Dell Latitude D820
Created by: Bill Giannikos,Last modification on Wed 15 of Aug, 2007 [05:52 UTC]by Bill Giannikos
This guide is intended to provide you details on how well this laptop works with Linux and which drivers you need to configure. For details on how to actually install and configure the required drivers have a look at our guides section for distribution specific instructions.
Authors
Bill Giannikos (bill2 at giannikos.com.au)Introduction
This is a guide to running Linux with the Dell Latitude D820 laptop. The Latitude D820 is a higher spec laptop with a high end graphics chip. Linux compatibility with the D820 is excellent.Editing This Page
View our Editing GuidelinesSpecifications
| Name | Dell Latitude D820 | |
| Processor | Intel Core Duo T2400 1.83Ghz | |
| Screen | 15.4" WXGA | |
| RAM | 1GB | |
| HDD | 80GB | |
| Optical Drive | DVD+-RW | |
| Graphics | Nvidia Quadro NVS 110M | |
| Network | 10/100/1000 Ethernet + Intel 3945 802.11g Wireless | |
| Other | 4 x USB2.0 + 1 x Firewire | |
Linux Compatibility
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
| Processor | Yes | |
| Screen | Yes | |
| Optical Drive | Yes | |
| Graphics | Yes | |
| Sound | Yes | Use the snd-hda-intel driver |
| Ethernet | Yes | |
| Wireless | Yes | Use the ipw3945 driver |
| 56K Modem | Not Tested | |
| USB | Yes | |
| Firewire | Not Tested | |
| PCMCIA | Not Tested | |
| Express Card Slot | Not Tested | |
Notes
For the graphics chip in the Latitude D820 you can use both the open source nv driver and Nvidia's proprietary one. For installation instructions, you can view our Configuring a nVidia graphics chip guide. For 3D support, you will need the proprietary driver. Some older versions of X may not have support for the Nvidia Quadro FX 110M, in this case you will need to use the proprietary driver.Some versions of the D820 include the Nvidia Quadro NVS 120M and the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950. Neither of these have been tested yet.
Some other versions of the Latitude D820 have the Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g or the Dell Wireless 1490 802.11a/g Dual Band wireless network card. Neither of these cards were tested.
Related Resources
Preparing your laptop for LinuxConfiguring a nVidia graphics chip
Configuring the ipw3945 driver for the Intel 3945ABG wireless controller
Configuring the ndiswrapper driver for wireless controllers without native Linux drivers
Increasing battery life
Summary
As with all Intel Core based notebooks, it is recommended to use a Linux distribution with kernel version 2.6.16 or greater with the Dell Latitude D820. With a up to date kernel this laptop works well with Linux.Have you installed Linux on this laptop? If so how about leaving a comment about your success in the comments section below.
Comments
Messed up my ethernet!!!
Now when I log on (RHEL4 Dell Lat D820)
I get this:
ed@localhost ~$ sudo /etc/init.d/network start
Setting network parameters: OK
Bringing up loopback interface: OK
Bringing up interface eth0: tg3 device eth0 does not seem to be present, delaying initialization.
FAILED
I *thought* I had a Broadcom
Does anyone out there have the config files or instructions as to how to rebuild my network connection?
There must be some way that, when you first install, the installer detects what cards are on the machine and sets up all the /etc/*. Where is that? How do I run that?
I've tried running
Applications > System Settings > Network
I create an eth0 device of Ethernet type.
I pick the Broadcom Tigon3
Then I go back and add a new device and connect it to eth0.
When I activate:
tg3 device eth0 does not seem to be present, delaying initialization.
I've tried other hardware profiles to no avail.
Also, what is PCMCIA? Is that anything related to ethernet?
Under the hardware browser it shows O2 Micro, Inc. Unknown device 7135
I am at wits end.
Ed