This is a compatibility guide to running Linux with the Toshiba NB200 laptop.
This page is just for discussing using Linux on the Toshiba NB200. For a general discussion about this laptop you can visit the Toshiba NB200 page on LapWik.
If you would like to edit this page please first view our Editing Guidelines.
For full specifications see the Toshiba NB200 specifications page.
| Name | Toshiba NB200 |
| Processor | Intel Atom processor N280/N270: 1.66 GHz, 667/533MHz FSB, 512KB On-Die L2 cache |
| Screen | 10.1” WSVGA (1024×600) |
| Graphics | Mobile Intel GMA 950 |
| RAM | Up to 2GB |
| HDD | 160GB to 250GB - 5400rpm |
| Optical Drive | DVD Super Multi (sold separately) |
| Network | 10/100 802.11b/g/n - Atheros Communications Inc. AR9285 |
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Fedora 12 | Apparent 'freezing' when installing or using when no user input activity for seemingly random periods of time. Solution in the notes below |
| Graphics | Fedora 12 | Works fine, 800×600 and 1024×600 supported. |
| External Display | Not Tested | |
| Sound | Fedora 12 | Out of the box only with headphones. Solution in the notes below |
| Ethernet | Fedora 12 | Works fine |
| Wireless | Fedora 12 | Works fine, even packet injection with aircrack-ng. |
| Bluetooth | Not Tested | There is a solution in the ubuntu forums. Google it. |
| USB | Fedora 12 | All current attached USB devices are detected. |
| Card Reader | Not Tested | |
| Webcam | Fedora 12 | Works fine. Tested with Cheese Webcam Booth |
| Battery | Fedora 12 | Lasts 5hours with Wifi and more. |
| Hibernation | Fedora 12 | Works well and fast with Fn + F3 |
| # | means as root |
| $ | means as normal user |
CPU Solution
Apparent 'freezing' issue can be fixed by appending the “processor.max_cstate=1” (or “nohz=off” which consumes 99% according powertop) to any kernel parameter file.
This is disabling the 'tickless' feature within the kernel, meaning the kernel will send interrupts to the CPU.
For better power saving append the kernel option “usbcore.autosuspend=1”.
For Fedora or Red Hat Enterprise Linux based systems:
# vi /boot/grub/grub.conf
Where a line is similar to:
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.33-0.20.rc5.git0.fc13.i686 ro root=/dev/mapper/vg_netbook-lv_root noiswmd LANG=en_US.UTF-8 SYSFONT=latarcyrheb-sun16 KEYBOARDTYPE=pc KEYTABLE=us rhgb quiet
add the parameters so it looks like:
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.33-0.20.rc5.git0.fc13.i686 ro root=/dev/mapper/vg_netbook-lv_root noiswmd LANG=en_US.UTF-8 SYSFONT=latarcyrheb-sun16 KEYBOARDTYPE=pc KEYTABLE=us rhgb quiet processor.max_cstate=1 usbcore.autosuspend=1
To save power I suggest to stop the “cpuspeed” daemon:
# chkconfig –level 2345 cpuspeed off
To check the power consumation:
# powertop
I've got around 32% on ”<kernel core> : hrtimer_start_range_ns (tick_sched_timer)” at lowest. If you use “nohz=off” - 99%.
SOUND Solution
Sound works out of the box only with headphones - Fedora 12 2.6.31 kernel
There is a patch that enable the internal speakers in the newer kernels. So what we are going to do is to install Fedora Rawhide's kernel.
# yum –enablerepo=rawhide –disablerepo=* -y install kernel
# vi /etc/modprobe.d/snd.conf
Add the following line (press “i” in vi):
options snd-hda-intel model=toshiba-nb200
save with “Escape :wq”
Reboot (needed to load the new kernel).
$ alsamixer -c0
Increase the first three (Master, Headphone, Speakers) to 100%.
Select “Speakers” and press M to enable(unmute) it. Escape.
# alsactl store
Reboot will reset alsamixer state to default one, which speakers are muted. So
As a normal user you can restore your alsamixer state doing:
$ alsactl restore
Or you can add “alsactl restore” to your Gnome Startup Applications.
System → Preferences → Startup Applications → Add
Name: alsactl Command: alsactl restore
That's all. Enjoy!
Toshiba NB200 works well with Linux, especially with Fedora 12. I'm amazed of the Hibernation - It's very fast!
Discussion
bleatooth, external display and card reader also working fine (tested on Gentoo)
I have a problem with my NB200 notebook… as I open it, I couldn't open the Icons on my desktop. Even those in the start button files..my mouse is moving but the icons can't be opened. even the right click function of the mouse isn't working. what should I do?
Sometimes happens if you are typing on the keyboard and touch the “touchpad” with fingers at the same time.
The solution is simply just click few times the touchpad.
Normally you would not notice such a problem if you were not using external Mouse :)
It happens really often to me actually… not a big deal
I have the TOSHIBA NB200 and I tried to follow your suggestion but sound is still not working!! :(
this is my kernel version
Linux titan2 2.6.32.12-115.fc12.i686.PAE #1 SMP Fri Apr 30 20:14:08 UTC 2010 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux
and if I open alsamixer I don't have the Speakers channel and but only MASTER, HEADPHONES and PCM together with others (Mic, S/PDIF e S/PDIF D BeeP e Capture). In particular for PCM I cannot mute ore unmute it because I miss the 00/MM box under the column..do you have some suggestions?
thank you
Did you try running the NB200 with the SATA controller set to compatibility mode in the BIOS? This seems to have helpded with performance greatly for me on a Toshiba NB200-13L.
I forgot to say that to get sound working i have in /etc/modprobe.d/snd.conf:
options snd-hda-intel model=toshiba-nb200
And instead of “nohz=off” i have in my /boot/grub/menu.lst appended to kernel options:
“processor.max_cstate=1 usbcore.autosuspend=1”.
Another thing - turn off cpuspeed:
# chkconfig –level 2345 cpuspeed off
(after these reboot to changes take effect)
Power Saving:
# powertop
shows around 32% on <kernel core> : hrtimer_start_range_ns (tick_sched_timer).
I'm going to check how much will stand the battery now. I hope it will be more than 5hours.
With nohz=off it's 99% all the time.
with “nohz=off” I easily get 5 hours out of this puppy and the brightness is only down 1 notch from max (ie, default level).
That is also with extra drain on 2 USB devices (phone charging + wireless mouse).
Although my wireless switch is turned off in the BIOS.
Can someone please explain why cpuspeed is turned off?
This seems like a bogus recommendation to me since cpuspeed would change the cpuspeed dynamically?
Also of note:
FC13 kernel (using rawhide) does have working audio speakers (I think out of the box).
Although, I did need to un-mute them through windows first (for some reason they stayed muted) the first attempt I tried).
The kernel also appears to be in a debug mode since it runs approx 2-4 times slower than the normal FC12 kernel.
Here's hoping I don't have to wait too long for FC13 so I can get a good kernel.
powertop showing 30% compared to 90% means diddly. It is simply showing what is responsible for sending through “wake ups”… Ie what's sending interrupts to the CPU.
All evidence points to both methods having comparible battery lifespans.
I have yet to write up a good way to test this - the only thing I can think of is to leave the machine up and running with no user activity and then see how long it takes for the battery to wear down.
I so far haven't had the inclination to sit around for 6 hours to compare the two.
From normal usage, they seem very similar to each other (maxcstate / nohz) - with the nohz being slightly faster in my use than the maxcstate.
I also don't know (and couldn't find via google) any explanation on what the different cstate's did.. So why is it best to limit it to 1? Why not 2?
Links anyone?
I can confirm nohz=off works fine.
Fedora 12 sound problem can be resolved by installing the fc13 kernel. I tried with making my own patch for 2.6.31 but i lost 2 days recompiling trying and I ended up with this simple solution.
yum –enablerepo=rawhide install kernel
[root@netbook ~]# uname -a
Linux netbook 2.6.33-0.18.rc4.git7.fc13.i686 #1 SMP Wed Jan 20 16:37:39 UTC 2010 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux
Sound works great! When you put the jack in it disables the internal speakers and when you take out the jack it unmutes the internal speakers.
Only got the netbook (nb200-10z) yesterday.
Replaced the disk with an OCZ Vertex 30G SSD.
Fan runs occasionally (read: not very often at all), even upgrading Fedora 12 with an LG external DVD drive it lasted over 5 hours.
The freezing CPU caught me during the upgrade though, and I had to keep pressing the direction buttons / moving the mouse to keep the interrupts going through to the CPU manually.
I've confirmed “nohz=off” works, and it can be applied on the install CD/DVD so that the installer won't freeze.
Sound doesn't work - I think there's a module parameter that needs to be set or a kernel update perhaps (still using the default).
Graphics seem fine so far, Xvid files play well using Xine.
Sorry if I've not got the format of the page 100% correct - but the details are all there.
If anyone wants me to do some additional tests within Fedora, please post them and I'll try to get back as soon as I can.