Re: Acer Timeline 4810TG on Jaunty - ATI Driver
GOOD NEWS EVERYONE
I found a tiny code on the net written by Sylvain on opensuse forums. It's a kernel module that uses ACPI functionality to completely turn off the ATI card! It's just awesome.
So here're the steps to a lot more energy efficient laptop:
1. Save the following as lenovo_acpi.c:
2. Save the following as Makefile:Code:/* Linux kernel module that disables the discrete graphics board for Lenovo * U330. Other lenovo laptops could work, but I don't know. * * Copyright (c) 2009: Sylvain Joyeux <sylvain.joyeux@m4x.org> */ #include <acpi/acpi.h> MODULE_LICENSE("GPL"); static acpi_handle root_handle; static int __init kill_ati(void) { int i; acpi_status status; // The device handle acpi_handle handle; // The package elements union acpi_object package_elements[3]; // The arguments to ATPX union acpi_object atpx_arg_elements[2]; struct acpi_object_list atpx_arg; // For the return value of ATPX struct acpi_buffer buffer = { ACPI_ALLOCATE_BUFFER, NULL }; status = acpi_get_handle(root_handle, "\\_SB_.PCI0.OVGA.ATPX", &handle); if (ACPI_FAILURE(status)) { status = acpi_get_handle(root_handle, "\\_SB_.PCI0.OVGA.XTPX", &handle); if (ACPI_FAILURE(status)) { printk("lenovo_acpi: cannot get ACPI handle: %s\n", acpi_format_exception(status)); return -ENOSYS; } printk("lenovo_acpi: in discrete graphics mode\n"); return 0; } for (i = 0; i < 3; ++i) { package_elements[i].type = ACPI_TYPE_INTEGER; package_elements[i].integer.value = 0; } atpx_arg.count = 2; atpx_arg.pointer = &atpx_arg_elements[0]; atpx_arg_elements[0].type = ACPI_TYPE_INTEGER; atpx_arg_elements[0].integer.value = 2; atpx_arg_elements[1].type = ACPI_TYPE_PACKAGE; atpx_arg_elements[1].package.count = 3; atpx_arg_elements[1].package.elements = &package_elements[0]; status = acpi_evaluate_object(handle, NULL, &atpx_arg, &buffer); if (ACPI_FAILURE(status)) { printk("lenovo_acpi: ATPX method call failed: %s\n", acpi_format_exception(status)); return -ENOSYS; } kfree(buffer.pointer); printk("lenovo_acpi: disabled the discrete graphics card\n"); return 0; } static void dummy(void) { } module_init(kill_ati); module_exit(dummy);
3. In the same folder, run the following shell commands:Code:ifneq ($(KERNELRELEASE),) obj-m := lenovo_acpi.o else KERNELDIR ?= /lib/modules/$(shell uname -r)/build PWD := $(shell pwd) default: $(MAKE) -C $(KERNELDIR) M=$(PWD) $(EXTRA_FLAGS) modules clean: $(MAKE) -C $(KERNELDIR) M=$(PWD) $(EXTRA_FLAGS) clean endif
4. Restart and choose "Switchable" graphics in the BIOSCode:make sudo cp lenovo_acpi.ko /lib/modules/`uname -r`/kernel/ sudo depmod echo lenovo_acpi | sudo tee -a /etc/modules > /dev/null
Next time your linux boots, it should shut down the ATI card. Easiest way to check is to look at the battery life estimate.
All the credit goes to Sylvain for his fabulous hack - I just copied it here, so don't thank me.
NOTE: You need to compile this for each new kernel you install - I know too little to make it work with all kernels (see dkms)
Reference: http://forum.suse.co.in/index.php?t=...8e9e12541a85d3
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Originally Posted by deltaromeo
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