Acer Aspire 5940G

Date: 2009-12-19

Eduardo von Ristow

This is a compatibility guide to running GNU/Linux with the Acer 5940g laptop.

This guide is intended to provide you details on how well this laptop works with GNU/Linux and which modules you need to configure. For details on how to actually install and configure the required modules have a look at our guides section for distribution specific instructions.

This page is just for discussing using Linux on the Acer Aspire 5940G. For a general discussion about this laptop you can visit the Acer Aspire 5940G page on LapWik.

If you would like to edit this page please first view our Editing Guidelines.

For full specifications see the Acer Aspire 5940G specifications page.

Tested on Sabayon Linux 5.0, Ubuntu 9.10 and 10.04.

Ubuntu 10.04

The ATi proprietary driver from the repositories works.

Ubuntu 9.04 and Sabayon 5.0

On both Ubuntu 9.10 and Sabayon 5.0, it is necessary to install the ATi Proprietary driver version 9.11 or above, found on http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/linux/Pages/radeon_linux.aspx.

* Remove all other graphic drivers, such as Radeon and older ATi Proprietary Drivers (fglrx)
* Install the new driver:
* sudo chmod +x 'downloaded_driver_file'
* sudo ./'downloaded_driver_file'
* just stick to the automatic install, it works.
* Configure Xorg:
* sudo aticonfig –initial –input=/etc/X11/xorg.conf
* Restart X / Restart xdm / Reboot

Worked out of the box on Ubuntu 9.10 and 10.04

On Sabayon workaround is needed, because the tg3 module is loaded before the broadcom, responsible to provide PHY.

su
rmmod tg3
modprobe broadcom
modprobe –ignore-install tg3

Download the newest driver from Broadcom: http://www.broadcom.com/support/ethernet_nic/driver-sla.php?driver=570x-Linux
Follow the instructions on README.TXT to compile and install the module

Works with Alsa 1.0.23 or above.

In order to install a newer Alsa on Ubuntu, check this website: http://monespaceperso.org/blog-en/2010/05/02/upgrade-alsa-1-0-23-on-ubuntu-lucid-lynx-10-04/

Single touch worked out of the box on all tested distributions.

On Ubuntu 10.04 (udev based) two fingers scrolling can be achieved running the following script:

#!/bin/bash
#
# list of synaptics device properties http://www.x.org/archive/X11R7.5/doc/man/man4/synaptics.4.html#sect4
#
# Some useful commands :
# xinput list
# xinput list-props “SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad”
# xinput test “SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad”
# xinput test-xi2 “SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad”
#
xinput –set-prop –type=int –format=32 “SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad” “Synaptics Two-Finger Pressure” 4
xinput –set-prop –type=int –format=32 “SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad” “Synaptics Two-Finger Width” 8 # Below width 1 finger touch, above width simulate 2 finger touch. - value=pad-pixels
xinput –set-prop –type=int –format=8 “SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad” “Synaptics Two-Finger Scrolling” 1 1 # vertical scrolling, horizontal scrolling - values: 0=disable 1=enable
xinput –set-prop –type=int –format=8 “SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad” “Synaptics Edge Scrolling” 0 0 0 # vertical, horizontal, corner - values: 0=disable 1=enable
xinput –set-prop –type=int –format=32 “SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad” “Synaptics Jumpy Cursor Threshold” 250 # stabilize 2 finger actions - value=pad-pixels
xinput –set-prop –type=int –format=8 “SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad” “Synaptics Tap Action” 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 # pad corners rt rb lt lb tap fingers 1 2 3 (can't simulate more then 2 tap fingers AFAIK) - values: 0=disable 1=left 2=middle 3=right etc. (in FF 8=back 9=forward)
#xinput –set-button-map “SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad” 2 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 # swap left and middle click, gives you middle click on the left button and left click on tap. - values: lb, mb, rb, b4, b5, etc.
exit

Credit: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1419833

This is a great laptop to use with linux!