Linux Support

I am considering getting an M17x R3, but have not been able to find any definite information on Linux support.

Can any M17x R3 owners comment on how well the hardware works with Linux (i.e, any specific issues, etc.). I am particularly interested in whether the switchable graphics with the Radeon 6970M work under Linux or, at the very least, if it is possible to disable the discrete gpu and use only onboard in Linux (most gaming will be done in Windows).

Thanks.

 

Kind of interested in this as well.

My current P.O.S. lappy has Ubuntu, and I absolutely love it!

But I also prefer Windows 7 for work based usage.(more stable)

 

From what I've been reading, Linux does not yet support switchable graphics. I've read a lot of people having to select either the integrated or the discrete adapter from the system BIOS. I also found someone doing a Catalyst VGA_SWITCHEROO patch for the Acer 3820TG. Maybe something like that can be adapted to the AW.

 

From https://launchpad.net/~hybrid-graphics-linux : There is support for most ATI/Intel hybrid configurations via the vga_switcheroo code and open-source graphics drivers (2.6.35 onwards).

From the same page:
RESOURCES:
One of the hybrid-graphics-linux Launchpad team members has created a Linux kernel module to call ACPI methods through /proc/acpi/call. The code is here:
http://github.com/mkottman/acpi_call
You can try it by installing the module and calling it like this:
git clone http://github.com/mkottman/acpi_call.git
cd acpi_call
make
sudo insmod acpi_call.ko
./test_off.sh
If you see a "works!" message, it's working. On an unplugged laptop, clicking on the battery indicator before and after running the test.sh script, should show a difference of about an extra 1-3 hours battery life.

It would be very much appreciated if someone could test this on an M17x R3 and report back on the results.

Other possibly relevant links:
ASUSM51Ta & Linux: Enjoy Hybrid Graphics with switcheroo
Linux Hybrid Graphics: HOWTO Allienware M11x r2 nvidia optimus hybrid graphics Linux
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Alienware_M11x#Video

 

I'd also *love* for someone to post results running the binary fglrx (Catalyst) driver on their m17xR3 Alienware machine.

Well, I couldn't take it. I just ordered the m17xR3 w/ the AMD Radeon 6970. I'll post results in mid may when I get the unit. *sigh* Wish me luck.

I've made a blog post about the linux compatibility of the m17xR3. I'll update it as I get more info:

Edit: blog link removed, didn't realize it was a rule violation, sorry

 

Cant' get it to work with ATI. ATI drivers release note "Does not work with intel switchable graphics".

 

@Zukoff, can you be more specific? Are you saying that while under linux on the m17x w/ an AMD Radeon card you are forced to use the Intel graphics?

Or are you saying that the binary fglrx (Catalyst) driver doesn't let you switch to the Intel card and that it works fine if you want to only use the AMD card?

 

Ok, the news.

Fans does not work in linux. As it happens with last hardware. I just burned my balls.

It use switchable graphics that does not work out of the box at all. Also it use Intel new vga that does not have drivers.
I am sorry to say that, but for linux world - this pc is a just cool led highlight for your bedroom.

Binary frglx won't work at all, because they does not support Intel switchable graphics. Only the open source driver will work but with the latest kernel from testing.

It is not possible to switch graphics in bios.

 

@Zukoff, Thanks a ton for your research!

Which linux distribution are you using for these tests?

What type of fps are you getting with glxgears with the open source video driver?



Edit: I'm probably not allowed to mention pitching in for beer

 

Ah well, guess I won't be getting it after all. Hopefully we get something that actually works with Linux (even if it does require some tinkering/hacking) before the fall...

Thank you very much for your testing Zukoff.

 

I am not testing, i am trying to survive )

I use Debian, i'll try modern kernels soon.

My goal is to make fans work and to get any video to work.

glxgears won't start, because i use vesa driver. Any other driver does not work because of switchable graphics.
vga_switcheroo does not solve all problems, i've read that people have problems with logoff, sleep, hibernate etc.

By the way, sound, wifi, lan does not work out of the box. While there is a driver suitable for lan - it does not start up automatically when loaded. I have to force it.

 

Can you post the output of lspci -v and/or lshw ?

It looks like both debian sid and debian wheezy have kernel 2.6.38 which might help with some of the video issues .. (at least for Intel)

 

I would like to dual boot into Ubuntu for work, however I am having trouble getting the Ubuntu installer to install to the Raid array. The partitioning tool sees the array as separate drives.

 

Jafar00, I think that the raid isn't true hardware raid, but is probably software assisted raid. That is why installers will see two disks. IIRC Ubuntu can create and install to a software raid though .. (sorry for being terse, I'm on a phone at the moment)

jafar00, I'm worried that you might be trying to use the Ubuntu install option that automatically resizes an existing Windows install and sets up dual boot. This might break the Windows software RAID setup and confuse things. For simplicity it might be best to ignore raid for the moment and install Ubuntu to one drive and windows the other?

 

My experience with a 3D R3, in Ubuntu, I have yet to find any incompatible hardware except for perhaps the system lighting.

The stock Wifi, the Dell one requires a restricted driver, as does the Nvidia chip, but once enabled, they just work.

 

According to LSPCI...

00:1f.2 RAID bus controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 82801 SATA RAID Controller (rev 06)

That means it's hardware raid right?

However gparted just sees the two drives and doesn't recognise the raid array at all. However I can mount it in the live CD desktop and browse the files on it.
If you see the df-h output you can see it listed.

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ df -h
Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
aufs 1.5G 225M 1.2G 16% /
none 1.5G 324K 1.5G 1% /dev
/dev/sr0 694M 694M 0 100% /cdrom
/dev/loop0 661M 661M 0 100% /rofs
none 1.5G 176K 1.5G 1% /dev/shm
tmpfs 1.5G 60K 1.5G 1% /tmp
none 1.5G 96K 1.5G 1% /var/run
none 1.5G 4.0K 1.5G 1% /var/lock
/dev/mapper/isw_cefaceeacc_sindragosa2
932G 524G 409G 57% /media/BC603BE6603BA5D4
/dev/sr0 694M 694M 0 100% /media/apt

I can resize it using the windows disk utility no problem, but I want to be sure that I can partition the drive and install ubuntu on it while keeping it as a RAID 0 array.

I always manually install with / = 25gb, /swap = 2gb and /home = the rest of the disk

I don't need 500gb for linux (I want it to be 120gb only) as it will be for work only with windows dual booted for games which will need the lion's share of space.

Did you try AlienFX Lite for Linux? http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware/458528-alienfx-lite-linux-windows-alienfx-tool.html

 

Please, everyone, show your: sudo lspci -vnnn

00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation Sandy Bridge DRAM Controller [8086:0104] (rev 09)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0490]
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Capabilities: [e0] Vendor Specific Information: Len=0c <?>

00:01.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation Sandy Bridge PCI Express Root Port [8086:0101] (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=06, sec-latency=0
I/O behind bridge: 00005000-00005fff
Memory behind bridge: c8400000-c93fffff
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000a0000000-00000000afffffff
Capabilities: [88] Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0490]
Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [90] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
Capabilities: [a0] Express Root Port (Slot+), MSI 00
Capabilities: [100] Virtual Channel
Capabilities: [140] Root Complex Link
Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Sandy Bridge Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:0116] (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:04ba]
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 7
Memory at c0000000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4M]
Memory at b0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
I/O ports at 6000
Expansion ROM at <unassigned> [disabled]
Capabilities: [90] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
Capabilities: [d0] Power Management version 2
Capabilities: [a4] PCI Advanced Features

00:16.0 Communication controller [0780]: Intel Corporation Cougar Point HECI Controller #1 [8086:1c3a] (rev 04)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0490]
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 7
Memory at c9404000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable)
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [8c] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+

00:1a.0 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation Cougar Point USB Enhanced Host Controller #2 [8086:1c2d] (rev 04) (prog-if 20 [EHCI])
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0490]
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
Memory at c940a000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
Capabilities: [58] Debug port: BAR=1 offset=00a0
Capabilities: [98] PCI Advanced Features
Kernel driver in use: ehci_hcd

00:1b.0 Audio device [0403]: Intel Corporation Cougar Point High Definition Audio Controller [8086:1c20] (rev 04)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0490]
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 22
Memory at c9400000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
Capabilities: [60] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [70] Express Root Complex Integrated Endpoint, MSI 00
Capabilities: [100] Virtual Channel
Capabilities: [130] Root Complex Link
Kernel driver in use: HDA Intel

00:1c.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation Cougar Point PCI Express Root Port 1 [8086:1c10] (rev b4) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=07, subordinate=0c, sec-latency=0
I/O behind bridge: 00004000-00004fff
Memory behind bridge: c7400000-c83fffff
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000c0400000-00000000c13fffff
Capabilities: [40] Express Root Port (Slot+), MSI 00
Capabilities: [80] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
Capabilities: [90] Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0490]
Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:1c.2 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation Cougar Point PCI Express Root Port 3 [8086:1c14] (rev b4) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=0d, subordinate=12, sec-latency=0
I/O behind bridge: 00003000-00003fff
Memory behind bridge: c6400000-c73fffff
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000c1400000-00000000c23fffff
Capabilities: [40] Express Root Port (Slot+), MSI 00
Capabilities: [80] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
Capabilities: [90] Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0490]
Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:1c.3 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation Cougar Point PCI Express Root Port 4 [8086:1c16] (rev b4) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=13, subordinate=18, sec-latency=0
I/O behind bridge: 00002000-00002fff
Memory behind bridge: c5400000-c63fffff
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000c2400000-00000000c33fffff
Capabilities: [40] Express Root Port (Slot+), MSI 00
Capabilities: [80] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
Capabilities: [90] Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0490]
Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:1c.5 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation Cougar Point PCI Express Root Port 6 [8086:1c1a] (rev b4) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=19, subordinate=1e, sec-latency=0
I/O behind bridge: 00001000-00001fff
Memory behind bridge: c4400000-c53fffff
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000c3400000-00000000c43fffff
Capabilities: [40] Express Root Port (Slot+), MSI 00
Capabilities: [80] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
Capabilities: [90] Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0490]
Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:1d.0 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation Cougar Point USB Enhanced Host Controller #1 [8086:1c26] (rev 04) (prog-if 20 [EHCI])
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0490]
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 23
Memory at c9409000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
Capabilities: [58] Debug port: BAR=1 offset=00a0
Capabilities: [98] PCI Advanced Features
Kernel driver in use: ehci_hcd

00:1e.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge [8086:2448] (rev a4) (prog-if 01 [Subtractive decode])
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=1f, subordinate=1f, sec-latency=32
Capabilities: [50] Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0490]

00:1f.0 ISA bridge [0601]: Intel Corporation Cougar Point LPC Controller [8086:1c4b] (rev 04)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0490]
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0
Capabilities: [e0] Vendor Specific Information: Len=0c <?>

00:1f.2 RAID bus controller [0104]: Intel Corporation Mobile 82801 SATA RAID Controller [8086:282a] (rev 04)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0490]
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 29
I/O ports at 6088
I/O ports at 609c
I/O ports at 6080
I/O ports at 6098
I/O ports at 6060
Memory at c9408000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=2K]
Capabilities: [80] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
Capabilities: [70] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [a8] SATA HBA v1.0
Capabilities: [b0] PCI Advanced Features
Kernel driver in use: ahci

00:1f.3 SMBus [0c05]: Intel Corporation Cougar Point SMBus Controller [8086:1c22] (rev 04)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0490]
Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 19
Memory at c9406000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable)
I/O ports at 6040

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: ATI Technologies Inc Broadway [ATI Mobility Radeon HD 6800 Series] [1002:68a8] (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:04ba]
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
Memory at a0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
Memory at c8400000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=128K]
I/O ports at 5000
Expansion ROM at c8440000 [disabled] [size=128K]
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [58] Express Legacy Endpoint, MSI 00
Capabilities: [a0] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [100] Vendor Specific Information: ID=0001 Rev=1 Len=010 <?>
Capabilities: [150] Advanced Error Reporting
Kernel driver in use: fglrx_pci

01:00.1 Audio device [0403]: ATI Technologies Inc Juniper HDMI Audio [Radeon HD 5700 Series] [1002:aa58]
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0490]
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 17
Memory at c8420000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [58] Express Legacy Endpoint, MSI 00
Capabilities: [a0] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [100] Vendor Specific Information: ID=0001 Rev=1 Len=010 <?>
Capabilities: [150] Advanced Error Reporting
Kernel driver in use: HDA Intel

07:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Atheros Communications Device [1969:1083] (rev c0)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0490]
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 10
Memory at c7400000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256K]
I/O ports at 4000
Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [48] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [58] Express Endpoint, MSI 00
Capabilities: [6c] Vital Product Data
Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting

0d:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4313 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Controller [14e4:4727] (rev 01)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0010]
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 18
Memory at c6400000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [58] Vendor Specific Information: Len=78 <?>
Capabilities: [48] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [d0] Express Endpoint, MSI 00
Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting
Capabilities: [13c] Virtual Channel
Capabilities: [16c] Power Budgeting <?>
Kernel driver in use: brcm80211

13:00.0 Unassigned class [ff00]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Device [10ec:5209] (rev 01)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0490]
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 7
Memory at c5401000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [50] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [70] Express Endpoint, MSI 00
Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting

13:00.1 SD Host controller [0805]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Device [10ec:5209] (rev 01)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0490]
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
Memory at c5400000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable)
Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [90] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [b0] Express Endpoint, MSI 01
Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting
Kernel driver in use: sdhci-pci

19:00.0 USB Controller [0c03]: NEC Corporation uPD720200 USB 3.0 Host Controller [1033:0194] (rev 04) (prog-if 30)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0490]
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 17
Memory at c4400000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=8K]
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [70] MSI: Enable- Count=1/8 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [90] MSI-X: Enable- Count=8 Masked-
Capabilities: [a0] Express Endpoint, MSI 00
Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting
Capabilities: [150] #18

jafar00, Intel raids - are known as fakeraids. Don't use it. Better split up your data.
By the way, fans does not work here, so one of hdds gets too hot, because it is right near the heat pipes! Better not to put valuable information there.

The HDD overheat issue: ATI fan does not work, and ATI gpu is right near HDD #2. (It is labeled as slot #1, it is not true).

The switchable video issue can probably be fixed with custom BIOS. I have InsydeH2O installed. I've found a forum and software to modify stock bios.

 

storm99999, You haven't had any problems with 3D acceleration on your Alienware m17xr3 under Ubuntu? Which version of Ubuntu are you using? Are you using the binary driver or an open source one? Do you mind posting lspci output? What type of fps do you get with glxgears?

 

Alrighty, just finished up some testing.

These values are for an m17r3 3D bundle. There is no optimus with this setup. Battery life is good but not excellent at ~3 hours max.

glxgears with nouveau driver installed:
544 fps

glxgears with the Nvidia restricted driver installed:
14100 fps

Additionally, the nouveau driver does not come out of the box with anything more than 800x600 available.

My sudo lspci -vnnn output: m17xR3 lspci - Pastebin.com

 

@storm99999, That is great news! Too bad I've already ordered the non-3D version. I'll look into cancelling it (it was only 4.5 days ago).

Do your fans work? It sounds like fans were having some issues with ACPI enabled. Disabling ACPI made the fans work again.

 

My fans appear to be working just fine. Not sure how to test them. I have sensors up and running and the cpu and gpu don't seem to go over 60.

However, I can confirm that the sound card does not work yet. I run my computer muted so I hadn't noticed before. The driver is loaded as snd-hda-intel as it should and aplay -l detects it, but no output. From research, it appears to either be a port routing issue or conflict with the HDMI audio out, but I'm honestly not sure.

As for the 3D version? I'd recommend against it with how pricey it is. You do lose ~1.5 hours battery life and ATI should be getting their system working soon.

 

Interesting. I don't think that Zukoff has sound working on his device either .. yet. Does anyone have sound working on these machines?

storm99999, do you have the 485m or the 460m?

Looks like some people have had audio success on m17x r2 units (which appear to have two audio devices in lspci output, like the r3 does)

They involve "option snd-hda-intel model=alienware"

Gentoo:
Gentoo Forums :: View topic - Gentoo on Alienware M17x/M15x, anyone?

Ubuntu:
[SOLVED] no sound from headphone jack [Archive] - Ubuntu Forums

General info on 'model=':
http://www.alsa-project.org/main/index.php/Help_To_Debug_Intel_HDA#.27model.27_parameter

Sorry for all the forum spam, I'm sitting here impatiently waiting for my unit to be shipped.

 

Thanks for the suggestion

I bit the bullet and destroyed the RAID leaving one drive for windows and one for Linux.

First I tried Natty beta 64 bit and it was ok except for the ATI drivers being little better than generic VESA. So, I went for good old Maverick 10.10 32 bit and everything seems to work out of the box including the fans which I tested with a good session of Nexuiz on ultra settings. M17xR2 btw.

I have sound from the headphones without fiddling. Ubuntu 10.10 M17xR2

 

r3 owners (Zukoff, storm99999, and heck jafar00 too) :

What do you see in dmesg relating to sound cards?

maybe 'dmesg | grep -i sound' or something

 

Running that command, I get

Code:

[    6.798228] input: HDA Intel PCH Mic at Ext Left Jack as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1b.0/sound/card0/input8
[    6.798320] input: HDA Intel PCH Line Out at Ext Left Jack as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1b.0/sound/card0/input9
[    6.798391] input: HDA Intel PCH HP Out at Ext Left Jack as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1b.0/sound/card0/input10

I'll work on pushing it together.

Edit: It's not a driver issue, it's a port issue. The front audio jack works just fine.

 

I get the following on my R2

jafar@sindragosa:~$ dmesg | grep -i sound
[ 12.509711] input: HDA Intel Mic at Ext Left Jack as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1b.0/sound/card0/input11
[ 12.509783] input: HDA Intel Line Out at Ext Left Jack as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1b.0/sound/card0/input12
[ 12.509836] input: HDA Intel HP Out at Ext Left Jack as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1b.0/sound/card0/input13
[ 12.509887] input: HDA Intel HP Out at Ext Left Jack as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1b.0/sound/card0/input14

 

I just received my m17x r3 and I'm in the process of installing Gentoo on it.

I also have audio only through the headphones at the moment. I don't have X setup yet so I don't have any input on that part

Has anyone else made any more breakthroughs with linux on this device?

 

I have X working now.

In KDE w/ desktop effects on I get these results using glxgears:
47906 frames in 5.0 seconds = 9581.154 FPS
47894 frames in 5.0 seconds = 9578.664 FPS

w/o desktop effects on I get this:
77550 frames in 5.0 seconds = 15509.885 FPS
77524 frames in 5.0 seconds = 15504.658 FPS

I don't have lm_sensors set up properly yet. Has anyone had success there?

Fans seem to work fine. I'd like to disable the touchpad while typing (the synaptics style touchpads have an option for that, not sure this one does) .. getting sound to work out the onboard speakers would be a bonus.

I haven't messed with bluetooth or the cardreader at all yet, nor have I messed with the HDMI in and out.

 

Laptop speakers are working on my unit right now. So are the volume controls and mute buttons above the keyboard.


I put the following in my /etc/modprobe.d/alsa.conf

options snd-hda-intel index=0 model=alienware

 

Hello, somebody has installed the new Linux Mint 11? Because I can't install it, it appears a blank screen on the booting. Is there a way to disable the GPU(6970m) in the BIOS? i think that is the problem.

 

Hi all,

Here my config :

m17x R3 / AMD HD6870 / 1080p panel without 3D / Crucial C300 SSD / 8 GB DDR3

I installed Fedora 15 and faced following issues :

Live image does not start with default options : since system starts, the screen is filled with random flickering colors.
To avoid this, I started live image with minimal VESA support, installed system on SSD, upgraded to 2.6.39.1 kernel and rebooted (kernel 2.6.38 did not worked for me).

Since then, Intel HD3000 support seemed to be OK (native screen resolution and desktop effects working).

Now I'm still facing heat problems : fans runs but discrete GPU fan always runs at minimal speed, even when GPU gets hot ; I can see that when I reboot after having been running Linux for some time : before OS starts, GPU fans runs at full speed for a few seconds and this does not happen after using windows.

I don't plan to use discrete GPU with Linux so if there's no current fix for GPU fan management problem, I'd just like to disable AMD card (without using a hammer).

Any advice ?

 

I suggest not installing Mint 11 or Ubuntu "Natty" 11.04. Both don't play nice with ATI cards. Ubuntu 10.10 "Maverick" and Mint 10 work very nicely with ATI cards.

That said, I am switching out my HD5870s for Nvidia GTX285s in a few weeks. I have had it with ATI's crappy driver support. I mean really crappy. Never buying ATI again.

 

JoeZefynn, we are in the same boat! )
PM me your skype id, we have a lot to discuss.

Your solution- remove ATI card physically. It will work. Intel is still not very usable, but pc wont be so hot.
I want to find out, how to enable native resolution and HDMI output.

 

Zukoff, JoeZefynn.

Go with Ubuntu or Mint. Fedora isn't made for exotic hardware like ours. Ubuntu have worked hard on getting their distro to be as hassle free as possible. You can have ATI drivers installed automatically to solve your graphics issues.

That said I haven't used Fedora since v2 but Redhat have always aimed to be the most generic of distributions. You will probably need to do a little hacking to get everything to work. Then again, if hacking is your thing, why not go for Gentoo?

 

Good news! A working bios mod that allows to do a lot. I hope it will help...
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/580828-m17xr3-bios-mod-released-4.html#post7579096

I use Ubuntu for that purpose. The last ubuntu and xorg-edgers update.

Intel/ATI does not work because of hybrid graphics. Video cards does not have direct access to output. So with default drivers we get black screen or color static.

Modded bios works! disabled internal video and ATI works at last!

glxgears:
3500 powersave/ 8000 max speed mode

ATI gets hot soon and proprietary driver shows "Unsupported hardware" sign on the right bottom of the screen.
Open source driver works better.
I've found that ati decided to favour low fan speed over the heat,

bTW while tinkering, i've catched a screw in the internals. It's definitely not my screw.

 

@Zukoff : I'd like to find a software way to disable ATI card rather than physically removing it since I also ocasionnally play windows games. I'll give a try to bios mod and let you know.

That said, intel card runs pretty well for my linux needs (full native resolution, 3D acceleration support) except it doesn't save power if ATI stuff still runs as a finger heater.

 

JoeZefynn, please pm me your Skype

 

JoeZefynn, how did you get intel to work?
Which kernel, xorg?

 

kernel 2.6.39.1

Other components are default ones for Fedora 15 ( you can check versions here )

by the way I also updated my BIOS with modded one but I'm not sure which parameter to set to disable IGP. Which one did you change and what value ?

I can't PM you my skype because :

• I don't have one
• I'm not allowed to PM on this forum. Don't know why

However you can mail me at joe dot zefynn at gmail dot com

 

JoeZefynn, Zukoff:

Hi guys, been following your posts for a while. I have a similar machine, M17x r3 - i72720, AMD 6970.

I was just wondering if you guys could give me your latest on which linux distro and version you are running and how successful you have been so far. Zukoff, I've noticed you have modded your bios and disabled your internal GPU. Has that been your only successful way of getting your discrete 6970 to work? I am wary of this as I may still trade/return/sell my laptop and don't want to risk "messing" things up.

I am hoping with ubuntu 11.10, new kernel and catalyst 11.7 (or even 8), this process will be easier. I have everything working except GPU and when I unplug the charger and plug it back in, my comp thinks that it is a foreign charger and will refuse to charge the battery with it until i physically remove the battery.

If I can fix those two things I'd be good to go. So yes, sorry, in short, I was wondering what recommendations you have or an update on your state now.

Thanks guys, you have been really helpful so far.

 

My M17xR2 has been running Ubuntu quite happily apart from having to tweak the hell out of the ATI drivers. I'm still waiting for Dell to come around and swap out the 5870s or GTX285s. It's taken 2 weeks already and still not done.

Linux and Nvidia are a better combination since ATI are so bad at drivers, especially for Linux. They always have been.

 

sr8r4v01,

Fedora 15 (kernel 2.6.38.8) is working with radeon open source drivers after disabling internal GPU with modded bios.

Same problem with charger/battery. How do you know your machine thinks that it's a foreign charger ?

 

JoeZefynn,

Thanks for replying. In one of the m17x modded bios forum's ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/580828-m17xr3-bios-mod-released-5.html), hoofhearted says that this is the case. I am not sure if I understand the commenter correctly though or if that is true.

I was hoping that switcheroo would take care of this internal/discrete issue or more rather ATI themselves would have better support. I may just wait a bit before diving in the bios. How safe and revers-able to modify the bios do you think it is? I am still trying to sell/return it.

Jordan

 

sr8r4v01,

I didn't have any issue when flashing bios. I just followed instructions from http://bios-mods.com/biosupdate.html. Don't know about reversibility though.

 

cool thanks ZoeZefynn,

apprectiate the help I might just do that.

 

sr8r4v01,

I checked charger behaviour with windows and it seems to work normally (re-plug is correctly reported) so I don't think this is a modded BIOS issue.

 

JoeZefynn,

Thanks again, just to be clear this is an issue I have been having since before attempting BIOS changes(When I am currently in my Linux partition, it occasionally will not re-plug correctly), and I was hoping that flashing the BIOS would rectify the problem as it was suggested there might be an option to do so. I doubt it now though.

 

Some news :

IGP now works with kernel 2.6.40. Once done, AMD discrete card can be disabled with :

Code:

echo OFF > /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch

sr8r4v01,

battery/charger issue also seems to be fixed : when charger is plugged in, battery detects it and switches to "charging" state.

 

Hello,
Since I have spent a lot of time trying to get some shape of linux running on my M17xR3 I thought I would share my findings with others on the same mission. My system config can be found below and to start of, I can say that I were not able to get any distro up and running on the laptop's screen with the optimus graphic setting enable. The screen would only loop in a rainbow multi coloured flashing (words added to help googlers) when trying to boot from the live usb. It was possible to connect the laptop to an external monitor, but even through installing all the NVIDIA drivers I couldn't get the laptop screen to work. I also had no success with bumblebee or any other graphic switching/disabling alternatives.

I thought it might be a distro problem so I tried all the following distros, without success:
Linux Mint 9, 10, 11
Ubuntu 11.04, 11.10 Alpha 3
Kubuntu 10.10
Pinguy OS 11.04
Open Suse 11.4
Fedora 15

So, step one was to install the modded version of the A04 BIOS talked about HERE and then disable the integrated GPU and set the primary display option to PEG. This made it possible to run all the distros on the laptop's native display. Then came the next problem, no sound. Whatever I did I could not get sound, but I finally found the following FIX that works on Kubuntu 10.10, Linux Mint 9 and 11.10.

However, I had some ethernet problems with Mint 9 and Kubuntu 10.10. The release where everything ran the smoothest, was actually the third alpha of Ubuntu 11.10, but a number of applications kept crashing since it is an alpha and the experience wasn't really enjoyable overall.

So where did this leave me? Well, I am now running Win7 and even though I despise the virus program hassle, I enjoy the OS overall. I'm gonna install virtualbox for what I need to do in linux and cygwin aswell until the next release of Linux Mint, which I will try on my secondary hard drive. I also noticed that I can use a lot of the software linux helped me discover like GIMP, LibreOffice and Miro on Windows as well. I might even spend less time tinkering around with the computer and get out more...

Bottom Line: As of now, I would recommend against trying to install any of the linux distros I tried if you have the same system setup as I do.

Added later: I started writing this post two days ago and since then I have had several BSODs in Win7 due to my NVIDIA card. Turns out that some registry modifications needs to be carried out by the alienware people in order to get optimus working and it will most certainly be broken on a clean install by the end user. I'm back to running with my integrated GPU disabled again, this makes the linux testing easier anyways. And even though I has been educational to learn about flashing bios, restoring factory images, dismantle the GPU and resetting CMOS I think I will stay away from fiddling this much with the next system I buy... maybe.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alienware M17xR3 - i7-2630QM | NVIDIA GTX 460M | 8 GB DDR3 1333 MHz | Intel 510 SSD 120 GB | Stock 7200rpm 750 GB HDD | WLED 1920x1080

 

Just to throw in some info, I have been able to install linux mint with the integrated GMA 3000 GPU disabled with no noticeable overheating in Linux mint 11. Also it was effectively full resolution out of the box. (1080p) Though sound didn't work,I tried plugging in a HDMI cable to my TV... and to my surprise the internal laptop speakers somehow worked!.. (just to note I used the FIX provided by Psymin on Page 4)

BTW I have a-

M17x R3

GPU 6970

Hope someone can use this