Linux Fixes Issue Where Applying AMD Zen1/Zen2 Microcode Updates Could Slow Boot Times

[caligula]

I wish they could improve the UEFI initialization times as well. Bought few budget AM4 mobos. mATX or ITX. Very low number of builtin functionality in the mobo. One memory stick running in standard JEDEC non-XMP mode, one CPU with integrated GPU. No sata, no wifi, no bt, no audio. Just USB keyb/mouse and NVMe SSD. UEFI takes 17 seconds to boot. 8th gen Intel Core i7 takes only like 2-3 seconds.

If I understand this correctly, the GPU output is fully controlled by the APU. Also NVMe SSD simply connects to the CPUs PCIe bus. The memory controller is in the APU. So there's hardly anything the mobo needs to do. Route traffic between the components.

[TumultuousUnicorn]

I wish they could improve the UEFI initialization times as well. Bought few budget AM4 mobos. mATX or ITX. Very low number of builtin functionality in the mobo. One memory stick running in standard JEDEC non-XMP mode, one CPU with integrated GPU. No sata, no wifi, no bt, no audio. Just USB keyb/mouse and NVMe SSD. UEFI takes 17 seconds to boot. 8th gen Intel Core i7 takes only like 2-3 seconds.

I agree with you: UEFI take a while on an AMD mobo.

Startup finished in 17.149s (firmware) + 943ms (loader) + 1.854s (kernel) + 3.584s (initrd)

I do not understand why it takes so much time with default settings, even if I disable some things.

[andyhhp]

AMD doesn't usually provide hot-loadable microcode updates for anything but EPYCs, and not every EPYC at that. This isn't anything secret since they disclose it in security bulletins, for example AMD-SB-7014 - SMM Lock Bypass

https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux...5779d3bf3a13b8 is finally the fix for SinkClose, OS loadable on a range of more recent client CPUs.

[GreenReaper]

BIOS updates resetting every damn thing is how I learned that my BIOS contains so many duplicated settings that don't have synchronized output. I can set PBO to ON with a -20 offset in one menu and then in another menu the same PBO settings will be set to Auto or Disabled.

Which setting do I trust?

I trust Neither. I go page by page by page and make sure everything that I tweak that has duplicated entries are all set to the same thing.

Probably the best route. On ASUS AM5 B650E-I the ASUS ones seem to override the AMD Auto ones except the GPU Curve Optimiser settings which don't seem to stick unless you use the AMD ones.

[r1348]

Mine (Asus TUF GAMING X570-PLUS) certainly doesn't. I thought those days were over a long time ago.

My Asus Prime X570 Pro does.

[caligula]

I agree with you: UEFI take a while on an AMD mobo.

Startup finished in 17.149s (firmware) + 943ms (loader) + 1.854s (kernel) + 3.584s (initrd)

I do not understand why it takes so much time with default settings, even if I disable some things.

I think the DDR memory training takes a while, but it does not explain all of the slowdown.

[jeisom]

I agree with you: UEFI take a while on an AMD mobo.

Startup finished in 17.149s (firmware) + 943ms (loader) + 1.854s (kernel) + 3.584s (initrd)

I do not understand why it takes so much time with default settings, even if I disable some things.

On my board, an Asrock X570-pro4m, there is an ultrafast boot option. It disables usb init and csm, so no legacy boot or keyboard until kernel is loaded. Possibly some other stuff.

Startup finished in 9.061s (firmware) + 3.464s (loader) + 3.949s (kernel). With it off It is around 18/19 seconds for the firmware.

[XenHat]

same here, I haven't been able to get a POST time below 8 seconds on my Gigabyte Aorus X570 Master, not from the lack of trying. Not sure what's wrong across the whole AM4 socket regarding boot times but I'm hoping we can put this behind us soon.

[erniv2]

I own an AM4 motherboard, and trust me, it is time consuming to update the UEFI. The problem is updating the UEFI reset all settings to factory. Even if I can save current settings to a file on a USB drive, I cannot restore settings from the file because de UEFI version is different.
It is painful each time to reconfigure all settings (PBO, CPU voltage, fan, and so on), it would be better if AMD provides early microcode updates for all CPU (like Intel do).

You can attempt a genius move like save the uefi settings, write them to the usb where your bios image is and after update reload the settings, well if it works is another matter .....

And yes if you update your uefi it will run a atleast 2 post tests and after that boot with the factory defaults, wich actully makes sense.

[stormcrow]

Mine (Asus TUF GAMING X570-PLUS) certainly doesn't. I thought those days were over a long time ago.

Notoriously MSI certainly does. Not only will they wipe the user firmware settings, but they can, and often do, 'forget' keys stored in the fTPM. MSI is one of those vendors I would never recommend at this point between their well known security issues and consumer hostile policies. Above all, never EVER mention you use Linux or anything else but Windows in any CSR communications. They will immediately blow you off (even if you've verified the problem is the same with WIndows).