Popular Guides
View more guides at Linux Wiki Guides
Welcome to LinLap - The Linux Laptop Wiki
Asus N61Jq
Introduction
This is a compatibility guide to running Linux with the Asus N61Jq laptop.
This page is just for discussing using Linux on the Asus N61Jq. For a general discussion about this laptop you can visit the Asus N61Jq page on LapWik.
Editing This Page
If you would like to edit this page please first view our Editing Guidelines.
Specifications
For full specifications see the Asus N61Jq specifications page.
| Name | Asus N61Jq |
| Processor | Intel® Core™ i7 Processor 720QM : 1.6 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.8 GHz |
| Screen | 16” (1366×768) Widescreen |
| RAM | Up to 8GB |
| HDD | 250GB to 640GB |
| Optical Drive | DVD+-RW Blueray |
| Graphics | ATI Mobility™ Radeon® HD 5730 |
| Network | 10/100/1000 Ethernet 802.11a/b/g/n or 802.11b/g |
Linux Compatibility
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Works | |
| Screen | Works | |
| HDD | Works | |
| Optical Drive | Works | |
| Graphics | Works | The proprietary ATI drivers are required for 3D support. |
| Sound | Works | |
| Ethernet | Works | |
| Wireless | Works | |
| Bluetooth | Works | |
| Modem | Not Tested | |
| USB | Works | |
| Card Reader | Works | |
| ExpressCard Slot | Not Tested | |
| Webcam | Works | The image the camera produces is upside down. |
Notes
Ubuntu 10.10 is recommended with this laptop for best compatibility.
Summary
If you use an up to date Linux distribution you wont have any problems with the Asus N61Jq.
Discussion
Ubuntu lucid 10.04 x86_64: all compatible. For webcam upgrade libv4l (initial library shows flipped images, the camera is mounted upside down)
I'm currently running Ubuntu 9.10 32-bit server kernel (Dual boot with Win7 64-bit professional) on the Asus N61JQ, and it runs like a champ pretty much out of the box.
After installing, a quick run of EnvyNG will get you working (albeit unsupported) drivers for the HD 5730 video card. Using these drivers I'm able to easily enable compositing, 3d effects, and use the max resolution in Ubuntu. Everything seems pretty much perfect with the installation, all audio works correctly, multitouch, control buttons (sound, media controls), webcam (with cheese).
I only have two relatively minor complaints. First and largest is the fact that AMD adds this ugly watermark to the corner of the screen when you are running unsupported hardware (adds insult to injury) because the ati video card is not currently supported by the linux ati drivers, with no way to make it go away. My second really minor complaint is the fact that the track pad is pretty large and very sensitive. Normally this would be a feature and not an issue, but I have large hands and find myself often tapping it with my palms when I'm typing (I have big hands) and as a result moving the cursor to location of my mouse on the screen.
Long story short, if your on the fence about this laptop because of Linux compatibility, I'd say go for it. I bought this and have been 150% happy with it in every aspect!
fn-f9 will shut off the trackpad. Useful when typing to shut it off and then turn it back on with another of fn-f9 when your done.
I have got Gentoo running on Asus N61JQ with customized kernel.
All is working properly except of the webcam, but i am still on it.
With the integrated graphic card HD5730 you can use the ati-drivers package from gentoo portage. But there is still no official support inside of the driver for this card. 3D, 2D acceleration will work.
SysInfo:
uname: Linux 2.6.31-gentoo-r6
Distro: Gentoo Base System release 1.12.13
CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU Q 720 @ 1.60GHz 1600.000 MHz
Bogomips: 25529.48 Mem: 3206/3885M [||||||||||]
Diskspace: 82.00G Free: 68.49G Uptime: 17 hrs 4 mins 20 secs Load: 0.06 2.18 2.25 Procs: 185 Graphic: unknown Screen: 2646×1024 (32 bpp)
Netinfo: wlan0:
In: 548.10M Out: 109.75M