Linux compatibility

[iabiab]

I'm considering getting a G750JX in the very near future, with the intent to make it dual boot WIndows and linux (probably ubuntu, maybe arch). As I was searching for a new laptop, I came across the MSI GT60/70 lines, and was surprised to find they feature ethernet and wifi cards that apparently have no linux driver (bigfoot killers). This, of course, wouldn't do.

Before I commit myself to the G750JX, I was wondering if anyone has successfully installed linux on it, and if everything works as expected. Since linux will be my main OS, with Windows just for gaming, I don't want to have a nasty surprise after purchase...

Thanks for the feedback!

[Tectas]

Hey, probably a dumb question, but did anyone manage to map xbacklight decrease/increase to the fn key combinations probably? Would also be nice to know if anyone managed to make the keyboard backlight value to stick between reboots.

These are more or less the only issues i got on my G750JX-T4070H with Ubuntu Gnome 14.04 driven by the 3.13.0-26-generic kernel (well, except of bluetooth, what is marginal bugging me), after i installed the wifi driver from the additional drivers interface and the nvidia propietary driver (tried the latest stable and beta from their website, but xserver freezes every now and then, so i reverted to 331 from the ubuntu repository, which works well, not perfect, but well [still some freezes every now and then, but way less]). UEFI + Secure Boot enabled btw, just had to turn off fast boot before installation.
Would be great if anyone could lend me a hand 🙂

[Tectas]

Small update on screen brightness control with fn key combinations, this guide: http://lajackson2.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/g750jh-backlight-brightness/
seems to work pretty well (just the file at 1. is acpid.conf not only acpid and execute permissions have to be set at the script). Only downfall, it seems to be not working with the beta driver.

[bekkra1]

As for generic Linux compatibility, I'd say this is a nice powerhouse.
Unfortunately, the system fails to deliver full I/O performance as only one port supports SATA3, the others run SATA2.

This is not an OS compatibility issue, but as usual, you get to see the problems in the system logs, while Windows just swallows them 😄

I use Linux as my only OS on this machine. You can do that too.

The SATA problem is a clear (misleading) advertising problem - most people use the machine with a single drive, where full performance is achieved.

//

[gazzacbr]

bekkra1 wrote:
As for generic Linux compatibility, I'd say this is a nice powerhouse.
Unfortunately, the system fails to deliver full I/O performance as only one port supports SATA3, the others run SATA2.

This is not an OS compatibility issue, but as usual, you get to see the problems in the system logs, while Windows just swallows them 😄

I use Linux as my only OS on this machine. You can do that too.

The SATA problem is a clear (misleading) advertising problem - most people use the machine with a single drive, where full performance is achieved.

//

hmm, what does this mean exactly?
i have 2 ssd's exactly the same inside the laptop and crystalmark test in windows show them both the same speed????

[bekkra1]

Ah, I apologize for responding wih such a delay.
Well, it turned out that my machine had a hardware error. A lightning fast RMA and service turnaround resulted in that both of my HDD ports support SATA3. The ODD port is not yet confirmed.
Still, the Q/A issue is somewhat valid as the computer had a hardware problem when first delivered.

The machine runs very nicely now, with brightness controls under Linux being the only real problem.

//

[TrickOrTreat]

bekkra1 wrote:
Ah, I apologize for responding wih such a delay.
Well, it turned out that my machine had a hardware error. A lightning fast RMA and service turnaround resulted in that both of my HDD ports support SATA3. The ODD port is not yet confirmed.
Still, the Q/A issue is somewhat valid as the computer had a hardware problem when first delivered.

The machine runs very nicely now, with brightness controls under Linux being the only real problem.

//

I will confirm that the ASUS G750( xx) ODD port does Not support SATA3 even if you purchase an ODD port HD/SSD caddy that supports SATA3 (SATA III). I know this from my own personal experience. I purchased one of the few reasonably priced caddy trays that supports SATA3 6Gbps speed (i.e., the ORICO L127SS SATAIII 2nd HDD/SSD Caddy Tray) and after installing, the G750's HD SATA controller will recognize that my HDD (WD Black Series) is SATA3 capable, but will only allow for SATA2 3Gbps speed. However, the G750's primary and secondary drives do support SATA3 6Gbps speed.

[TrickOrTreat]

iabiab wrote:
I'm considering getting a G750JX in the very near future, with the intent to make it dual boot WIndows and linux (probably ubuntu, maybe arch). As I was searching for a new laptop, I came across the MSI GT60/70 lines, and was surprised to find they feature ethernet and wifi cards that apparently have no linux driver (bigfoot killers). This, of course, wouldn't do.

Before I commit myself to the G750JX, I was wondering if anyone has successfully installed linux on it, and if everything works as expected. Since linux will be my main OS, with Windows just for gaming, I don't want to have a nasty surprise after purchase...

Thanks for the feedback!

I've successfully installed Linux ( Ubuntu 14.04 ) on my ASUS G750JX as a dual boot. My Windows 8 is on the primary SSD drive and the LINUX is on my secondary HD drive. The Linux was installed with my G750 with my hard drives configured with GPT partition and UEFI. After installing Ubuntu, I just made sure to install the NVidia drivers rather than using the standard Linux/Ubuntu drivers to have the laptop's inherent features working properly (e.g., hot buttons, display settings, etc...).