Translation(s): none

DebianOn is an effort to document how to install, configure and use Debian on some specific hardware. Therefore potential buyers would know if that hardware is supported and owners would know how get the best out of that hardware.

The purpose is not to duplicate the Debian Official Documentation, but to document how to install Debian on some specific hardware.

If you need help to get Debian running on your hardware, please have a look at our user support channels where you may find specific channels (mailing list, IRC channel) dedicated to certain types of hardware.

Models covered
Acer Aspire One 725 (all variants)

Overall Status

Core Components

[ATTACH]

Boot Standard Kernel:

/!\

LAN network card:

{OK}

Detect hard drives:

{OK}

Extra Features

CPU Frequency Scaling

{OK}

Hibernation

{OK}

Sleep / Suspend

{OK}

Sound and HDMI Sound

{i}

Xorg

{i}

- OpenGL

{OK}

- Resize-and-Rotate(randr)

{OK}

- Screen Brightness

{OK}

Switch to External Screen

{OK}

Mouse

- Built-in (Touchpad)

{OK}

Wireless/Wifi

{OK}

Bluetooth

/!\

Keyboard's Hotkeys

{OK}

Legend :
{OK} = OK ; {X} Unsupported(No Driver) ; /!\ = Error (Couldn't get it working); [?] Unknown, Not Test ; [-] Not-applicable
{i} = Configuration Required; X-( = Only works with a non-free driver and or firmware

Configuration

KERNEL

It won't boot because the ATI DRM of 3.2 kernel is too old. You must either install a more modern kernel (any 3.5 or superior is Ok) or disable radeon module.

It is really recomended to install kernel 3.7 or higher, which has full support for this graphics card, with excelent performance. If you are using squeeze or wheezy, add the experimental repository and install linux-image-3.7-trunk-amd64

Display

The included open source xorg driver works with a modern kernel, except for the brightness control. Not having brightness control is a real pity. Fortunately, this issue is addressed on linux kernel 3.7, so you should really install it.

Actually the graphics card is pretty good, having a decent performance for a netbook, even if you use multiple monitors. It can play 720p and some 1080i videos. With Chrome (not Firefox), you can even watch full-screen youtube videos, with around 50-70% procesor use (at 360p resolution). 3D is good, it can play Neverball with all goodies on at 1920x1080 (Intel 3150 is not even able to do that with all disabled).

External HDMI works perfectly with xrandr. I haven't tested the VGA port but should work as it is detected.

Including this on /etc/xorg.conf dramatically increases performance and improves graphics power management:

Section "Device"
        Identifier "radeon card"
        Driver "radeon"
        Option "AGPFastWrite" "on"
        Option "DisplayPriority" "HIGH"
        Option "RenderAccel" "on"
        Option "AccelMethod" "EXA"
        Option "DMAForXv" "on"
        Option "ClockGating" "on"
        Option "DynamicPM" "on"
        Option "DRI" "on"
EndSection

Audio

Works out of the box. Even HDMI out works on wheezy. (But currently, it seems that HDMI output is not working on SID). But if you hear pops and clicks, must add this to /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf:

options snd-hda-intel power_save=0 power_save_controller=N

Touchpad

Touchpad works, but xorg is confused about its initial state, which is disabled by default. Just press Fn+F7 before entering into X and it will work perfectly.

Also look at synclient man page.

Power Management

Works out of the box, but only 800 and 1000mhz is detected. Turbo mode (1333mhz) is not detected due to Linux Kernel lack of support. Because of this, it is better to let the BIOS manage the power. Disable any ACPI or power daemon, you don't need them and they provide worse performance.

Fan stops after a while of not using or almost not using the processor. Anyway the fan is very quiet. Actually the hard disk can sound more than the fan (except when using full processor power).

Install amd64-microcode for better processor working.

WiFi

Works with newer kernels, not with 3.2, which you must install if you want the display card to work anyway...

Bluetooth

The included Bluetooth 4.0 device doesn't work. It is sharing PCI with the Atheros Wifi card. You can read more about this here: http://comments.gmane.org/gmane.linux.drivers.ath9k.devel/9465

(please, if you managed it to work, edit this wiki with instructions)


System Summary

Conclusion

This netbook can run Debian Wheezy almost perfectly, only if you install a newer kernel and are ready to do some tweaks. Only exception is the bluetooth which requires kernel hacking.

This netbook is not recommended for people not ready for some tweaking (if that is your case, Ubuntu 12.10 works out of the box), otherwise, with a little help it is a nice machine to carry on with Debian.

lspci

00:00.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 14h Processor Root Complex
00:01.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI Wrestler [Radeon HD 6290]
00:01.1 Audio device: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI Wrestler HDMI Audio [Radeon HD 6250/6310]
00:04.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 14h Processor Root Port
00:05.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 14h Processor Root Port
00:10.0 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson USB XHCI Controller (rev 03)
00:11.0 SATA controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson SATA Controller [AHCI mode]
00:12.0 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson USB OHCI Controller (rev 11)
00:12.2 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson USB EHCI Controller (rev 11)
00:13.0 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson USB OHCI Controller (rev 11)
00:13.2 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson USB EHCI Controller (rev 11)
00:14.0 SMBus: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson SMBus Controller (rev 14)
00:14.2 Audio device: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson Azalia Controller (rev 01)
00:14.3 ISA bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson LPC Bridge (rev 11)
00:14.4 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson PCI Bridge (rev 40)
00:14.5 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson USB OHCI Controller (rev 11)
00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 0 (rev 43)
00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 1
00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 2
00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 3
00:18.4 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 4
00:18.5 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 6
00:18.6 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 5
00:18.7 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 7
01:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8101E/RTL8102E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller (rev 05)
02:00.0 Network controller: Atheros Communications Inc. AR9485 Wireless Network Adapter (rev 01)