Hi everyone,

I'm an intermediate Linux user (been using it in Computer Science Dept at University), but I recently ventured into the realm of installing it on my notebook computers as an alternative to Windows. I'm also a newbie to the board...I searched for this topic but I couldn't seem to find it.

Anyways, I had a Dell Inspiron 8100 and I installed Mandrake 10 with relative success onto the box, but it's been having some memory problems and the whole thing pretty much flaked out over the past two days. So I'm looking to replace that notebook with a new one, perhaps a Gateway 200x, but the problem is that the notebooks in my price range don't have external AGP graphics support, but rather, Intel integrated graphics. This doesn't bother me so much since I have access to a box with a good graphics card, but I don't know how Linux will interact with this machine.

I'm trying to figure out if any Linux distro will support these Intel integrated graphics cards, preferably Fedora Core or Mandrake, maybe SuSE? Something with a GUI -interactive installer, I guess. I had a hell of a time getting Debian on that old Dell, but in the end, I couldn't configure the XServer to work properly and X86 wouldn't run, and i was left with something that would only let me interact with a bash shell. I'm trying to avoid that before I invest perhaps a thousand plus bucks into the notebook. I'm going to run this system in a dual boot configuration and wipe the manufacturer's installation, if this matters to anyone.

Thanks a lot!

-Eric

Two days ago I installed Mandrake 9 on my Toshiba Satellite notebook, same thing Intel integraded graphic card. First I couldnt load the graphical interface, then I figured out it has something to do with the graphic card drivers. I installed the distr. again, and then I kept testing the card till I got it working.

Important thing is that, you dont give up on the setup page of your graphic card. Keep testing every possible card till you get the right card, otherwise you wont be able to get into graphical interface.

Yeah, I figure it has to do with the drivers. Did the Mandrake Installer have the correct Xfree86 drivers to use the Intel Integrated card properly?

Yes!

Chose expert installation not the recommended one, then when configuring your graphic card, play with vendor, Xfree86 3, and Xfree86 4 drivers,. Chose a flat (chose the resolution you want) screen, and under those tree sources always thry the ones that start with iSOMETHING, and with "intel". While testing the card, if it displays some error after testing it, try another (mantioned above) driver until you get the ok cancel dialog with he display of colors. Click ok, and youll be able to access graphical intefrace without any problems.

Notice: Although you might have some problems with the fpm of some games, go to intel's official site and download the latest linux drivers, and install em. Everything should be just in order.

P.S: If you got any problems with any of what I said in this post, email me and Ill explain it to ya