[Guide] Dell XPS 13 9360 on MacOS Sierra 10.12.x - LTS (Long-Term Support) Guide

[jkbuha]

bit off topic, but your scores in linux look promising, can the dgpu work in linux?

Experimenting with a few new UEFI settings, seems to be working nicely on Linux, best scores so far.

However I can't get similar performance on macOS, which suggests it's a config thing. As you can see, scores are around 10% lower, which is why I haven't yet released an updated config.

The dgpu is driver (ie: os) specific, so probably yes, but I haven't really investigated that space.

 

[jkbuha]

Ok, so after some experimentation around max linux scores, it likely that it's my own specific config on macOS that's the likely cause of the slight GB4 score drops, but I'd like @wanghuangjie and @Lopburi to try this out on their own 9360s and see if they get GB4 scores > 5000/15000. If so then I'll be happy

(@Mrgeque you're more than welcome to try the settings below - look for your own addresses in the IFR because these are 9360 specifc - and see if your scores improve on the Inspiron)

In addition to the OC folder, you'll need to make the following adjustments using setup_var in UEFI shell (choose setup_var from the OC boot menu):

* 0x4CB         0x00 ; Package power limit lock
* 0x4B6         0x01 ; Long Term Power Limit Override
* 0x4B2/3/4/5   0xFF ; Long Term Power Limit
* 0x4B7         0x80 ;   Long Term Time Window
* 0x4DE         0x00 ; CFG lock
* 0x5f9/B/D/F   0xFF ;VR Current value lock
* 0x51d            0x10 ; TCC activation offset
* 0x4E0           0x01 ; Config TDP lock
* 0x4E1           0x01 ; CTDP Bios Conrol
* 0x4AE          0x02 ; Boot performance mode : set to Turbo Performance
* 0x4df           0x02 ; Configurable TDP Level : TDP UP

Please report back and let me know

 

[wanghuangjie]

Ok, so after some experimentation around max linux scores, it likely that it's my own specific config on macOS that's the likely cause of the slight GB4 score drops, but I'd like @wanghuangjie and @Lopburi to try this out on their own 9360s and see if they get GB4 scores > 5000/15000. If so then I'll be happy

(@Mrgeque you're more than welcome to try the settings below - look for your own addresses in the IFR because these are 9360 specifc - and see if your scores improve on the Inspiron)

In addition to the OC folder, you'll need to make the following adjustments using setup_var in UEFI shell (choose setup_var from the OC boot menu):

* 0x4CB         0x00 ; Package power limit lock
* 0x4B6         0x01 ; Long Term Power Limit Override
* 0x4B2/3/4/5   0xFF ; Long Term Power Limit
* 0x4B7         0x80 ;   Long Term Time Window
* 0x4DE         0x00 ; CFG lock
* 0x5f9/B/D/F   0xFF ;VR Current value lock
* 0x51d            0x10 ; TCC activation offset
* 0x4E0           0x01 ; Config TDP lock
* 0x4E1           0x01 ; CTDP Bios Conrol
* 0x4AE          0x02 ; Boot performance mode : set to Turbo Performance
* 0x4df           0x02 ; Configurable TDP Level : TDP UP

Please report back and let me know

Just can't tell you how exciting i am right now!


OC: Using my own
setup_var:
what's changed:

* 0x4B7      0x1c ->   0x80 ;   Long Term Time Window
* 0x4B6    0x01 -> 0x01 ; Long Term Power Limit Override
* 0x4DE  0x00 -> 0x00 ; CFG lock
* 0x4E0   0x00 -> 0x01 ; Config TDP lock
* 0x4E1    0x00 -> 0x01 ; CTDP Bios Conrol

what's not:

* 0x4AE    0x02  -> 0x02 ; Boot performance mode : set to Turbo Performance
* 0x4df     0x02  -> 0x02 ; Configurable TDP Level : TDP UP

* 0x5f9/B/D/F   0xFF ;VR Current value lock
* 0x4B2/3/4/5   0xFF ; Long Term Power Limit, hence the default value is different,  0xd8 0x59 0x00 0x00, so did't change it.
* 0x51d     0x10 ; TCC activation offset

SingleCore:4906 MultiCore:16194


Then i change my tdp by voltageshift

CPU BaseFreq: 2000, CPU MaxFreq(1/2/4): 4000/4000/4000 (mhz)  PL1: 30W PL2: 51W

But the TDP remain the same.

Maybe still need to modify more to my bios by setup_var.

And what i want to achieve is change TDP limit dynamically by voltageshift . Not by bios.
So i can change it in real-time to meet my needs

Here is what i've done.
Automatic switch off turbo boost when using battery.

GitHub - wanghuangjie/sleepwatcher_turboboost_on_battery: 关闭turboboost，当使用电池时

关闭turboboost，当使用电池时. Contribute to wanghuangjie/sleepwatcher_turboboost_on_battery development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

So the battery life will longer ,and keyboard temperature will colder.

Thanks for your sharing.Waiting for your further reply.

 

[jkbuha]

SingleCore:4906 MultiCore:16194


Then i change my tdp by voltageshift

CPU BaseFreq: 2000, CPU MaxFreq(1/2/4): 4000/4000/4000 (mhz)  PL1: 30W PL2: 51W

But the TDP remain the same.

Maybe still need to modify more to my bios by setup_var.

And what i want to achieve is unlock TDP limit by voltageshift. Not by bios.
So i can change it in real-time.

voltageshift appears to work for me though...

voltageshift write 0x01ad 0x28282828
voltageshift write 0x610 0x42016000dd8160
voltageshift info

...
CPU BaseFreq: 2000, CPU MaxFreq(1/2/4): 4000/4000/4000 (mhz)  PL1: 44W PL2: 44W

 

[wanghuangjie]

voltageshift appears to work for me though...

voltageshift write 0x01ad 0x28282828
voltageshift write 0x610 0x42016000dd8160
voltageshift info

...
CPU BaseFreq: 2000, CPU MaxFreq(1/2/4): 4000/4000/4000 (mhz)  PL1: 44W PL2: 44W

Here is my running voltageshift info
return

CPU BaseFreq: 2000, CPU MaxFreq(1/2/4): 4000/4000/4000 (mhz)  PL1: 30W PL2: 51W 
CPU Freq: 1.2ghz, Voltage: 0.5916v, Power:pkg 2.72w /core 0.50w,Temp: 52 c

but while running cinebench,
intel power gadget shows that TDP remain the same..

 

[jkbuha]

Try enabling/disabling HWP/SpeedShift via setup_var (0x4ad) and see if there's any difference

 

[wanghuangjie]

Try enabling/disabling HWP/SpeedShift via setup_var (0x4ad) and see if there's any difference

doesn't make much difference.
Have you ever try cinebench to verify if TDP limit changed?

 

[jkbuha]

After running Cinebench R20 (on battery)

CPU BaseFreq: 2000, CPU MaxFreq(1/2/4): 4000/4000/4000 (mhz) PL1: 44W PL2: 44W

But this is the first time I'm using Cinebench so not sure how to use it properly. There doesn't seem to be much info, and the score is 1100. Good/Bad?

 

[wanghuangjie]

After running Cinebench R20 (on battery)

CPU BaseFreq: 2000, CPU MaxFreq(1/2/4): 4000/4000/4000 (mhz) PL1: 44W PL2: 44W

But this is the first time I'm using Cinebench so not sure how to use it properly. There doesn't seem to be much info, and the score is 1100. Good/Bad?

cinebench R20 ,xps 9360 i7-8550u 16G ram, default TDP PL1:23W, PL2:51W.
My best score is 1450.Lowest score is 1377 on AC power.
So i think your score is not good.

And when running cinebench test , if you open Intel Power Gadget ,you might see the PL1 remain 23W.

 

[ebaymic60]

Hey just wondering if anyone had any success with installing the Big Sur Beta?

I had success with Clover 5.1 5131 on Big Sur 11.2.1 on the XPS 9360 Kaby Lake HD620 FHD 1920x1080. Set SMBios to MacBookPro 15.2, installed CPUfriend kexts and Usb wifi kexts.

Graphics, brightness, Trackpad gestures, Bluetooth, battery, sound, andUsb C (Dock and Hdmi) work. Sleep will not wake. Clover 5.1 5131 now only shows MacOS Preboot.

Otherwise MacOS Big Sur runs well with similar Power usage to OC boot (Intel Power Gadget). Clover is a better option since I triple Boot Windows, Mac and Linux. Clover does not take over the Bios like OC.
Update: VoodooI2C.kext and VoodooI2CHID.kext installed without errors after removing voodooinput.kext from contents of VoodooI2C.kext. Clover.Zip updated.

Updated 21 December 2021
Updated to Clover 5142 for Monterey 12.
Graphics, brightness, Trackpad gestures, Sleep battery, sound, andUsb C (Dock and Hdmi) work.
SMBios to MacBookPro 16.2