MSI P14

Introduction

Also known as Prestige 14 or A10RB/A10SC/A10RAS, this laptop is part of the MSI Prestige series for creators.

In general, the laptop perfectly works out of the box with Linux, but the fingerprint reader does not. Due to this, there is the Validity90 project on GitHub to port the Synaptics 06cb:009b device to Linux.

Configuration

BIOS

It can be accessed by pressing Del button at boot. In particular, SecureBoot needs to be disabled at first startup, but it can be configured later. This laptop supports SecureBoot keys reset to factory and custom keys install. To access advanced options in bios, press R_alt+L_ctrl+L_shift+F2 after entering bios.

Graphics

Both graphics cards work well. NVIDIA proprietary driver is recommended for discrete GPU.

Wi-Fi

Works out of box.

Webcam

Works out of box.

Face Recognition

Works with howdy, need to set correct video device in howdy config:

/lib/security/howdy/config.ini

device_path = /dev/video2

Power Management

The battery indicator works, as well as the charge.

Power Saving

For power saving options, please refer to TLP. Also, analysing powersave options as given by powertop can be useful, but the Nvidia powersave option must not be enabled together with bumblebee and bbswitch. So, avoid doing this.

Recommended TLP settings

/etc/tlp.d/00-powersave.conf

SOUND_POWER_SAVE_ON_AC=1
SOUND_POWER_SAVE_ON_BAT=1
RUNTIME_PM_ON_AC=auto
PCIE_ASPM_ON_AC=powersave
PCIE_ASPM_ON_BAT=powersave

Undervolting

Undervolting is quite recommended on this laptop, and it needs to use the intel-undervolt package. Depending on the processor, it can reach up to -150mV, but -100mV should work on any configuration. Note that the laptop tends to go unstable on battery when undervolted, so enabling the undervolt only on AC can be a good solution.

Fan

Fan control can be tune by https://github.com/YoyPa/isw. Configuration entry for P14 is missing, so need to add manually (PR: https://github.com/YoyPa/isw/pull/97):

/etc/isw.conf

```
[E14C2IMS]
# P14_A10RC P14_A10SC P14_A10RAS
# E14C2IMS.102
address_profile = MSI_ADDRESS_DEFAULT
fan_mode = 140
battery_charging_threshold = 100
# CPU
cpu_temp_0 = 60
cpu_temp_1 = 65
cpu_temp_2 = 68
cpu_temp_3 = 70
cpu_temp_4 = 75
cpu_temp_5 = 85
cpu_fan_speed_0 = 0
cpu_fan_speed_1 = 0
cpu_fan_speed_2 = 45
cpu_fan_speed_3 = 65
cpu_fan_speed_4 = 80
cpu_fan_speed_5 = 90
cpu_fan_speed_6 = 100
# GPU
gpu_temp_0 = 53
gpu_temp_1 = 58
gpu_temp_2 = 63
gpu_temp_3 = 68
gpu_temp_4 = 80
gpu_temp_5 = 90
gpu_fan_speed_0 = 0
gpu_fan_speed_1 = 60
gpu_fan_speed_2 = 70
gpu_fan_speed_3 = 80
gpu_fan_speed_4 = 90
gpu_fan_speed_5 = 100
gpu_fan_speed_6 = 105

These settings will be reset on plug/unplug power source, it can be solved by dirty hack:

/etc/udev/rules.d/isw.rules

SUBSYSTEM=="power_supply", ATTR{online}=="0", RUN+="/usr/sbin/systemctl restart isw@E14C2IMS.service"
SUBSYSTEM=="power_supply", ATTR{online}=="1", RUN+="/usr/sbin/systemctl restart isw@E14C2IMS.service"

and reload udev rules:

$ udevadm control --reload-rules

Passive cooling

Some users can be interested in Passive cooling mode. It quiet and energy efficient. This notebook works well in passive cooling mode. For enable it, need to completely disable turbo mode and tuning fan settings.

TLP settings for disable turbo boost:

/etc/tlp.d/00-noturbo.conf

CPU_BOOST_ON_AC=0
CPU_BOOST_ON_BAT=0

ISW settings:

/etc/isw.conf

# CPU
cpu_temp_0 = 60
cpu_temp_1 = 68
cpu_temp_2 = 70
cpu_temp_3 = 73
cpu_temp_4 = 75
cpu_temp_5 = 85
cpu_fan_speed_0 = 0
cpu_fan_speed_1 = 0
cpu_fan_speed_2 = 50
cpu_fan_speed_3 = 60
cpu_fan_speed_4 = 80
cpu_fan_speed_5 = 90
cpu_fan_speed_6 = 100
# GPU
gpu_temp_0 = 60
gpu_temp_1 = 65
gpu_temp_2 = 70
gpu_temp_3 = 75
gpu_temp_4 = 80
gpu_temp_5 = 90
gpu_fan_speed_0 = 0
gpu_fan_speed_1 = 0
gpu_fan_speed_2 = 70
gpu_fan_speed_3 = 80
gpu_fan_speed_4 = 90
gpu_fan_speed_5 = 100
gpu_fan_speed_6 = 105
...

With these settings, fan will start only when discrete GPU in use.