Intel SMBus Chipset

[Bhuna50]

Anyone explain to me in simple terms what this is. I am so out of date with things. Am I right in thinking it is something to do with letting the motherboard or operating system know whats attached / the laptop is built up of so it knows what to install?

The reason why I am asking is that my new laptop is in testing and failing and its been narrowed down to a fault with this, "there has likely been an update to this driver. Which has caused issues along the product stack." Apparently, this is now not the only one they have seen that is affected. What is happening is that the laptop would work fine for a few hours then the display would disappear completely and not come back on. Originally thought to be an nvidia issue, but narrowed down to this SMBus Chipset?

"I am working closely with our R&D department which in turn is working with the manufacture and Intel to resolve this issue."

Anyone any idea how long something like this would take?

Is the driver for this a Windows things or a BIOS?

If Windows, whats to stop it updating with a later version and the error happening again - I assume I will be best off creating restore points every now and again to avoid this?

Is it worth reconsidering my spec or sticking with it?

 

[ubuysa]

Anyone explain to me in simple terms what this is. I am so out of date with things. Am I right in thinking it is something to do with letting the motherboard or operating system know whats attached / the laptop is built up of so it knows what to install?

The reason why I am asking is that my new laptop is in testing and failing and its been narrowed down to a fault with this, "there has likely been an update to this driver. Which has caused issues along the product stack." Apparently, this is now not the only one they have seen that is affected. What is happening is that the laptop would work fine for a few hours then the display would disappear completely and not come back on. Originally thought to be an nvidia issue, but narrowed down to this SMBus Chipset?

"I am working closely with our R&D department which in turn is working with the manufacture and Intel to resolve this issue."

Anyone any idea how long something like this would take?

Is the driver for this a Windows things or a BIOS?

If Windows, whats to stop it updating with a later version and the error happening again - I assume I will be best off creating restore points every now and again to avoid this?

Is it worth reconsidering my spec or sticking with it?

The SMBbus is the System Management Bus, a communications channel on a motherboard that handles inter-component communication. As with most hardware, the software (Windows) needs a driver in order to properly use the SMBbus - drivers are software/firmware that 'translate' Windows requests and responses into requests and responses that the physical device can act upon. Drivers decouple the operating system (Windows) from the actual physical hardware, meaning the same copy of Windows can run on hardware constructed by different vendors in slightly different ways.

Driver code is written by the hardware vendors, since it is effectively part of the hardware, so only the hardware vendor can supply a fix for a bug in a driver.

What PCS are saying here is that there appears to be an issue with a recently updated version of the driver for the SMBbus on your model of laptop, the issue will thus affect all laptops that use that driver.

It also appears that the laptop vendor wasn't already aware of the issue and doesn't already have an updated driver to fix the issue. Of course, as with all software/firmware problems, it's necessary to fully understand the problem and the exact conditions under which it arises before they can look at how to fix it. It seems that PCS's R&D department is working hand in hand with the laptop vendor to determine exactly what the problem is, the laptop vendor can then adjust the driver code to fix that problem.

Generally what happens is that PCS will be the first to receive the updated driver (since it seems they were the first to report the problem) and PCS's R&D department will then exhaustively test it before making it available to you.

How long this will take is like asking how long is a piece of string. If the problem is easily replicated and the offending bit of code is easy to fix (without creating other issues) then we might be talking of a few days. If, on the other hand, the problem is difficult to reproduce (as it may be because it seems to happen only after some time has passed) or if the faulty bit of code is awkward to modify without upsetting other features of the driver, it could take several weeks.

Although it doesn't help, the honest answer is, nobody knows. I am confident that PCS will keep you (and others affected) informed, but only when they have something useful to tell you.

I hope that helps a bit?

 

[Bhuna50]

Thanks. Much appreciated and helps me understand the complexity of it a lot more.

PCS have been keeping me fully informed - no complaints there at all. Apparently it’s not just limited to this chassis.

Fingers crossed it’s sorted soon then as need to get on and sort some photos out for Xmas presents.

Cheers again.


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[Bhuna50]

Sorry another novice question.

Presumably this doesn’t affect the AMD Ryzen build as it’s the intel chipset? So I might get laptop quicker if I change.

Should I consider switching to the AMD Ryzen[emoji769] 7 Eight Core Processor 4800H (2.9GHz, 4.2GHz Turbo)

Instead of the Intel[emoji2400] Core[emoji769] i7 Eight Core Processor 10875H (2.3GHz, 5.1GHz Turbo)


It means I lose the chance of putting in my 2TB 2.5” SSHD firecuda but I can turn it into a USB drive if needed and reconsider my m2s sizes.

I know everyone is saying AMDs are better but wanted to check the one here is as good as the Intel offered.

I do game a lot but also photo processing (several RAWs merging at time via Lightroom and Photoshop - Adobe photography suite).

All advice is gratefully appreciated. Thank you.


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[SpyderTracks]

Sorry another novice question.

Presumably this doesn’t affect the AMD Ryzen build as it’s the intel chipset? So I might get laptop quicker if I change.

Should I consider switching to the AMD Ryzen[emoji769] 7 Eight Core Processor 4800H (2.9GHz, 4.2GHz Turbo)

Instead of the Intel[emoji2400] Core[emoji769] i7 Eight Core Processor 10875H (2.3GHz, 5.1GHz Turbo)


It means I lose the chance of putting in my 2TB 2.5” SSHD firecuda but I can turn it into a USB drive if needed and reconsider my m2s sizes.

I know everyone is saying AMDs are better but wanted to check the one here is as good as the Intel offered.

I do game a lot but also photo processing (several RAWs merging at time via Lightroom and Photoshop - Adobe photography suite).

All advice is gratefully appreciated. Thank you.


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AMD are streets ahead of intel.

 

[Bhuna50]

AMD are streets ahead of intel.

Thanks

So am I right to assume the AMD wont be affected by same issue so I could speed up getting the laptop by switching? So swap the Ryzen 7 4800H in instead of the Intel i7 10875H

Thinking of also switching out the 2 x 1TB Intels for 1 x 1TB Samsung and 1 x 1TB PCS at same time.

Total additional cost (including amendment charge) only £95 - which as it would then include Valhalla too isnt a bad price to change it. Will use the Samsung then for Windows and games (im not worried about reinstalling / losing save games...its not life or death to me plus most of my games are these online ones where even the single player save games are on the cloud anyway - Elite Dangerous, The Division, etc).

Thoughts?

 

[SpyderTracks]

All sounds better. Can’t say anything about 4800h stocks or build time, you’d need to confirm that with PCS

 

[Bhuna50]

All sounds better. Can’t say anything about 4800h stocks or build time, you’d need to confirm that with PCS

Thanks Spyder - I have emailed the technician for his thoughts to and to ensure that this issue doesnt affect Ryzen build - as no point switching it all if I still have to wait - although am 90% decided already LOL

 

[Bhuna50]

Stuff it - order amended - will obviously reset the clock now (and need me to update my signature), but at least after reading some posts my doubts re the Intels SSD as well is gone LOL

 

[ubuysa]

Thanks Spyder - I have emailed the technician for his thoughts to and to ensure that this issue doesnt affect Ryzen build - as no point switching it all if I still have to wait - although am 90% decided already LOL

Sorry for being late back to the party.

I'm 99% certain that the SMBbus driver issue won't affect an AMD build because it'll be a different motherboard design.

 

[Bhuna50]

Thanks. Decision made now lol but thanks.


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