Linux on the T43p

[edik]

Having just purchased a T43p/2GB/7200rpm/UXGA etc machine I need some advice regarding Linux, and the ability of the machine to match the performance of my previous Acer (that failed unfortunately). I was hoping for similar performance?

The Acer was a Ferrari 3400lmi series with 1.2GB RAM, 60 GB 7200 RPM Disk and a Mobile Athlon 64 3000+ 64-bit CPU, SXGA+ with an ATI 9700 128MB VRAM graphics card - I was running Fedora Core 4 64-bit Linux with multiple VMware instances running XP Professional, in virtual screens. To be frank, it was fast, running XP under Linux faster than colleagues native XP implementations! The graphics card was awesome. This machine did everything, but it quit, and I was always worried about the reputation (or lack of it) of acer reliability. So that was a reason to get the T43p (as a long time ThinkPad user also - but usually just corporate desktop office type work).


Will the T43p be able to perform as well? Are the CPU and Graphic Chips comparable? It is 2.13GHZ CPU, 128MB Graphics Card, so a slower CPU, but the graphics cards at least have the same memory!

One other issue was on the Acer I could NOT get resume/restore to work (and it was a REAL pain) -I tried everything including recompiling custom kernels etc with no success. In fact one week at work I spent more time trying to get it working on the Acer than actually working! Has anybody got resume/restore to work under Linux?

Whats the consensus on T4X machines and Linux? Thanks!

[crashnburn]

Wow. Using Linux+VMware to run WINDOWS in LINUX WINDOWS .

Ive done the WinXP >> VMWare >> WinServer 2000/2003 and the VMware is pretty [censored] slow.

Are you serious about the speed you were getting or is it that your colleagues had bald old SLOW machines.

[Thinkpaddict]

Will the T43p be able to perform as well? Are the CPU and Graphic Chips comparable? It is 2.13GHZ CPU, 128MB Graphics Card, so a slower CPU, but the graphics cards at least have the same memory!

How do you figure that the Intel CPU is slower than the AMD one? It should in fact be faster, based on the fact that you have a 2.13GHz CPU: http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/sh ... =2129&p=10


By the way, I think it is awesome that you could run WinXP under Linux with such a nice performance. I must reiterate, wasn't this just because your coworkers had crappy machines? Please elaborate.

[edik]

OK, to be specific, I was running VMware 4.1.1 (I think) an old version of a few years ago.

This I don't think was the (newer) 64-bit version of VMware, nor was I running 64-bit Windows (supported by the Ferrari) under the virtual machines. The new versions support 64-bit VM's.

All would add more speed. I was running all 32-bit XP Software, but of course 64-bit Fedora Core 4 (FC4).

My fellow workers were running a mix of T23, X31/40 and T40/T41 under XP Pro 32-bit.

All of them using my VMware XP Pro did not even NOTICE they were using a virtual machine (because I switched them to a virtual Window under FC4) - and commented on how fast my machine was!

It freaked them out when I did a quick-switch to my FC4 desktop I can tell you

Can't offer stats and any real supporting evidence but can only say I found no difference in speeds running stuff day-to-day (but nothing real graphics based..)


rgds

[crashnburn]

so is that some magic of the 64 bit Pro with 64 bit Fedora.. ?

Are u trying Fedora again / I guess u cant do 64 on the Tpad

[edik]

I'm hoping (to get back on track) that my new T43p can at least equal that performance (from what I assume is a 32-bit CPU).

I am also interested how the ATI 9700 128MB VRAM graphics card in the Ferrari holds up against the ThinkPads VL3200 128MB card.

I purchased the T43p because it was within budget (<= 2000 USD) and the best specified T series ThinkPad I could find for the price esp. with UXGA, 2GB and 2.13GHZ. I was always going to get a T model.

No, back to 32-bit now. I just hope I don't get a big performance hit.

[Bgradid]

When the T43p first came out, getting linux to work with it was a bit of a trick, but, I think all the linux drivers for it have matured now.

A really really really useful site for linux / thinkpad stuff is http://www.thinkwiki.org , Thinkpads are known for their ability to be compatible with linux more so than other laptops

I need to put linux on my T42p yet (ATI drivers have a bug with the SXGA+ display i'm not sure they've fixed yet, might just use the open source drivers + AIGLX for showoff ability ) but my T23 installed ubuntu the other day without a single thing needing configuration.

[edik]

You know I have heard great things about Ubuntu on the T4x series and how painless it is not only to install, but it recognizes all the devices such as wireless and bluetooth without problems. This may be the way I might go (just to preserve my sanity )

As a side note, Surprisingly in my local computer store the other day (here in the UK) they had free Ubuntu DVD (or perhaps CD's) on offer, all prettily packaged (by the guy behind Ubuntu no doubt).

[crashnburn]

Ubuntu seems to be getting it right where all the other linuxes got it not so right.

I respect the diversity of linux distros but I think they worked together as a movement (with independent ideas), like a conglomerate they might get more penetration into the average user market. If at all they want to make a dent into the windows share of the desktop market.

[holr]

Whats the consensus on T4X machines and Linux? Thanks!

I have been tinkering with linux on my t43p for quite some time now (almost identical spec to your own). I can honestly say it works very, very nice. Depending on the distro, you will need to put varying degrees of work into them to get the OS working nice, and there are a few hacks / tricks for various distros you should know about to improve performance.

I will say i hope you have a intel based wifi card because I believe they perform better (see my posts at http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... highlight= ) than the atheros ones.

I have used the main popular distros (as found on www.distrowatch.com 's list) debian, (k)ubuntu, fedora core 5 and suse 10.1, and am currently sticking with suse 10.1, but kubuntu dapper was a close second.

[jdhurst]

I have Ubuntu running as a guest inside a Windows XP machine (VMWare 5.5.2 newest) and guest performance is excellent.
... JD Hurst

[edik]

Well I am now fully moved over to Ubuntu 6.06 on the T43p

The typical problematic areas of Linux, such as good Video Drivers, sound, Wireless configuration and especially hibernate and suspend, all worked out of the box without any tweaking.

This is.. amazing. The install was the smoothest I have ever known in a Linux install, with virtually no hands-on configuration required.

Running Linux VMware 5.0.x I can boot up into Windows 2000 Professional in a virtual screen (1600x1200 32-bit color) in.... around 15 seconds.... YES.. unbelievable? Try it... (on a T43p)... it takes just 15 seconds to boot into a fresh install of Win2K Pro.

Using virtual screens (and virtual machines) I can hot-switch between different operating systems on-the-fly with them crunching concurrent tasks. I'm impressed, its certainly as smooth if not smoother than my old Acer Ferrari 3400.

In every way better than XP except one, and that is hibernate (to disk) and restore work (which is amazing in itself) but are slow... around 3 times as slow as XP (with 2GB) and with no visual indication (other than the Green Disk LED flashing) that it is hibernating..

But I'm impressed. You can boot off the (1CD) install disk and try it without installing on your thinkpad. As it's only a 700MB 1CD download I urge anyone to try... and be amazed!

[crashnburn]

Well I am now fully moved over to Ubuntu 6.06 on the T43p

The typical problematic areas of Linux, such as good Video Drivers, sound, Wireless configuration and especially hibernate and suspend, all worked out of the box without any tweaking.

This is.. amazing. The install was the smoothest I have ever known in a Linux install, with virtually no hands-on configuration required.

Running Linux VMware 5.0.x I can boot up into Windows 2000 Professional in a virtual screen (1600x1200 32-bit color) in.... around 15 seconds.... YES.. unbelievable? Try it... (on a T43p)... it takes just 15 seconds to boot into a fresh install of Win2K Pro.

Using virtual screens (and virtual machines) I can hot-switch between different operating systems on-the-fly with them crunching concurrent tasks. I'm impressed, its certainly as smooth if not smoother than my old Acer Ferrari 3400.

In every way better than XP except one, and that is hibernate (to disk) and restore work (which is amazing in itself) but are slow... around 3 times as slow as XP (with 2GB) and with no visual indication (other than the Green Disk LED flashing) that it is hibernating..

But I'm impressed. You can boot off the (1CD) install disk and try it without installing on your thinkpad. As it's only a 700MB 1CD download I urge anyone to try... and be amazed!

Nice.

[BigCatAndy]

Well I am now fully moved over to Ubuntu 6.06 on the T43p

The typical problematic areas of Linux, such as good Video Drivers, sound, Wireless configuration and especially hibernate and suspend, all worked out of the box without any tweaking.

This is.. amazing. The install was the smoothest I have ever known in a Linux install, with virtually no hands-on configuration required.

Hi.

Just yesterday ordered one T43p (from the online-shop) and expecting it to arrive on Monday.

Actually, I used Debian Sarge on 600x and Etch on T20 without any problems (except ACPI/SpeedStep in T20 - but I didn't spend too much time on it, to be honest...). When I read the posts about all complications related to T43p, I think of cancelling my order.

But the post from Edik gave me some hope. I will try to install there Debian Etch and I will report here about my results. I hope, this will be usefull for others.

Regards,
Andrey

[BigCatAndy]

My new laptop arrived, and I managed to install Debian Etch on it. In general it was rather smooth and easy. I had some problems with WLAN card: it looks like ipw2200 driver does not support WEP encryption.

For the details you might have a look at my blog at http://myprivateblg.blogspot.com/ - I posted there quite a long review of the installation process. I hope, this can be useful for anybody.

Regards,
Andrey