amd-bc250-docs/docs/linux/fedora.md

Fedora Complete Setup Guide

Step-by-step guide to installing and configuring Fedora on the BC-250.

Overview

Fedora is the most recommended distribution for BC-250, offering:

• Easy installation process
• Mesa 25.1+ in official repositories (Fedora 43)
• Extensive BC-250 community support
• Automated setup scripts available

Prerequisites

• BC-250 board with BIOS flashed and configured
• USB drive (4GB+) for installation media
• Display connected via DisplayPort
• Keyboard and mouse (USB)
• Internet connection recommended

Download Fedora

Recommended Version: Fedora 43 Workstation

Download from: getfedora.org

Desktop Options:

• GNOME (default) - Modern, clean interface
• KDE Plasma (Fedora Spins) - Highly customizable, recommended by many users

Create Installation Media

Using Fedora Media Writer (Recommended):

1. Download Fedora Media Writer
2. Run and select Fedora Workstation
3. Select your USB drive
4. Click "Write" and wait

Using balenaEtcher:

1. Download ISO from Fedora website
2. Download balenaEtcher
3. Select ISO, select USB drive, flash

Installation

Step 1: Boot Installation Media

1. Insert USB drive into BC-250
2. Power on the BC-250
3. System should boot to GRUB menu

!!!warning "Black Screen Issue" If you get a black screen, the installer is trying to use the GPU before drivers are loaded.

Step 2: Select Boot Mode

!!!warning "Fedora 42 is End of Life" Fedora 42 reached EOL. If still running Fedora 42, upgrade to Fedora 43.

For Fedora 43 with working kernels (6.18.18 LTS or 6.17.11+):

You can try the standard "Install Fedora" option. If it boots successfully, no need for basic graphics mode.

If you get a black screen:

1. At GRUB menu, select "Troubleshooting"
2. Choose "Install Fedora Workstation in basic graphics mode"
3. This enables nomodeset automatically

!!!info "Nomodeset May Not Be Required" On Fedora 43 with working kernel versions (6.18.18 LTS or 6.17.11+), nomodeset is often no longer needed during installation. However, if you encounter a black screen, use basic graphics mode.

!!!info "Recommended Kernel Versions" - Kernel 6.18.18 LTS: Current LTS, RECOMMENDED - Kernel 6.17.11+: Working (Dec 2025+) - Kernels 6.17.8–6.17.10: Known broken, avoid - Kernel 6.19.x: Current stable, works well - Note: Unpatched kernels have 1000–2000 MHz frequency limits. Custom kernel compilation or distro patches (e.g., CachyOS) unlock higher ranges.

Step 3: Complete Installation

1. Select language
2. Choose installation destination (your M.2 SSD)
3. Configure network (optional but recommended)
4. Create user account
5. Set root password (optional)
6. Click "Begin Installation"
7. Wait for installation to complete
8. Click "Reboot System"

Note: System will reboot with nomodeset still active (limited resolution is normal for now).

Post-Installation Setup

Step 1: First Boot and Update

# Update system
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Step 2: Install Dependencies

sudo dnf install -y git cmake make gcc-c++ libdrm-devel lm_sensors

Step 3: Verify Mesa Version

# Check Mesa version
dnf list mesa-\*

# Should show 25.1+ for Fedora 43
# Fedora 43 ships Mesa 25.x — no additional setup needed

Step 4: Install GPU Governor

Option 1: COPR (Recommended)

# Use filippor/bazzite COPR with cyan-skillfish-governor-smu
sudo dnf copr enable filippor/bazzite
sudo dnf install cyan-skillfish-governor-smu
sudo systemctl enable --now cyan-skillfish-governor-smu

!!!info "Governor Package" The filippor/bazzite COPR provides both cyan-skillfish-governor-smu (recommended, no kernel patch needed) and cyan-skillfish-governor-tt (alternative, requires kernel patch). Confirmed stable as of Mar 2026.

Step 5: Configure Sensors

For read-only monitoring (temperatures, voltages, fan speeds):

echo 'nct6683' | sudo tee /etc/modules-load.d/99-sensors.conf
echo 'options nct6683 force=true' | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/options-sensors.conf
sudo dracut --regenerate-all --force

For PWM fan control (recommended), use nct6687 instead — see the Sensors Guide for full setup instructions.

Step 6: Remove nomodeset and Configure GRUB

# Edit GRUB configuration
sudo nano /etc/default/grub

# Find: GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="nomodeset quiet"
# Change to: GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet"

# Optional: Add mitigations=off for performance boost
# GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet mitigations=off"

# Note: amdgpu.sg_display=0 is only needed for kernels < 6.10

# Save (Ctrl+O, Enter, Ctrl+X)

# Update GRUB
sudo grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg

!!!info "Kernel Parameters Explained" - quiet - Reduces boot messages - mitigations=off - Disables CPU security mitigations (+18 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077) - amdgpu.sg_display=0 - Only needed for kernels < 6.10 (not needed on Fedora 43)

Step 7: Reboot

sudo reboot

After reboot, you should have full resolution and GPU acceleration.

Verification

Check GPU is Working

# Check Mesa version
glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version"
# Should show: Mesa 25.1.X

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

# Check governor running
systemctl status cyan-skillfish-governor-smu
# Should show: active (running)

# Check sensors
sensors
# Should show GPU temp, fan speeds, etc.

Install Gaming Software

Steam

sudo dnf install steam

Enable Proton for Windows games:

1. Open Steam
2. Settings → Compatibility
3. Check "Enable Steam Play for all other titles"
4. Select Proton version (latest is fine)

Proton GE (Recommended)

# Install ProtonUp-Qt
sudo dnf install protonup-qt

# Run ProtonUp-Qt and install latest Proton-GE

Gaming Tools

# Install useful gaming tools
sudo dnf install mangohud goverlay gamemode gamescope

# MangoHud: FPS overlay
# Goverlay: MangoHud configurator
# Gamemode: CPU governor optimization
# Gamescope: Compositor for better frame pacing

Optional: Hold Kernel Version

Since kernel 6.15.0-6.15.6 and 6.17.8–6.17.10 break BC-250, you may want to prevent automatic kernel updates to broken versions. Note: 6.18.18 LTS and 6.17.11+ are confirmed working:

# Install versionlock plugin
sudo dnf install python3-dnf-plugin-versionlock

# Lock current kernel
sudo dnf versionlock add kernel

# To unlock later:
# sudo dnf versionlock delete kernel

Troubleshooting

Display Still Not Working After Setup

# Check amdgpu module loaded
lsmod | grep amdgpu

# Check for errors
dmesg | grep amdgpu

# Verify Mesa
glxinfo | grep -i "opengl renderer"
# Should NOT show "llvmpipe"

Governor Not Starting

# Check governor service
sudo systemctl status cyan-skillfish-governor-smu

# Check logs
sudo journalctl -u cyan-skillfish-governor-smu

# Restart service
sudo systemctl restart cyan-skillfish-governor-smu

Low FPS in Games

# Verify GPU is being used (not CPU rendering)
# Run game with MangoHud:
mangohud steam

# Check GPU frequency scaling
cat /sys/class/drm/card0/device/pp_dpm_sclk
# Should show frequencies changing under load

Fedora-Specific Issues

Kernel Auto-Update to Broken Version

Symptom: System breaks after update Cause: Kernel 6.15.0-6.15.6 or 6.17.8-6.17.10 breaks BC-250 (6.17.11+ is fixed)

Solution:

# Boot into rescue mode or older kernel
# Remove broken kernel (example for 6.15.5)
sudo dnf remove kernel-6.15.5\*
# Or for 6.17.8-6.17.10 range
sudo dnf remove kernel-6.17.9\*

# Upgrade to latest kernel (6.17.11+ has the fix)
sudo dnf upgrade kernel

# Or install LTS for stability
sudo dnf install kernel-6.18.18-200

MTG Arena Crashes on Fedora

Symptom: Magic: The Gathering Arena crashes/freezes Workaround: Some users report better stability on Manjaro or Bazzite Possible Fix: Try different Proton version

Performance Tuning

CPU Frequency Scaling

!!!info "Requires ACPI Fix" CPU frequency scaling is not available by default on BC-250. Install the bc250-acpi-fix SSDT-PST table to enable cpufreq with 8 P-states (800-3200 MHz). With the fix, schedutil governor is recommended:

```bash
echo schedutil | sudo tee /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu*/cpufreq/scaling_governor
```

Optimize for Low Latency

# Edit /etc/sysctl.conf
sudo nano /etc/sysctl.conf

# Add:
vm.swappiness=180
vm.vfs_cache_pressure=50

# Apply
sudo sysctl -p

Desktop Environment Tips

KDE Plasma

• Wayland works well on Plasma 6
• Configure compositor for lowest latency:
  • System Settings → Display → Compositor
  • Set latency to "Low" or "Lowest"

GNOME

• Most stable desktop environment for BC-250
• Wayland generally stable
• Recommended for reliability

See Also

• Kernel Requirements
• Mesa Installation
• GPU Governor Setup
• Distribution Comparison