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Alienware Aurora m9700
Introduction
This is a guide to running Linux with the Alienware Aurora m9700 laptop.
This guide is intended to provide you details on how well this laptop works with 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.
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Specifications
| Name | Alienware Aurora m9700 |
| Processor | AMD Turion64 ML-34 1.8GHz |
| Screen | 17” WSXGA |
| RAM | 1GB |
| HDD | 80GB |
| Optical Drive | DVD+-RW |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GS |
| Network | 10/100/1000 Ethernet, RealTek 802.11g Wireless, Bluetooth |
| Other | 4 x USB2.0, 1 x Firewire |
Linux Compatibility
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Yes | |
| Screen | Yes | |
| HDD | Yes | |
| Optical Drive | Yes | |
| Graphics | Yes | |
| Sound | Yes | Use the snd-hda-intel module |
| Ethernet | Yes | |
| Wireless | Partial | Use the rt2500 driver |
| Bluetooth | Not Tested | |
| 56K Modem | Not Tested | |
| USB | Yes | |
| Firewire | Not Tested | |
| Card Reader | Not Tested | |
| ExpressCard Slot | Not Tested |
Notes
For the graphics chip you can use either the open source 'nv' module or NVIDIA's proprietary 'nvidia' module. For installation instructions, you can view our Configuring a nVidia graphics chip guide. For 3D support, you will need the proprietary module. Some older versions of X may not have support for the NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GS, in this case you will need to use the proprietary module.
The ethernet adapter requires kernel version 2.6.18 or greater to function. An up to date Fedora Core 6 installation works fine.
Some versions of the laptop include the Airgo Networks AGN300 wireless controller. It is not currently known how this preforms under Linux.
The tricky part with this laptop will be finding the Linux distribution which works with either the wired or wireless controller. Without either working, it becomes difficult to access the internet to download the drivers necessary for the controllers to function. Fedora Core 6, with kernel 2.6.18 as standard, should work fine with the wired controller.
Summary
There were no problems in getting this laptop working when used with an up to date Linux distribution. It is recommended to use a Linux distribution with kernel version 2.6.18 or greater, such as Fedora Core 6.
Discussion
Getting SLi Working
To enable SLi in K/Ubuntu, install the restricted Nvidia drivers.
open a terminal, then type (minus quotes)
” sudo nvidia-xconfig”
enter your password, then once that has finished, type
“sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf”
search down for the “device” section.
within that section, add the following (case sensitive)
Option “SLI” “auto”
Option “RenderAccel” “true”
it has to be exactly the same as above.
press, in the following sequence:
ctrl-o, enter, ctrl-x
exit terminal
press
ctrl-alt-backspace
there you go, SLi should now be enabled.
run glx gears to see the fps improvement
Kubuntu 8 on Aurora m9700
I have installed Kubuntu 8 and it works without any problem on my Aurora m9700, the only thing is the same that everyone in the forums, wireless and the web cam doesn't work (the 5.1 sound doesn't works but no one has even mention it) I have working the wireless with NDISWRAPPER and it works just fine.
If any one knows something about the web cam and the 5.1 sound please let us know.
For the rest everything works, the 2 graphic cards are working but not SLI enabled (that other issue and I don't know how to solve it).
Hope it helps.
Wireless (Airgo AGN300) - WORKING WITH NDISWRAPPER
Here's a link to an extracted version of the Alienware-released driver. Simply point ndiswrapper at tmimo3p.inf from this archive and configure your network as you normally would.
http://rapidshare.com/files/108749014/AirgoAGN300.zip.html
I'm using Kubuntu and managing to connect to any Open/WEP networks using wifi-radar; have yet to try out a WPA driver but I guess that'd work too if configured right.
Have fun! :)
Wireless (Realtek 8185)
Don't know about any Airgo, but my 9700 has a realtek 8185 wlan card in it. Which realtek makes drivers for.
http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=24&PFid=1&Level=6&Conn=5&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false&Downloads=true#352
Haven't tackled the webcam yet, but bluetooth works great in Kubuntu (nifty KDE GUI for it too). The biggest problem I had with Kubuntu is the install. You have to use the text install because it'll try to use the wrong vid card on graphical install. After reboot you have to Ctrl+Alt+F2 to get down to command line (after reboot it'll still try to use the wrong vid card), edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf and change the PCI address to 7:0:0 (or just change it to something weird like 9:0:0 and run startx, it'll tell you which addresses are available in the error). Run /etc/init.d/kdm stop, then /etc/init.d/kdm start and you should be in KDE. You'll still need to install the nvidia drivers (it'll be running on the horrible “nv” 2d driver) and I ended up manually editing the xorg.conf file again to turn on SLI.
Hope that helps someone!
Wireless (Airgo AGN300)
There is a project for Airgo AGN300 on sourceforge primarily targeting for Linux. The development is very much in the alpha stage but it is a headstart.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/agnx80211driver/
With Sabayon Linux it works almost everything
I installed a version called Sabayon (www.sabayonlinux.org), it includes support for wired eth and 3d desctops activated by default, however i couldn't do the wireless, bluetooth and webcam to work. if every one knows how, please, let me know on my e-mail, thanks.