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Asus A6Km
Introduction
This is a guide to running Linux with the Asus A6Km laptop, model A6QKM300DL56HG. It is one of only a few laptops with an AMD processor.
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 | Asus A6Km |
| Processor | AMD Sempron 3100+ 1.8GHz |
| Screen | 15.4” |
| RAM | 512MB |
| HDD | 60GB |
| Optical Drive | DVD+-RW |
| Graphics | nVidia GeForce Go 7300 |
| Network | 10/100 Ethernet, Broadcom 802.11g BCM4318 Wireless |
| Other | 4 x USB2.0, 1 x Firewire, Webcam |
Linux Compatibility
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Yes | |
| Screen | Yes | |
| Optical Drive | Yes | |
| Graphics | Yes | |
| Sound | Yes | |
| Ethernet | Yes | Use 8139 module |
| Wireless | Partial | |
| 56K Modem | Not Tested | |
| USB | Yes | |
| Firewire | Not Tested | |
| PCMCIA | Not Tested | |
| Camera | Not tested, probably wont work |
Notes
There is a bug in either the kernel or this laptops ACPI implementation which causes USB not to work correctly. Kernel 2.6.16 fixes this issue.
Older kernel versions (and therefore older versions of ALSA) do not properly support the audio on this system. You need to use kernel 2.6.16 or greater to get the audio working.
The nVidia GeForce Go 7300 works with either the nv module in Xorg or the proprietary nvidia module. 3D support needs the proprietary module.
The Broadcom 802.11g BCM4318 wireless controller does not have native Linux modules so you will havr to use the ndiswrapper module. More information on ndiswrapper is available on our Configuring the ndiswrapper module guide. Grab the Windows files here. There are a couple of experimental native modules available called the linux-bcom4301 and bcm43xx module. You can give these a try first before using ndiswrapper.
Summary
The Asus A6Km is different because it uses an AMD processor but it is not an easy laptop to configure with Linux.
Discussion
As far as ACPI is concerned, you may use ACPI=off. But I suggest to downgrade the BIOS to version 202 (you may have 208 or so, as I did). It is easy to do, and there is no drawback ! Tutorial on my blog : http://raphaelfournier.net/weblog/index.php?post/2009/06/26/Fiat-Lux-how-to-flash-an-a6km-bios
There's much simpler fix for ACPI: add
acpi_osi=(nothing after = sign) to your kernel options in /boot/grub/menu.lst in the line beginning with
# kopt=and every line starting with
kernelacpi_osi=
Works great, was able to start Fedora 12 Live from an USB disk. You saved my life ;)
How do you change ethernet module from 8169 to 8139? i've been trying to do it for a while but no success.
Webcam on asus a6km works, now !
see this page (in French, but i think you can do it just by reading the lines of code) : http://doc.ubuntu-fr.org/webcam_ali
continue. I used Fedora 10, and have not added 'acpi=off'.
I wonder does the 'acpi=off' would make some side effects? Think you.
Fedora still have the problem with ACPI(A6000Km), with the USB device(es. USB mouse) the linux can't boot.
Just installed Fedora 9 and configured with http://www.fedoraguide.info.
Add acpi=off to the kernel line (in GRUB) else it will not boot properly.
Hint: make the font smaller: 8 pts is more than enough and looks so much better.
a6km
kernel 2.6.21 still problem with ACPI, Web cam not working yet… problem with HAL daemon… everything else ok ;) !