Google Pixelbook: unable to obtain graphics acceleration on KBL HD 615 under macOS

[Jake Lo]

@olm3ca

If you're able to boot to the desktop

Download this, launch, save, compress and attach it here

[olm3ca]

Thank you so much, @Jake Lo - got it now. @Hervé attached is the requested file. 

PixelbookOSX.zip

[Leon]

A small update from my part:

I have ordered an i5 model and a usb cable for patching WP/bios on my i7 model - the i7 have nvme disk so it should be able to boot native.

For i5 users, a thumbkey usb-c key with bootloade rmight be a work around
 

[Jake Lo]

@olm3ca

Give this config a try

config.plist.zip

[olm3ca]

Thank you! Just tried it, looks like it hangs on Render Compression for IOSurface is Enabled. I'll try the other platform ID of 01001E59 and will report back.

[Jake Lo]

You might just have to set the DVMT pre-allocation to 64mb or higher

I'm not familiar with PixelBook so not sure if you have access to set that.

[olm3ca]

I'm asking the developer of the Pixelbook firmware (MrChromebox) to see if we can change that, there are no settings I can manipulate myself. Meanwhile, no other attempts have yielded any results - the only two platform-ids that work continue to be 16590000 or 01001659. 

[olm3ca]

As an update on this... Windows reports the dedicated video memory is 128mb. We're going to see about adjusting the DVMT at the firmware level - it's possible... 

[Jake Lo]

What is shown in Windows is not indicative of what's in the firmware level. Good luck with the DVMT, hopefully successful.

[olm3ca]

Happy new year to everyone and thanks again for the help provided previously. As an update on this: DVMT is confirmed as set to 128mb. Unfortunately, after many (many!) tries of every possible framebuffer / platform-id / device-id combinations for the HD615, I'm seeing that this is a problem with MrChromebox's UEFI firmware on ChromeOS devices and Mac OS Catalina. This post on InsanelyMac is from a year ago, and details exactly the same problem I've been having. Whenever framebuffer args are used, the system locks up at [IGPU] Render Compression for IOSurface is Enabled. Other users (Reddit post) with this graphics card, HD615, have also reported similar problems in Catalina.  

 

As I've stalled out on Catalina, I've started the process to get Mojave running. Right now, the initial installer locking up at "disk is not convertible to apfs" even after going to Disk Utility, show all devices, format as APFS with GUID. I've tried many different types of drives (SSD, external HD, etc) and none are working. It always happens when there are 2 minutes remaining in the install.

 

Thanks for the support once again.