PCH-H + Embedded Controller (EC)

[vdpavel]

I try to develop my own hardware platform using Intel Core I9 (CFL-H) and PCH-H (CNP-H). But in all reference schematic documents I see embedded controller (like MEC1428 or AST2500) connected to PCH via LPC or eSPI. For my platform there is no one features that I need from this EC. My question: is it possible to avoid of using this external controller and use this pins as GPIO or leave floating? Will the system still working without EC (especially ME)?

[CarlosAM_INTEL]

Hello, @vdpavel:

Thank you for contacting the Intel Embedded Community.

The information that may help is stated in sections 26.1, 26.2.2.3.2, and 29.2.4; on pages 334, 336, and 349 of the Coffee Lake H Platform Design Guide (PDG) document # 571391. It can be found when you are logged into your Resource & Design Center (RDC) privileged account on the following website:

http://www.intel.com/cd/edesign/library/asmo-na/eng/571391.htm

The RDC Account Support form is the channel to process your account update request or report any inconveniences with the provided site. It can be found at:

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/forms/support/my-intel-sign-on-support.html

Best Regards,

@CarlosAM_INTEL.

[vdpavel]

Dear, @CarlosAM_INTEL 

Thank you for your quick answer. This and lots of other documents I used during prototyping my board. I understand that I'm able to remove EC, but have some hesitation cause every document says that I can use either LPC or eSPI. It sounds that I must have EC connected to LPC or eSPI. And my question is: EC is mandatory or if I don't need it I can leave this both interfaces unimplemented? Will the internal firmware ("Intel® ME" especially) be functioning in this case? BIOS will be modified and self implemeted for sure.

Best regards, Pavel

[CarlosAM_INTEL · Accepted solution]

Hello, @vdpavel:

The EC region, eSPI, and DMI configurations sections of the Intel(R) Converged Security and Management Engine Firmware Version for Coffee Lake S/H Consumer and Corporate Platforms have the information that may help you.

By the way, please review the Huron River Platform Design Without an Embedded Controller document # 446844 and Shark Bay Platform Design without an Embedded Controller White Paper document # 517418 that can be found when you are logged in on your RDC privileged account at the following websites:

https://cdrdv2.intel.com/v1/dl/getContent/446844

https://cdrdv2.intel.com/v1/dl/getContent/517418

Best regards,

@CarlosAM_INTEL.

[vdpavel]

Hello, @CarlosAM_INTEL

Thank you for information. It is very useful. My platform contains CPLD and all power signals are connected to it (SLP*, ACPRESENT, etc). Now I can't find information about PECI. #554767 in reference documents there is a link to Platform Environment Control Interface (PECI) Specification 3.1 (Document No./Location 31631), but search with no success. I want to implement this protocol in CPLD. Do you know why this document is not available? Where can I find such information?

Best regards, Pavel

[CarlosAM_INTEL]

Hello, @vdpavel:

Thanks for your update.

The requested document can be found when you are logged into your Resource & Design Center (RDC) privileged account on the following website:

http://www.intel.com/cd/edesign/library/asmo-na/eng/574767.htm

The RDC Account Support form is the channel to process your account update request or report any inconveniences with the provided site. It can be found at:

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/forms/support/my-intel-sign-on-support.html

Best regards,

@CarlosAM_INTEL.

[vdpavel]

Hello, @CarlosAM_INTEL 

#574767 is a document about Intel(R) NUC and NUC Elements. There is no one word about PECI. I guess you mean #554767 that I described in my previous message. But this document says: "This document does not specify how to design the physical PECI 3.1 interface". And this is what I really need. I guess that physical interface is described in Document No./Location 31631 (RS - Platform Environment Control Interface). This document is used as a reference in #554767. Can you help me to find this document or document that describes PECI physical interface? Thank you.

Best regrads, Pavel

[CarlosAM_INTEL]

Hello, @vdpavel:

Thanks for your reply.

Actually, we want to refer to the information stated in section 7, on pages 63, 64, and 65 of the Platform Environment Control Interface (PECI 3.1) User Guide document # 575685 that may help you.  It can be found when you are logged into your Resource & Design Center (RDC) privileged account on the following website:

http://www.intel.com/cd/edesign/library/asmo-na/eng/575685.htm

The RDC Account Support form is the channel to process your account update request or report any inconveniences with the provided site. It can be found at:

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/forms/support/my-intel-sign-on-support.html

Best regards,

@CarlosAM_INTEL.

[vdpavel]

Dear, @CarlosAM_INTEL 

Thank you for information. #575685 and #554767 do not contain information about physical interface. Section 7 shows how to connect devices with PECI interface. I do not have EC. Instead I have CPLD connected to PECI pins of CPU and PCH. CPLD does not have PECI controller inside. Therefore I need information about PECI low layer protocol to implement it in CPLD.

Best regards, Pavel

[CarlosAM_INTEL]

Thanks for your reply.

The RS - Platform Environment Control Interface (PECI) Specification document # 614123 that may help you. It can be found when you are logged into your Resource & Design Center (RDC) privileged account on the following website:

http://www.intel.com/cd/edesign/library/asmo-na/eng/614123.htm

The RDC Account Support form is the channel to process your account update request or report any inconveniences with the provided site. It can be found at:

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/forms/support/my-intel-sign-on-support.html

Best regards,

@CarlosAM_INTEL.

[vdpavel]

Dear, @CarlosAM_INTEL

link below doen't exist.

http://www.intel.com/cd/edesign/library/asmo-na/eng/614123.htm

Document #614123 also not avialable

Best regards, Pavel

[CarlosAM_INTEL]

Hello, @vdpavel:

Thanks for your reply.

Based on our last communication, could you please confirm that you have followed the suggested procedure stated in the end of our message to solve the reported situation?

Best regards,

@CarlosAM_INTEL.

[vdpavel]

Hello, @CarlosAM_INTEL 

If you mean do I have access to RDC? Yes, I have.

Looks like #614123 doesn't exist. Or I do not have enough rights to access to this document.

Best regards, Pavel

[CarlosAM_INTEL]

Hello, @vdpavel:

Thanks for your reply.

Based on your last communication, could you please clarify us the meaning to you of the yellow-high information showed in the following screenshot?

We are waiting for your answer.

Best regards,

@CarlosAM_INTEL.

[vdpavel]

Answer from Intel Support:

"Hello Pavel,

Thank you for your response. Upon further checking, your account does not have an Account Owner. Unfortunately, we cannot provide additional support at this time and therefore Intel documents will be unavailable.

..."

[CarlosAM_INTEL]

Hello, @vdpavel:

Thanks for your update.

Could you please clarify the purposes to implement PECI? This may help us to better understand your request of this information.

We are waiting for your reply.

Best regards,

@CarlosAM_INTEL. 

[vdpavel]

Dear, @CarlosAM_INTEL 

My platform does not contatin EC. Instead I have CPLD. To control CPU and PCH temperature I need to have PECI client. In case of EC this client is EC. So I want to implement PECI controller to CPLD. That's why I need this document. I don't really understand what secret could be in 1-wire interface.

Best regards,

Pavel

[CarlosAM_INTEL]

Hello, @vdpavel:

Thanks for your reply.

We have sent an email with suggestions that may help you.

Best regards,

@CarlosAM_INTEL.