Debian GNU/Linux on AOpen i915GMm-HFS

Cooler problem

The AOpen i915GMm-HFS board was shipped with a very poor CPU cooler. AOpen's response to the massive amount of complaints was extremely poor: first they ignored, then they simply changed the critical temperatures that trigger thermal alarms. With standard BIOS, the highest temperature setting was 70 degrees, now it is 95 degrees. This is much too hot for a mobile processor.

Network

The Marvell Yukon 88E8053 Gigabit Ethernet Controller needs a driver from SysKonnect. The packaging from syskonnect is excellent: it can create a kernel patch for you, that you can apply to your own kernel tree.

Audio

The latest linux kernel has support for the audio device with the module snd_hda_intel. You need to insert the module snd-hda-intel with the parameter model=6stack-digout. To do this under debian, add a line to /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base that reads

options snd-hda-intel model=6stack-digout

Graphics

Accelerated 3D is available in the latest Xorg and XFree86 servers. Use the i810 driver. In the kernel, enable i915 DRM. Make sure you also install xlibmesa-dri debian package. With glxgears in 16bpp I see 1750 frames/sec. Custom modelines do not work with i810 driver.

TV Out

To use TV Out, add an entry to your xorg.conf file, in the Screen section.

    Option      "MonitorLayout" "TV,NONE"
    #Option      "MonitorLayout" "TV,DFP"

ieee 1394

In the kernel, enable ohci1394

serial ATA

I use the serial ATA harddisk with scsi emulation. Enable libata for this in the kernel. Your first harddisk will the have the /dev/sda designation.

HW sensors

Use the kernel modules i2c_i801 and w83781d for this. Strangely enough, the board features a W83627THF device, but the w83627hf module does not work. Also, ACPI thermal interferes. Don't load the ACPI thermal module. Use the mbmon userspace program to retrieve info. Under X, use gkrellm and set the mbmon port to 411. You need to edit /etc/defaults/mbmon to enable the daemon.

Bugs

Custom modelines for i810 driver broken: The driver thinks a 100000 MHz dotclock is used. However, the 915resolution tool or else the ForceBIOS option of the i810 driver may help. In my case it was a matter of forcing the 1600x1200 resolution to 1280x768.
No framebuffer support: intelfb and i810fb do not detect a device.
SP/DIF optical output does not work.

Downloads

For your convenience, you can download the kernel image debian package that I created. Or just the config of a 2.6.17.11 kernel. More info is available on wiki.