AMD Generic Encapsulated Software Architecture

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AMD Generic Encapsulated Software Architecture , or AGESA for short , is the name of a program library for BIOS developers. The chip manufacturer Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is pursuing the goal of reducing the development time ( time-to-market ) for the firmware of motherboards with AMD processors and chipsets. AGESA was introduced in 2003 and has since been integrated into their firmware by numerous BIOS and UEFI manufacturers.

technology

AGESA was until revision 2 (2006), u. a. for the then AMD Opteron processors up to versions G and E ( Opteron K8 and K9 ), written in assembler and has been implemented in C since the "Barcelona" architecture Opteron K10 .

It consists of individual modules. The three main modules are the processor , memory controller and HyperTransport . The AGESA code provides functions for initializing, configuring and querying information about the individual components. The AGESA code can be used by the respective firmware via wrapper functions. AGESA also comes with sample code that is intended to make programming these wrapper functions easier for developers.

developer

According to AMD, the advantage of using AGESA code is that the code provided simplifies the development of the firmware, minimizes errors and produces optimized code: The developers at AMD specialize in the hardware-related functions provided by AGESA, while the Firmware developers (BIOS, UEFI) can concentrate on their functions. In addition, error corrections can be distributed more quickly to all manufacturers, and the integration into the mainboard- specific firmware is simplified and accelerated by the standardization.

The AMD Generic Encapsulated Software Architecture must be licensed from the manufacturers of BIOS / UEFI firmware with AMD processors. For integration into the open source and free core boot , the respective developer must sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA ). AGESA is an unregistered trademark ("AGESA ™").

AMD works with the mainboard firmware developers and supports both the BIOS , its successor UEFI and the free alternative Coreboot (formerly LinuxBIOS).

user

For users of an x86 computer with an AMD processor, that is, end users in the private sector (home users) as well as companies as end customers (and their administrators as users), “AGESA” is often a term because the revision mostly occurs with BIOS or UEFI - Updates is indicated. For example, an AGESA update often supports newer AMD processors, improves functions or eliminates errors. Since critical errors can be eliminated more quickly by AGESA update, it is indirectly part of the additional protection that is already in many BIOS and UEFI implementations as a trusted execution environment exists: per trust chain ( English Chain of Trust ) is here only by Authenticated code signature verification loaded. At AMD, the necessary hardware is in the Platform Security Processor (PSP, since 2014).

Examples:

  • In 2014, the new AGESA code fixed some security holes in the Trinity , Richland , Kaveri and Kabini series . The CPUs run on motherboards with the versions FM2, FM2 +, AM1 and in BGA versions for soldering.
  • After the introduction of the Ryzen processors in 2017, the support for memory modules ( DIMMs ) was greatly improved with the AGESA update 1.0.0.6 .

Versions

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AGESA versions 0.0.xx to xxxx
(2011 to today)
version Version changes Processors (CPU)
architecture Surname Code name Stepping Socket Release date
0.0.?.? Lynx series support 10h (also K10) Merger ( APU ) Llano B0 FM1, FS1 (Mobile) June 2011
0.0.?.? Brazos series support Bobcat Merger (APU) Desna, Ontario, Zacate B0, C0 FT1 (Ultra-Mobile / Embedded) June 2011
0.0.9.x Zambezi series support bulldozer FX Zambezi B2, B3 AM3 + (desktop) October 2011

?.?.?.? Valencia series support Opteron Valencia B2 C32 (server) November 2011
?.?.?.? Interlagos series support Opteron Interlagos B2 G34 (server) November 2011
1.2.0.2 Opteron 3200 series support Opteron Zurich B2 AM3 + (server) March 2012
1.2.9.0 Comal series support Piledriver Merger (APU) Trinity (Comal) B0 FM2, FS1 (Mobile), FP2 (Mobile) May 2012
1.5.0.0 Virgo series support Merger (APU) Trinity (Virgo) B0, A1 FM2 (desktop) October 2012
?.?.?.? Vishera series support FX Vishera C0 AM3 + (desktop) October 2012
?.?.?.? Support the Delhi, Seoul, Abu Dhabi series Opteron Delhi, Seoul, Abu Dhabi C0 AM3 +, C32, G34 (server) November / December 2012
?.?.?.? Richland series support Merger (APU) Richland A1 FM2 (desktop) June 2013
?.?.?.? Kyoto series support jaguar Opteron X (APU) Kyoto ?? FT3 (server) May 2013
Remarks:
  1. AMD Desktop CPU Information
  2. AMD Information on Dual-Core Opteron CPUs
  3. AMD Information on Quad-Core Opteron CPUs
  4. AMD Information on Six-Core Opteron CPUs
AGESA versions 1.xxx to 3.7.xx
(2006 to 2010)
version Version changes Processors (CPU)
architecture Surname Code name Stepping Socket Release date
1.xxx including dual core support up to Athlon 64 X2 ? Revisions A to E ? ?
1.34.00 Last release on May 4, 2007 ? ? ? ? ?
2.xxx Dual core support up to Athlon 64 X2 ? Revisions F and G ? ?
2.08.05 BE series support Athlon 64 X2 Brisbane G1, G2 ON 2 June 5, 2007, October 2007
2.08.09 LE series support Sempron Sparta G1, G2 ON 2 August 2007, October 2007
2.08.11 Last release on August 11, 2007 ? ? ? ? ?
3.xxx Quad core support ? ? Revisions B, C, D, E ? ?
3.1.7.0 Barcelona series support Opteron Barcelona BA, B3 F. September 10, 2007
3.?.?.? Phenom X3 series support Phenom Toliman B2, B3 AM2 + March 27, 2008
3.3.0.0 Shanghai series support Opteron Shanghai C2 F. November 13, 2008
3.5.0.0 Istanbul series support Opteron Istanbul D0 F. June 1, 2009
3.5.3.0 Deneb series support Phenom II Deneb C2 AT 3 January 2009
3.5.3.1 Deneb series support Phenom II Deneb C3 AT 3 October 2009
3.?.?.? Support of the Magny-Cours series Opteron Magny-Cours D1 G34 Q1 2010
3.6.6.0 Thuban series support Phenom II Thuban E0 AT 3 April 26, 2010
3.7.1.0 ??? ??? ? ? ? Q3 2010
Remarks:
  1. FAQ overview of some older AGESA versions.
  2. AMD Desktop CPU Information
  3. AMD Information on First Generation Opteron CPUs (PDF)
  4. AMD Information on Dual-Core Opteron CPUs
  5. AMD Information on Quad-Core Opteron CPUs
  6. AMD Information on Six-Core Opteron CPUs

See also

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Christof Windeck: Locked tight. Protective functions for PC firmware and their disadvantages . In: c't 11/2015, 126-130. ISSN  0724-8679
  2. ↑ Christof Windeck: Security hole in firmware of AMD processors. January 7, 2015, accessed August 7, 2015 .
  3. ↑ Patrick MacMillan on May 26, 2017: AMD Announces Ryzen AGESA 1.0.0.6 Update: Enables Memory Clocks Up To DDR4-4000. In: Trending Topics. AnandTech, May 26, 2017, accessed on May 9, 2018 .
  4. ↑ STEAM Games on AMD FX platforms . ( STEAM Games on AMD FX platforms ( Memento January 16, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) [accessed June 18, 2012]).
  5. ↑ a b c Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD7 (rev.1.x) motherboard BIOS download . ( gigabyte.us [accessed June 18, 2012]).
  6. ↑ ASUS Crosshair V Formula motherboard BIOS download . ( asus.com [accessed June 18, 2012]).
  7. ↑ a b AMD Desktop Processor Information . ( AMD Desktop Processor Information ( Memento of May 4, 2015 on the Internet Archive ) [accessed July 22, 2009]).
  8. ↑ a b AMD Dual-Core Opteron Processor Information . ( AMD Dual-Core Opteron Processor Information ( August 28, 2009 memento on the Internet Archive ) [accessed July 22, 2009]). AMD Dual-Core Opteron Processor Information ( Memento of the original from August 28, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / products.amd.com
  9. ↑ a b AMD Quad-Core Opteron Processor Information . ( AMD Quad-Core Opteron Processor Information ( June 16, 2009 memento on the Internet Archive ) [accessed July 22, 2009]). AMD Quad-Core Opteron Processor Information ( Memento of the original dated June 16, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / products.amd.com
  10. ↑ a b AMD Six-Core Opteron Processor Information . ( AMD Six-Core Opteron Processor Information ( June 6, 2009 memento on the Internet Archive ) [accessed July 22, 2009]). AMD Six-Core-Opteron-Processor-Information ( Memento of the original from June 6th, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / products.amd.com
  11. ↑ Heise online: AMD: 45 nm Opterons should run in current server boards . ( heise.de [accessed on November 6, 2008]).
  12. ↑ AMD FAQ overview AGESA. (No longer available online.) Formerly in the original ; accessed on January 1, 2014 .  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / wwwd.amd.com
  13. ↑ AMD Opteron Processor Information . ( amd.com [PDF; accessed July 22, 2009]). AMD Opteron processor information (PDF) ( Memento of the original dated February 6, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / products.amd.com