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Linux on an HP-Compaq nc6400

HP-Compaq nc6400
HP-Compaq nc6400

This is my work laptop - I received it sometime in October 2007. Regretfully, I have to use Windows on it, but I often sneak into an Ubuntu 8.04 installation whenever I can. No issues.

Details

HP-Compaq nc6400 information
In-depth information about the laptop's architecture and devices
Linux hacks
Necessary setup routines and other hacks to get some things working (generic hacks; these are not supposed to be laptop specific)

Hardware specifications

System HP Compaq nc6400
CPU Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 (2 CPUs : 2.00 GHz, 4Mb unified cache)
Chipset Intel 945GM/PM/GMS ICH7-M
Memory 2048 Mb DDR-II @ 166 MHz FSB
Screen 15.4" WSXGA LCD, 1440x900 pixels
Video display card ATi Mobility M52 (Radeon X1300)
Storage 80 GB 5400rpm Hitachi hard drive (HTS54168)
Optical drive Matshita DVD-RAM UJ-842S
Network Integrated NetXtreme BCM575 Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express adapter
Integrated Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG PCI Express wireless LAN adapter (802.11a/b/g)
Sound Integrated Intel High Definition Audio controller (on the ICH chipet)
Other
  • Texas Instruments PCIxx12 PCMCIA card controller
  • Texas Instruments Multimedia card reader
  • Texas Instruments PCIxx12 GemCore based SmartCard controller
  • Intel ICH7 USB 2.0 controller

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Device compatibility table

This chart represents the compatibility of the main laptop components with Linux. It is not meant to be a definitive guide, because eventually with the growing and further development of existing device drivers, these compatibilities tend to improve.

Device Compatibility Notes Info
CPU Perfect The dual core 64bit CPU really shines on Linux. info/cpu
hacks/compiler
hacks/cpufreq
Battery Perfect Standard and well supported control mode battery. info/power
Sound Perfect No hassle. info/sound
Screen Perfect info/screen
hacks/xfonts
Video display card Partial info/display
Ethernet Perfect info/ethernet
Wireless Partial The Intel PRO wireless chipset has been well supported for a number of kernel generations, by a vendor supported/supplied driver with a binary firmware blob (distributed separately). info/wireless
USB Perfect No comments. info/usb
Touchpad Perfect Standard synaptics touchpad with two keys (replicated on top of the touchpad as well) and one of those pointing sticks as well. Works as expected. info/touchpad
hacks/touchpad