1: This page lists and links to pages about laptops, notebooks,
2: and portable computers that work well with NetBSD, are of interest
3: to developers, and are standardized or easy to find.
4:
5: For i386-based netbooks also see
6: <http://www.netbsd.org/ports/i386/netbook.html>.
7:
8: [[!toc ]]
9:
10: ---
11:
12: # Generic laptop support
13:
14: ## Graphics
15:
16: NetBSD 9.0 supports Intel integrated graphics up to Kaby Lake,
17: Nvidia graphics up to Maxwell, and AMD graphics up to GCNv1.
18:
19: Anything newer than this will work, but will use `llvmpipe`
20: instead of hardware acceleration for OpenGL.
21:
22: The support includes connecting external monitors over HDMI,
23: DisplayPort, and DisplayPort over USB-C.
24:
25: For the Intel driver, there may be slight graphical corruptions
26: when using X11 without a compositor. Xfce/MATE include their own
27: compositors, but lightweight window managers can benefit from
28: having `picom` running.
29:
30: ## CPU frequency adjustment
31:
32: On most ACPI and some non-ACPI laptops, the `sysutils/estd` package
33: can be used to automatically adjust the CPU frequency depending on
34: system load, and potentially prolong battery life. This modifies the
35: `frequency` variables exposed by
36: [[!template id=man name="sysctl" section="8"]].
37:
38: ## Suspend
39:
40: On ACPI systems, suspend-to-RAM is supported through
41: `sysctl hw.acpi.sleep.state=3`. This can be triggered through various
42: events (such as lid close) with
43: [[!template id=man name="powerd" section="8"]].
44:
45: Suspend on NetBSD currently seems to work best on Thinkpads.
46:
47: ## Input
48:
49: Many x86 laptops use Synaptics touchpads over an emulated PS/2 interface,
50: which is supported through [[!template id=man name="pms" section="4"]],
51: with various adjustable Synaptics-specific sysctl variables.
52:
53: ## WiFi
54:
55: Many x86 laptops with Intel processors will have WiFi cards supported
56: by the
57: [[!template id=man name="iwm" section="4"]] driver, or
58: [[!template id=man name="iwn" section="4"]] for older models.
59: Atheros 11n miniPCIe cards are supported by the
60: [[!template id=man name="athn" section="4"]] driver.
61:
62: See the
63: [[!template id=man name="afterboot" section="8"]] man page for details
64: on connecting to a WPA network. For connecting to a non-WPA network,
65: simply specify `ssid networkname up` in
66: [[!template id=man name="ifconfig" section="8"]], and make sure
67: [[!template id=man name="dhcpcd" section="8"]] is running.
68:
69: USB 11n WiFi adapters such as
70: [[!template id=man name="urtwn" section="4"]] and
71: [[!template id=man name="run" section="4"]] can also be used,
72: and most/all generic USB ethernet adapters are also well supported.
73: For a fairly complete list, see
74: [[!template id=man name="usb" section="4"]].
75:
76: Unfortunately, WiFi hardware is not particularly standardized compared
77: to most other aspects of modern laptops.
78:
79: ## Audio
80:
81: Essentially all modern x86 laptops use the
82: [[!template id=man name="hdaudio" section="4"]] driver.
83:
84: In the case that switching between speakers and the headphone port
85: is not handled automatically by the hardware, the `dacsel`
86: [[!template id=man name="mixerctl" section="1"]] variable can be
87: modified.
88:
89: ---
90:
91: # IBM / Lenovo
92:
93: The [[!template id=man name="thinkpad" section="4"]] driver provides
94: support for various Thinkpad-specific sensors and function keys.
95:
96: A number of NetBSD developers use Thinkpads to hack on NetBSD
97: and for everyday usage.
98:
99: ## ThinkPad T22
100:
101: Works perfect (sound, display, all devices, infrared port not tested).
102:
103: ## ThinkPad T61
104:
105: Used it since NetBSD 4.x.
106: With Intel GMA, X works great.
107: Cardbus port doesn't work properly.
108: Expresscard not tested/tried.
109:
110: ## ThinkPad X60s
111:
112: Everything works.
113:
114: ## ThinkPad X41
115:
116: Works fine (sound, display, all devices, bluetooth, modem not tested).
117: Standby is broken for me in -current (~2012-01-12) but worked in 5.1.
118:
119: ## ThinkPad X61s
120:
121: Everything works. Requires `PCI_BUS_FIXUP` and `PCI_ADDR_FIXUP` [[!template
122: id=man name="options" section="4"]].
123:
124: ## Thinkpad X201
125:
126: Running -current since March 2011.
127: Working graphics (with the vesa driver), audio, trackpoint, wired
128: and wireless LAN.
129: Does not wake up after suspend (drives spin up but the display
130: stays black and the LED indicating a sleep state stays lit).
131:
132: ## Thinkpad X220
133:
134: From user reports, in NetBSD 9.0:
135:
136: * Video acceleration works, but when using `xf86-video-intel` (the default),
137: it's advisable to set `Option "AccelMethod" "uxa"` in `xorg.conf`.
138: * Ethernet is supported through the [[!template id=man name="wm" section="4"]] driver.
139: * WiFi is supported through the [[!template id=man name="iwn" section="4"]] driver.
140: * Suspend and resume work.
141:
142: ## Thinkpad X230
143:
144: From user reports, in NetBSD 9.0:
145:
146: * Ethernet is supported through the [[!template id=man name="wm" section="4"]] driver.
147: * WiFi is supported through the [[!template id=man name="iwn" section="4"]] driver.
148:
149: ## Thinkpad X250
150:
151: Nearly perfect. Running NetBSD 9.0 and -current since 2019.
152:
153: * Accelerated graphics with the i915 driver. Connecting externals displays
154: works with the miniDP and VGA ports.
155: * SD card reader is supported through the [[!template id=man name="rtsx" section="4"]] driver.
156: * Ethernet is supported through the [[!template id=man name="wm" section="4"]] driver.
157: * WiFi is supported through the [[!template id=man name="iwm" section="4"]] driver.
158: * For the extra trackpoint buttons to work correctly, needs a patch to
159: synaptics.c that is in -current and will be in 9.1.
160: Tapping and the clickpad have always been fine.
161: * Brightness buttons do not work in 9 by default. You can bind them to
162: xrandr in your window manager.
163: * Webcam will depend on upcoming xhci isochronous pipe support.
164: * To record from the internal mic, set `mixerctl -w record.source=ADC02`
165: * Wakes up after suspend. I have mine set to suspend on lid close with
166: powerd.
167:
168: ## Thinkpad X260
169:
170: Likely very similar to the X250.
171:
172: From user reports, in NetBSD 9.0:
173:
174: * SD card reader is supported through the [[!template id=man name="rtsx" section="4"]] driver.
175: * Ethernet is supported through the [[!template id=man name="wm" section="4"]] driver.
176: * WiFi is supported through the [[!template id=man name="iwm" section="4"]] driver.
177: * For the extra trackpoint buttons to work correctly, needs a patch to
178: synaptics.c that is in -current and will be in 9.1.
179: Tapping and the clickpad have always been fine.
180:
181: ---
182:
183: # PINE64
184:
185: A number of NetBSD developers use Pinebooks to hack on NetBSD
186: and for everyday usage.
187:
188: Pinebook and Pinebook Pro do not use ACPI, so certain aspects are
189: different compared to x86 laptops.
190:
191: ## Pinebook (Allwinner A64)
192:
193: From user reports to port-arm@, in NetBSD 9.0:
194:
195: * [[!template id=man name="uvideo" section="4"]] webcam works.
196: * External WiFI adapters can be used. Support for the internal WiFi - after WiFi system rework?
197: * Plugging in external monitors works via the HDMI port.
198: * The CPU frequency can be adjusted with `sysctl machdep.cpufreq.*`.
199: * Mesa llvmpipe is currently used for 3D/OpenGL.
200:
201: ## Pinebook Pro
202:
203: * [[!template id=man name="uvideo" section="4"]] webcam works.
204: * Internal Broadcom WiFi is supported via the [[!template id=man name="bwfm" section="4"]] driver in 9_STABLE.
205: External adapters may still be more stable.
206: * The CPU frequency can be adjusted automatically with `estd` or with `sysctl machdep.cpufreq.*`.
207: * The display backlight can be adjusted with `sysctl`.
208: * Mesa llvmpipe is currently used for 3D/OpenGL.
209: * Connecting external monitors does not currently work through USB-C.
CVSweb for NetBSD wikisrc <wikimaster@NetBSD.org> software: FreeBSD-CVSweb