This is a guide to running Linux with the Dell Latitude D830 laptop. This laptop is similar to the Dell Latitude D630 so both these laptop's compatibility guide are more or less the same (assuming similar configuration).
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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| Name | Dell Latitude D830 |
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 2.0GHz |
| Screen | 15.4” WXGA |
| RAM | 1GB |
| HDD | 80GB |
| Optical Drive | DVD+-RW |
| Graphics | NVIDIA Quadro NVS 135M |
| Network | 10/100/1000 Ethernet, Intel 3945 802.11g Wireless, Bluetooth |
| Other | 3 x USB2.0, 1 x Firewire |
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Yes | |
| Screen | Yes | |
| HDD | Yes | |
| Optical Drive | Partial | See below |
| Graphics | Yes | See notes below |
| Sound | Partial | See notes below |
| Ethernet | Yes | |
| Wireless | Yes | Use the ipw3945 module |
| Bluetooth | Yes | |
| 56K Modem | Not Tested | |
| USB | Yes | |
| Firewire | Not Tested | |
| Card Reader | not applicable | |
| PCMCIA | Works with 100BT Ethernet card | |
| Suspend to disk | Does not work | |
| Suspend to RAM | Does not work | |
| Auto-dim display when idle | Kind of freezes X |
If you haven't purchased the D830 yet try and get it with the Intel 3945ABG wireless controller. The versions with the 4965AGN and the Dell 1390/1490 are harder to get working. The model tested here has the 3945ABG which works fine. See the related resources section below for details for these cards (the Dell 1390 and 1490 would probably require the ndiswrapper module).
Depending on the kernel configuration of your Linux distribution, the DVD drive may not be able to be detected. Because of this you may need a external USB optical drive or some similar method to install Linux. This is a problem with Fedora 7.
The Nvidia Quadro NVS 140M which is included with the Latitude D830 does not function with the built in nv module so you have to use the proprietary nvidia module. You can find installation details for this driver here.
The latest 1.0.15rc2 of the ALSA modules are required to get sound working properly on the Latitude D830. Many Linux distributions will require you to update. Ubuntu 7.10 does not have this issue.
Linux support on the Dell Latitude D830 is very poor. It take some work and Linux knowledge to get sound and graphics working properly and possible the wireless controller as well. Update: Newer Linux distributions such as Ubuntu 7.10, OpenSUSE 10.3 and Mandriva Linux 2008 now properly support this laptop. The Intel wireless, graphics and sound now work as standard making this laptop a good choice with these distributions. The Dell 1390/1490 are still not recommended.