Intel Graphics 4000 (Asus Taichi 31)

jcci · 2013-09-12 07:23:15

I've got a new ultrabook with newest hardware and consequently the latest Linux problems.

The Asus Taichi 31 has the latest Intel I7 CPU with integrated graphics (4000). One special issue is the double screen: inside full HD and outside full HD with touchscreen. Beside this there is a VGA and a HDMI output. Once it works with Arch I'm sure I will love it!

The installation of Arch I did as UEFI dual boot with Windows 8 (truly a pest!), but for using the installation UEFI stick I had to add nomodeset to the kernel line for avoiding a black screen.
Here are the problems, I'm hoping for help.

- After the first boot line (boot with rEFIt) I'm getting a blank screen on both internal screens, but on the VGA external monitor is a display. "nomodeset" resolves the problem but of course is not suitable for installing Xorg.

- Xorg is installed and works basically, but is still useless:
The external VGA monitor displays my test start (xorg-twm) correctly with the right resolution
The outside monitor displays the same picture upside down and without backlight. I just can see it with some outside light. The touchscreen works.
The main monitor is blank and I can't make it work.

I tried an openSUSE 12.3 before due to the easy UEFI install and the monitor worked, but the outside screen never got backlight.
The computer is managable via ssh or an external screen.

Here is the output of xrandr:

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1920 x 1080, maximum 32767 x 32767
eDP1 connected 1920x1080+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 282mm x 165mm
   1920x1080      60.0*+   40.0  
   1400x1050      60.0  
   1280x1024      60.0  
   1280x960       60.0  
   1024x768       60.0  
   800x600        60.3     56.2  
   640x480        59.9  
VGA1 connected 1280x1024+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 338mm x 270mm
   1280x1024      60.0*+   75.0  
   1152x864       75.0  
   1024x768       85.0     75.1     70.1     60.0  
   832x624        74.6  
   800x600        85.1     72.2     75.0     60.3     56.2  
   640x480        85.0     72.8     75.0     66.7     60.0  
   720x400        70.1  
HDMI1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP1 connected 1920x1080+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 282mm x 165mm
   1920x1080      60.0*+   40.0  
HDMI2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

Further wor later would be a scripting for the different xrandr modes (single screen, mirrored screens, independent screens) and the assignments if the feature keys like volume, brightness, and screen mode.

Once this is working I'm willing to try my first wiki for this model.

A happy Arch user since 2007.

Last edited by jcci (2013-09-12 07:25:42)

WonderWoofy · 2013-09-12 07:29:53

We have a wiki you know?

BTW, just to let you know (maybe someone lied to you to make a sale?) if you have an i7 with HD4000, then you don't have the "latest", as this would be an Ivy Bridge processor, which has been recently succeeded by the Haswell machines. The new Haswells certainly have their problems, but offer a whole lot more than IVB in terms of power savings, while being slightly faster. The new Macbook Air is said to get some 12h or battery life with the new Haswell chips.

jcci · 2013-09-12 07:42:52

From the Asus website

Specification
OS SystemWindows 8 / Windows 8 Pro
CPU
Intel® Core™ i7-3517U
Intel® Core™ i5-3317U
MemoryDDR3 1600MHz 4GB (on board)
StorageSATA III SSD 128GB / 256GB
Display
Tablet: 11.6" 16:9 with 10 fingers Touch FHD (1920 x 1080)
NB: 11.6" 16:9 FHD (1920 x 1080)
GraphicIntel® HD Graphics 4000
Camera
Tablet: 5M with Auto Focus 1080P Camera
NB: HD 720p Camera
Connectivity
802.11 a/b/g/n with Intel WIDI support
External cable supports10/100 Mbps Ethernet
Bluetooth 4.0
Interface
1 x Mini VGA port, 2 x USB 3.0 port, 1 x Micro HDMI 1.4 (1080p support),
1 x Audio jack combo, 1 x Volume up/down, 1 x DC Jack, 1 x Screen switch
Battery35Whr (Up to 5 hours)
Dimension / Weight
30.66 x 19.93 x 1.74 cm
1.25kg

That's what I have to deal with.

WonderWoofy · 2013-09-12 07:46:38

Yeah that's fine… I just wanted to let you know that you didn't actually get the "newest hardware and consequently the latest Linux problems." Therefore, these issues you describe have been around for a while and have been solved.

jcci · 2013-09-12 07:59:47

I couldn't find any solution for the double screen with the backlight problem.
Most likely getting the main screen work won't be too hard. I did work already with the openSUSE 12.3. However brightness adjustment and getting the rear screen bright at all, unfortunately uncle Google didn't provide.
It seems not to be that easy. Of course I'm happy if you should proof me wrong, since I want this thing just to work.

Last edited by jcci (2013-09-12 08:00:28)

jcci · 2013-09-12 08:37:42

Some additions:

I can get the console to work on the internal main screen by adding "nomodeset" to the kernel line and blacklisting the i915 module.
As soon as I start X the i915 module gets loaded and the screen turns blank. Again external VGA works all the time.

This is the kernel line from the refind_linux.conf:
"root=PARTUUID=2550bb41-8e8e-4f01-b1c9-fb2e64045282 rootfstype=btrfs ro rootflags=ssd acpi_osi="!Windows 2012""

For the last part I also tried other variations as suggested in the wiki like acpi_osi=vendor, hoping to get the outside screen bright.

Last edited by jcci (2013-09-12 08:38:35)

busyjay · 2014-01-31 07:08:13

Similar issue here. Did you figure out any solution?

Arch Linux

#1 2013-09-12 07:23:15

Intel Graphics 4000 (Asus Taichi 31)

#2 2013-09-12 07:29:53

Re: Intel Graphics 4000 (Asus Taichi 31)

#3 2013-09-12 07:42:52

Re: Intel Graphics 4000 (Asus Taichi 31)

#4 2013-09-12 07:46:38

Re: Intel Graphics 4000 (Asus Taichi 31)

#5 2013-09-12 07:59:47

Re: Intel Graphics 4000 (Asus Taichi 31)

#6 2013-09-12 08:37:42

Re: Intel Graphics 4000 (Asus Taichi 31)

#7 2014-01-31 07:08:13

Re: Intel Graphics 4000 (Asus Taichi 31)

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