FrameworkComputer/SoftwareFirmwareIssueTracker

Intel BE200 not getting past POST in AMD laptops

Closed this issue · 4 comments

Device Information

System Model or SKU

Please select one of the following

  • Framework Laptop 16 (AMD Ryzen™ 7040 Series)

BIOS VERSION

3.05

FreeBSD:

Port/Peripheral information

Intel BE200 in m.2 slot.

Describe the bug

System does not boot if Intel BE200 wireless card is inserted into m.2 slot.

Steps To Reproduce

Replace AMB/Mediatek wireless card with an Intel BE200

Expected behavior

OS boots and wireless card is detected on PCI bus.

Operating System (please complete the following information):

FreeBSD 16-CURRENT but N/A as never get to a boot screen.

Additional context

Various issues in the community, e.g.,
https://community.frame.work/t/intel-wi-fi-7-be200-and-be202-compatible-with-framework-16/45786/10
https://community.frame.work/t/fw16-wifi-7-upgrade-w-intel-be200-wifi-7-card-wont-post/74884
https://community.frame.work/t/intel-wi-fi-7-be200-and-be202-compatible-with-framework-16/45786/44
....

Unfortunately that is a limitation of the BE200 card.
It is PCIe but not compatible with AMD.
We could possibly make it POST but still the card wouldn't show up.
AX200 or AX210 work fine on AMD.

cc @quinchou77

I think making it POST w/o the card showing up (or even a warning message during POST) would be preferable to a black screen.

The card cannot be recognized until the PCIE initialization is successful. This prevents the system from identifying it as a BE200 and subsequently ignoring the initialization process.
This issue affects all AMD platforms, not just the Framework Laptop. This card is not in AMD AVL, so AMD has no plan to fix the issue.
Intel confirmed they are aware of this issue and that the card is not supported on AMD platforms. All Intel CNVd (PCIE) WiFi cards work on AMD platforms, with the exception of the CNVi and BE200(CNVd) models.

Thanks for the clarifications.

Sad state. Let's hope the next gen cards will have better interop again.