Does Linux supports the hardware of Acer Predator PH317-53 laptops?
I am looking for clean install on the (relatively old) laptop, preferably working out of the box. Some distros would not even boot Nvidia cards properly, and none of PH317-53 specs are suggested, hence Garuda. It’s “gaming distro”, and comes some drivers
They come with NVidia GTX 1660Ti cards (always an issue for Linux), and of course, it’s Acer, so BIOS update is no go.
I couldn’t create working boot drive (USB stick faulty) and I don’t want to risk install as it is the laptop with the preinstalled windows, clean install of Linux will wipe everything so I want to find out whether the hardware is even compatible in the first place.
For now I could provide Win10 dump regarding HW:
System Manufacturer Acer
System Model Predator PH317-53
System Type x64-based PC
System SKU 0000000000000000
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-9750H CPU @ 2.60GHz, 2592 Mhz, 6 Core(s), 12 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date Insyde Corp. V1.02, 15/04/2019
SMBIOS Version 3.0
Embedded Controller Version 1.02
BIOS Mode UEFI
BaseBoard Manufacturer CFL
BaseBoard Product Alphard_CFS
BaseBoard Version V1.02
Platform Role Mobile
Secure Boot State On
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 16.0 GB
Total Physical Memory 15.9 GB
Available Physical Memory 8.04 GB
Total Virtual Memory 18.2 GB
I/O Port 0x00003000-0x00003FFF Intel(R) PCI Express Root Port #13 - A334
I/O Port 0x00003000-0x00003FFF Killer E2500 Gigabit Ethernet Controller
IRQ 16 Killer E2500 Gigabit Ethernet Controller
IRQ 16 Intel(R) Serial IO I2C Host Controller - A368
IRQ 16 Intel(R) Dynamic Platform and Thermal Framework Processor Participant
IRQ 17 High Definition Audio Controller
IRQ 17 Intel(R) Serial IO I2C Host Controller - A369
Memory Address 0xB4100000-0xB413FFFF NVIDIA USB 3.10 eXtensible Host Controller - 1.10 (Microsoft)
Memory Address 0xB4100000-0xB413FFFF Intel(R) PCIe Controller (x16) - 1901
Memory Address 0xB4300000-0xB43FFFFF Intel(R) PCI Express Root Port #13 - A334
Memory Address 0xB4300000-0xB43FFFFF Killer E2500 Gigabit Ethernet Controller
Memory Address 0xA0000000-0xAFFFFFFF NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti
Memory Address 0xA0000000-0xAFFFFFFF Intel(R) PCIe Controller (x16) - 1901
Anything regarding the fan control? The Acer have their proprietary Predator Sense software that control the fans (of course, not supporting Linux). The BIOS should do it, normally, but it is either hidden or absent. This governs how fans work when laptop start heating up. (I suppose this is either purposefully obtuse sould either prevent change of operating system, or to make it idiot proof to not fry the thing if overcloaked)
Think on it: You have to deal with the terminal, if you are not familiar with it, you have a “little” bit to learn. It exist guis or apps, special here for Garuda Linux archbased distro, but often the konsole.
Of course you can ask for the how-to, but without reading and willing to learn is a arch based distro not easy to handle.
You can read inside this forum a lot of this stuff if you use the forum search engine (only as example, that’s one default way, other is the arch wiki and the great www)
Before you install, pls think on the right bios settings.
Fast / Secure Boot off / AHCI mode / Bios UEFI mode not CSM.
That’s the default settings for garuda-live-iso to boot and test + install on metal.
You can use the prop. nvidia option to boot, if stuck, boot with open source driver the live iso.
If anything breaks during the installation, I am not going to be able to get any help and the computer is dead as the Linux installation is going to destroy disk partition that normally hold the OEM Windows installation to recover from…
So no installation anytime soon …
(I literally didn’t buy the new USB stick yet, let alone the new computer)
But I am going to look this thread for the record so I keep this noted …
Bios Secure Boot Off
Bios Fast Boot Off
Configure Sata as AHCI
BIOS Mode set to UEFI
Only then boot from the stick
I need to know which drivers this distro doesn’t ship with? Is there even a GUI for it or everything is did by commads?
Do you read or heard something about calamares ?
A default installer for linux distros ?
Garuda Linux came with open source driver and prop. nvidia driver (gpu)
Garuda Linux is a rolling arch based distro this means
Garuda have the current state on drivers, apps
Updates come daily, hourly into the sources to install for the users.
and much more
But i can write here what you can do with Linux special Garuda “page by page” but that make no sense if you don’t take a look in a live iso.
Download a live iso over the homepage.
Read the how-to (over the install page; link is posted)
Boot the stick → test garuda os without installation Live CD - Wikipedia You can test this on your current metal without problems.
and more is currently not necessary to write (my mind)
No.
I was warned that the most distros doesn’t come without the software installed and one needs to know what to get …
It seems there is serious tweaking required, for which I don’t have the expertise.
For now, I am postoning any attempts with Linux … there is far too much risk I would be locked out of my main computer completely and it’s the risk I am not willing to take. I’ll have to try only on the computer that is expendable.
I am grateful for all the help.
If you have any advices and tips how to get things working day 1 I am open to suggestions.
I mean, there’s nothing wrong with having a Windows installation ISO on a Ventoy USB stick alongside a Garuda Linux installation ISO. That way, you can revert if something does go wrong.
Either way, you get to “try” Garuda Linux in a live system environment first. No installation will be made until you ask for it to happen.
Garuda Linux also offers the option to “install alongside” automatically as well.
It exist guis or apps, special here for Garuda Linux archbased distro, but often the konsole.