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Samsung RC-512
Author(s)
Mike Grace
Introduction
Evaluation was done with Linux Mint 10 64 bit version. Currently I have this installed on the computer in addition to Debian 6.01a (Squeeze), and Windows 7. I also tried other distros-see note section below.
Specifications
| Name | Samsung RC-512-S02 |
| Processor | i7-2630QM |
| Screen | 15.6” 1366 X 768 |
| RAM | 6GB |
| HDD | 750GB |
| Optical Drive | DVDWBD TS-LB23A (DVD/CD reader-writer with Blue-ray player) |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GT525M |
| Network | (Ethernet 10/100/1000, LAN, Wireless 802.11b/g/n) |
Linux Compatibility
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Yes | all cores visible,system monitor shows as 8 cores due to 2 hyperthreads per core |
| Screen | Yes | displays okay-haven't looked at the Nvidia card in depth or 3D effects |
| HDD | Yes | |
| Optical Drive | Yes | |
| Graphics | Not Tested | see comment for Screen entry |
| Sound | Yes | |
| Ethernet | Yes | |
| Wireless | Yes | I tested this at Best Buy before purchase, also works great at home including WPA |
| Bluetooth | No | no Bluetooth installed |
| 56K Modem | No | no modem installed |
| USB | Yes | |
| Firewire | No | no Firewire ports |
| Card Reader | No | no card reader |
| ExpressCard Slot | No | no slot |
| Camera | Not Tested |
Notes
For Mint 10 battery functions work including ac/battery power management.
Debian 6.01a boots out of the box. However, to get the wireless to work you need firmware that is non-free and not included in the live cd or the regular installation disc. There are some directions on the website about adding them via tarballs but there is an easier way……
Use one of the unofficial iso files which includes the firmware as detailed in Win Kerkhoff's blog at http://wim.kerkhofftech.ca/2010/12/debian-squeeze-netinst-with-non-free-firmware/ .
The actual iso and checksums are located here http://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/unofficial/non-free/cd-including-firmware/ .
After installing Debian from the unofficial iso I could see my wireless network and other wireless networks but I couldn't connect to my WPA network even with the key. I fixed this by installing from the repository network-manager-openvpn, editing my connection within vpn making wireless “available to all users” and setting it to connect automatically. It works but the connection is touchy. If I mess with the settings or the connection I need to reboot in order to reconnect. I can't get the sound to work although I haven't looked at this in depth yet. Otherwise Debian seems to work well.
Other distros' live cds- I looked at briefly.
Mint 10 32bit works okay
Mint Debian 10 will boot if you use the “safe mode “ that has the power management features disabled
Fedora 14 doesn't work-you get a black screen with a flashing cursor, no terminal, nothing. Although if you push the power button the screen does display the text of a system shutdown.
Opensuse 11.4 works including wireless out of the box, as easy as Mint but you get KDE instead of Gnome
PureOs 3.0 works except the wireless doesn't work out of the box
If you find a way to get the sound to work on Debian or good way for me to check that the Nvidia card is working properly please post a comment for it. Thanks
Discussion
Another thing after upgrading to sid, the wireless is more stable, it connect to the AP most of the times is not as before i had to restart or kick off the module and then add it again for bringing up the connection.
I am very very happy with my laptop and debian sid on it i will wait until it comes stable to install it in stable version for now i will used it as sid.
It works following what they said:
http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=73054
but i did not install that bpo kernel
first i used the sid repository and then i used the kernel linux-image-3.2.0-4-amd64
then i upgrade from squeeze to sid and all went well, now i will install bumblebee for nvidia driver sid use the nouveau driver
Ooooo.
http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=73054
Ok with this now i have bumblebee for 3d, full resolution with backports, my wireless is working with few bugs but working, sound and mic works fine.
debian squeeze with samsung rc512 not so bad at all.
In debian squeeze the sound works fine, just run as root
# alsamixer
Then make shure that “MASTER, SPEAKER and PCM” are all at 100%. The mic will be in 0% but it work.
For Nvidia i am using bumblebee when i need it i switch to it.
The only problem is my resolution i can not get 1366 x 768 if some one knows how please help me.
I still can not have open GL in Ubuntu 10.11 …
Good stuff to know. The first distro I tried to install was Fedora 14 and I received the black screen for my efforts as well. I guess I will give Debian a try…
Yes debian work fine even my wireless with some problems, but eventually.
The video card work fine with the Nvidia driver and bumblebee project.
https://wiki.debian.org/Bumblebee
I correct the last message, wireless work well no problems appear in last distro sid, wireless works great.