[REQUEST] ASUS TUF Gaming FX505DU BIOS Unlock

[vayana]

Hi, I just bought a laptop (ASUS TUF Gaming FX505DU). This laptop runs on Ryzen 7 3750H with integrated graphics (VEGA 10) + Nvidia 1660TI. The BIOS is AMI 2.20.0049 but it lacks just about anything you'd expect from a BIOS. I upgraded to Win 10 pro because I want to use Virtual Machines and just found out Virtualization has been disabled in the firmware... Absolutely beats me why on earth this would be disabled   

Also, the laptop has integrated graphics (VEGA 10) which uses 2 whopping GB from my RAM, and there's no way to change this or disable the IGPU in the BIOS.  

I would kindly like to ask for anyone who would be willing to enable these 2 options in the BIOS for me if possible. I'm comfortable with flashing ROMS but have 0 experience with modding a BIOS myself. I'll attach the latest version of the BIOS to the thread and hope one of you is willing to sort it out.


  FX505DU BIOS 305.zip (Size: 10.4 MB / Downloads: 71)

I'd be ok to do it myself but I would really need step by step instructions for me to give that a bash as I don't want to risk frying my laptop Mobo 

Thanks a million in advance!

[Lost_N_BIOS]

Why did you put same BIOS twice in one folder!?

I found virtualization setting (SVM Mode), so I can change that or make visible to you in mod BIOS (but that might be hassle to flash)

I also found the graphics shared memory option, but that will require you being able to flash mod BIOS, and for AMD and new systems this often means you need a flash programmer unless you can find working AFU version/method (Not /GAN) Default is Auto, and I can't see what it's choosing, but we'll have to assume 2GB

One Of Option: Auto, Value (32 bit): 0xFFFFFFFF (default) {09 0A 0F 00 12 02 FF FF FF FF}
0x15F59 One Of Option: 64M, Value (32 bit): 0x40 {09 0A 10 02 02 02 40 00 00 00}
0x15F63 One Of Option: 128M, Value (32 bit): 0x80 {09 0A 11 02 02 02 80 00 00 00}
0x15F6D One Of Option: 256M, Value (32 bit): 0x100 {09 0A 12 02 02 02 00 01 00 00}
0x15F77 One Of Option: 384M, Value (32 bit): 0x180 {09 0A 13 02 02 02 80 01 00 00}
0x15F81 One Of Option: 512M, Value (32 bit): 0x200 {09 0A 14 02 02 02 00 02 00 00}
0x15F8B One Of Option: 80M, Value (32 bit): 0x50 {09 0A 15 02 02 02 50 00 00 00}
0x15F95 One Of Option: 96M, Value (32 bit): 0x60 {09 0A 16 02 02 02 60 00 00 00}
0x15F9F One Of Option: 768M, Value (32 bit): 0x300 {09 0A 17 02 02 02 00 03 00 00}
0x15FA9 One Of Option: 1G, Value (32 bit): 0x400 {09 0A 18 02 02 02 00 04 00 00}
0x15FB3 One Of Option: 2G, Value (32 bit): 0x800 {09 0A 19 02 02 02 00 08 00 00}
0x15FBD One Of Option: 3G, Value (32 bit): 0xC00 {09 0A 1A 02 02 02 00 0C 00 00}
0x15FC7 One Of Option: 4G, Value (32 bit): 0x1000 {09 0A 1B 02 02 02 00 10 00 00}
0x15FD1 One Of Option: 8G, Value (32 bit): 0x2000 {09 0A 1C 02 02 02 00 20 00 00}
0x15FDB One Of Option: 16G, Value (32 bit): 0x4000 {09 0A 1D 02 02 02 00 40 00 00}

You don't want to start playing with enabling/disable graphic functions on a laptop without programmer in hand and backup made/ready to recover BIOS >> due to no Muxed setting = black screen, blind BIOS recovery only option without programmer.

Please send an image of your BIOS Advanced page, first try F12 screenshot to USB, if that does not work use a camera

We can possibly adjust this virtualization setting via grub using setup_var, that will be much easier than flashing in a mod BIOS, which you may need hardware flash programmer like CH341A and SOIC8 test clip w/ cable to do. but the graphics setting will require a mod BIOS to change because this option is not in the normal BIOS "Setup" module that controls many BIOS options, it's inside an AMD one instead (CBS)

Here is a general guide on how to use grub with setup_var, I wrote this to change another setting unrelated to this, but it was written for Asus and will give you general idea of how to accomplish what we need to do here
https://www.win-raid.com/t3908f16-GUIDE-Grub-Setup-Var-Guide-Fix-Intel-FPT-Error-BIOS-Lock-Bit-Set-HSFS-W-Asus-or-Other-Mod-BIOS.html

You'll change this variable >>
SVM Mode, VarStoreInfo (VarOffset/VarName): 0xD6
One Of Option: Disabled, Value (8 bit): 0x0 (default) {09 07 04 00 30 00 00}
One Of Option: Enabled, Value (8 bit): 0x1 {09 07 6B 00 00 00 01}

Rename your .efi file to >> Shell.efi

At grub prompt type the following >> setup_var 0xD6 0x1

[vayana]

Hi Lost_N_BIOS,

Apologies for the duplicate file in the zip. I think I accidentally re-added the extracted file to the original zip file I downloaded from ASUS.

Thanks for the detailed explanation, I'll read the guide you referred to, to get a better understanding of what you're saying as I'm pretty much a noob at all of this. I've used GRUB a few times back in the day for loading dual boot OS but other than that things don't ring a bell . If the graphics option is too much hassle or risk than just the virtualization option would already be a big plus. I can always buy more RAM lol.

In the meantime, I've made some pics last night so you can see what the BIOS looks like. It must be the most limited BIOS ever as even the Advanced settings almost have no configurable options. Setting the time and date is pretty much the only useful setting I could find haha. I'm still on the original BIOS b.t.w. (302), unfortunately ASUS doesn't provide any info about what's new or different in the newer version other than "improves stability". I'll load the newer one today and check but really don't expect any major differences t.b.h.





old cadillac symbol

[vayana]

Looks like I've not done my homework 

Since it's the first time I've bought something with an AMD processor, I had never heard of SVM (Amd secure virtual machine) before. Turns out this is the Virtualization option I'm looking for and it is available in the BIOS. This just leaves the integrated graphics setting which is definitely not configurable in the default BIOS, but perhaps it might be configurable in the AMD Ryzen Master software once they've added the 3750h to the supported chips.

[Lost_N_BIOS]

Ahh! So you already have virtualization visible, that's good! Don't feel bad, I had to find out the AMD name by looking around too

Yes, you may be able to change the graphics option via software, if it accesses and or can change AMD Specific BIOS options. The only way I can do that for you is by mod BIOS, and if you don't have a programmer it will be a hassle (sometimes impossible) to find working AFU or AFU method to flash in modified BIOS. This setting is in the AMD CBS menu, which can also be made visible in your BIOS probably, I didn't check, but that would require flashing in mod BIOS too.

I'd get on the latest BIOS, maybe you'll get lucky and they turned down the shared memory to 1GB

[vayana]

I contacted ASUS support about the missing graphics option and they confirmed that they will release a BIOS update next month which will include this feature. Guess I'm lucky I don't need to resolve to modding but nonetheless I appreciate your assistance so far.

[Lost_N_BIOS]

Hopefully they will do that, and not just some helpless support tech guy telling you that so you'll not continually to email them about it

You're welcome! If they don't come through, we can sort it out but it will require you flashing in mod BIOS

[Tomonok]

Hi, I recently bought this laptop and the bios on it is a little bit lacking. I would be glad if someone could unlock some more options (default gpu, disable nvme, ...)

I also have a problem with svm. When enabled neither windows nor linux boot. They just end on a black screen. I wrote about this to Asus, but they said the usual maybe in future bios revision blah blah...

I attached the latest bios from asus website.

Thanks in advance for your help

[Tomonok]

I also want to add that I have a ch341 programmer if the bios refused to flash normal way.

[Lost_N_BIOS]

Disable NVME easy, remove NVME device.
GPU options are not usually something you can enable/disable on a laptop, very few limited models allow that, rest it = black screen with no way to recover except blind flash or flash programmer recovery.

What is SVM?