This is a guide to running Linux with the HP-Compaq 6715B laptop. This is an AMD based laptop with some medium level components.
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 | HP-Compaq 6715B |
| Processor | AMD Turion 64 MK-38 2.2GHz |
| Screen | 14.1” WXGA |
| RAM | 1GB |
| HDD | 80GB |
| Optical Drive | DVD+-RW |
| Graphics | ATI Mobility X1250 |
| Network | 10/100 Ethernet, Broadcom 802.11g Wireless |
| Other | 4 x USB2.0, 1 x Firewire |
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Yes | |
| Screen | Yes | |
| HDD | Yes | |
| Optical Drive | Yes | |
| Graphics | Yes | See notes below |
| Sound | Yes | Use the snd-hda-intel module |
| Ethernet | Yes | |
| Wireless | Partial | See notes below |
| 56K Modem | Not Tested | |
| USB | Yes | |
| Firewire | Not Tested | |
| Card Reader | Yes | |
| PCMCIA | Not Tested |
For the ATI Mobility X1200 included with the 6715B you will need to use the proprietary fglrx module or the new open source radeonhd driver as the Xorg drivers (ati and radeon) does not support this chip. You can view our Configuring an ATI graphics chip for Linux guide for installation details on the fglrx module.
The bcm43xx does not work with this wireless controller. The kernel reports a lot of “FATAL ERROR: BCM43xx_IRQ_XMIT_ERROR” errors. Ndiswrapper works fine with this windows driver. See the guides on this site for installation details on ndiswrapper.
Thanks to Berni for the following:
Debian amd64 works a treat on my gb837et variant. The etch installer recognises the Ethernet and the disk.
The etch ndiswrapper and fglrx modules however do not work. The second core does not work in the etch 2.6.18 kernel. No problems just newer versions needed:
Dual cores work using the etch 2.6.22 backported kernel from www.backports.org
ndiswrapper works from lenny
ati/amd screen driver with full resolution works from http://ati.amd.com/support/driver.html
Power control is superb with powersaved in etch giving long battery life.
hdparm -B 254 may help to extend disk life.
Also and probably generally - it is wise look for a BIOS option to Keep fans running option when installing any OS on a laptop. The gb837et has one described as keep fans running when on mains power. Note however on this laptop the fans are quiet.
A little bit of Linux knowledge is required to get the display working on the HP-Compaq 6715B. Other than that everything else works well.