MSI Modern 15 - A11S - ArchWiki

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Reason: Some PCI/USB IDs missing, the "Function Key" section is missing. (Discuss in Talk:MSI Modern 15 - A11S)

Hardware | PCI/USB ID | Working?
--- | --- | ---
Touchpad | `04f3:30aa` | Yes
Keyboard |  | Yes
GPU | `8086:9a49` | Yes
Webcam | `5986:211c` | Yes
Bluetooth | `8087:0026` | Yes
SD-card reader | `10ec:525a` | Yes
Audio | `8086:a0c8` | Yes
Wireless | `8086:a0f0` | Yes
TPM |  | Yes

The information below is valid for models:

- Modern 15 A11SB
- Modern 15 A11M
- Modern 15 A11SBL
- Modern 15 A11ML
- Modern 15 A11SBU
- Modern 15 A11MU

## Installation

Secure Boot needs to be disabled at first startup and after UEFI updates. Append intel-ucode and intel-media-driver to pacstrap.

## Firmware

Some devices can be listed with fwupd, but MSI does not provide updates via the LVFS.

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

Install upd72020x-fwAUR for module `xhci_pci`. See Mkinitcpio#Possibly missing firmware for module XXXX.

Tip: Intel ME firmware needs to be updated from Windows, e.g. from Windows PE with the files provided by MSI on their BIOS Update page.
Warning: Passing an excessively long path for the loader through `efibootmgr` (to setup EFISTUB boot) may result in being stuck on the logo screen, without access to UEFI. To solve this, unplug NVMe drives and then power up the laptop to clear all UEFI boot entries.

## Sound

This laptop requires ALSA firmware (i.e. installing sof-firmware) in order for the soundcard to work.

## 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.

Configuration entry for Modern 15 A11M is missing, and needs to be added manually (PR: https://github.com/YoyPa/isw/issues/152):

    /etc/isw.conf

    [1552EMS1]
    # A11M-217XIT
    # 1552EMS1.1071023
    address_profile = MSI_ADDRESS_DEFAULT
    fan_mode = 140
    # CPU
    cpu_temp_0 = 50
    cpu_temp_1 = 58
    cpu_temp_2 = 65
    cpu_temp_3 = 70
    cpu_temp_4 = 90
    cpu_temp_5 = 95
    cpu_fan_speed_0 = 45
    cpu_fan_speed_1 = 58
    cpu_fan_speed_2 = 65
    cpu_fan_speed_3 = 72
    cpu_fan_speed_4 = 80
    cpu_fan_speed_5 = 85
    cpu_fan_speed_6 = 100
    # GPU
    gpu_temp_0 = 50
    gpu_temp_1 = 60
    gpu_temp_2 = 70
    gpu_temp_3 = 82
    gpu_temp_4 = 90
    gpu_temp_5 = 93
    gpu_fan_speed_0 = 0
    gpu_fan_speed_1 = 50
    gpu_fan_speed_2 = 65
    gpu_fan_speed_3 = 72
    gpu_fan_speed_4 = 80
    gpu_fan_speed_5 = 85
    gpu_fan_speed_6 = 100

To activate a personalized profile, you need to set the value `0xd4` to `64`. You can set your profile adding to autostart the following two lines (PR: https://github.com/YoyPa/isw/issues/152):

    # isw -w 1552EMS1
    # isw -s 0xd4 64

To autostart you can also use the provided `isw@.service`, but you will need use a drop-in snippet:

    /etc/systemd/system/isw@.service.d/override.conf

    [Service]
    ExecStart=
    ExecStart=/usr/bin/isw -w %I -s 0xd4 64

Then start/enable `isw@1552EMS1.service`.

## Function keys

The keyboard backlight works properly.

Keyboard LEDs :

- `F1` (Audio mute) and `F5` (Microphone status) : not working
- `Esc`, `Power` and `Caps Lock` : working

Key | Marked1 | XKB | Libinput | Notes
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
`Fn+Esc` | Yes | Not visible2 | `KEY_FN_ESC` | Quick FN Launch Keys
`Fn+F1` | Yes | `XF86AudioMute` | `KEY_MUTE`
`Fn+F2` | Yes | `XF86AudioLowerVolume` | `KEY_VOLUMEDOWN`
`Fn+F3` | Yes | `XF86AudioRaiseVolume` | `KEY_VOLUMEUP`
`Fn+F4` | Yes | `XF86TouchpadToggle` | `KEY_LEFTMETA` && `KEY_F21`
`Fn+F5` | Yes | `XF86AudioMicMute` | `KEY_F20`
`Fn+F6` | Yes | `XF86WebCam` | `KEY_CAMERA`
`Fn+F7` | Yes | `XF86Launch1` | `KEY_PROG1` | no effect (MSI Center Pro)
`Fn+F8` | Yes | Not visible2 | Not visible2 | Toggle keyboard backlight levels
`Fn+F9` | Yes | `XF86MonBrightnessDown` | `KEY_BRIGHTNESSDOWN`
`Fn+F10` | Yes | `XF86MonBrightnessUp` | `KEY_BRIGHTNESSUP`
`Fn+F11` | Yes | `Super_L` | `KEY_LEFTMETA` && `KEY_P` | Switch display
`Fn+F12` | Yes | `XF86Launch2` | `KEY_PROG2` | no effect (Rotate screen)
`Fn+Print` | Yes | `Super_L` | `KEY_LEFTMETA` && `KEY_LEFTSHIFT` && `KEY_S` | no effect (Capture screen zone)

1. The physical key has a symbol on it, which describes its function
2. The key is visible to `xev` and similar tools
3. systemd-logind handles this by default

## See also

- Bios updates and manual : https://www.msi.com/Business-Productivity/Modern-15-A11X/support
- Bios update how-to video : https://piped.kavin.rocks/watch?v=39UPPi8M1fk&local=true&dark_mode=true

Category:

- MSI

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