[SOLVED] Getting Netbook With Intel Cedarview, Need Some Confirmation Please.

PrinceCruise · 04-02-2014, 09:15 AM

Guys,

My girlfriend has Asus eeepc 1015CX netbook with Intel N2600 CPU codenamed Cedarview, of which I've been reading horrible things(mostly outdated) when it comes to Linux graphics support, mostly because of the PowerVR graphics chip.

She will be using my laptop for some time as this puny notebook is no more able to handle a proprietary accounting software on Windows 7 which she must use and lags like hell. It just got 1GB RAM, what a shame. And sadly I'll be given this netbook for my browsing and audio/video needs. The last time I tried installing Slackware 14.0 on this netbook using USB, it gave me a blank screen right after installing.

I just want to confirm with guys here if the situation has improved with newer kernels(>3.10) for this graphics chip or not?

My first priority will be installing Slackware 14.1 32 bit on this and second will be Antix/MX-14.

Regards.

jefro · 04-02-2014, 02:35 PM

You should be able to get it to work. I have a slightly older atom on a tv that seems to run linux even on hdmi while booted to a usb flash drive.

PrinceCruise · 04-03-2014, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jefro

You should be able to get it to work. I have a slightly older atom on a tv that seems to run linux even on hdmi while booted to a usb flash drive.

Thanks for the confirmation Jefro. Does you netbook have the cedarview CPU/ PowerVR graphics?

Regards.

dolphin_oracle · 04-03-2014, 02:55 PM

We got a user at mepiscommunity.org that uses a netbook with that chipset/video chip combo. I believe that both antix and MX (see my signature) will work with that chipset.

You can try a liveCD or liveUSB to check.

PrinceCruise · 04-04-2014, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dolphin_oracle

We got a user at mepiscommunity.org that uses a netbook with that chipset/video chip combo. I believe that both antix and MX (see my signature) will work with that chipset.

You can try a liveCD or liveUSB to check.

Great, much thanks for confirming. But only one user with this netbook, that would suck if I ever get some problem with it.
The Slackel 14.0 Live USB worked last time but when installed, it just couldn't start x.

Regards.

jefro · 04-04-2014, 03:22 PM

As with almost all new hardware, linux takes a while to catch up. As to if all the features MS could provide then I'd say linux will not provide all those features. Since you didn't mention what uses you had for the system I simply put it that it should work. I'll even go farther and say you should be able to get functional use out of it. You may have to settle for less performance or features.

dolphin_oracle · 04-04-2014, 03:33 PM

I will also mention that the PowerVR chip is closed source and not included in the kernel, although there is a driver available (according to the arch wiki).

PrinceCruise · 04-05-2014, 01:18 PM

Hi guys, good news. I'm writing from an almost perfectly working MX-14 on this netbook, which I just installed. Installation was a breeze. Antix guys made a really good OS over there. Also I have read that after Linux 3.3+ kernel guys have added some support for this chip.

Now, how do I find out is the OS is falling back on VGA or using the onboard PowerVR graphics controller which bears the Intel naming. I see this is lspci -

Quote:

root@pinguntix:/home/cruise# lspci | grep -i vga
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Atom Processor D2xxx/N2xxx Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 09)

Also, how to confirm if hardware acceleration is enabled or not?

Regards.

dolphin_oracle · 04-05-2014, 03:24 PM

try this from the terminal:

Code:

$ inxi -F

the capital F is important as it will run off a full system summary of your hardware. Mine looks like this (HP laptop)

Code:

dolphin@mxdolphin:~
$ inxi -F
System:    Host: mxdolphin Kernel: 3.12-0.bpo.1-686-pae i686 (32 bit) Desktop: Xfce 4.10.2 
           Distro: MX-14 Symbiosis 24 March 2014 
Machine:   System: Hewlett-Packard product: HP Pavilion dm4 Notebook PC v: 0587110002242B10000022100
           Mobo: Hewlett-Packard model: 146A v: 58.28 Bios: Hewlett-Packard v: F.26 date: 02/14/2011
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core i5 CPU M 460 (-HT-MCP-) cache: 3072 KB 
           Clock Speeds: 1: 1199 MHz 2: 1199 MHz 3: 1199 MHz 4: 1199 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Intel Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller 
           Display Server: X.Org 1.12.4 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 1366x768@60.0hz 
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Ironlake Mobile x86/MMX/SSE2 GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 8.0.5
Audio:     Card: Intel 5 Series/3400 Series High Definition Audio driver: snd_hda_intel 
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v:: k3.12-0.bpo.1-686-pae
Network:   Card-1: Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250 [Kilmer Peak] driver: iwlwifi 
           IF: wlan0 state: up mac: 00:23:15:7b:a8:14
           Card-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller driver: r8169 
           IF: eth0 state: down mac: 64:31:50:6d:81:b4
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 320.1GB (23.8% used) 1: id: /dev/sda model: WDC_WD3200BPVT size: 320.1GB 
Partition: ID: / size: 15G used: 3.1G (22%) fs: ext4 ID: swap-1 size: 4.29GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap 
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 34.0C mobo: 33.0C 
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A 
Info:      Processes: 153 Uptime: 5 min Memory: 308.7/7906.6MB Client: Shell (bash) inxi: 2.1.7 
dolphin@mxdolphin:~
$

PrinceCruise · 04-06-2014, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dolphin_oracle

try this from the terminal:

Code:

$ inxi -F

Thanks mate. Mine looks like this :

Code:

$ inxi -F
System:    Host: pinguntix Kernel: 3.12-0.bpo.1-686-pae i686 (32 bit) Desktop: Xfce 4.10.2 
           Distro: MX-14 Symbiosis 24 March 2014 
Machine:   System: ASUSTeK product: 1015CX v: x.x
           Mobo: ASUSTeK model: 1015CX v: x.xx Bios: American Megatrends v: 1015CX.0601 date: 03/08/2012
CPU:       Dual core Intel Atom CPU N2600 (-HT-MCP-) cache: 512 KB 
           Clock Speeds: 1: 1600 MHz 2: 600 MHz 3: 1600 MHz 4: 600 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Intel Atom Processor D2xxx/N2xxx Integrated Graphics Controller 
           Display Server: X.Org 1.12.4 drivers: fbdev,vesa (unloaded: intel) Resolution: 1024x600@0.0hz 
           GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on llvmpipe (LLVM 0x209) GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 8.0.5
Audio:     Card: Intel NM10/ICH7 Family High Definition Audio Controller driver: snd_hda_intel 
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v:: k3.12-0.bpo.1-686-pae
Network:   Card-1: Atheros AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter (PCI-Express) driver: ath9k 
           IF: wlan0 state: down mac: 94:db:c9:35:b3:f0
           Card-2: Atheros AR8152 v2.0 Fast Ethernet driver: atl1c 
           IF: eth0 state: down mac: c8:60:00:3f:9e:58
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 320.1GB (-) 1: id: /dev/sda model: WDC_WD3200BPVT size: 320.1GB 
Partition: ID: / size: 29G used: 5.5G (21%) fs: ext4 ID: swap-1 size: 2.10GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap 
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 40.0C mobo: 26.8C 
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A 
Info:      Processes: 148 Uptime: 22 min Memory: 342.1/996.5MB Client: Shell (bash) inxi: 2.1.7

Looks like it is using VESA as the intel drivers is not loaded. That explains the flacky behavior of the mouse and slow graphic activity so far.

Also, moderators, please suggest should I open a new thread for problems related to this setup or can continue with this?

Regards.

PrinceCruise · 04-06-2014, 12:01 PM

Marking this thread as resolved as opened a new thread for the issues related to this install :-
asus-eeepc-1015cx-antix-mx14-issues

Thanks for all the suggestions. Lets continue in the other thread.

Regards.

jefro · 04-07-2014, 05:27 PM

Good job, thanks for the update.

I'm not a mod but I'd post a new thread on the issues that remain. They are different than your original question.