Getting-Started-With-ACPI/Desktops/desktop-ec.md

Fixing Embedded Controller (Desktop)

What we'll be doing is hiding our actual EC and creating a fake Embedded Comtroller for macOS to play with.

To find out what EC you have, open your decompiled DSDT and search for PNP0C09. This should give you a result like this:

As you can see our PNP0C09 is found within the Device (EC0) meaning this is the device we want to hide from macOS(others may find H_EC, ECDV, etc, everyone's systems will be different). Now grab our SSDT-EC and uncomment the EC0 function(remove the /* and */ around it):

• SSDT-EC-USBX
  • For Skylake and newer and all AMD systems
• SSDT-EC
  • For Broadwell and older

/* <- REMOVE THIS
External (_SB_.PCI0.LPCB.EC0, DeviceObj) <- Rename this

   Scope (\_SB.PCI0.LPCB.EC0) <- Rename this
   {   
      Method (_STA, 0, NotSerialized) // _STA: Status
      {
         If (_OSI ("Darwin"))
         {
            Return (0)
         }
         Else
      {
      Return (0x0F)
     }
  }
}
*/ <- REMOVE THIS

But looking back at the screenshot above we notice something, our ACPI path is different: PC00.LPC0 vs PCI0.LPCB. This is very important especially when you're dealing with Intel consumer vs Intel HEDT vs AMD, PC00.LPC0 is common on Intel HEDT while PCI0.SBRG is common on AMD. And they even come with name variation such as EC0, H_EC, PGEC and ECDV, so there can't be a one size fits all SSDT, always verify your path and device. DO NOT ASSUME.

• Finding the LowPinCount path:
  • Intel: Search Name (_ADR, 0x001F0000)
  • AMD: Search Name (_ADR, 0x00140003)
• Finding the PCI path:
  • Intel: Search PNP0A08 (If multiple show up, use the first one)
  • AMD: Assume PCI0(most AMD DSDTs don't declare the PCI path directly)

And make sure to scroll to the bottom as the new Fake EC function also need the correct path to replace the old EC. Do not rename Device (EC), this is our fake EC we're using for macOS to play with so leave Device (EC) alone. Just change the path!

What happens if multiple PNP0C09 show up

When this happens you need to figure out which is the main and which is not, it's fairly easy to figure out. Check each controller for the following properties:

• _HID (Hardware ID)
• _CRS (Current Resource Settings)
• _GPE (General Purpose Events)

What happens if no PNP0C09 show up?

So what this means: EC faking is not mandatory for booting, instead only recommended for proper USB power.

So how do I make an SSDT without an EC? Well we'll only create a Fake EC for macOS to play with, this allows for AppleBusPowerController to load and handle our USB properly. To make the actual SSDT, its almost plug and play as no uncommenting needed. The main thing that needs to be changed:

• LowPinCount path
• PCI path

We want to make sure the SSDT hooks into our DSDT correctly so we need to make sure the ACPI path is correct:

• Finding the LowPinCount path:
  • Intel: Search Name (_ADR, 0x001F0000)
  • AMD: Search Name (_ADR, 0x00140003)
• Finding the PCI path:
  • Intel: Search PNP0A08 (If multiple show up, use the first one)
  • AMD: Assume PCI0(most AMD DSDTs don't declare the PCI path directly)

Once you find out, change PCI0.LPCB to your correct path:

Scope (\_SB.PC00.LPC0) <- Rename this
{
    Device (EC) <- DO NOT RENAME THIS
    {
        Name (_HID, "ACID0001")  // _HID: Hardware ID
        Method (_STA, 0, NotSerialized)  // _STA: Status
        {
            If (_OSI ("Darwin"))
            {
                Return (0x0F)
            }
            Else
            {
                Return (Zero)
            }
        }
    }
}

Correcting USB Power

Hey what about USBX? Do I need to do anything?

USBX is universal across all systems, it just creates a USBX device that forces USB power properties. This is crucial for fixing Mics, DACs, Webcams, Bluetooth Dongles and other high power draw devices. This is not mandatory to boot but should be added in post-install if not before. Note that USBX is only used on skylake+ systems, Broadwell and older can ignore and that USBX requires a patched EC to function correctly

Now you're ready to compile the SSDT!