Acer TimelineX

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Revision as of 05:00, 4 December 2010 by Archan.paul (talk | contribs) (→‎Open source drivers)
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Hardware is a 4820TG/5820TG, but should be similar for all these laptops.

Device Status Modules
Intel Working xf86-video-intel
Ati Partially Working xf86-video-ati
Ati Working fglrx
Bluetooth Working bluetooth
Ethernet Working atl1c (2.6.36)
Wireless Working ath9k / wl
Wireless Working bcm4357 / wl
Audio Working snd_hda_intel
Camera Working uvcvideo
Card Reader Working
Function Keys Working

Installation

There is a quirk if you want to install archlinux, you need to connect via wireless as ethernet hardware is supported only by linux 2.6.34+. Follow beginners' guide for the rest.

Xorg

Open source drivers

You need ati and i915 xorg drivers. 

pacman -S xf86-video-ati xf86-video-intel

With Xorg you don't need hal anymore, and configuration can be done exclusiuvely within the xorg.conf.d directory

Add the Template:Codeline, Template:Codeline and Template:Codeline modules to the MODULES line in Template:Filename: 

MODULES="!radeon"

Now, regenerate the initramfs: 

# mkinitcpio -p kernel26

where the 26 corresponds to the current kernel version of 2.6.xx

Everything should work now. If you are having problems, try explicitly enabling KMS by adding i915.modeset=1 to your kernel line in /boot/grub/menu.lst: 

# (0) Arch Linux
title  Arch Linux
root   (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz26 root=/dev/... i915.modeset=1
initrd /boot/kernel26.img

and make sure that you do not use the "vga=..." property nor "nomodeset". Now reboot, and Xorg will work.

For more information, check Intel and ATI.

Experimental open source drivers

These drivers are unstable. If you are not an experienced linux user please don't try this drivers, they would eat your hamster.

2D/X11

There is a branch in mesa that adds 2D and Xv support for ati evergreen cards. PKG in AUR is called xf86-video-evergreen-git 

yaourt -S xf86-video-ati-git

Notice:Be careful. It still hangs at X11 startup for me.

3D

Initial support for evergreen is in git/master branch. It is enough to install mesa-git. 

yaourt -S mesa-git

Closed Catalyst drivers

Catalyst (also known as fglrx) is a closed source graphics driver provided by ATI. It doesn't support certain features that the open source drivers do, but it has fully working, fast 3D acceleration. This is working at least with Acer Aspire TimelineX 3820TG that has ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650.

Since Catalyst can't handle switchable graphics cards, you have to disable the Intel card from BIOS. At least with BIOS v.1.19 you can do that by changing VGA mode to "Discrete".

If you use the stock kernel you can install Catalyst with the AUR packages catalyst-utils and catalyst. If you have 64-bit system and you want to use 3D acceleration also in 32-bit games, you should also install lib32-catalyst-utils. Note that installing these packages will make you remove the open source video drivers.

After installing package you probably need to configure xorg. Using provided aticonfig tool is recommended: 

# aticonfig --initial
 (or for Dual Head: # aticonfig --initial=dual-head)
# aticonfig -v

Catalyst doesn't support KMS, so you should add nomodeset to your kernel line in /boot/grub/menu.lst , ie.: 

kernel /boot/vmlinuz26 root=/dev/sda1 ro nomodeset

It is also recommened to add fglrx to the MODULES list in /etc/rc.conf.

You may now reboot your system.

Switchable Graphics

Switching video cards works with the open source graphics driver. A restart of Xorg is required when switching.

You must have debugfs mounted for the switch access: 

# mount -t debugfs debugfs /sys/kernel/debug

Then you can use the following commands: 

#Check current status:
cat /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch

#Enable ATI
echo DDIS > /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch

#Enable Intel
echo DIGD > /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch

#Power off unused card
echo OFF > /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch

Touchpad

Touchpad is a synaptics so you need its driver: 
pacman -S xf86-input-synaptics

Then add to /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d a new file (name it 20-synaptics.conf) 

Section "InputClass"
 Identifier "touchpad"
 Driver "synaptics"
 MatchIsTouchpad "on"
 Option "SHMConfig" "on"
 Option "TapButton1" "1"
 Option "TapButton2" "2"
 Option "TapButton3" "3"
 Option "VertEdgeScroll" "on"
 Option "VertTwoFingerScroll" "on"
 Option "HorizEdgeScroll" "on"
 Option "HorizTwoFingerScroll" "on"
 Option "CircularScrolling" "on"
 Option "CircScrollTrigger" "2"
 Option "EmulateTwoFingerMinZ" "0"
EndSection

For more info, check Touchpad_Synaptics

Keyboard

Add a new file in xorg.conf.d (name it 20-keymap.conf) 

Section "InputClass"
        Identifier "Acer Keyboard"
        MatchIsKeyboard "on"
        MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
        Option                 "XkbLayout" "it"
        Option                 "XkbModel" "acer_laptop"
        Driver "evdev"
EndSection

Replace it with your keymap.

ACPI

ACPI works with BIOS v1.18 and higher.

BIOS v1.19

Laptop Mode Tools

Install laptop-mode-tools 

pacman -S laptop-mode-tools

You need to enable these modules in /etc/laptop-mode/conf.d

auto-hibernate.conf Hibernate when battery level becomes critical

cpufreq.conf Adjust CPU speed

Add acpi_cpufreq, cpufreq_ondemand and cpufreq_powersave to modules in rc.conf

dpms-standby.conf Turn off screen when not needed

ethernet.conf Turn off ethernet when on battery

intel-hda-powersave.conf Turn on powersaving for audio chip

intel-sata-powermgmt.conf Powersave for hard disk

lcd-brightness.conf Change brightness when on battery

The file is called /proc/acpi/video/GFX0/DD02/brightness and acceptable values are 10..100 with a step of 10

sched-mc-power-savings.conf Additional CPU powersave features

sched-smt-power-savings.conf Additional CPU powersave features

usb-autosuspend.conf Suspend unused USB devices

video-out.conf Disable video out on battery

wireless-power.conf Powersaving for atheros chip

Hardware

Bluetooth

Works out of the box. On some machines cannot turn on because of Fn+F3 switching only WLAN. Fixed DSDT table seems to solve the problem.

On the 3820TG, bluetooth might not work even if Fn+F3 is used to turn it on. (Symptoms include "usb disconnect" messages in dmesg, and the adapter not showing up in hcitool dev.) In this case, copying /lib/firmware/ath3k-2.fw to /lib/firmware/ath3k-1.fw helps, see this mailing list thread. If it does not work for you, please change this note!

Wifi

Works out of the box and supports injection and ap mode.

TimelineX 5820

Wifi driver needs to be installed. Open-source brcm80211 driver causes kernel panics; proprietary broadcom-wl driver works fine.

TimelineX 4820TG

Wifi driver does not work by default. You need to install broadcom-wl and b43-firmware. 

# aurget --deps -Sy broadcom-wl
# aurget --deps -Sy b43-firmware

Once you are done with driver and firmware installation, you need add following in the modules in rc.conf and reboot: 

MODULES=([...] !b43 !ssb !lib80211 lib80211_crypt_tkip wl)

Once rebooted, you can confirm the working of the driver by following commands 

# ifconfig -a
# ifconfig eth1 up
# iwconfig eth1
# iwlist eth1 scan

For more information, check Broadcom_BCM43XX

TimelineX 3820TG

Works out of the box, lspci lists the chip as 

05:00.0 Network controller: Atheros Communications Inc. AR9287 Wireless Network Adapter (rev 01)

Camera

Works out of the box.

Card Reader

Works out of the box, tested with a SD card.

Info

lspci

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor DRAM Controller (rev 12)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor PCI Express x16 Root Port (rev ff)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 12)
00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset HECI Controller (rev 06)
00:1a.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset USB2 Enhanced Host Controller (rev 05)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset High Definition Audio (rev 05)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset PCI Express Root Port 1 (rev 05)
00:1c.5 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset PCI Express Root Port 6 (rev 05)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset USB2 Enhanced Host Controller (rev 05)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev a5)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 5 Series Chipset LPC Interface Controller (rev 05)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset 4 port SATA AHCI Controller (rev 05)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset SMBus Controller (rev 05)
00:1f.6 Signal processing controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset Thermal Subsystem (rev 05)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Device 68e0 (rev ff)
01:00.1 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc Device aa68 (rev ff)
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Atheros Communications AR8151 v1.0 Gigabit Ethernet (rev c0)
03:00.0 Network controller: Atheros Communications Inc. AR928X Wireless Network Adapter (PCI-Express) (rev 01)
7f:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QuickPath Architecture Generic Non-core Registers (rev 02)
7f:00.1 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QuickPath Architecture System Address Decoder (rev 02)
7f:02.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QPI Link 0 (rev 02)
7f:02.1 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QPI Physical 0 (rev 02)
7f:02.2 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor Reserved (rev 02)
7f:02.3 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor Reserved (rev 02)

lspci - TimelineX 4820TG (with Broadcom 4357 wifi)

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor DRAM Controller (rev 12)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor PCI Express x16 Root Port (rev 12)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 12)
00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset HECI Controller (rev 06)
00:1a.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset USB2 Enhanced Host Controller (rev 05)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset High Definition Audio (rev 05)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset PCI Express Root Port 1 (rev 05)
00:1c.5 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset PCI Express Root Port 6 (rev 05)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset USB2 Enhanced Host Controller (rev 05)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev a5)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 5 Series Chipset LPC Interface Controller (rev 05)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset 4 port SATA AHCI Controller (rev 05)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset SMBus Controller (rev 05)
00:1f.6 Signal processing controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset Thermal Subsystem (rev 05)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Redwood [Radeon HD 5600 Series]
01:00.1 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc Redwood HDMI Audio [Radeon HD 5600 Series]
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Atheros Communications AR8151 v1.0 Gigabit Ethernet (rev c0)
03:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation Device 4357 (rev 01)
7f:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QuickPath Architecture Generic Non-core Registers (rev 02)
7f:00.1 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QuickPath Architecture System Address Decoder (rev 02)
7f:02.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QPI Link 0 (rev 02)
7f:02.1 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QPI Physical 0 (rev 02)
7f:02.2 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor Reserved (rev 02)
7f:02.3 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor Reserved (rev 02)

Issues

Ati chip has no 3d acceleration

Ethernet chip driver is buggy in 2.6.35 kernel.

Links

Ubuntu-it thread

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