New Laptop

codeamuk · 2007-11-16 21:46:02

Long story but I need to get a new laptop this weekend - so retail is pretty much my only option. This box will only run arch and I'm hoping to keep the installation/config issues to a minimum. I found the Acer Extensa 5620-6830 at Best Buy. In terms of compatibility, the specs look pretty good to me but I'm very new to archlinux so I'm not 100% sure.

Intel® Core(TM)2 Duo Mobile
WXGA widescreen TFT-LCD with CrystalBrite technology (1280 x 800)
1GB
200GB HD
Double-layer DVD±RW/CD-RW
Digital media card reader
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
Built-in Gigabit Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector)
Built-in Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG (802.11a/b/g)
PCMCIA Slots: 1 Type II; 1 ExpressCard/54

In particular, I need to be able to access wireless networks with WPA/WPA2 without a hassle.

Any thoughts/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thx!!

Allan · 2007-11-17 00:18:07

Intel wireless is a good choice - it is well supported under linux. Same goes for their graphics cards (although I have no experience with that particular card)

Xarathur · 2007-11-17 00:38:34

I have the same wireless card (3945), using the iwlwifi driver and knetworkmanager under a WPA2/AES network without a problem.

I also have the Intel GMA X3100. It works using the xf86-video-intel driver, but i think the performance on 3D graphics is kind of low, and has some issues. I hope they improve the situation in the future.

codeamuk · 2007-11-17 12:31:11

Thx guys - really appreciate you taking the time. I haven't purchased the notebook yet but will likely do so in a few hours. Still haven't found anything that looks better from a compatibility standpoint. If anyone has any last minute ideas/concerns, pls let me know. I'll check here again before I head to the store.

codeamuk · 2007-11-18 00:58:48

well .. I got the notebook and I'm having 2 issues: (1) sound volume is very low and (2) struggling with the wpa config. I'm sure both are fixable but I'm too tired to try tonight. Hopefully, I'll have better luck tomorrow.

Xarathur · 2007-11-18 17:20:20

(1) Change the volume level with alsamixer (first install the alsa-utils package).

(2)I guess you still don't have network manager, and you're trying to connect using the network scripts that come with Arch. I forgot how to configure that, but i still have this in my /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf

network={
        ssid="Coruscant"
        psk="the passkey"
        priority=5
        proto=RSN
        key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
        auth_alg=OPEN
        pairwise=CCMP
        group=CCMP
}

Again, using a WPA2/AES-CCMP encrypted network. I hope someone else can give you more information.

V01D · 2007-12-16 18:48:20

I have the exact same laptop with Arch with no problems now. I had to struggle a bit with sound, but the solution turned out to be simple (this is a common problem with sound with this intel chipset). Just add this:
options snd-hda-intel model=acer
to your /etc/modprobe.conf. Next time the snd-hda-intel module is loaded (at next boot, for sure) your sound will be fine.
I haven't played with wireless a lot. I just managed to get it working with the ipw3945 modules (iwlwifi didn't seem to work).

Other than that, I don't remember any other issues, but feel free to ask

V01D · 2007-12-16 18:49:20

BTW, I run compiz-fusion here, it works perfectly.

codeamuk · 2007-12-19 14:40:09

Thx ... I'll try the sound fix. I also have everything else working. The new netcfg2 script worked perfectly for me re: wifi w/wpa.

codeamuk · 2007-12-19 15:01:56

sound fix worked perfectly! Thank you. Now if I can just figure out how to get the console/framebuffer to run at the native resolution I'll be all set.

dante4d · 2007-12-20 16:46:33

codeamuk wrote:

sound fix worked perfectly! Thank you. Now if I can just figure out how to get the console/framebuffer to run at the native resolution I'll be all set.

It's possible to have 1280x800 framebuffer for some vga cards for sure. You can try vbetest tool from community/lrmi package. Run it like:

[root ~]$ vbetest 
VBE Version 3.0
NVIDIA
[256] 640x400 (256 color palette)
[257] 640x480 (256 color palette)
[259] 800x600 (256 color palette)
[261] 1024x768 (256 color palette)
[270] 320x200 (5:6:5)
[271] 320x200 (8:8:8)
[273] 640x480 (5:6:5)
[274] 640x480 (8:8:8)
[276] 800x600 (5:6:5)
[277] 800x600 (8:8:8)
[279] 1024x768 (5:6:5)
[280] 1024x768 (8:8:8)
[304] 320x200 (256 color palette)
[305] 320x400 (256 color palette)
[306] 320x400 (5:6:5)
[307] 320x400 (8:8:8)
[308] 320x240 (256 color palette)
[309] 320x240 (5:6:5)
[310] 320x240 (8:8:8)
[317] 640x400 (5:6:5)
[318] 640x400 (8:8:8)
Type a mode number, or 'q' to quit - q
[root dante4d]$

so that's probably no 1280x800 for me as that mode is not listed.
You can also put ask option in your kernel boot parameters:

# (0) Arch Linux
title  Arch Linux
root   (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz26 root=/dev/mapper/vg0-root ro vga=ask
initrd /kernel26.img

like this (for you just add or replace vga=xxx with vga=ask) and you will be prompted for available modes to see if 1280x800 is there.

Btw anyone tested nvidiafb and got 1280x800 working on GeForce Go 7300? I never tried.

codeamuk · 2007-12-20 23:27:45

Thx ... I have tried this previously and it does show 1280x800 as an option but when I set/select this the graphics are all messed up (unreadable). Not sure what the issue is.

lilsirecho · 2007-12-20 23:33:29

Perhaps if you try ...ctl.alt.+/-.... you will be able to select the desired display. That is, if xrandr is operative in your computer.

Mantaar · 2007-12-21 08:32:15

If you really want a very good framebuffer that's fast and can support most resolutions (1280x800 included, I had it running on 1400x1050) you should try out Spock's uvesafb. I had it set up on my old Gentoo install that was recently eaten by my Laptop's HDD. It requires manual patching of the kernel though, so not for the faint of heart (although it's actually quite easy, it just won't let you use the stock Arch kernel).

Does your network work yet?

Last edited by Mantaar (2007-12-21 08:32:38)

codeamuk · 2007-12-21 16:09:15

Thx for the suggestion. Not ready to play with the kernal just yet but I may give it a go over the Holidays. Yeah - no issues re: my wpa wifi. I have had success with the netcfg2 script and with network manager. So far its proving to me the perfect arch notebook. I still need to enable some notebook specific keys but overall its really just the framebuffer issue at this point.

codeamuk · 2007-12-21 16:22:28

Tried vbetest again. I get 2 modes that support 1280x800. The first one looks good at first (I see the color palette) but when it switches to text I only see the top half of the text (each line only shows 50%). The second one doesn't even display the color palette. Unless someone has an idea of what's wrong, I'll likely have to go with the custom kernal option. Thx again all - really appreciate the help.

schivmeister · 2007-12-21 18:27:51

take the number of the vbetest reso u like, add 512 to it. i have 1280x800 and i use vga=866, which is 354+512 Yours will be different, but somewhere around 354 and 866 definitely, +- 1 or 2 heh. You should get 3 modes each; 256, 5:6:5 & 8:8:8 but sane people would only want the last of those but then again i'm not really sure because i base my judgement on the fact that 354-8 is bigger than 353-5 and 256 colours is is crap

Last edited by schivmeister (2007-12-21 18:34:47)

codeamuk · 2007-12-21 18:56:07

Thx schvmeister. I was playing with the settings are finally realized it isn't the framebuffer setting that I'm having the issue with its vbetest. While vbetest chokes on 866, it works perfectly when set in grub. Thank you very much!!!

schivmeister · 2007-12-21 20:20:21

Welcome, but I'm just a symlink to a wiki editor who taught me that Btw don't feed vbetest with 866, but 354.

codeamuk · 2007-12-21 21:19:50

just to be clear, it wasn't "866" specifically that vbetest was choking on rather it was all the 1280x800 modes (I wasn't typing in 866 - I was just using that as a reference to the mode). Sorry for the confusion. I definitely have a vbetest issue - tried lots of "safe" modes and they all had issues. Very weird.

But thx to you, I don't need to worry about it. Thx again and Happy Holidays.

miggols99 · 2007-12-21 21:50:04

Mantaar wrote:

If you really want a very good framebuffer that's fast and can support most resolutions (1280x800 included, I had it running on 1400x1050) you should try out Spock's uvesafb. I had it set up on my old Gentoo install that was recently eaten by my Laptop's HDD. It requires manual patching of the kernel though, so not for the faint of heart (although it's actually quite easy, it just won't let you use the stock Arch kernel).
Does your network work yet?

I'm pretty sure that the new kernel (2.6.24) has uvesafb in vanilla, as I remember reading it in an old changelog..

schivmeister · 2007-12-22 21:54:22

codeamuk wrote:

just to be clear, it wasn't "866" specifically that vbetest was choking on rather it was all the 1280x800 modes (I wasn't typing in 866 - I was just using that as a reference to the mode). Sorry for the confusion. I definitely have a vbetest issue - tried lots of "safe" modes and they all had issues. Very weird.
But thx to you, I don't need to worry about it. Thx again and Happy Holidays.

Ahh i see..strange indeed. Sure, scones and tea mate!

Last edited by schivmeister (2007-12-22 21:54:47)

loudtiger · 2009-01-13 03:05:18

sorry for bringing up an old thread, but i tried doing this and it didn't work.

i did vga=ask, which showed 365 as the number. i added 512, typed in vga=877. now the next time i boot up, it says invalid mode and presents me again with the list of options. anybody know why?

thanks!

btw, with vga=ask, i am able to pick 365, which is 1440x900. it's when i edit the menu.lst file and reboot that i get "invalid mode".

edit: never mind, i got it.

Last edited by loudtiger (2009-01-13 03:27:37)

Arch Linux

#1 2007-11-16 21:46:02

New Laptop

#2 2007-11-17 00:18:07

Re: New Laptop

#3 2007-11-17 00:38:34

Re: New Laptop

#4 2007-11-17 12:31:11

Re: New Laptop

#5 2007-11-18 00:58:48

Re: New Laptop

#6 2007-11-18 17:20:20

Re: New Laptop

#7 2007-12-16 18:48:20

Re: New Laptop

#8 2007-12-16 18:49:20

Re: New Laptop

#9 2007-12-19 14:40:09

Re: New Laptop

#10 2007-12-19 15:01:56

Re: New Laptop

#11 2007-12-20 16:46:33

Re: New Laptop

#12 2007-12-20 23:27:45

Re: New Laptop

#13 2007-12-20 23:33:29

Re: New Laptop

#14 2007-12-21 08:32:15

Re: New Laptop

#15 2007-12-21 16:09:15

Re: New Laptop

#16 2007-12-21 16:22:28

Re: New Laptop

#17 2007-12-21 18:27:51

Re: New Laptop

#18 2007-12-21 18:56:07

Re: New Laptop

#19 2007-12-21 20:20:21

Re: New Laptop

#20 2007-12-21 21:19:50

Re: New Laptop

#21 2007-12-21 21:50:04

Re: New Laptop

#22 2007-12-22 21:54:22

Re: New Laptop

#23 2009-01-13 03:05:18

Re: New Laptop

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