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MSI PR200 GX
Author(s)
David Kolovratník (david@kolovratnik.net)
Introduction
Since I failed to find a web page concerned this laptop and particularly its problems with Linux I have decided to introduce it here (I am on doubts whether it is the same as MSI-1221).
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 | MSI PR 200 YA |
| Processor | Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU, T5450, 1.66GHz |
| Screen | 12” widescreen, 1280×800 |
| RAM | 2GB |
| HDD | 160GB, 150GiB; model WDC WD1600BEVT-2 |
| Optical Drive | DVD; model DVDRAM GSA-T20N |
| Graphics | GM965/GL960 IGP |
| Ethernet | RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller |
| Wireless | Intel PRO/Wireless 4965 |
| Bluetooth | Micro Star International Bluetooth EDR Device |
Linux Compatibility
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Yes | ACPI driver (module acpi-cpufreq) |
| Screen | Yes | |
| HDD | Yes | Driver ahci (BIOS option) |
| Optical Drive | Yes | Driver ata_piix |
| Graphics | Yes | See notes bellow. |
| Sound | Yes | Driver HDA Intel |
| Ethernet | Yes | Driver r8169 |
| Wireless | Yes | Driver iwl4965 |
| Bluetooth | Not Tested | Comments |
| 56K Modem | Not Tested | Comments |
| USB | Yes | Comments |
| Firewire | Not Tested | Comments |
| Card Reader | Yes | Driver mmcblk |
| ExpressCard Slot | Not Tested | Comments |
| Camera | Yes | Driver uvcvideo, see notes bellow |
Notes
Notes on graphic card
The glxinfo says direct rendering: Yes. That is.
VGA external output works fine. But I have had to upgrade the graphics card driver to version 2.5.0 to get HDMI/DVI/TMDS output working. The driver xf86-video-intel 2.5.0 is announced at Freedesktop.
Notes on webcam
Webcam is activated by P2 special button. It works in mplayer for me: mplayer tv://
Notes on PC Speaker
I have never heard any sound from internel pc speaker (i.e. beeper, buzzer). I doubt wherther it is present.
Notes on fan
The fan runs all the time. I haven't found anything about fan control. Although it is quit noisy in a silent room, it does not disturb at a conference.
Notes on stability
The laptop is stable most days but sometimes it gets stuck even more than once per hour. I would say it is worse when ACPI is enabled.
Linux version is 2.6.26.5:
Linux version 2.6.26.5 (veronika@cowgirl) (gcc version 4.3.2 (Debian 4.3.2-1) ) #2 SMP PREEMPT Tue Oct 14 15:53:31 CEST 2008
Notes on ACPI
If Linux ACPI support is enabled, the laptop can be switched off by poweroff command. However special functions (blue symbols on keys pressed with the Fn key) doesn't work. On the other hand, if ACPI is off, laptop doesn't switch off but the display brightness can be set.
Notes on suspend to RAM
When I start the suspend (by echo mem > /sys/power/state), the laptop goes sleep. After pressing the power button, it turns the screen on but switches off again in a second. Then it wakes up again, but does not resume.
dmesg
Note 'USB call trace', 'irq 23' message and 'atkbd' message at the end of the linked dmesg.
Linked files
dmesg, acpi=off, webcam KO
dmesg, acpi=off, webcam OK
xrandr
lspci
lspci -v
lspci -vv
lspci -vvv
lsusb
lsusb -v
Xorg.0.log
System information screen from BIOS
Linked pages
Ubuntu laptop testing page - MSI PR200
MSI PR200 manufacturer's homepage
Similar site MSI covered as other brands
Summary
All key features are well supported with Linux. However a few details are not covered yet.
Discussion
I have had one of these for a long time.
The easiest distro is ubuntu because most of it works out of the box and the rest works by installing the system76 driver.
This laptop is the system 76 darter2 ultra (a bit more expensive then the msi pr200) as soon as you install the system 76 driver it will thank you for purchasing a darter2 ultra ….
Higher resolution on HDMI port should work according to GM965 specification. PR200 manual is fuzzy (original version even misleading according to me) with presentation of HD support. I have spent quite long time to force service organization to do something with (not only) my blanking problem on HDMI port. After convincing them by successful presentation of Full HD on other PR200 piece, my PR200 laptop mainboard has been replaced and HDMI resolution 1600×1200 and 1650×1080 woks correctly for more then one year for me.
I have one of these,
for me everything works except a few aspects of power management,
first, the battery detection:
for a while after boot, the battery detection works fine, but eventually the kernel loses track of the battery, and it reads as empty, regardless of its actual state. this was fixed for kernel versions 2.6.26 and 2.6.27, but broke again in 2.6.28.
also, suspend doesn't work. suspend has never worked.
a few things I haven't tested:
56k modem
fingerprint reader
I see no reason why these shouldn't work, but I haven't actually tried them.
also the HDMI port works, but naturally not at a resolution of 1080p.