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Asus A6T
Introduction
This is a guide to running Linux with the Asus A6T laptop. The laptop was tested with Fedora Core 5.
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 A6T |
| Processor | AMD Turion TL52 |
| Screen | 15.4” |
| RAM | 1GB |
| HDD | 100GB |
| Optical Drive | DVD+-RW |
| Graphics | nVidia Geforce Go7600 |
| Network | 10/100/1000 Ethernet + Broadcom 802.11g Wireless + Bluetooth |
| Other | 4 x USB2.0, Firewire |
Linux Compatibility
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Yes | Usb smp kernel for dual core |
| Screen | Yes | |
| Optical Drive | Yes | |
| Graphics | Partial | |
| Sound | Yes | Use snd-hda-intel module |
| Ethernet | No | |
| Wireless | Yes | Use Linux 2.6.24 or more recent. |
| Bluetooth | Not Tested | |
| 56K Modem | Not Tested | |
| USB | Yes | |
| Firewire | Not Tested | |
| PCMCIA | Not Tested | |
| Webcam | Yes | Use http://syntekdriver.sourceforge.net |
Notes
The open source nv module does not support 3D acceleration so if you want to use any 3D applications or OpenGL hardware acceleration you will need to install the proprietary modules from nVidia. You can use the “nvidia-kernel-2.6-amd64” package on Debian (requires non-free).
The wired network port does not work with several kernels. The wired network works with 2.6.18, 2.6.20 and 2.6.22. Using 2.6.26 it seems to work as well. There are reports that it will work with the non-smp kernels but this was not tested. The required driver is “r8169” (installed in most Linux kernels by default).
Using 2.6.24 and more recent kernels wireless works if the firmware is installed (will require the “b43-fwcutter” package on Debian/Ubuntu). Additionally you could use the ndiswrapper approach, this is, however, relatively difficult (i.e. compared to the above method) and doesn't get much better results.
Thanks to swisswuff for adding this:
I am currently working on setting this machine up for Suse Linux 10.1. So far, I got the network card running, and the 3D graphics, as well as xgl/compiz, the new animated 3D desktop theme. Once I got it all together, I am going to post what it all entailed, but right now it's still too early.
Thanks to karmusaus for adding this:
Ubuntu 6.06 32bit
Ethernet works “out of the box”. Module r1000 (i think).
Graphics crash on 3D applications (ie glxgears) with synaptic installed nvidia drivers.
Wireless LED is on; Wireless network didn't work, bluetooth not tested.
Summary
One of very few laptops with an AMD processor in it, but unfortunately it does not work well with Linux.
Discussion
Debian/Ubuntu Wireless
Wireless works fine after installing the “b43-fwcutter” package.
When installing that package the firmware for the wireless device will be downloaded and installed. If it doesn't you'll need to run “sudo /usr/share/b43-fwcutter/install_bcm43xx_firmware.sh” later on *with* an internet connection.
As for bluetooth, isn't it the A6Tc that's got that? Because mine is an A6T and I don't see any mention of bluetooth in the manuals nor do I see any device that looks like its bluetooth capable in “lspci”'s output.
(k)ubuntu 8.04 x86_64
Grafics works with nvidia restricted new, but hibernation and suspend makes the kernel panic.
Alsa mixer problem solved after recompiling the alsa.
Realtek works fine after deactivating network manager and ifconfig manually
Wireless works fine without crashes with the broadcom module (b43 driver).
Web camera works fine but a bit darkly. I thing that's because of the hardware and not the software.
Bluetooth was working in 7.10, so i suppose that is still working. (I can not test it)
Fn keys: Volume and brightness control works without keytouch installed.
I'm using x2.6.24-21-generic and everything is still stable
(k)ubuntu 8.04 64bit
installing ubuntu or kubuntu 8.04 or upgrading from a previous release will make the realtek ethernet adapter not work in 8.04.
Ubuntu 7.10 32Bit
It should be mentioned that the Network-Adapter works, but crashes on high loads (especialy outbound). Since Network-Adapter and Graphics-Adapter use the same IRQ, system crashes totaly when using 3d-accelaration. With the open-source-driver (nv ⇒ no hardware-3d-accelaration) network-adapter crashes, but system stays alive and network-adapter-module can be reloaded manualy.
Crashes happen from time to time (less when no traffic, frequently with traffic). Consider not buying this Notebook, as this bug disallows normal usage of the notebook.
The mentioned problem is wideley known and it does not seem that there will ever be a fix for this (I'm waiting since 2.6.19 for a fix - now 2.6.23.1 is out - still does not work).
Everything else works surprisingly good. Audio is a little bit strange, but works stable. Webcam does work theoreticaly, but in practice it producec completely wrong colored pictures (using above mentioned syntek-driver).
CPU can become very hot when doing multithreaded high-load-tasks for more than 15 minutes (82°C ), but system then still works - no crashes.
Conclusion:
Really a pitty - very nice Notebook, with most hardware working, but mostly not seriously usable due to crashing of the network-driver.
Ubuntu 7.10 64bit
ethernet works fine.
graphics work fine with nvidia restricted drivers.
wlan works with broadcom restricted drivers - however not very stable.
webcam is said to work with driver from http://syntekdriver.sourceforge.net - have not tested it yet.
Ubuntu 7.04 64bit
Wlan and Webcam works !!!!
Ubuntu 6.06 32bit
Ethernet works “out of the box”. Module r1000 (i think).
Graphics crash on 3D applications (ie glxgears) with synaptic installed nvidia drivers.
Wireless LED is on; Wireless network didn't work, bluetooth not tested.
graphics card; network
I am currently working on setting this machine up for Suse Linux 10.1. So far, I got the network card running, and the 3D graphics, as well as xgl/compiz, the new animated 3D desktop theme. Once I got it all together, I am going to post what it all entailed, but right now it's still too early.