Public Beta Test: BIOS v3.03 + Driver Bundle 2021_08_31

[pixelforest]

Before we make any new Framework builds publicly available one of the most important aspects is to give our community a chance to evaluate the Framework BIOS and driver builds to provide feedback before we roll them out to all Framework users.

This is a really important step where we want to hear the community’s bug reports, suggestions or general feedback on the latest beta releases for Framework’s BIOS/driver bundles.

We have already been testing these releases internally over here at Framework as thoroughly as possible , but since this is a public beta test there is always a chance you could encounter an unforeseen issue we haven’t caught yet; so please consider updating to these versions only if you are OK with that (and ensuring you have backed up anything essential first).

If you do notice any issues or have feedback please comment in this thread and the Framework team will be reviewing everything here and following up as fast as we can.

Thank you all for working together and helping us improve our releases!

Full release notes are available here.

Windows

Download: BIOS 3.03

Download: Driver Bundle 2021_08_31

Linux

LVFS update coming next week

[RandomUser]

“S0ix” - In the release note. I’m assuming this is a typo.

[RandomUser]

Questions:

1. If one needs to rollback to 3.02 non-beta, is it possible to do so? (i.e. BIOS download is technically possible by end-users, right?)
2. Is there any dependency between the driver bundle and the BIOS? (e.g. Can I just test the BIOS and not update the drivers?)
3. If, for whatever reason, the flashing of a beta BIOS results in a bricked laptop (and it’s seen by multiple users, not an isolated incident / caused by the user’s flashing procedure), is there a BIOS rollback procedure available to the end-user? Or would shipping back to base be required? If the latter, would Framework cover the shipping cost? This question goes to the severity of the “unforeseen issue we haven’t caught yet”.

Q: “Always have an escape plan”

[jeshikat]

While testing some Windows 10 stuff I went ahead and updated the BIOS to the 3.03 beta. Update went smoothly, no issues there.

source

For the new Chassis Intrusion Prevention feature, is it this button?

Is it expected to not trigger the chassis intrusion if the Battery Disconnect had been used prior to disassembly?

If the battery is drained to 0% (but the battery disconnect feature is not used) would it also not trigger chassis intrusion?

[Chris2]

Updated to 3.03 using a Windows to Go drive (since my main drive has linux). All in all install was easy. Just be aware after flashing, it may sit with the fans at 100% with nothing on the screen. Just let it sit, it will boot but it may take 30~ or so seconds.

[Quinn_Casey]

@RandomUser

“S0ix” - In the release note. I’m assuming this is a typo.

Represents power states, I believe

[aquaticDolphin]

I don’t think the driver bundle installed Intel smart sound for me. There is a codec existence check which I guess failed for me

[pixelforest]

@RandomUser

“S0ix” - In the release note. I’m assuming this is a typo.

This is correct (no typo) - Here is a an article (although a bit ancient) with more history and context to the S0ix modern power states

https://www.anandtech.com/show/6355/intels-haswell-architecture/3

[pixelforest]

@RandomUser

Questions:

1. If one needs to rollback to 3.02 non-beta, is it possible to do so? (i.e. BIOS download is technically possible by end-users, right?)
2. Is there any dependency between the driver bundle and the BIOS? (e.g. Can I just test the BIOS and not update the drivers?)
3. If, for whatever reason, the flashing of a beta BIOS results in a bricked laptop (and it’s seen by multiple users, not an isolated incident / caused by the user’s flashing procedure), is there a BIOS rollback procedure available to the end-user? Or would shipping back to base be required? If the latter, would Framework cover the shipping cost? This question goes to the severity of the “unforeseen issue we haven’t caught yet”.

Great questions!

1. Yep, we would be able to provide and install the previous BIOS version you were on.
2. No dependencies that we are currently aware of; you can install either or both (that’s what I ended up doing personally on my machine!).
3. We believe this is very unlikely (based on our internal testing the past few weeks), but if it is bricked, we will make sure to help you out - as a last resort if it did end up needing to be sent back to Framework we can cover shipping costs; otherwise we do not yet have a procedure to resolve a bricked laptop (hasn’t occurred for us yet, hopefully I didn’t just jinx us!), but if we find reports we will publish one as quickly as we can.

[nrp]

@aquaticDolphin

I don’t think the driver bundle installed Intel smart sound for me. There is a codec existence check which I guess failed for me

Could you provide a screenshot of the issue you saw?

[cowpod]

EDIT: A driver package reinstall seems to have fixed this.

I don’t have a screenshot of the installer message, but I do have an ‘unknown device’ in device manager.

[aquaticDolphin]

@nrp I tried the driver install again and it worked with the smart sound and realtek driver installing. Could have sworn that this was not the case the first time around. In any event, now to see if sleep works properly without it going into hibernate.

Edit: I still go into hibernate after a while sleeping

[Ryan_Michalowski]

Just performed both updates and they were successful. I also experienced what Chris2 did where after reboot it sat on a blank screen for ~40 seconds.

[RandomUser]

For info (if anyone is wondering what’s in the driver bundle):
I unzipped the driver bundle (using 7zip).

Here’s the content:

[ImaxinarDM]

@Ryan_Michalowski

blank screen for ~40 seconds.

It struck me that it was doing a memory training again… Seemed like the same place and amount of time as it initially did for that.

I’m on the new BIOS and drivers and have not noticed a problem yet. Going to check power drain this morning.

[RandomUser]

@ImaxinarDM

doing a memory training again

I wonder what that procedure really does (new BIOS and first boot).

Update: Just finished flashing BIOS v3.03 on my unit as well. I can also confirm that it was doing the memory training again on the first boot after flashing. Took about 1m25s (32GB RAM).

[m0biusace]

Really hoping the S0ix / modernstandby drain bug is fixed with this – if it is i’ll be keeping my preorder!

[cowpod]

@m0biusace

if it is i’ll be keeping my preorder!

You may as well keep it - they’re quick about updates (news and releases), and in general, by pulling out you’re making it worse for everyone else by an ever so little amount.
Setting PlatformAoAcOverride to 0 in regedit disables modern standby and re-enabled S3 sleep. It’s slower to wake, but quicker than waking from hibernation. And it drains very little when sleeping!

[pixelforest]

Stopping by quick to say thanks for all the feedback and questions so far on the release/release process (please keep it coming !), we are reviewing and keeping all of the feedback here top of mind for this and future releases. Thank you all!