HPNC6320

Notes

There are many different models of the nc6320 out there. Common amongst all of them are a 15 non-glare display (1024x768 or 1400x1050 resolution), an Intel processor (Core Duo, Core 2 Duo or Celeron M), Intel 945GM integrated graphics chip (max. 224MB shared memory), Broadcom Gigabit ethernet (tg3 kernel driver), 802.11 wireless (Intel ipw3945 or Broadcom), and a modem with SmartLink chip. My configuration has a 1400x1050 display, Core 2 Duo 7200 (2x2.0GHz), ipw3945, 100GB hard disk, and DVD-SuperMulti-burner.

I installed Kubuntu Edgy on this notebook, so while one can assume that it also works at least as well on Ubuntu with GNOME I can't make definitive statements on that.

Current Issues

For the 1400x1050 display to work in native resolution instead of the 1024x768 one, you need the 915resolution tool to change the Video BIOS on every bootup, X.org is already working on a proper solution. For the modem to work, get sl-modem-daemon from multiverse and configure it by setting SLMODEMD_DEVICE=modem:0 and OPTS="--alsa" in /etc/default/sl-modem-daemon. Also, I didn't test the card reader, but there's no indication that it would work, I assume it not to be supported by current Linux kernels. Same with the fingerprint reader which is available on selected models.

Suspend does not currently work with Kubuntu Edgy, while hibernation does. Power management for the Core 2 Duo processors works since BIOS F.09, with previous BIOSes Linux can't scale CPU frequencies.

Other than those minor drawbacks, the notebook works like a charm. It's very quiet and seems to be worked quite solidly. The keyboard has a seperate block for the Insert/Del/Home/End/PgUp/PgDown keys and feels good for writing. The builtin notebook speakers can't match with a proper external sound system, but leave most other laptop speakers behind in terms of sound quality. And last but not least, the Intel 945GM graphics chip has a Free driver in the official X.org server, so no fumbling with proprietary graphics driver modules (even if it's not with top-notch performance, but that also saves battery time and keeps the laptop quiet). In Edgy, the ipw3945 wireless stuff still needs proprietary firmware from linux-restricted-modules, but I heard this is going to be resolved soon.

System Info

bios-version:68YDU Ver. F.09 system-manufacturer:Hewlett-Packard system-product-name:HP Compaq nc6320 (RH383EA#ABD) system-version:F.09

Hardware details

in Dapper?

in Edgy?

Installation works?

Untested

Yes

Hardware Information

Screen & Monitors

Device

Works?

Bug #

in Dapper?

in Edgy?

Screen

Untested

Yes

Correct resolution?

Untested

Yes, 1400x1050 models only with 915resolution

Correct refresh rate?

Untested

Yes

3D Acceleration

Untested

I'm not sure: glxinfo says "libGL warning: 3D driver claims to not support visual 0x5b" (which maybe stems from 915resolution usage, or maybe not), but says "direct rendering: Yes". glxgears only gets 795 FPS, which doesn't look all too accelerated. I guess X.org of Feisty or at least Feisty+1 will have that warning exterminated. Maybe everything works and accelerates out of the box with 1024x768'ed displays.

External monitor works?

Untested

Untested

External monitor - mirrors

Untested

Untested

External monitor - extend desktop

Untested

Untested

Power Management

Battery detected?

Untested

Yes

Hibernates?

Untested

Yes

Sleep

Untested

Doesn't wake up properly, so No

Dim monitor on battery

Untested

Yes

Blank monitor on inactivity

Untested

Yes

Lid Close

Untested

Yes

Cpu frequency scaling

Untested

Yes, with BIOS F.09 or higher

Sound

Sound works?

Untested

Yes

Correct volume?

Untested

Yes

Hardware volume switch

Untested

Yes

Headphone jack

Untested

Yes

Mic jack

Untested

Untested

Networking

Wired NIC

Untested

Yes

Wireless NIC

Untested

Yes

PCMCIA NIC

Untested

Untested, but the Yenta module seems to load properly, so it should work

Firewire

Untested

Untested, but the ieee1394 module seems to load properly, so it should work

Bluetooth

Untested

Yes

Modem

Untested

Yes, with sl-modem-daemon in ALSA mode

Touchpad & Mice

Touchpad

Untested

Yes

Touchpad - Doubletap = double click

Untested

Yes

Touchpad - Scroll down side

Untested

Yes

Touchpad - turned off while typing

Untested

No

External mouse - USB

Untested

Yes

External mouse - Serial

Untested

N/A, or needs a docking station for a PS/2 port

Docking Station/Port Replicator

AC through replicator

Untested

Untested

USB

Untested

Untested

Serial

Untested

Untested

Parallel

Untested

Untested

External Monitor - VGA

Untested

Untested

External Monitor - DVI

Untested

Untested

Modem

Untested

Untested

NIC

Untested

Untested

PS/2

Untested

Untested

Additional Hardware

Fingerprint reader

Untested

Untested

CD/DVD drive

Untested

Yes

PCMCIA cards

Untested

Untested, but the Yenta module seems to load properly, so it should work

Parallel Ports

Untested

Untested, but the parport module seems to load properly, so it should work

Card reader(s)

Untested

Untested

Function and other keys

Fn key

Operation

Keycode

Works?

Bug #

in Dapper?

in Edgy?

+ F3

Sleep

Untested

Untested, but as suspend doesn't work, I'd rather not touch this

+ F4

External Monitor

Untested

Untested

+ F8

Battery

Untested

Not in Kubuntu, more likely in Ubuntu

Shows a message if the laptop runs on battery or not

+ F9

Screen Dim

Untested

Yes

+ F10

Screen Bright

Untested

Yes

+ ArrowUp

PgUp

Untested

Yes

+ ArrowDown

PgDown

Untested

Yes

+ ArrowRight

End

Untested

Yes

+ ArrowLeft

Home

Untested

Yes

+ End

Turn on the num pad

Untested

Yes

+ Insert

Print

Untested

Yes, starts KSnapshot

Other special keys

Key

Operation

Keycode

Works?

Bug #

in Dapper (current long-time supported)?

in Edgy (current stable)?

WiFi On/Off

starts/stops Bluetooth and 802.11

Untested

Yes, and LED works as well

"i" Button

starts KHelpCenter, or Gnome Help

Untested

Yes

Presentation Mode Button

Power Schema or Application

205

Untested

No

Volume Mute

mutes/unmutes audio output

Untested

Yes

Volume Down

decreases the volume

Untested

Yes

Volume Up

increases the volume

Untested

Yes

Additional Notes


CategoryLaptop

LaptopTestingTeam/Old/HPNC6320 (last edited 2010-03-02 10:08:35 by host226-241-dynamic)