Dell Precision M65
Created by: Bill Giannikos,Last modification on Wed 15 of Aug, 2007 [06:18 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 Precision M65 laptop. Linux support for the Precision M65 is very good with most of the hardware working properly.Editing This Page
View our Editing GuidelinesSpecifications
| Name | Dell Precision M65 | |
| Processor | Intel Core Duo T2400 1.83Ghz | |
| Screen | 15.4" UXGA | |
| RAM | 1GB | |
| HDD | 80GB | |
| Optical Drive | DVD+-RW | |
| Graphics | Nvidia Quadro FX 350M | |
| Network | 10/100/1000 Ethernet + Intel 3945 802.11g Wireless + Bluetooth | |
| Other | 5 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 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | |
| 56K Modem | Not Tested | |
| USB | Yes | |
| Firewire | Yes | |
| PCMCIA | Yes | |
| Express Card Slot | Not Tested | |
Notes
The Precision M65's NVIDIA graphics chip can use either one of the Xorg nv driver or Nvidia's proprietary driver. View our Configuring a nVidia graphics chip guide for further instruction on install the nvidia driver.Some models of the M65 have the Dell 1390 wireless network controller. This card has not yet been tested.
Jorgen sent in the following:
suspend to disk and suspend to ram work with:
2.6.19-beyond2 #7 SMP PREEMPT
For suspend to disk + nvidia-driver it is (strangely) necessary to start an opengl application before starting suspend. When not doing so it crashes during atomic copy. Didn't find out why, yet.
Also suspend to ram only works when the HD password is disabled in the bios. When not disabled, the HD can't be accessed due to missing initialization during wakeup.
the smartcard reader at least recognizes inserted cards, and managed
to powerup one card (SIM 64K, 3V, with 7 contact, many other cards,
including german health insurance cards get recognized, but powerup
fails). So it's a good idea to try whether a card is supported or not
before buying...
To get the card reader to work you need the pcscd daemon and ccid drivers.
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
When used with a up to date Linux distribution the Dell Precision M65 works well with Linux. There were no issues during installation.Have you installed Linux on this laptop? If so how about leaving a comment about your success in the comments section below.
Comments
Suspend to RAM not working properly
The system suspends successfully around 95% of the time, but coming back to live fails often. Around 50% of the times it gets stuck with the hard disk light and the wifi light intermittently blinking. Of the 50% of the times when it works it often suspends automatically after around 5-10 seconds and has to be awakened again.
I'm using the nVidia X drivers and my kernel is:
2.6.20-16-generic #2 SMP
Any clue to try to fix the suspend problem is appreciated.
I'm happy with it.
Linux on a Dell M65