ja
b80dad6a75
- Install fwupd 2.1.1, refresh LVFS metadata - Detect 7 devices: NVMe, SATA SSD, CPU, AMD TPM 2.0, 3 displays - LVFS: no updates published for Samsung SSDs - New discovery: AMD fTPM 2.0 (v3.8.0.3) not in original inventory - NVMe firmware GXA7802Q available via nvme-cli (not LVFS) - Action plan: 1 medium-risk update (NVMe), rest up-to-date or EOL
9.8 KiB
description, tags, last_updated
| description | tags | last_updated | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firmware/BIOS update research for all workstation components. Current vs latest versions, update methods, and risk assessment. |
|
2026-04-02 |
Firmware Update Research: mw-pfeddersheim-workstation
Date: 2026-04-02 Purpose: Research latest firmware/BIOS versions for all components and assess update needs.
Summary
| Component | Current Version | Latest Version | Update? | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motherboard BIOS | F53 (2025-10-28) | F53 | No | - |
| NVMe SSD (PM9A1) | GXA7401Q | GXA7802Q | Yes | Medium |
| SATA SSD (840 EVO) | EXT0BB6Q | EXT0BB6Q (EOL) | No | - |
| GPU VBIOS (GTX 1050 Ti) | 86.07.39.00.50 | 86.07.39.00.50 (EOL) | No | - |
| NIC (RTL8111) | rev 0c, r8168 driver | Kernel-integrated | Via kernel | Low |
| CPU Microcode | Kernel-integrated | Kernel-integrated | Via kernel | Low |
| USB Peripherals | Various | Various | No (no LVFS) | - |
Actionable updates: 1 (NVMe SSD firmware)
Detailed Findings
1. Motherboard BIOS: Gigabyte AX370M-DS3H-CF
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Current | F53, dated 2025-10-28 |
| Latest | F53 (no newer version found) |
| Source | Gigabyte Support |
Status: Up to date. F53 from October 2025 is the latest available. The AX370M-DS3H (rev 1.x) is an AM4 board from 2017 - F53 represents a remarkably long support timeline (8+ years). No further updates expected.
Update method (if future versions appear): Q-Flash (BIOS) or @BIOS (Windows/Linux utility).
2. NVMe SSD: Samsung PM9A1 (MZVL2512HCJQ-00B00)
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Current | GXA7401Q |
| Latest | GXA7802Q |
| Source | OVHCloud Firmware Guide |
Status: Update available. GXA7802Q is newer than GXA7401Q. Improves performance, stability, and security.
Update procedure (Linux, no Samsung Magician needed):
# 1. Install nvme-cli
sudo pacman -S nvme-cli
# 2. Verify current firmware
nvme list
# 3. Download firmware binary (OVHCloud mirror)
wget https://last-public-ovh-baremetal.snap.mirrors.ovh.us/hardware/PM9A1/GXA7802Q_Noformat.bin
# 4. Apply firmware (ensure NVMe is /dev/nvme0n1)
sudo nvme fw-download --fw=GXA7802Q_Noformat.bin /dev/nvme0n1
sudo nvme fw-activate --slot=0x1 --action=0x1 /dev/nvme0n1
# 5. Reboot to apply
sudo reboot
# 6. Verify after reboot
nvme list
Risk: Medium. NVMe firmware update can brick the drive if interrupted (power loss). Ensure UPS or stable power. The _Noformat variant preserves data.
Recommendation: Schedule during maintenance window. Backup critical data first.
3. SATA SSD: Samsung SSD 840 EVO 500GB
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Current | EXT0BB6Q |
| Latest | EXT0BB6Q (EOL - no updates since ~2015) |
| Source | Samsung Semiconductor Tools |
Status: No update available. The 840 EVO (released 2013) has reached end-of-life. EXT0BB6Q is the final firmware. No further updates will be released.
Note: This drive is 12+ years old. Consider monitoring health via smartctl and planning replacement if reliability degrades.
If update were needed: Samsung provides bootable ISO firmware utilities, but none exist beyond EXT0BB6Q for this model. Samsung Magician is Windows-only.
4. GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Current VBIOS | 86.07.39.00.50 |
| Latest VBIOS | 86.07.39.00.50 (EOL) |
| Current Driver | 575.64.05 |
| Latest Driver | ~580.81 (final for 10-series, end of 2025) |
| Source | NVIDIA Drivers |
Status: No VBIOS update available. NVIDIA ended Game Ready driver support for GTX 10-series at end of 2025. No VBIOS updates have been released.
Driver note: Driver 575.64.05 may be close to or past the final supported version. Check mhwd or pacman for the latest NVIDIA 10-series driver available in Manjaro.
Update method (drivers only): sudo pacman -Syu nvidia or via Manjaro Hardware Detection (mhwd).
5. NIC: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 (rev 0c)
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Current Driver | r8168 (proprietary) |
| Kernel Module | r8168, r8169 (alternative) |
| Firmware | rtl_nic/rtl8168h-2.fw (linux-firmware) |
| Source | linux-firmware.git (kernel.org) |
Status: Managed via kernel/firmware packages. No standalone firmware update needed. The NIC firmware blob is part of linux-firmware package.
Update method: Keep linux-firmware package updated via normal pacman -Syu.
Note: Currently using r8168 (Realtek proprietary driver). The in-kernel r8169 driver also supports this chip and may be preferable for simpler maintenance. Both are loaded as kernel modules.
6. CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 2700X (Zen+ / Pinnacle Ridge)
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Microcode | Kernel-integrated (ucode_amd.bin) |
| AGESA | Applied via BIOS (F53 includes latest for this board) |
| Source | linux-firmware.git, kernel.org |
Status: Managed via kernel/BIOS. AMD CPU microcode updates are delivered through:
- BIOS/UEFI (AGESA updates) - already at F53 (latest)
- Linux kernel (early microcode loading) - updated via
linux-firmwarepackage
Verify current microcode: dmesg | grep microcode after boot.
Update method: Keep kernel and linux-firmware packages updated.
7. USB Peripherals
| Device | USB ID | Firmware Update? | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jabra SPEAK 510 | 0b0e:0422 | Maybe | Jabra Xpress (Linux) |
| Genesys Logic microSD Reader | 05e3:0727 | No | N/A |
| Pixart Imaging Mouse | 093a:2510 | No | N/A |
| Microdia Terra HD1080PC Camera | 0c45:636b | No | N/A |
| CHERRY Mechanical Keyboard | 046a:00b0 | No | N/A |
Status: No LVFS/fwupd support for any of these devices.
Jabra SPEAK 510: Jabra Xpress (v49.0.1.2, Dec 2025) is available for Linux. Could check for firmware updates if audio issues exist. Download from Jabra Support.
All others: No firmware update mechanisms available. These are simple HID/USB devices with no user-serviceable firmware.
fwupd Status
Installed: fwupd 2.1.1 (2026-04-02)
Detected Devices (7 total)
| Device | Type | Current Version | Updatable via LVFS? |
|---|---|---|---|
| MZVL2512HCJQ-00B00 | NVMe SSD | GXA7401Q | Yes (flag) / No update published |
| SSD 840 EVO 500GB | SATA SSD | EXT0BB6Q | Yes (flag) / No update published |
| Ryzen 7 2700X | CPU Microcode | 0x0800820e | No |
| AMD TPM 2.0 | TPM | 3.8.0.3 | Yes (flag, signed payload) |
| Unknown (PNP:WOR) | Display (?) | - | No |
| Unknown (PNP:BNQ) | Display (?) | - | No |
| Unknown (PNP:WOR) | Display (?) | - | No |
LVFS Update Check Result
No updatable devices
Samsung does not publish PM9A1 or 840 EVO firmware on LVFS. The NVMe firmware update to GXA7802Q (see §2) must be done via nvme-cli with the OVHCloud firmware binary.
New Discovery: AMD TPM 2.0
fwupd detected an AMD TPM 2.0 device (version 3.8.0.3) not in original inventory. This is the firmware TPM (fTPM) built into the Ryzen processor. It supports signed payload updates via fwupd/LVFS. Currently no update is published.
fwupd Verification Commands
fwupdmgr refresh # Refresh metadata from LVFS
fwupdmgr get-devices # List all detected devices
fwupdmgr get-updates # Check for available updates
fwupdmgr update # Apply available updates
Recommended Action Plan
Immediate (Low Risk)
| # | Action | Command | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Install fwupd | sudo pacman -S fwupd |
Done (fwupd 2.1.1) |
| 2 | Update linux-firmware | sudo pacman -Syu linux-firmware |
Pending |
| 3 | Check NVIDIA driver version | pacman -Q nvidia |
Pending |
Scheduled (Medium Risk - Requires Maintenance Window)
| # | Action | Risk | Downtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Update NVMe firmware to GXA7802Q | Medium (power loss risk) | ~5 min + reboot |
No Action Needed
| Component | Reason |
|---|---|
| Motherboard BIOS | Already at latest (F53) |
| SATA SSD | EOL, no updates available |
| GPU VBIOS | EOL, no updates available |
| CPU Microcode | Managed via kernel/firmware |
| NIC Firmware | Managed via kernel/firmware |
| USB Peripherals | No update mechanisms |
Risk Assessment
NVMe Firmware Update (GXA7401Q -> GXA7802Q)
| Risk | Mitigation |
|---|---|
| Power loss during update = bricked drive | Use UPS, verify battery backup |
| Data corruption | Backup critical data first |
| Incompatibility | Verify model match (MZVL2512HCJQ-00B00) |
General Considerations
- Production workstation: All firmware updates should be scheduled during non-critical hours.
- Rollback: BIOS has dual-BIOS; NVMe/SATA have no rollback mechanism.
- Testing: After any firmware update, run
smartctl -aandnvme smart-logto verify health.