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# MSI Modern 15 A5M

From ArchWiki

Hardware | PCI/USB ID | Working?
--- | --- | ---
Touchpad | `06cb:7e7e` | Yes
Keyboard | PS/2 | Yes
GPU | `1002:164c` | Yes
Webcam | `04f2:b695` | Yes
Bluetooth | `0e8d:0608` | Yes
SD Card reader | `10ec:525a` | Untested
Audio | `1022:15e3` | Yes
WiFi | `14c3:0608` | Yes
TPM | `1022:15df` | Yes

## Installation

Secure Boot needs to be disabled at first startup and after UEFI updates.

Sometimes Wi-Fi may not work properly (not connecting to networks). That issue can be solved by powering off laptop and holding power button for 60 seconds to reset BIOS settings.

## Firmware

This article or section needs expansion.

Reason: This section needs to explain if/what is supported by fwupd. (Discuss in Talk:MSI Modern 15 A5M)

Secure Boot functions well with custom keys, make sure to disable automatic reverting to factory keys.

## Accessibility

The BIOS interface is keyboard driven and does not require the use of a mouse.

## Thermals

Fan control can be tuned by installing iswAUR.

## Battery

Battery charge limit can be tuned by iswAUR (PR: https://github.com/YoyPa/isw/issues/41).

According to MSI Center Pro there is 3 modes:

- Mode "Best for Mobility" (Charge the battery to 100% all the time)

    # isw -s 0xef 228

- Mode "Balanced" (Charge the battery when under 70%, stop at 80%)

    # isw -s 0xef 208

- Mode "Best for Battery" (Charge the battery when under 50%, stop at 60%)

    # isw -s 0xef 188

## Keyboard

Toggle `Fn` key always on with `Fn+Esc`. The keyboard backlight works properly. The LEDs on the `F1` (Audio mute) and `F5` (Microphone status) keys do not work.

It is possible to control keyboard backlight with powerdevil-gitAUR widget after installing msi-ec-gitAUR.

## Function keys

Key | Visible?1 | Marked?2 | Effect
--- | --- | --- | ---
`Fn+Esc` | Yes | Yes | `XF86Fn_Esc`
`Fn+F1` | Yes | Yes | `XF86AudioMute`
`Fn+F2` | Yes | Yes | `XF86AudioLowerVolume`
`Fn+F3` | Yes | Yes | `XF86AudioRaiseVolume`
`Fn+F4` | Yes | Yes | `XF86TouchpadToggle`
`Fn+F5` | Yes | Yes | `XF86AudioMicMute`
`Fn+F6` | Yes | Yes | `XF86WebCam`
`Fn+F7` | Yes | Yes | `XF86Launch1`
`Fn+F8` | No | Yes | Keyboard brightness change
`Fn+F9` | Yes | Yes | `XF86MonBrightnessDown`
`Fn+F10` | Yes | Yes | `XF86MonBrightnessDown`
`Fn+F11` | Yes | Yes | Screen projection
`Fn+F12` | Yes | Yes | `XF86Launch2`

1. The key is visible to `xev` and similar tools
2. The physical key has a symbol on it, which describes its function

## Screen overclocking

Laptops with the 089RU model number have a B156HAN02.1 panel that can be stably overclocked from 60 Hz to 90 Hz by modifying edid settings.

## Troubleshooting

This article or section is a candidate for merging with #Battery.

Notes: Could be condensed into a single sentence explaining to load the ec_sys kernel module. (Discuss in Talk:MSI Modern 15 A5M)

Using commands such as:

    # isw -cp MSI_ADDRESS_DEFAULT
    # isw -s 0xef 228

may fail showing the following error:

    /sys/kernel/debug/ec/ec0/io: No such file or directory

The solution is the following command:

    # modprobe ec_sys

## See also

- Probe from hw-probeAUR: https://linux-hardware.org/?probe=035a9bb7fa
- MSI Modern 15 A11M article: MSI Modern 15 A11M
- EDID settings repository: https://github.com/xRoBoTx/OC-EDID-List
- BIOS updates and manual : https://www.msi.com/Business-Productivity/Modern-15-A5SX/support
- BIOS update how-to video : https://piped.kavin.rocks/watch?v=39UPPi8M1fk&local=true&dark_mode=true

Category:

- MSI

Hidden categories:

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