Here are some tips/tweaks for dell laptop support on ubuntu. (see http://debian.helicroc.com/inspiron.html for feisty version).
Now with compiz 0.6 inside Gutsy and newer ATI driver 8.42.3 AIGLX works but here is too many AIGLX bugs to be usable.
I've not found how to tweaks or configure fglrx to have suspend/hibernate support (ubuntu driver version and last amd/ati 8.42.3).
If you want resume/hibernate full support you can use testing opensource avivo driver but it's a 2D only driver.
See resume/hibernate section to see how to install avivo driver.
I've tested two similar laptop hardware:
Dell inspiron 6400
1.8GHz dual core processor
1280x800 widescreen
ATI X1400 mobility 128MB
1024MB Ram
ipw3945 wireless
Dell inspiron 9400
1.66GHz dual core2 processor
1440x900 true life widescreen
ATI X1400 mobility 128MB
1024MB Ram
ipw3945 wireless
There is no more X detection problem. So you can install Gutsy with alternate or live cd without "tricks".
for now with fglrx i've no hybernate / suspend support. It seems to be a kernel option problem, i've tested a compilated kernel
with SLAB instead SLUB option and it works but this method breaks system packaging and futur kernel update.
So if you can't wait Ubuntu or amd/ati fix and need hibernate support you should try the avivo driver :
This is an opensource driver for r600 ati chipset. X1400 mobility is one of them and you can have widescreen resolution
with full suspend/hibernate support.
You can install opensource avivo r600 driver. I'ts currently not for production usage but it works for 2D.
There is not direct rendering / opengl support.
- apt-get install xserver-xorg-video-avivo
- sudo vim /etc/X11/xorg.conf and change line vesa by avivo
- reboot
Now you can change resolution in the ubuntu screen setup. (from system/admin menu).
you can manually change ati power.
aticonfig --lsp list all power mod available
aticonfig --set-powerstate=x set power level (ati clock).
- sudo apt-get install i8kutils gkrellm gkrellm-i8k
- sudo vim /etc/modules and add i8k force=1
computertemp is now a universe ubuntu package.
- apt-get install computertemp
You can change cpu frequency with left mouse click on gnome cpu applet
- sudo dpkg-reconfigure gnome-applets
then allow superuser bit to cpufreq applet
AIGLX provide 3D effects out of the box with composite support for amd/ati card.
There is some bugs and no hibernate/suspend support out of the box.
But ati 8.42.3 are not included in gutsy release so you need to compile them.
- Get ati driver here : https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/674/9206/0/www2.ati.com/drivers/linux/ati-driver-installer-8.42.3-x86.x86_64.run
- sudo apt-get install module-assistant build-essential debhelper debconf dh-make fakeroot libstdc++5 linux-headers-generic linux-restricted-modules-$(uname -r)
- sudo sh ati-driver-installer-8.42.3-x86.x86_64.run --buildpkg Ubuntu/gutsy
- sudo dpkg -i xorg-driver-fglrx*.deb
- sudo dpkg -i fglrx-kernel-source*.deb
- sudo dpkg -i fglrx-amdcccle*.deb
- sudo rm /usr/src/fglrx-kernel*.deb (there is no files if it's the first time you compile ati driver)
- sudo module-assistant prepare
- sudo module-assistant update
- sudo module-assistant build fglrx
- sudo module-assistant install fglrx
- sudo depmod -a
- sudo aticonfig --initial
- sudo aticonfig --overlay-type=Xv
- sudo vim /etc/X11/xorg.conf and change line with composite "disable" (or 0) by composite "enable" (or 1) (line is in the end of the file).
- i need to make a symlink to newer libGL: sudo ln -s /usr/lib/libGL.so.1.2 /usr/lib/libGL.so.1
- sudo vim /usr/bin/compiz and add fglrx in WHITELIST (line 54)
- reboot
if you want to disable compiz just edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf files and change composite option from enable or 1 to disable or 0.
and restart X.
Contact :lagneau 'at' ifrance.com
