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Roman78

macrumors 6502
May 7, 2018
376
130
Eifel - Germany
There is not... I build and sell the modules myself, so at this point, the only way you can get them is to buy them from me.

Aha, so you are the guy in Richmond :D I suspect that this also works on the EFI mod whit removed Resistor for the GPU. I did not all the wiring.

Can i order directly here or do i have to use eBay?
 

dosdude1

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Feb 16, 2012
2,770
7,329
I get 1.03v on LCD_BKLT_EN and 2.65v on BKLT_PWM
I have checked the display with another board and all works fine.
Three previous boards are working fine with bodge wires
Yeah, LCD_BKLT_EN is too low, it needs to be like 2.5V at least. Have you wired it to LVDS_IG_BKL_ON (pin 1 of R2055)?
[doublepost=1552507491][/doublepost]
Aha, so you are the guy in Richmond :D I suspect that this also works on the EFI mod whit removed Resistor for the GPU. I did not all the wiring.

Can i order directly here or do i have to use eBay?
Yes, it should. Although, I'm currently working on an EVEN BETTER permanent solution to the gMux bypass, that does not require any soldering at all. If this actually ends up working as I'm planning, this will definitely be the ultimate solution for a permanent gMux bypass.
 

AdamMagus

macrumors newbie
Nov 13, 2018
16
6
Yeah, LCD_BKLT_EN is too low, it needs to be like 2.5V at least. Have you wired it to LVDS_IG_BKL_ON (pin 1 of R2055)?
[doublepost=1552507491][/doublepost]
Yes, it should. Although, I'm currently working on an EVEN BETTER permanent solution to the gMux bypass, that does not require any soldering at all. If this actually ends up working as I'm planning, this will definitely be the ultimate solution for a permanent gMux bypass.

Will the mux hat work for the 17"? Deciding if I should wait or not.
 

dosdude1

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Feb 16, 2012
2,770
7,329
At long last, I have finally done it... the ULTIMATE solution to permanently disabling the dGPU on one of these machines: Custom firmware for the gMux IC! No backlight brightness control implemented yet, but everything else works perfectly! The system runs great with NO hardware modifications, NO special NVRAM/EFI variables set, NO OS modifications, and the dedicated GPU PERMANENTLY disabled!

image.jpeg image.jpeg image.jpeg image.jpeg
 

16v

macrumors 6502
Jul 13, 2018
277
154
O.k.
How to flash it?
I have a 2011 with Defective gpu and there is no boot!
 

dosdude1

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Feb 16, 2012
2,770
7,329
O.k.
How to flash it?
I have a 2011 with Defective gpu and there is no boot!
As of now, you'll need the Lattice HW-USBN-2A programmer, and a set of wires to solder to the JTAG header on the board. Then, you'll need to use the Lattice FPGA programmer software to write my firmware to the gMux. I plan on developing a bit easier flashing solution, though.
 
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dosdude1

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Feb 16, 2012
2,770
7,329
I guess at this point could we send you our mother board and let you flash it?
As of right now, yes. I'm currently working on a good method of distribution, as I mentioned before, but it may be awhile until that's complete.
 

AdamMagus

macrumors newbie
Nov 13, 2018
16
6
I'll check back with you in about a month.

Btw great work. I purchased a dying light chip from you, could you install that as well?
 

16v

macrumors 6502
Jul 13, 2018
277
154
As of now, you'll need the Lattice HW-USBN-2A programmer, and a set of wires to solder to the JTAG header on the board. Then, you'll need to use the Lattice FPGA programmer software to write my firmware to the gMux. I plan on developing a bit easier flashing solution, though.
Thank you.
I'm from germany so shipping to you is expensive.
And buying a programmer for only one device?..

But i know jtag from my old stb. But therefore i need only a pc programm and a selfmade usb cable...

Hope you will find an other way.
 

FlorisVN

macrumors 6502a
Nov 8, 2013
976
380
great work @dosdude1 !

Like stated in your Youtube video, software updates will run fine.
does this perhaps also mean that brightness control and sleep work work fine with MacOS High sierra and up ?

Maybay external monitor will also work with this methode one day ?
Perhaps you are already working on external monitor gmux firmware mod.. ?
 

ibrahim monem

macrumors newbie
Sep 9, 2018
13
0
Egypt
At long last, I have finally done it... the ULTIMATE solution to permanently disabling the dGPU on one of these machines: Custom firmware for the gMux IC! No backlight brightness control implemented yet, but everything else works perfectly! The system runs great with NO hardware modifications, NO special NVRAM/EFI variables set, NO OS modifications, and the dedicated GPU PERMANENTLY disabled!

View attachment 827815 View attachment 827816 View attachment 827817 View attachment 827818


good job .

First, thank you for sharing the experience.

Second , how to edit firmware ? like use hex code

Also possible sharing Custom firmware

Is this method suitable for all models such as model Macbook A1398 2012

thanks advance
 

dosdude1

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Feb 16, 2012
2,770
7,329
good job .

First, thank you for sharing the experience.

Second , how to edit firmware ? like use hex code

Also possible sharing Custom firmware

Is this method suitable for all models such as model Macbook A1398 2012

thanks advance
Yes, I will be releasing the firmware soon, in about a week or so.

This method will not work on a Retina MacBook Pro, however you DO NOT need to bypass the dGPU on that model, as it never fails. The issue with those is bad solder joints on the GPU VCORE regulator IC, U8900.
 

ibrahim monem

macrumors newbie
Sep 9, 2018
13
0
Egypt
Yes, I will be releasing the firmware soon, in about a week or so.

This method will not work on a Retina MacBook Pro, however you DO NOT need to bypass the dGPU on that model, as it
never fails. The issue with those is bad solder joints on the GPU VCORE regulator IC, U8900.

Thanks for interacting and sharing

gpu Already it is a little bit damaged, but it damages especially people who use AutoCAD and Photoshop software and design programs. And also the games
[doublepost=1553725854][/doublepost]
[doublepost=1553725918][/doublepost]Is it possible to program now? like ( smc F2117LP20H ) or ( smc LM4FS1EH )
 
Last edited:

MikeyN

macrumors regular
Jul 26, 2017
129
75
Yes, I will be releasing the firmware soon, in about a week or so.

That sounds like really great news.

However:
How well are wake/sleep, brightness control, temperature (battery life) working with this solution (under 10.12/13/14)?

And even more curious: what exactly do you change in that firmware?
 

dosdude1

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Feb 16, 2012
2,770
7,329
That sounds like really great news.

However:
How well are wake/sleep, brightness control, temperature (battery life) working with this solution (under 10.12/13/14)?

And even more curious: what exactly do you change in that firmware?
Yes, sleep/wake works perfectly with this custom firmware, and it cuts all power to the dGPU. The firmware is not necessarily "changed", but it is my own custom firmware that I wrote from scratch.
 
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Think-doc

macrumors newbie
Apr 4, 2019
10
2
Germany
Yes, sleep/wake works perfectly with this custom firmware, and it cuts all power to the dGPU. The firmware is not necessarily "changed", but it is my own custom firmware that I wrote from scratch.


Hi

Does your costum firmware work with all display types and resolutions?
I have 2 different firmware files for mate display 1680x1050 and glossy 1440x900.
for the 17 inch macbook, I have only function the firmware in glossy devices.

with the a1398 devices one can switch off the nvidia 650/750 gpu with put of 3 cables this also (like gmux bypass) but one does not really need the error with these devices as already written where otherwise lies.
 

dosdude1

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Feb 16, 2012
2,770
7,329
Hi

Does your costum firmware work with all display types and resolutions?
I have 2 different firmware files for mate display 1680x1050 and glossy 1440x900.
for the 17 inch macbook, I have only function the firmware in glossy devices.

with the a1398 devices one can switch off the nvidia 650/750 gpu with put of 3 cables this also (like gmux bypass) but one does not really need the error with these devices as already written where otherwise lies.
Yes, it works 100% perfectly on all displays, both matte and glossy 15" ones, and matte and glossy 17" displays as well. All 1440x900, 1680x1050, and 1920x1200 displays work 100% perfectly.

As for the Retina MBPs (A1398), they do NOT need to have their dedicated GPU bypassed, as the GPUs used in those systems never fail. On the Mid-2012 model, though, the GPU VCORE regulator IC (U8900) is known to develop bad solder joints, making the system APPEAR to have a GPU issue, when in fact it does not.
 
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