Dock Compatibility (AMD) - USB-C / Thunderbolt

Framework Laptop 13
90

I can confirm that stopping fwupd.service didn’t change anything for my monitor issue, using both DP and USB-C to DP cables on a CalDigit TS4 dock. I commented on the GitLab issue above the other day.

Although I’ve been able to test out with 2 other DP monitors (a iiyama 1080p 75Hz and a LG 1080p 21:9 75Hz) and they are recognized correctly. I have a different (LG) 1440p 165Hz display I can try tomorrow too but I’m starting to think it’s linked to high-spec (recent ?) monitors.

I also just tested using a USB-C to HDMI cable I had on hand and my ASUS monitor gets detected perfectly with EDID at up to 1440p 144Hz (which is expected in HDMI).

EDIT: After testing with the LG 1440p 165Hz monitor (LG Ultragear 27GR75Q-B), it surprisingly works perfectly despite being very similar to the ASUS one(s)…
I’ll include the monitor EDID and update my comment over GitLab hopping it can help diagnose the issue over Linux as it strangely works on Windows :thinking:

LG EDID

edid-decode (hex):

00 ff ff ff ff ff ff 00 1e 6d 4d 5c 33 6c 06 00
04 21 01 04 b5 3c 22 78 9d 8c b5 af 4f 43 ab 26
0e 50 54 21 08 00 d1 c0 61 40 01 01 01 01 01 01
01 01 01 01 01 01 09 ec 00 a0 a0 a0 67 50 30 20
3a 00 58 54 21 00 00 1a 00 00 00 fd 0c 30 a5 03
03 46 01 0a 20 20 20 20 20 20 00 00 00 fc 00 4c
47 20 55 4c 54 52 41 47 45 41 52 0a 00 00 00 ff
00 33 30 34 4e 54 43 5a 43 43 39 31 35 0a 02 17

02 03 31 71 23 09 06 07 e2 00 6a 83 01 00 00 e3
05 c0 00 e6 06 05 01 53 53 2e 48 10 04 03 01 1f
13 3f 40 6d 1a 00 00 02 05 30 a5 00 04 53 2e 53
2e 56 5e 00 a0 a0 a0 29 50 30 20 35 00 58 54 21
00 00 1a 5a a0 00 a0 a0 a0 46 50 30 20 3a 00 58
54 21 00 00 00 6f c2 00 a0 a0 a0 55 50 30 20 3a
00 58 54 21 00 00 1a 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 01

70 12 79 03 00 03 00 14 3d 11 01 84 ff 09 9f 00
2f 80 1f 00 9f 05 76 00 02 00 04 00 00 00 00 00
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 f3 90

Block 0, Base EDID:
EDID Structure Version & Revision: 1.4
Vendor & Product Identification:
Manufacturer: GSM
Model: 23629
Serial Number: 420915 (0x00066c33)
Made in: week 4 of 2023
Basic Display Parameters & Features:
Digital display
Bits per primary color channel: 10
DisplayPort interface
Maximum image size: 60 cm x 34 cm
Gamma: 2.20
DPMS levels: Standby
Supported color formats: RGB 4:4:4, YCrCb 4:4:4, YCrCb 4:2:2
Default (sRGB) color space is primary color space
First detailed timing does not include the native pixel format and preferred refresh rate
Display supports continuous frequencies
Color Characteristics:
Red : 0.6855, 0.3085
Green: 0.2646, 0.6679
Blue : 0.1503, 0.0576
White: 0.3134, 0.3291
Established Timings I & II:
DMT 0x04: 640x480 59.940476 Hz 4:3 31.469 kHz 25.175000 MHz
DMT 0x09: 800x600 60.316541 Hz 4:3 37.879 kHz 40.000000 MHz
DMT 0x10: 1024x768 60.003840 Hz 4:3 48.363 kHz 65.000000 MHz
Standard Timings:
DMT 0x52: 1920x1080 60.000000 Hz 16:9 67.500 kHz 148.500000 MHz
DMT 0x10: 1024x768 60.003840 Hz 4:3 48.363 kHz 65.000000 MHz
Detailed Timing Descriptors:
DTD 1: 2560x1440 143.973257 Hz 16:9 222.151 kHz 604.250000 MHz (600 mm x 340 mm)
Hfront 48 Hsync 32 Hback 80 Hpol P
Vfront 3 Vsync 10 Vback 90 Vpol N
Display Range Limits:
Monitor ranges (Range Limits Only): 48-165 Hz V, 258-258 kHz H, max dotclock 700 MHz
Display Product Name: ‘LG ULTRAGEAR’
Display Product Serial Number: ‘304NTCZCC915’
Extension blocks: 2
Checksum: 0x17

Block 1, CTA-861 Extension Block:
Revision: 3
Basic audio support
Supports YCbCr 4:4:4
Supports YCbCr 4:2:2
Native detailed modes: 1
Audio Data Block:
Linear PCM:
Max channels: 2
Supported sample rates (kHz): 48 44.1
Supported sample sizes (bits): 24 20 16
Video Capability Data Block:
YCbCr quantization: No Data
RGB quantization: Selectable (via AVI Q)
PT scan behavior: Always Underscanned
IT scan behavior: Always Underscanned
CE scan behavior: Always Underscanned
Speaker Allocation Data Block:
FL/FR - Front Left/Right
Colorimetry Data Block:
BT2020YCC
BT2020RGB
HDR Static Metadata Data Block:
Electro optical transfer functions:
Traditional gamma - SDR luminance range
SMPTE ST2084
Supported static metadata descriptors:
Static metadata type 1
Desired content max luminance: 83 (301.833 cd/m^2)
Desired content max frame-average luminance: 83 (301.833 cd/m^2)
Desired content min luminance: 46 (0.098 cd/m^2)
Video Data Block:
VIC 16: 1920x1080 60.000000 Hz 16:9 67.500 kHz 148.500000 MHz
VIC 4: 1280x720 60.000000 Hz 16:9 45.000 kHz 74.250000 MHz
VIC 3: 720x480 59.940060 Hz 16:9 31.469 kHz 27.000000 MHz
VIC 1: 640x480 59.940476 Hz 4:3 31.469 kHz 25.175000 MHz
VIC 31: 1920x1080 50.000000 Hz 16:9 56.250 kHz 148.500000 MHz
VIC 19: 1280x720 50.000000 Hz 16:9 37.500 kHz 74.250000 MHz
VIC 63: 1920x1080 120.000000 Hz 16:9 135.000 kHz 297.000000 MHz
VIC 64: 1920x1080 100.000000 Hz 16:9 112.500 kHz 297.000000 MHz
Vendor-Specific Data Block (AMD), OUI 00-00-1A:
Version: 2.5
Minimum Refresh Rate: 48 Hz
Maximum Refresh Rate: 165 Hz
Flags 1.x: 0x00
Flags 2.x: 0x04
Maximum luminance: 83 (301.833 cd/m^2)
Minimum luminance: 46 (0.098 cd/m^2)
Maximum luminance (without local dimming): 83 (301.833 cd/m^2)
Minimum luminance (without local dimming): 46 (0.098 cd/m^2)
Detailed Timing Descriptors:
DTD 2: 2560x1440 59.950550 Hz 16:9 88.787 kHz 241.500000 MHz (600 mm x 340 mm)
Hfront 48 Hsync 32 Hback 80 Hpol P
Vfront 3 Vsync 5 Vback 33 Vpol N
DTD 3: 2560x1440 99.946436 Hz 16:9 150.919 kHz 410.500000 MHz (analog composite, sync-on-green, 600 mm x 340 mm)
Hfront 48 Hsync 32 Hback 80 Hpol N
Vfront 3 Vsync 10 Vback 57 Vpol N
DTD 4: 2560x1440 119.997589 Hz 16:9 182.996 kHz 497.750000 MHz (600 mm x 340 mm)
Hfront 48 Hsync 32 Hback 80 Hpol P
Vfront 3 Vsync 10 Vback 72 Vpol N
Checksum: 0x01 Unused space in Extension Block: 24 bytes

Block 2, DisplayID Extension Block:
Version: 1.2
Extension Count: 0
Display Product Type: Standalone display device
Video Timing Modes Type 1 - Detailed Timings Data Block:
DTD: 2560x1440 164.957741 Hz 16:9 257.169 kHz 699.500000 MHz (aspect 16:9, no 3D stereo, preferred)
Hfront 48 Hsync 32 Hback 80 Hpol P
Vfront 3 Vsync 5 Vback 111 Vpol N
Checksum: 0xf3
Checksum: 0x90

91

@Alex_S: I keep using it 3 days a week at work without any issues😊
Not sure if I mentioned it already, but I disable the Frameworks internal display and work only on the 2 external 1440p monitors.

I did not try to update the dock with LVFS, as it works just fine.

I’m also using stock ubuntu 22.04 with 6.5 kernel (not OEM). Booting from an external USB-C M.2 drive. Surprisingly also no problems here.

(Private use is with Arch Linux - but that never gets connected to the docking station)

92

Today at work I checked for updates with LVFS, and indeed there is one available:

image
image606×688 102 KB

Hope that answers your question.

PS: The update itself also worked fine

1 Like
93

Yes, I’ve updated everything and have retested today.

OS: Fedora 39
Kernel: 6.8.8-200.fc39.x86_64
Bios: 03.05
Dock: CalDigit TS4

I’m still getting a freeze right around the time gnome is starting or shutting down. So I have to undock before I want to boot/shutdown.

I did not try the patch mentioned here because I don’t have the time: Dock Compatibility (AMD) - USB-C / Thunderbolt - #38 by Mario_Limonciello

94

On another note, @Matt_Hartley have you tested running Bluefin on your FW13 and plugged it into any of the hubs/docks suggested here? Wonder how that compatibility is fairing.

95

Hmm…Fedora 40?

96

Installed Fedora 40. Same problem.

97

@Alex_S Docks are the bane of my existence. lol

As a hard and fast rule, generally, ANKER stuff is solid (usually). I’d connect them to the higher power consuming ports, through. Pushing webcams, USB headsets or external drives is fine.

  • FW 13 AMD

  • FW 16 AMD

  • Don’t run video through your dock. Use HDMI or DP expansion cards as we control that narrative and we do not for docks. Most issues we see are folks pushing HDMI or DP through a dock, we have no control there and it rarely works.

  • And to avoid another common issue, use DP to DP expansion card or HDMI to HDMI expansion card, do not use adapters.

3 Likes
98

My issue is not framework specific. Guy with a Thinkpad gets the same exact issue, apparently caused by a zero-division in the driver: External monitor prevents logout/reboot / Kernel & Hardware / Arch Linux Forums

It was fixed 3 weeks ago in upstream. But it has not made it into the 6.8 and 6.9 kernels yet. I found that thread because my dmesg keeps spamming this message permanently when I’m running a game:

...
[drm] Mode Validation Warning: Viewport size failed validation.
[drm] Mode Validation Warning: Viewport size failed validation.
[drm] Mode Validation Warning: Viewport size failed validation.
...
99

No one requested it back to stable until now. It’s not an automatic process. I’ve sent out a request:
https://lore.kernel.org/stable/e1937591-708b-4fe9-a43c-2027ddc1c657@amd.com/T/#u

1 Like
100

On this topic, I can now agree. Video randomly no longer works through my Cable Matters USB-C hub, but it works fine through the HDMI expansion card.

101

The patch has made it into 6.8.11, which will become available to Fedora users in the coming days. I have just tried that kernel from the testing repo and can confirm that the freeze is no longer reproducible. There is still a short 7 second hang sometimes until the gpu driver logs a timeout, but other than that the permanent hang is resolved.

102

Matt, I feel this is kinda a bad answer. The point of most people wanting to use a dock is to avoid having to plug in more than one cable. If they just want to push USB and Ethernet there are way cheaper options, but someone that needs to plug in and unplug constantly wants a dock to unplug one cable when needed and then when back at the desk plug that one cable back in and be good.

I have a Kingston TB4 that works flawlessly with my work laptop running Manjaro and has been for well over a year. I plug in the dock to the fw16 and it no longer works. This leads me to believe that there is an overall issue with the fw16 and others are seeing it as well and the best answer we seem to get is just don’t push video through the dock. Kinda frustrating TBH.

4 Likes
103

I’ve had issues with a FW13 AMD and (the same?) Kensington TB4 dock. I’ve found a (fairly brittle but functional) workaround, see here upthread. Even with a pair of Apple TB4 cables involved it still breaks, so cable dependent which smells strongly of race condition to my software-biased nose.

Tracked upstream as AMDGPU driver issue here.

The kworker issue mentioned on the first link may be specific to FW13, either way workaround was found here although several of us myself included are still awaiting the root cause fix for that.

104

I’ll look at the kworker issue, I’ve changed the cable a couple times. For me it works if I only have one monitor, when I have two monitors I get the no EDID errors.

105

Hello @Matt_Hartley on my side my USB-C dock works only if I first plug :

  • Lenovo Thinkpad Laptop
  • Then plug any laptops, screen output has signal

If I reboot the USB-C dock, then the signal output vanishes for the Framework Laptop or any other (Dell Latpop or HP Laptop same issue too)

I’m suspecting the USB-C dock is sending an authentication challenge to the Embedded Controller, but I have yet to order the USB-C packet sniffer in order to confirm this hypothesis.

I see no issue with using the Thinkpad USB-C gen 2 dock other than the one I mentioned, if you have any more information to share on why it would be bad, please feel free to let us know.

106

This was not my experience on my side with the 13th FW AMD but my USB-C dock has an authentication challenge for HDMI/DP output it seems and can only work if I plug the proper brand of laptop (Lenovo Thinkpad).

107

Since this was “fixed” I’ve booted my system like 20 - 30 times, with the issue reoccurring on 3 occasions at bolt.service. Now it is much harder to reproduce and I don’t know what the issue is now.

Other rare and unreproducible issues I sometimes have with my CalDigit TS 4:

  • Everything connects fine, Fedora 40 switches to the external monitor. But it does not charge until I unplug and reconnect to the dock
  • Everything connects, charges and peripherals work fine but the external monitor is not recognized at all. In this case I need a full reboot
108

I have a FW13 7840U on order. I’m keen to move away from my StayGo USB-C dock (as it already crumbles under USB+Display+Ethernet).

I’m keen to upgrade to multi-monitor (high refresh rate) setup with multi-gig ethernet.

The new generation of TB4 docks seem kick-ass on paper with multi-display and 2.5G ethernet. Although they don’t clarify if they are high refresh rates

Many of them claim backwards compatibility with TB3/USB-C.

Does anyone have any experience of these:

  1. Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock
  2. Plugable USB4 Dual HDMI Docking Station (UD-4VPD)
  3. Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock
  4. Plugable Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 Quad Display Docking Station
  5. Anker 568 USB-C Docking Station
109

I’m using the FW13 7640U with Ubuntu and the Caldigit ts3 plus is the best dock I’ve used so far. Haven’t had any issues so far. I got it on eBay for about $100.

I’ve tried the Anker 555 8 in 1 dock and Dell D6000 docks and they both had a lot of issues with needing to be unplugged and replugged to get both the single display and mouse + keyboard working.

I’m also making sure I’m using a good Cable Matters usb 4 cable with the Caldigit dock, since I know a lot of cables look like they’ll do 10gbps but actually only have the pins for 5gbps.