Could you please help me identify my box? MXQ max (S905L-B)

S905D, S905, S8xx Series and other box users can discuss here :)
lucasc84
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#1

First of all, sorry for my spelling. I'm from Argentina.

Here are some photos of the case closed and opened and the "official" specs:



https://smithmayorista.com.ar/producto/ ... -mxq-max/
Brand: MXQ MAX
4gb ram
MALI 450 MP GPU
the board is p281

CPU-Z says it have a s905X processor but i know that this brands fakes it.

I think it really is a a s905W (because after many tries) the only TWRP i could install was for that CPU (especifically for the Tanix TX3 Mini).
I also read in some place that board p281 corresponds to s905w but I'm not really sure.

I can't identify the processor by removing the heatsink because it had glue sticked on it and by trying to remove that the name got erased,

Its not the same box as the on on this post:

viewtopic.php?t=4011&sid=f4504ee67416fc ... f69e24aff

You can tell by the photos i uploaded is not the same board (no clock, different ports)


¿Is there a way i can be sure what processor do I have?

i want to try some roms becase the live straming on browsers on fullscreen is terrible

I also want to know if there is a way to enter recovery mode phiscally, in case somethig goes wrong.

it doesn have a reset button. It does have a button next to the power plug but i don't know what it does.

Nothing happens when i press it, or when i power on the box with that button pressed.

It also internally comes with a port with 4 pins (similar to the ones for webcam or fan connectors). I dont know whati s that for.

it also doesnt get recgnized by the Amlogic burning tool so i can only install twrp zips/backups

Any help would be appreciated

Thanks in advance
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Last edited by lucasc84 on Sat Aug 13, 2022 9:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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em3ka
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#2

You have one of this "sell & forget" devices, with strange hardware specs and with no support whathovewer, i would not spent much time on it.
lucasc84 wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 3:25 am CPU-Z says it have a s905X processor...
One of S905X variant, not sure, probably S905L or L2... remove heatsink ?
lucasc84 wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 3:25 am I think it really is a a s905W...
Nope, S9005W (p281) only support max 2GB of memory size.
lucasc84 wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 3:25 am It also internally comes with a port with 4 pins...
This is port for UART serial connection, very useful (.log) to find more about your device and recovery...above switch is power on/of ??? (no details in photo)

Image
lucasc84 wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 3:25 am ...if there is a way to enter recovery mode (phiscally)...
viewtopic.php?t=2060

Image
lucasc84 wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 3:25 am ...the live straming on browsers on fullscreen is terrible
viewtopic.php?t=3455&start=10#p16880

:raised_hand_with_part_between_middle_ans:
lucasc84
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#3

First of all thanks em3ka for the time you took to answer
em3ka wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 7:49 am ly S905L or L2... remove heatsink ?
I did it. but it had glue on it, and while i was trying to remove the glue the painted name was erased

em3ka wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 7:49 amNope, S9005W (p281) only support max 2GB of memory size.
Is what the cpu identifiers says, of course the brand could be faking it

em3ka wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 7:49 am...above switch is power on/of ???
No, the power switch is next to it, the second from the left side

That switch is the strange button i told that i dont know what does, because it doesn't work as a reset button.

It's like a switch that you press and it stays in one position (pressed), and if you press it again, it get released to the normal position (like some pens)

em3ka wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 7:49 am viewtopic.php?t=2060
Maybe i wasn't clear. I can get to recovery mode by adb (wifi).

What i can't do is to get there by regular adb (usb) or phisically (some reset button or combination)

That is what keeps me away of install any custom rom, because if the box enters a boootloop i can't get back to my backup

em3ka wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 7:49 amviewtopic.php?t=3455&start=10#p16880
About the iptv topic, i was talking about watching livestreams on a web browser

I watch some live sports that can only be acccessed trough an embbed player on a page (like jwplayer).
And no matter what chrome/firefox flag i set, or what minmal browser i install, it just hangs and lags a lot


Having said all that, i thank you again em3ka for your help

I hope there's anyway out there to get any clue of what real specs do i have.
Maybe i 'll end up doing a leap of faith and trying some rom for s905w or s905L because i can't use the box for the purpouse i wanted
lucasc84
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#4

This is the info given by adb shell cat /proc/cpuinfo:


Processor : AArch64 Processor rev 4 (aarch64)
processor : 0
processor : 1
processor : 2
processor : 3
Features : fp asimd evtstrm aes pmull sha1 sha2 crc32 wp half thumb fastmult vfp edsp neon vfpv3 tlsi vfpv4 idiva idivt
CPU implementer : 0x41
CPU architecture: 8
CPU variant : 0x0
CPU part : 0xd03
CPU revision : 4

Hardware : Amlogic
Serial : 210dc400ba33e74ed34cc1b40f7c84c4



it helps?
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em3ka
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#5

lucasc84 wrote: Fri Aug 12, 2022 2:50 am Is what the cpu identifiers says, of course the brand could be faking it
Run this command, to get which DTB is installed.

Code: Select all

cat /proc/device-tree/amlogic-dt-id
lucasc84 wrote: Fri Aug 12, 2022 2:50 am That switch is the strange button i told that i dont know what does, because it doesn't work as a reset button.
If it is not enabled in FW, then it won't work...

Image What's written under the hole ?
lucasc84 wrote: Fri Aug 12, 2022 2:50 am ...phisically (some reset button or combination)...
You could "short pins" to enter NAND Chip Mask ROM Mode, post HQ-photo of bottom side of PCB.
lucasc84 wrote: Fri Aug 12, 2022 2:50 am ...what minmal browser i install, it just hangs and lags a lot
Try this one
https://github.com/truefedex/tv-bro
lucasc84
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#6

For now i´m just replying to thank you for your help. Clearly we have different time zones, now its just 12 in the afternoon here and im working. But i soon i can get in the pc i will try all of that.

Your´re being really helpful. I hope this could help anyone else with this box
lucasc84
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#7

em3ka wrote: Fri Aug 12, 2022 9:33 am Run this command, to get which DTB is installed.

Code: Select all

cat /proc/device-tree/amlogic-dt-id
It shows this:

Code: Select all

gxl_p281_1g
em3ka wrote: Fri Aug 12, 2022 9:33 am If it is not enabled in FW, then it won't work...
Image What's written under the hole ?
On the left there's a drawing of the button pressed and below a number "1"
On the middle i think two lines
On the right there's a drawing of the button unpressed and below a number "0"

I attached a better photo


em3ka wrote: Fri Aug 12, 2022 9:33 am You could "short pins" to enter NAND Chip Mask ROM Mode, post HQ-photo of bottom side of PCB.
I attached a photo of the bottom and up (the best i can get)


em3ka wrote: Fri Aug 12, 2022 9:33 am Try this one
https://github.com/truefedex/tv-bro


Similar behavior than other browsers, video slower than audio, the video playing lags overall the system etc.

I think my only hope is to try a better optimized build
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em3ka
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#8

lucasc84 wrote: Fri Aug 12, 2022 11:18 pmgxl_p281_1g
You have device with S9005L-B cpu, with "modified" bootloader (identifies itself as S905W with 1GB, its probably locked - you can only install original firmware) and memory size also could be fake (max. 2GB)...

Maybe, you could try out Armbian or CoreELEC with appropriate dtb.img, if it works with any of them.

Image

source and more info: https://www.szjytx.com/?id=13299
lucasc84
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#9

em3ka wrote: Sat Aug 13, 2022 7:21 am source and more info: https://www.szjytx.com/?id=13299
wow, thank you so much for your info. You just found the same board. I hope this post help to others that have my device, i'll see if i can edit the title with my model for an easier search for others


em3ka wrote: Sat Aug 13, 2022 7:21 am its probably locked
I could install TWRP ¿maybe that probes that it isn't locked?
em3ka wrote: Sat Aug 13, 2022 7:21 am Maybe, you could try out Armbian or CoreELEC with appropriate dtb.img, if it works with any of them.
That seems impossible since i can only boot into recovery mode from a booted system trough adb wifi.

I think my only option is to flash a rom that comes in a TWRP zip format.
em3ka wrote: Sat Aug 13, 2022 7:21 am You have device with S9005L-B cpu, with "modified" bootloader (identifies itself as S905W with 1GB
Since i could install TWRP fot a s905W device (especcifically the TANIX TX3 Mini).

Would be a suicide to try to flash a ROM for s905w?
I cant find any ROM for S9005L-B


Again, thank you so much. You really helped me a lot
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em3ka
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#10

lucasc84 wrote: Sat Aug 13, 2022 9:29 pm I could install TWRP ¿maybe that probes that it isn't locked?
No, lock only prevenst installing new ROM's.
lucasc84 wrote: Sat Aug 13, 2022 9:29 pm That seems impossible since i can only boot into recovery mode from a booted system trough adb wifi.
Execute reboot update command from terminal, both distros run from SD card, system is not touched.
lucasc84 wrote: Sat Aug 13, 2022 9:29 pm Would be a suicide to try to flash a ROM for s905w?
I cant find any ROM for S9005L-B
You will brick your device.
If you wish to experiment, get (paid) original ROM from link above and USB to TTL/UART Converter first.

viewtopic.php?t=6060
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