Scar G835LR Watchdog does not exist

[Rellik]

My Alienware starts Intel XTU and maintains a persistent setting, Since I bought this ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2025) G835  I cannot get XTU to work without deactivating Intel performance suite in BIOS. I should not have to turn anything off in order to use XTU. Does ASUS not install a Watchdog chip in any of their computers or did they get a really bad batch and they are still installing them? No matter what i do watchdog still comes back as false or not present, how is the kernel even running without watchdog? I am leaning in  Alienware's direction, the performance is better and the price is about the same. Plus no OC issues.

Is there a system level toggle that I am missing or is this a defect with ASUS boards?

[Falcon2_ROG]

@Rellik 
Could you please provide a screenshot of the error message so we can verify it?

Also, please confirm the BIOS version, system version, and OS build currently installed on your laptop.
Sorry for any inconvenience it may be caused. 

[ElectroStingz]

@Falcon2_ROG 

If it helps, the Intel XTU software is looking for the presence of the Intel PCH Watch Dog Timer and ability to override settings. For this to work the BIOS must have the correct WDT option set to enabled (to allow the OS control via the XTU driver). 

Currently it appears the BIOS is not passing on the Intel WDT state or OS control so Intel XTU will flag the Watch Dog Timer being inactive and unable to restore user settings upon booting into the OS.

It's linked to the BIOS settings and ACPI descriptor table and would require the BIOS coders to implement the right setting to allow this to function correctly, for Intel HX Processor laptops at least.

[Falcon2_ROG]

@ElectroStingz 
Thank you for the information.

May I confirm whether your model is also the G835LR? What BIOS version are you currently using? 
If possible, please provide the related on-screen message or a screenshot so I can share it with the relevant team for verification.

We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

[ElectroStingz]

I'm on a different laptop that appears to work ok and XTU does restore settings on reboot (G614JVR BIOS 322), my post was more for some clarity on what I think Rellik is trying to convey.

@Rellik Intel Framework (IPF) and DTT drivers also must be installed and functioning correctly too.

EDIT: after trying from a cold boot XTU does not restore settings.

[ElectroStingz]

Here is the XTU information which show the watchdog driver being present, so it should work but upon cold boot it shows failed. (https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000095316/processors.html)

I'll mess around with XTU and see what happens with a few adjustments like fast boot, also XTU is not perfect (buggy software) 🙂

EDIT: With fast boot disabled XTU is working fine on my model laptop, restores from cold boot and when OS restarted.