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Asus B50A
Introduction
This is a guide to running Linux with the Asus B50A 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.
This page is just for discussing using Linux on the Asus B50A. For a general discussion about this laptop you can visit the Asus B50A page on LapWik.
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Specifications
For full specifications see the Asus B50A specifications page.
| Name | Asus B50A |
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo |
| Screen | 15.4” WXGA or WXGA+ Widescreen |
| RAM | 1GB to 4GB |
| HDD | 160GB to 320GB |
| Optical Drive | DVD+-RW |
| Graphics | Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500HD |
| Network | Ethernet, Intel 5100 802.11abgn, Bluetooth |
Linux Compatibility
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Yes | |
| Screen | Yes | |
| HDD | Yes | |
| Optical Drive | Yes | |
| Graphics | Yes | |
| Sound | Yes | using alsa-drivers-1.0.17 |
| Ethernet | Yes | |
| Wireless | Yes | using iwlwifi-5000 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | |
| 56K Modem | Not Tested | |
| USB | Yes | |
| Firewire | Not Tested | |
| Card Reader | Yes | |
| ExpressCard Slot | Not Tested | |
| Fingerprint Reader | Yes* | using fprint, see comments below |
| Camera | Yes* | see comments below |
Notes
Tested using archlinux.
Kernel 2.6.25 (I think, the one that comes with the archlinux CD) has a buggy driver for the ethernet card. I had to download the r8168 driver from the realtek website to get the internet working and proceed with the update. Kernel 2.6.26 & 27 correctly handle the card.
The fingerprint reader “works”, meaning that it acquires fingerprints. However I was not able to get a reliable user authentication working with it.
At first the webcam didn't work at all, now it does. Probably it was due to a kernel update (version 2.6.27), but I cannot say for sure. However there is still one additional hack. With the standard driver the image appears upside down. This seems to be a known issue (see e.g. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=838210). For archlinux installing this package (http://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=18950) solves the issue.
Summary
Once I discovered I had to use the latest alsa drivers, it works quite well. Suspend & hibernate also seem to work flawlessly.
Discussion
I also installed Ubuntu 8ggestion, 8.10. I had to add that line to alsa-base and I have not yet sorted the issue with the webcam. If you have a suggestion….
Laura
Hi,
How about fan and noise ?
I saw a few reviews and this Asus seems to be very quiet. But those tests where performed under Windows. How it behaves under Linux ?
i installed Ubuntu 9.04 on my new asus b50a, everything works fine with the drivers included in the system, except
- the fingerprint-reader acquires fingerprints, but i could not configure the login mechanism to accept fingerprints, as stated above
but more important for me
-the webcam does not work. can anyone tell me which drivers you need in order to have the webcam recognized by the system?
thanks!
hi, i just installed intrepid on the same laptop,
had the very well known sound problem, i deinstalled and removed pulseaudio from the laptop and then did this:
i added this “options snd-hda-intel model=3stack-dig” to /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base
the sound works, but at maximum volume i can hardly listen to anything, does anybody know how to solve this issue?
I needed to add this to /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base
options snd-hda-intel model=3stack-dig
to have working sound. Apparantly the automatical model recognition from alsa does not work here.
I bought this notebook and installed Ubuntu 8.10 64bit on it.
The system works fine, but there are some things that don't work:
- The key for enabling/disabling the touchpad (when you are using an external mouse)
- The key for switching wlan/bluetooth on/off
- The key for switching between the intern and an extern monitor
- The keys for Power4Gear, Splendid Video Intelligence, Life Frame and Power For Phone
- ACPI
Another issue is that alsa needs manual changes in its config file but then works without problems.