Update the BIOS for Zephyrus G14 2021 (GA401QM) to allow external displays or default to 60Hz

[louisbr]

Please update the BIOS for GA401QM to allow external displays or default to 60Hz refresh rate. My Zephyrus G14 (2021) has the common problem with the display connection where 144Hz is displayed as horizontal lines and now a black screen with artifacts, updating the BIOS to default to 60Hz or allow external displays to allow me to access the BIOS or reinstall the OS. I will try ordering a new cable, but the screen might be damaged by the tape holding the connector in the display due to heat. In that case, due to my country's import policies it may become impossible to import a replacement screen. I know the scenario of Asus updating a 2021 laptop BIOS may be very unlikely but I'm willing to try.

Model: GA401QM-G14.R73060
SN: N7NRKD017518308

BIOS version is 415 from 2023/10/19. (I may not be able to view exact version)

Same issue as these other posts:
https://rog-forum.asus.com/t5/rog-zephyrus-series/help-zephyrus-g14-screen-stops-working-at-144hz/m-...
https://rog-forum.asus.com/t5/rog-zephyrus-series/use-external-monitor-in-bios-asus-zephyrus-g14-202...
https://rog-forum.asus.com/t5/gaming-notebooks/asus-rog-zephyrus-g14-black-lines-near-the-bottom-at-...
https://rog-forum.asus.com/t5/gaming-notebooks/horizontal-lines-asus-rog-zephirus-g14-ga401ii/m-p/10...

Also some posts in reddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/ZephyrusG14/comments/17t2jzz/g14_2021_ga401qm_r9_5900hs_rtx_3060_switching_...
https://www.reddit.com/r/ZephyrusG14/comments/120acl0/z14_2021_screen_flicker_while_plugging_in/
https://www.reddit.com/r/ZephyrusG14/comments/17bwlon/g14_2021_screen_fail/
https://www.reddit.com/r/ZephyrusG14/comments/1nnks26/zephyrus_g14_2021_ga401qm_lcd_replacement/
https://www.reddit.com/r/ZephyrusG14/comments/1gz7ec5/issues_with_g14_2021_screen/
https://www.reddit.com/r/ZephyrusG14/comments/1jgz2hn/screen_flickering_at_144hz_2021_model/

2025-12-11 EDIT: I have replaced the screen (NCP005E-LM140LF-1F01), it is a 120Hz display instead of the original 144Hz. I was lucky to find this screen sold in my country without needing to import. Unfortunately, I ended breaking the original display when removing it from the screen assembly. Next time, I'd suggest using isopropyl alcohol to remove the glue under the wide bottom bezel, there are quite fragile screen components (inside the glass) in there and the glue was too strong. Hopefully this lasts longer than ~1 year, I'll try not to heat the screen up too much from the heat exhaust. I'm not sure what the problem was but replacing the screen fixed it, hopefully it (tapes and all) resists to heat better this time. 

[Falcon2_ROG]

@louisbr 
The situation you described is more likely caused by a graphics card or graphics card driver failure.
We recommend first trying to connect an external HDMI monitor to see if you can access the system. If the display works normally, please set the refresh rate to 60Hz.
Also, please ensure that the graphics card driver installed is the one provided on our website.
NVIDIA Graphic Driver Version V31.0.15.4680
AMD Graphics Driver Version V30.0.13002.1001
Sorry for any inconvenience it may be caused. 

[louisbr]

It's definitely the same problem as the other posts here and reddit posts, it's a hardware issue that occurs when heat from the laptop hits directly the screen bezel and slowly deteriorates the screen connection, it starts with a few flashes at the beginning around 1 year ago and worsens to horizontal lines from the top (for me) until the 144hz refresh rate only displays the first few lines, the rest being black with some faint white lines. 

I have tried to disable 144hz in the display EDID data [1], unfortunately the display is write-protected, however the data was useful to find the part number: NCP005E-LM140LF-1F02

The main problem is not being able to see anything besides the current installed Windows OS, which is set to 60Hz for the laptop screen, the external screen (HDMI) doesn't work until Windows boots. After it is booted, the laptop screen works only at 60Hz and the external display works fine. This means I'm not able to change any BIOS settings, I cannot see the BIOS screen, cannot see windows update screens or windows recovery and can't boot another OS. 

I will report if I try anything. A few options are:
1. Replace the screen cable
2. Replace the screen
3. Somehow unset the write protection of the screen physically (very unlikely)
4. Get a new BIOS update which may be able to display BIOS on a external screen (It's stupid it doesn't) or set to 60Hz

[1] https://winraid.level1techs.com/t/monitors-edid-modding-practical-approaches-teaching-hdmi/107939
[1] https://www.monitortests.com/forum/Thread-EDID-DisplayID-Writer
[1] https://www.monitortests.com/forum/Thread-Custom-Resolution-Utility-CRU

[louisbr]

Here is the screen EDID:

NCP005E-LM140LF-1F02.bin

00 FF FF FF FF FF FF 00 38 70 5E 00 00 00 00 00 12 1E 01 04 A5 1F 11 78 03 C4 55 A1 56 51 A1 28 0D 50 54 00 00 00 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 91 8A 80 04 71 38 32 40 30 20 35 00 35 AE 10 00 00 1A BD 39 80 04 71 38 32 40 30 20 35 00 35 AE 10 00 00 1A 00 00 00 FD 00 30 90 A3 A3 23 01 0A 20 20 20 20 20 20 00 00 00 FE 00 4C 4D 31 34 30 4C 46 2D 31 46 30 32 0A 00 5E

 You can view using some tools like https://edidcraft.com/ or EDWriter / CRU