From e112a18fdb1ff3b4a6e8455d36f9894352d4b251 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: CRImier Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2022 01:04:35 +0300 Subject: [PATCH] Adding a FAQ section --- Bringup/README.md | 70 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ README.md | 8 +++++- 2 files changed, 77 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-) create mode 100644 Bringup/README.md diff --git a/Bringup/README.md b/Bringup/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..528a54e --- /dev/null +++ b/Bringup/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,70 @@ +# FAQ + +### How do I get started? + +There's [a guide](https://community.frame.work/t/getting-started-guide-with-a-bare-motherboard/20115) on the Framework forums +that you should follow! + +### What kind of chargers should I use for powering the Mainboard? + +Technically, for charging the battery, the Mainboard can use USB-C chargers from 15W to 100W USB. However, if you want to run +the Mainboard battery-less, it's been said you should use a PSU of 60W and above. + +[Quote from this forum thread:](https://community.frame.work/t/usb-c-charging/447/63) + +> @Shawn_Lewis I would not recommend a power supply below 60W if not running with a battery, remember PL2 can allow the cpu to go well above 28W for seconds at a time. Plus there are plenty of things outside the CPU package consuming power, such as the NVME drive, which some models can burst to several W. +> If you have 4 power hungry usb-c devices plugged in, they can consume a max of 37.5W as well. +> Plus there is some regulator loss. +> So depending on what you are doing, and what is plugged in I would recommend 60W to 100W. + +If you're looking to use your Mainboard with a battery, be aware that, if your charger switches to 15V, [you might have +battery charging issues.](https://community.frame.work/t/usb-pd-15v-mode-issue/10618/14) + +Also, if your Mainboard runs too old of a BIOS revision, you might need a BIOS update to make it work with 60W chargers, [as +described here.](https://community.frame.work/t/getting-started-guide-with-a-bare-motherboard/20115) + +### How to get an external monitor output on the motherboard? + +Use a USB-C to DP adapter (adapting DisplayPort further to VGA/HDMI if necessary), or one of the expansion cards with a +display output. Both of these options are essentially the same, since video output expansion cards are USB-C to DP adapters +with extra circuitry to convert the USB-C DP to HDMI in case of the HDMI card. + +### Is BIOS available through the USB-C display? + +[There are reports](https://community.frame.work/t/can-you-remove-the-top-screen/4372/4) that the BIOS settings menu is available +through an external display! + +### What's the key to get into BIOS? + +F2. You don't have to hold Fn, even with Fn lock enabled. You need to tap it rapidly. + +### Is USB3/DisplayPort/Thunderbolt/charging available on all USB-C ports? + +Yes! + +### Can I drive the Framework display without using the Mainboard, i.e. through DisplayPort/HDMI/etc? + +Yes, there's an eDP-DisplayPort adapter that's known to work! [Learn more +here.](https://community.frame.work/t/hdmi-controller-board-for-display-panel/17513/15) + +### Can I get GPIOs from the Mainboard? + +There's a few ways to go about that. + +- First, there are a few outputs on the Mainboard that you can already make use of. For instance, [on the input cover +connector,](https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/Mainboard/blob/main/Electrical/Pinouts.md) there's keyboard backlight and +caps lock outputs available, as well as fingerprint sensor R/G/W signals. All of these are PWM-able outputs that you can +switch from existing software, i.e. Linux userspace. Using the fingerprint sensor signals for instance, you could drive an +LED strip with addition of some hardware. +- Through EC firmware hacking, you could repurpose the aforementioned signals, as +well as keyboard rows/columns and other pins as GPIOs. There's also a tamper switch on the Mainboard that could be repurposed +as a general-purpose switch, also through firmware hacking. At the moment, there's no known project out there that does this. +- Using one of the I2C ports available, you can attach an I2C GPIO expander chip/breakout and get GPIOs through that - +issuing I2C commands directly from userspace, or perhaps using the Linux kernel's overlay and driver for the expander you're +using. + +### Other Mainboard-related project questions? + +You have two channels for these. For a start, you can ask your questions in the [Framework community +forums.](https://community.frame.work/c/developer-program/85) You can also use the [Framework Discord +server](https://discord.com/invite/Framework) and ask your questions the `#projects` channel - we'll be glad to help! diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index 543ccda..2fd83e3 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ Documentation for the Mainboard in the Framework Laptop (available at https://fr We designed the Mainboard from the start as a standalone module to make upgrades easy in the Framework Laptop and to also work great as a high-performance single board computer using Intel’s i5-1135G7, i5-1240P, i7-1165G7, i7-1185G7, i7-1260P, and i7-1280P processors. All you need to do is insert memory, plug in a USB-C power adapter, and hit the tiny power button on-board, and you’ve got a powered-up computer. You can also pick up parts like a Bottom Cover Kit, Input Cover Kit, or Battery from the Marketplace to extend your setup with. See more on this at https://frame.work/blog/mainboard-availability-and-open-source-release. -We want to make it as easy as possible to build new projects and products that use the Mainboard, so this repository contains 2D and 3D CAD as well as electrical documentation to help you get started. +We want to make it as easy as possible to build new projects and products that use the Mainboard, so this repository contains 2D and 3D CAD files, electrical documentation, FAQs, and other information to help you get started. ![mainboard_spread](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/28994301/155036191-9f03d3c9-7e09-4d69-83da-5ba8b3641d95.jpg) @@ -12,6 +12,12 @@ We want to make it as easy as possible to build new projects and products that u Mainboard © 2022 by Framework Computer Inc is licensed under CC BY 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ +## Bringup FAQ + +You will have questions about making a Mainboard work in your own projects. How do you get display output? What kind of +charger would work for standalone Mainboard use? Can you make your own battery? All of these questions deserve answers, so +here's [a FAQ page.](Bringup/README.md) + ## Mechanical ![Case](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/28994301/162662197-8518a2fa-7a31-409f-8e0e-28b08dc61a03.jpg)