Considering moving my laptop from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

YankeeFan · 2008-11-24 17:14:55

I currently run Arch Linux on my desktop PC and Ubuntu on my HP dv4t laptop. I like the way Arch Linux performs and I'm considering moving to Arch on my laptop. The benefit of using Ubuntu on the laptop was that everything worked "out of the box". What challenges should I expect I make the switch to Arch on the laptop? Are there any tip sheets or HOWTO's for this model? Here are my laptop's specs:

Product Name dv4-1028us
Product Number FE741UA#ABA
Microprocessor 2.00 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor P7350
Microprocessor Cache 3 MB L2 Cache
Memory 4096 MB
Video Graphics Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500
Video Memory Up to 1795 MB
Hard Drive 320 GB (5400 rpm)
Multimedia Drive LightScribe Super Multi 8X DVD±R/RW with Double Layer Support
Display 14.1" diagonal WXGA High-Definition Brightview Infinity Display (1280 x 800)
Fax/Modem High speed 56K modem
Network Card Integrated 10/100 Ethernet LAN
Wireless Connectivity Intel WiFi Link 5100AGN
Pointing Device Touch Pad with dedicated vertical and horizontal Scroll Up/Down pad

Thanks for any info

rcoyner · 2008-11-24 18:12:32

That's a pretty beefed up laptop.

I don't have that model but I don't think you'll have much problems. The network card and wireless should be picked up automatically, and the video card should run on the proprietary nvidia drivers. You're never going to know if you'll run into problems until you try the install but the hardware looks safe to me. Backup all your data and give it a go.

Cheesebaron · 2008-11-24 18:34:10

Afaik it it will all work pretty good, don't know about the WiFi, but I guess its supported.

elmer_42 · 2008-11-24 19:20:54

Anything that works on Ubuntu can be made to work on Arch Linux. The only thing you might want to consider is using the x86_64 version so you can take full advantage of your RAM. My main box is a 64 bit Arch machine, and I haven't run into any troubles. The native sixty-four bit flash player is alpha software, but is working great for me. I don't really use Java, so I don't know about that, but I believe there is a java client that can be used natively on a 64 bit machine.

As far as install guides go, the Beginner's Guide should work just fine. It's very extensive and fairly easy to follow as long as you are comfortable with the terminal. I would recommend reading it through before you try to install Arch so you know what you'll be doing and are sure you can follow the instructions. If you feel comfortable with it, you could also try following the Official Install Guide.

amranu · 2008-11-24 20:44:17

That laptop will work fine with no hassle.

YankeeFan · 2008-11-24 22:04:01

Ok..so I took the plunge....first problem is wireless network. I am able to connect to my wireless-n router but only as a wireless-g connection (and even then I'm only connecting at 24 mbps and I'm sitting literally right in front of the router. Is wireless-n not supported yet? I am running kernel version 2.6.27.

Last edited by YankeeFan (2008-11-24 23:33:28)

.:B:. · 2008-11-25 02:45:27

24 Mbps is the maximum you can get out of a 802.11g connection .

I have an N card here (IPW 4965) but never had an N AP to use it with, it's working fine though on G. You should check your router's configuration, and most importantly: if it worked in Ubuntu, then you should get it to work in Arch too.

YankeeFan · 2008-11-25 05:38:14

This what my wireless router is reporting... I'm getting 54mbps (which is full 802.11g) When i was running windoze I had full 802.11n ranging between 130 and 150 mbps. Any ideas?

SSID            MAC Address     IP Address         Mode         Rate (Mbps)    Signal (%)
YankeeFan_01    xxxxxxxxxxxx    xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx    802.11g       54               98

elmer_42 · 2008-11-25 06:19:43

B wrote:

24 Mbps is the max you can get out of 802.11g

I know for a fact that you can get 54 Mbps.

@YankeeFan
It would appear that you are definitely not running at 802.11n. Did you get full 802.11n speeds when you used Ubuntu? If so, we can be sure that your card can be used as an 802.11n device in Linux.

YankeeFan · 2008-11-25 06:30:46

To be honest, I really don't remember if it was running at 802.11n in Ubuntu... I can tell you that in Windoze it did run at 802.11n

RedShift · 2008-11-25 09:29:35

The driver used for your wireless card probably doesn't have 11n support (yet).

archlinuxsagi · 2008-11-25 11:39:24

YankeeFan wrote:

Product Name dv4-1028us
Product Number FE741UA#ABA
Microprocessor 2.00 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor P7350
Microprocessor Cache 3 MB L2 Cache
Memory 4096 MB
Video Graphics Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500
Video Memory Up to 1795 MB
Hard Drive 320 GB (5400 rpm)
Multimedia Drive LightScribe Super Multi 8X DVD±R/RW with Double Layer Support
Display 14.1" diagonal WXGA High-Definition Brightview Infinity Display (1280 x 800)
Fax/Modem High speed 56K modem
Network Card Integrated 10/100 Ethernet LAN
Wireless Connectivity Intel WiFi Link 5100AGN
Pointing Device Touch Pad with dedicated vertical and horizontal Scroll Up/Down pad

Maybe this question is not related to this thread.
But how do you know this laptop can support 64 bit from this info?

Last edited by archlinuxsagi (2008-11-25 11:40:32)

bangkok_manouel · 2008-11-25 12:13:59

archlinuxsagi wrote:

YankeeFan wrote:
Product Name dv4-1028us
Product Number FE741UA#ABA
Microprocessor 2.00 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor P7350
Microprocessor Cache 3 MB L2 Cache
Memory 4096 MB
Video Graphics Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500
Video Memory Up to 1795 MB
Hard Drive 320 GB (5400 rpm)
Multimedia Drive LightScribe Super Multi 8X DVD±R/RW with Double Layer Support
Display 14.1" diagonal WXGA High-Definition Brightview Infinity Display (1280 x 800)
Fax/Modem High speed 56K modem
Network Card Integrated 10/100 Ethernet LAN
Wireless Connectivity Intel WiFi Link 5100AGN
Pointing Device Touch Pad with dedicated vertical and horizontal Scroll Up/Down pad
Maybe this question is not related to this thread.
But how do you know this laptop can support 64 bit from this info?

all core 2 processors support 64-bit

archlinuxsagi · 2008-11-25 13:04:15

Yipee. This means my core 2 Dell inspiron 640m can run 64-bit.. yeah...

scottuss · 2009-02-20 20:55:52

I went from Ubuntu to Arch on my Dell Inspiron 640m, and haven't looked back!

.:B:. · 2009-02-20 23:15:51

elmer_42 wrote:

B wrote:
24 Mbps is the max you can get out of 802.11g
I know for a fact that you can get 54 Mbps.

Well I wish I would have seen this earlier so I wouldn't have to chime in just for the sake of it.

If you are sincerely convinced you can get 54 Mbps on an 802.11g connection, please be my guest to prove so with hard numbers. Because, last time I checked, even on Ethernet connections - which have less overhead than wireless ones - you never get the full 100% out of it. It's because, well, overhead - you know. Wireless is even worse, it's a known fact you can be happy if you get 24 Mbps on an 802.11g WLAN, provided you are the only active wireless client. Maybe taking out encryption will give you some headroom, but not even close enough to claim you can get 100% of the nominal bandwidth. It's just not happening. The hit that maximal encryption (WPA2) would give is negligible on modern routers, so it shouldn't matter too much (heck, I am getting 24 Mbps routinely on my WPA2 encrypted WLAN). So show me your facts.

Show me the magic how you get 54 Mbps out of your G connection. Cause I'd love to do that too. I'm not talking network traffic, I'm talking actual data transfer, the useful stuff for the end user.

Anonymo · 2009-02-21 16:13:37

Video Graphics Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500

He should be able to run this with the intel driver.

Arch Linux

#1 2008-11-24 17:14:55

Considering moving my laptop from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#2 2008-11-24 18:12:32

Re: Considering moving my laptop from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#3 2008-11-24 18:34:10

Re: Considering moving my laptop from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#4 2008-11-24 19:20:54

Re: Considering moving my laptop from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#5 2008-11-24 20:44:17

Re: Considering moving my laptop from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#6 2008-11-24 22:04:01

Re: Considering moving my laptop from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#7 2008-11-25 02:45:27

Re: Considering moving my laptop from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#8 2008-11-25 05:38:14

Re: Considering moving my laptop from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#9 2008-11-25 06:19:43

Re: Considering moving my laptop from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#10 2008-11-25 06:30:46

Re: Considering moving my laptop from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#11 2008-11-25 09:29:35

Re: Considering moving my laptop from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#12 2008-11-25 11:39:24

Re: Considering moving my laptop from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#13 2008-11-25 12:13:59

Re: Considering moving my laptop from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#14 2008-11-25 13:04:15

Re: Considering moving my laptop from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#15 2009-02-20 20:55:52

Re: Considering moving my laptop from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#16 2009-02-20 23:15:51

Re: Considering moving my laptop from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#17 2009-02-21 16:13:37

Re: Considering moving my laptop from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

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