Dell Latitude D820 [Linux Laptop Wiki]

Introduction

This is a guide to running Linux with the Dell Latitude D820 laptop. The Latitude D820 is a higher spec laptop with a high end graphics chip. Linux compatibility with the D820 is excellent.

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.

Specifications

Name	Dell Latitude D820
Processor	Intel Core Duo T2400 1.83Ghz
Screen	15.4“ WXGA
RAM	1GB
HDD	80GB
Optical Drive	DVD+-RW
Graphics	Nvidia Quadro NVS 110M
Network	10/100/1000 Ethernet + Intel 3945 802.11g Wireless
Other	4 x USB2.0 + 1 x Firewire

Linux Compatibility

Device	Compatibility	Comments
Processor	Yes
Screen	Yes
Optical Drive	Yes
Graphics	Yes
Sound	Yes	Use the snd-hda-intel module
Ethernet	Yes
Wireless	Yes	Use the ipw3945 module
56K Modem	Not Tested
USB	Yes
Firewire	Not Tested
PCMCIA	Not Tested
ExpressCard Slot	Not Tested

Notes

For the graphics chip in the Latitude D820 you can use both the open source nv module and Nvidia's proprietary one. For installation instructions, you can view our Configuring a nVidia graphics chip guide. For 3D support, you will need the proprietary module. Some older versions of X may not have support for the Nvidia Quadro FX 110M, in this case you will need to use the proprietary module.

Some versions of the D820 include the Nvidia Quadro NVS 120M and the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950. Neither of these have been tested yet.

Some other versions of the Latitude D820 have the Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g or the Dell Wireless 1490 802.11a/g Dual Band wireless network card. Neither of these cards were tested.

Summary

As with all Intel Core based notebooks, it is recommended to use a Linux distribution with kernel version 2.6.16 or greater with the Dell Latitude D820. With a up to date kernel this laptop works well with Linux.

Discussion

Ed Smith-Rowland, 2007/07/26 19:18

Messed up my ethernet!!!

I messed up my ethernet settings somehow.

Now when I log on (RHEL4 Dell Lat D820)

I get this:

ed@localhost ~$ sudo /etc/init.d/network start
Setting network parameters: OK
Bringing up loopback interface: OK
Bringing up interface eth0: tg3 device eth0 does not seem to be present, delaying initialization.
FAILED

I *thought* I had a Broadcom

Does anyone out there have the config files or instructions as to how to rebuild my network connection?

There must be some way that, when you first install, the installer detects what cards are on the machine and sets up all the /etc/*. Where is that? How do I run that?

I've tried running
Applications > System Settings > Network
I create an eth0 device of Ethernet type.
I pick the Broadcom Tigon3
Then I go back and add a new device and connect it to eth0.

When I activate:

tg3 device eth0 does not seem to be present, delaying initialization.

I've tried other hardware profiles to no avail.

Also, what is PCMCIA? Is that anything related to ethernet?
Under the hardware browser it shows O2 Micro, Inc. Unknown device 7135

I am at wits end.

Excellent
	50% (7)
Good
	21% (3)
Fair
	7% (1)
Poor
	7% (1)
Unusable
	14% (2)

Dell Latitude D820