Author: Janux
Subject: AB350 Pro4 / GPU passthrough fail / BIOS 5.80
Posted: 16 Oct 2019 at 10:11pm
Hi All. I'm running a dual-GPU Ubuntu Linux machine. I have a QEMU/KVM based VM with Windows 10 inside and I like to run it from within Linux.
My setup worked like a charm for nearly 2 years - I've been running on BIOS v 5.00. From time to time I would have a freeze in Linux which I couldn't resolve via kernel or driver tweaks. I've decided to upgrade the BIOS on the damn motherboard to help resolve this - big mistake...
The computer pretty much died and after CMOS reset, issues with boot and VGA arbitration, I finally recovered everything apart from the being able to pass the GPU to the VM. I believe this is down to a bug in AGESA - specifically I moved to AGESA 0.0.7.2 and then to AGESA Combo-AM4 1.0.0.1.
These threads point to AGESA:
1. https://www.reddit.com/r/Amd/comments/bh3qqz/agesa_0072_pci_quirk/
2. https://www.reddit.com/r/VFIO/comments/bvqxnt/psa_amd_agesa_1001_does_not_fix_the_pci/
3. https://www.reddit.com/r/VFIO/comments/b7249z/asrock_ab350_pro4_downgradevfio_issues/
So in short: whatever I try on the OS side will fail because the GPU can't be powered on while being passed to the VM.
I now have the following choices (and this is where I need your help...):
1. I can try fixing this via OS hacks. Doubt this will work or that a hack exists.
2. I can convert into a dual-boot system. That's extra work and pain of having to reboot to enter the other OS.
3. I can try downgrading the BIOS. ASRock says I can't downgrade below 5.70 now. Really? No way around this?
BIOS list: https://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/AB350%20Pro4/#BIOS
Rant: I cannot believe the garbage which ASRock and/or AMD released. To have an update and actively discourage users from upgrading because, as a manufacturer, you appreciate how destructive it can be is appalling. Absolutely shocking.
Janux
Subject: AB350 Pro4 / GPU passthrough fail / BIOS 5.80
Posted: 16 Oct 2019 at 10:11pm
Hi All. I'm running a dual-GPU Ubuntu Linux machine. I have a QEMU/KVM based VM with Windows 10 inside and I like to run it from within Linux.
My setup worked like a charm for nearly 2 years - I've been running on BIOS v 5.00. From time to time I would have a freeze in Linux which I couldn't resolve via kernel or driver tweaks. I've decided to upgrade the BIOS on the damn motherboard to help resolve this - big mistake...
The computer pretty much died and after CMOS reset, issues with boot and VGA arbitration, I finally recovered everything apart from the being able to pass the GPU to the VM. I believe this is down to a bug in AGESA - specifically I moved to AGESA 0.0.7.2 and then to AGESA Combo-AM4 1.0.0.1.
These threads point to AGESA:
1. https://www.reddit.com/r/Amd/comments/bh3qqz/agesa_0072_pci_quirk/
2. https://www.reddit.com/r/VFIO/comments/bvqxnt/psa_amd_agesa_1001_does_not_fix_the_pci/
3. https://www.reddit.com/r/VFIO/comments/b7249z/asrock_ab350_pro4_downgradevfio_issues/
So in short: whatever I try on the OS side will fail because the GPU can't be powered on while being passed to the VM.
I now have the following choices (and this is where I need your help...):
1. I can try fixing this via OS hacks. Doubt this will work or that a hack exists.
2. I can convert into a dual-boot system. That's extra work and pain of having to reboot to enter the other OS.
3. I can try downgrading the BIOS. ASRock says I can't downgrade below 5.70 now. Really? No way around this?
BIOS list: https://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/AB350%20Pro4/#BIOS
Rant: I cannot believe the garbage which ASRock and/or AMD released. To have an update and actively discourage users from upgrading because, as a manufacturer, you appreciate how destructive it can be is appalling. Absolutely shocking.
Janux