a different device ie. Ayaneo, Steamdeck, etc. It could turn the screen in a portrait orientation, and cause touchscreen, and/or panel issues on the GPD Win4. If you run into these issues follow these steps. Thanks to DesignGears on Discord Message Link :)
The touch input is not the same as the register input
The issue could have been caused because of the use of the DriverEasy, or CCleaner apps to update drivers. After a fresh installation the screen is not inputting the right spot where it was touched. You press in an area but the input is registered in a different area of the screen. Discord Message Discord message confirmation from Fulbringer of the fix working.
How to use Crystal Disk Mark to test storage and port speeds. LINK
In-Depth Review from Notebookcheck. LINK. Please note; The microSD card that they used for their test is UHS-II which DesignGears on discord tested and found out they will never reach the UHS-II speed because the slot is designed for UHS-I cards, see difference in the pin layouts HERE.
The Phawx
TheRelaxingEnd
NITTRX
AquaKlef
GPD Win 4 Thumbstick Protector I love this protector. They actually do what I wanted them to do which is prevent the click of the sticks when on my backpack. They are better and easier to use than the Linus Tech Tips silicone covers, and you get the option of also being able to get one that allows for protection when using a Skull & Co Thumb grip. https://www.etsy.com/listing/1468795898/gpd-win-4-thumbstick-protectorcover?ref=yr_purchases
Batteries from GPD AliExpress store. https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256802595312541.html?gatewayAdapt=Pc2Msite https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256803076020665.html?gatewayAdapt=Pc2Msite
GPD WIN4 Skins. https://sopiguard.com/collections/gaming-1/products/for-gpd-win-4?variant=45034656334125
GPD WIN4 Deckmate compatible clip-on back. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6100878
GPD Win 3 replacement Joystick by Dovah Someone said on Discord that the Joystick for Win 3 and Win 4 are the same but I will update once the retail unit starts arriving in people's hands. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5100417
Any SSD that is single-sided should work on the GPD Win 4.
These are some of them.
Really good video by The Phawk packed with info, benches, and comparison between Z1, 6800u, 7840um, and steam deck APU. LINK
Specs for the Orginal WIN 4 with 6800u
Specs for WIN 4 Refresh with 7840u, and 7640U
Contributions are what make the open-source community such an amazing place to learn, inspire, and create. Any contributions you make are greatly appreciated.
If you have a suggestion that would make this repo better, please open an issue with the tag "enhancement". Don't forget to give the project a star! Thanks again!
Project Link: https://github.com/lertsoft/GPD_WIN4