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Lenovo IdeaPad Y510
Introduction
This is a guide to running Linux with the Lenovo IdeaPad Y510 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 | Lenovo IdeaPad Y510 |
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 2.5Ghz |
| Screen | 15.4” WXGA Widescreen |
| RAM | 2GB |
| HDD | 250GB |
| Optical Drive | DVD+-RW |
| Graphics | NVIDIA Geforce 8600M GS |
| Network | Ethernet, 802.11abg, Bluetooth |
Linux Compatibility
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Yes | |
| Screen | Yes | |
| HDD | Yes | |
| Optical Drive | Yes | |
| Graphics | Yes | |
| Sound | Yes | |
| Ethernet | Yes | |
| Wireless | Yes | Use the iwl3945 driver |
| Bluetooth | Yes | |
| 56K Modem | Not Tested | |
| USB | Yes | |
| Firewire | Not Tested | |
| Card Reader | Yes | |
| ExpressCard Slot | Not Tested | |
| Camera | Yes |
Notes
Most Linux distributions do not yet properly support the NVIDIA Geforce 8600M GS found in the IdeaPad Y510. In this case you will need to install the proprietary NVIDIA drivers. Have a look in our guides section for detailed installation instructions on a number of distributions.
Sound works best when you are using ALSA version 1.0.16 or greater. At this time no Linux distribution includes this so you will need to install these yourself. Again, our guides section has details on how to do this.
Even with the latest ALSA modules the sub-woofer does not function. There is no known fix for this yet.
Summary
The Lenovo IdeaPad Y510 isn't the easiest install possible mainly because of the need to install the ALSA modules. Also the sub-woofer doesn't work at the moment.
Discussion
I have this laptop, and I'm very happy with it running Ubuntu Karmic. However, it does annoy me when I'm using it while watching TV… if anyone uses an IR remote, it acts as if Ctrl-B has been struck. Has anyone else seen this?
So I had lots of little incompatibilities with ArchLinux. About 5 months ago I formatted and threw on the new Ubuntu to try it out (9.04 I think). It fixed everything. Just a recommendation for this laptop perhaps. Clearly Ubuntu has some unwanted features, but for my laptop, I can deal with little things to have all my speakers working, webcam, etc.
Good luck,
-rd
Question - I can't get the webcam to work worth anything. Could anyone help me out?
i bought a y510 in 2008 may.my configuration is 2gb ram,160gb hdd,and intel graphix accelarator 128 mb and my prob is i hav to upgrade my graphix card.is this possible plz help me………………
Fedora 9 worked right off - mostly. I had issues with the screen brightness being screwy and it appears that it is configured backwards. When the screen should dim down after a few minutes of non-use, it would get brighter and then when I move the mouse it SHOULD get brighter again, instead is would dim back down.
I assumed it to be configured backwards and inverted the adjustment in the power config so that now it works properly.
Wireless, sound (only two speakers though), volume controls, acpi, hibernate, suspend, all work great out of the box on openSUSE 11.1.
The only problem I've seen so far is that the brightness controls do not work. Adjusting of brightness seems to be completely broken. On other recent distros, the brightness controls have been reversed.
installed ArchLinux on it to get rid of vista. Have gotten all the important things to work. But would like to find software for the camera, and the memory chip input, for MMC,MSpro,SD,SDpro,and xD cards.
anyone find software?
Card Reader completely work
Out of the box on debian 4.0r4
Bluetooth work
Tested on debian4.0r4
Yes the Sub Dose Work……..
Um…. Ya the sub and all the speakers work. All you have to do is add
options snd-hda-intel model=lenovo-ms7195-dig
To the end of /etc/modprobe.conf file. Then go into the alsamixer and unmute / turn up all the volumes and change the “ch2” to “ch6”
The Ubuntuforums.org have the best suport page here:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=870681
The sound drivers
I was using Ubuntu 7.10 and the sound was working fine and also the function keys. But when I upgraded my Ubuntu to 8.04, both of them got messed up. But compiz was working fine in 8.04.
ALSA 1.0.16 included on Gentoo by default
Just a clarification — Gentoo does provide ALSA v. 1.0.16 for most architectures, including x86, amd64, ppc, and ppc64. It also provides drivers for both the 3945 and the 4965 wireless NICs.
What does not work
These do not work (with ubuntu 8.04 and other recent distros):
Hi dBera, I've installed Ubuntu 9.04 on my y510. Works fine, mainly, except 5.1.
You say there's a way to get 5.1. What is it ?
(I've tried to follow hunterthomson indications but I don't have the file he mentionned…)
Thks
Sorry. It was Ubuntu 8.04 of course.
I've installed Ubuntu 8.10 on Lenovo IdeaPad Y510-01. Everything exept suspend-to-ram works out of the box. This includes Bluetooth, Card Reader and Webcam. ExpressCard Slot and Firewire haven't been tested yet.
Whethor the tuner card is working?