Quick Start Guide¶

Get your BC-250 up and running with this fast-track checklist.

Requirements First

Before starting, ensure you have everything from the Prerequisites page.

Setup Checklist¶

Step 1: BIOS Flash (Critical)¶

Must Do First

The modded BIOS unlocks essential features like dynamic VRAM allocation and proper fan control. Skip this and you'll have a bad time.

Download modded BIOS from bc250-bios repository
Format USB stick as FAT32
Rename BIOS file to Robin5.00 (capital R)
Copy to USB root directory
Use included flashing utility
CRITICAL: Clear CMOS after flashing (remove battery 60 seconds)

Difficulty: Easy

Full BIOS guide →

Step 2: BIOS Configuration¶

Boot into BIOS (Del key during startup) and configure:

VRAM Split: 512MB (Dynamic)
Fan Control: Full Speed (for testing) or Customize
IOMMU: Disabled (MUST disable - IOMMU is broken)
Boot Mode: UEFI

Backplate Active Cooling Required

The VRAM chips on the backplate have no temperature sensor and will overheat under load, causing graphical glitches and instability. Install an 80mm fan on the backplate before gaming or intensive workloads. Passive cooling is insufficient.

VRAM configuration guide →

Step 3: Install Linux¶

Recommended: Fedora or Bazzite

Fedora 42/43 and Bazzite have the best out-of-box support. Other distros work but need more manual setup.

Fedora Installation:

Download Fedora 42 or 43 Workstation
Boot installer in "Basic Graphics Mode" (enables nomodeset automatically)
Complete installation normally
Reboot

Difficulty: Easy

Distribution comparison →

Step 4: Install Drivers & Governor¶

Run the automated setup script:

# For Fedora 42/43
# Mesa 25.1+ is included in Fedora 43 repos - no additional setup needed
sudo dnf update

# Install governor from COPR (updated Dec 2025)
sudo dnf copr enable filippor/bazzite
sudo dnf install cyan-skillfish-governor-tt
sudo systemctl enable --now oberon-governor.service

SMU Governor as Emerging Alternative

The SMU governor is an emerging alternative that works on CachyOS without requiring a kernel patch. Monitor community feedback for stability updates.

Governor Device Targeting

Known Issue: Governor may target incorrect device (card0 vs card1). Verify correct device assignment in governor configuration.

# For Bazzite
curl -s https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vietsman/bc250-documentation/refs/heads/main/oberon-setup.sh | sudo sh

This installs:

Mesa 25.1+ drivers (already in Fedora 43+ / Bazzite)
Oberon GPU governor (required for performance)
Sensor drivers (lm-sensors package)
System optimizations

Difficulty: Easy

Step 5: Remove nomodeset¶

Critical Step

After drivers are installed, you MUST remove nomodeset or the GPU won't work properly.

sudo nano /etc/default/grub

# Find this line:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet nomodeset"

# Change to:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet"

# Save and update GRUB
sudo grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg

# Reboot
sudo reboot

Step 6: Verify Installation¶

Check that everything works:

# Check Mesa version (should be 25.1+)
glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version"

# Check GPU detected
vulkaninfo | grep deviceName
# Should show: AMD Radeon Graphics (RADV GFX1013)

# Check governor running
systemctl status oberon-governor
# Should show: active (running)

# Check GPU frequency
cat /sys/class/drm/card0/device/pp_dpm_sclk
# Should show multiple frequencies, one marked with *

Step 7: Install Steam & Gaming Tools¶

sudo dnf install steam mangohud goverlay

# Enable Steam Proton for Windows games
# In Steam: Settings → Compatibility → Enable Proton for all titles

Step 8: Test a Game!¶

Launch a game through Steam. Most games work out of the box with Proton.

For launch options in Steam (right-click game → Properties → Launch Options):

RADV_DEBUG=nohiz %command%

This fixes graphical glitches in some games.

Quick Troubleshooting¶

No Display¶

Problem: Black screen during/after installation Solution: Boot with nomodeset parameter (added automatically in Fedora Basic Graphics Mode)

GPU Not Detected¶

Problem: vulkaninfo shows llvmpipe instead of AMD GPU Solution:

Verify Mesa 25.1+ installed: dnf list mesa-*
Check kernel version: uname -r (should be 6.15.7-6.17.7 or 6.12-6.14 LTS, NOT 6.15.0-6.15.6 or 6.17.8+)
Verify nomodeset was removed from GRUB

Poor Performance / Low FPS¶

Problem: Games running at 15-20 FPS Solution:

Check governor is running: systemctl status oberon-governor
Check GPU frequency: cat /sys/class/drm/card0/device/pp_dpm_sclk
Should NOT be stuck at 1500MHz

High Temperatures¶

Problem: GPU hitting 90°C+ Solution:

Verify fans are spinning at full speed
Straighten heatsink fins (they're often bent)
Replace thermal paste
Use high static pressure fans (Arctic P12 recommended)

Full troubleshooting guide →

Performance Targets¶

You should achieve:

Idle: 40-60°C, 50-80W power draw
Gaming: 70-85°C, 150-200W power draw
FPS: 60+ in most games at 1080p medium-high settings

Next Steps¶

Now that your BC-250 is running:

Optimize cooling: Cooling guide
Tune performance: GPU governor configuration
Test games: Game compatibility list
Join community: Discord link in GitHub repositories