https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=220469
Bug ID: 220469
Summary: [BUG REPORT] MSI MEG X870E GODLIKE - Fails to Boot
Linux / Kernel Freeze (Works in Windows)
Product: ACPI
Version: 2.5
Hardware: AMD
OS: Linux
Status: NEW
Severity: blocking
Priority: P3
Component: BIOS
Assignee: [email protected]
Reporter: [email protected]
Regression: No
Created attachment 308517
--> https://bugzilla.kernel.org/attachment.cgi?id=308517&action=edit
Build specs
1. Executive Summary
This report details a critical boot failure on the new MSI MEG X870E GODLIKE
motherboard when attempting to run modern Linux distributions. The system
consistently freezes during the kernel's hardware setup. The fact that Windows
11 installs and runs on the same hardware strongly suggests this is not a
hardware failure, but a fundamental firmware bug in the motherboard's
BIOS/AGESA implementation. The issue is likely related to non-standard ACPI
table definitions or faulty PCI-E/USB interrupt handling that the Linux kernel
cannot tolerate.
2. System Hardware & Software
Motherboard: MSI MEG X870E GODLIKE
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 [Your CPU Model, e.g., 9950X]
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
BIOS Version: [Enter the exact BIOS version you are using]
Distributions Tested (Linux): CachyOS (latest), Arch Linux (latest kernel),
Bazzite (latest), Garuda Linux, Linux Mint.
Working OS: Windows 11 Pro
3. Problem Description & Symptoms (Linux)
The primary issue is a hard system freeze during the boot process of a Linux
live installer USB.
Symptom A: Kernel Panic / Freeze: On most distributions (Arch/CachyOS), the
boot process prints a repeating error message before freezing completely:
error -19 hub doesn't have any ports
This indicates a catastrophic failure in the kernel's USB subsystem as
it tries to initialize the motherboard's USB controllers based on the
information provided by the firmware.
Symptom B: Partial Success, Boot Hang: The Bazzite (Fedora Atomic-based)
installer was able to successfully complete its installation to an NVMe drive.
However, on the first boot of the newly installed system, it freezes
indefinitely after the GRUB bootloader hands off to the kernel.
4. Comparative OS Behavior (Windows 11)
To isolate the fault, Windows 11 was installed on the same hardware.
Result: Windows 11 installs and boots successfully. The system is generally
usable, which confirms the core hardware components are functional.
Note on Instability: While Windows runs, it is worth noting that some minor
peripheral instabilities (such as intermittent connectivity with wireless
dongles) have been observed, suggesting the underlying firmware issue may still
be present but is handled more gracefully by the Windows driver model.
5. Troubleshooting Performed (Linux)
An exhaustive series of workarounds has been attempted to boot Linux.
BIOS Settings: Secure Boot has been DISABLED. IOMMU has been tested in both
enabled and disabled states. All other relevant settings have been toggled with
no success.
Kernel Boot Parameters (Applied at GRUB):
nomodeset: Does not solve the freeze, indicating the issue is not
primarily with the GPU driver.
acpi=off: A blunt-force test that sometimes allows booting, but is not
a viable solution.
pci=nomsi: This parameter allows the boot process to progress further
than normal before freezing, strongly implicating an issue with Message
Signaled Interrupts (MSI/MSI-X).
6. Hypothesis
The evidence points to a severe bug in the AGESA firmware provided by AMD
and/or MSI's specific implementation in the X870E GODLIKE's BIOS. The flawed
firmware is providing incorrect ACPI or IVRS tables to the operating system.
The Windows kernel and drivers are able to tolerate or work around these flaws,
whereas the Linux kernel, adhering more strictly to standards, encounters a
fatal error during device initialization. The instability is so fundamental
that it prevents the system from reaching a stable, running state under Linux.
7. How to Reproduce
The bug can be reliably reproduced by attempting to boot a current Linux
installer (e.g., CachyOS, Arch Linux) on this specific motherboard hardware. A
subsequent installation of Windows 11 will demonstrate that the hardware itself
is functional.
8. Request
This report is being provided to the community and kernel developers to assist
in diagnosing and patching this issue. A firmware fix from MSI/AMD is the most
likely permanent solution, but a kernel-level "quirk" to work around the faulty
firmware may also be possible.
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