Linux support for WiFi on MSI B550M-VC motherboard?

mfoley · 11-07-2023, 03:02 PM

I am upgrading my Linux Slackware 15.0 system with a new motherboard. I'm looking at the MSI B550M-VC motherboard with built-in WiFi. Before I buy it, I'd like to be sure it will work with my system (kernel 5.15.117). The MSI manual just says "Intel WiFI", no chipset info that I can find. It does say, "AMD Wi-Fi 6E Module".

Does anyone know if this will work? Is there a "compatible WiFi" resource I can look up?

Arnulf · 11-07-2023, 05:56 PM

You should upgrade to kernel 6.1 (see "slackware64-current") for better support of new hardware. This recommendation is independent of WiFi.

syg00 · 11-07-2023, 07:07 PM

If it doesn't work get a dongle that does until it is supported. I had to do this recently. And I'd go further on the kernel; at least 6.3. I'm not referring specifically to this motherboard.

mfoley · 11-08-2023, 03:21 AM

I don't think I'm ready to upgrade kernels yet. I prefer to keep on the stardard release path unless compelled otherwise. Other posts say this driver is in kernel 5.12 and later, but apparently not in my distro.

As I suspected, Slackware doesn't see this WiFi device at all. I can go the dongle route, but would like to make a bit of an effort to get a driver for this device. lspci shows "Network Controller: MediaTek Corp. MT7921K (RZ608) Wi-Fi 6E 80MHz". inxi -N gives, "Device-1: MEDIATEK MT7921K Wi-Fi 6E 80MHz driver: N/A". Also:

Code:

# lspci -nnk | greo -ia3 net
Network controller [0280]: MEDICATEK Corp. MT7921K (RZ608) Wi-Fi 6E [14c3:0608]
DeviceName: RTL8111E Giga LAN'

I'll look for a driver for this tomorrow (it's late!), but if any of you can point me in the right direction in the meantime I'd be grateful.

syg00 · 11-08-2023, 04:03 AM

Yeah, I suspected something like that. I had a MT7922 - it even ran like crap under Win11 initially. Get on a (very) current kernel and save yourself a bunch of angst.

End of discussion.

michaelk · 11-08-2023, 05:10 AM

This might help.

https://linux-hardware.org/?id=pci:14c3-0608-14c3-0608

mfoley · 11-08-2023, 09:50 PM

I cheched michaelk's link, which was helpful. It show a lot of computer with a failure on this device. The page says, "The device is supported by kernel versions 5.17 and newer according to the LKDDb." So, syg00 is likely correct in saying I need a new kernel. My immediate problem is that I've relocated this computer which is my main work computer. There is no actual Ethernet wiring available, so all must be WiFi. As long as I was moving things I decided to upgrade the motherboard from an ASRock 970M Pro3 to a MSI Pro B550M-VC WiFi. The ASrock connection was wired, but I could use the WiFi dongle at the previous location. The dongle does not work at this location either because of the new motherboard or a issue connecting to the new wireless router.

I've been down 3 days and I need a quick solution and rebuilding the kernel has usually taken me quite a bit of time in the past. So, my short term solution was to buy a powerline network extender which plugs into the Ethernet port. Problem solved for 49 bucks! My kernel is 5.15.117 so I expect Slackware 15.0 to upgrade to 5.17 soon as they went from 5.10 to 5.15 just since September. This powerline network extender gets me back in business immediately and I can wait a month or few for my distro to get to 5.17 and I'll try again. I'll leave this question open until then and post back with results.

systemloc · 08-20-2024, 10:06 AM

I can confirm, updating to 6.1 kernel got wifi working fine on this motherboard.

beachboy2 · 08-20-2024, 11:58 AM

mfoley,

This particular MT7921K is causing problems with plenty of Linux users.

Just a hint here:

Adding pci=nocrs to the boot parameters fixed my problem. I chose network manager and disabled others:

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=291793&p=2

Arch is probably using the same kernel (6.10.6) as Slackware?