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2024/06/23 Linux on Dell XPS 9730
π 2024-06-23 01:01 in Computers, Linux

Intro

I had a forced upgrade from P73 to P17gen2 after my P73 suddenly died, and honestly I wasn't really impressed with the P17gen2, it was still huge, was not faster CPU wise, and did not run any longer on batteries despite going from Intel gen9 to gen11 (lenovo has no newer CPUs for 17" and 4K). This is where I looked into other options and found the Dell XPS 9730 as pretty much the only up to date gen13 laptop with 4K and 17" LCD.

Have a look at this page on Thinkpad P70 vs P73 vs P17

XPS 9730 is definitely smaller and more pixels than the P17gen
XPS 9730 is definitely smaller and more pixels than the P17gen

smaller footprint and lighter, sadly also a shit keyboard :(
smaller footprint and lighter, sadly also a shit keyboard :(

the text console is very small ;)
the text console is very small ;)

battery use is much better than lenovo
battery use is much better than lenovo

13th gen intol, 6 fast cores plus 8 low power cores
13th gen intol, 6 fast cores plus 8 low power cores

nice 3840x2400 native panel resolution
nice 3840x2400 native panel resolution

compared to lenovo, the laptop is not easy to open, but hopefully you only have to do it once to add/replace NVME M2 drives (M2 SATA is not supported)
compared to lenovo, the laptop is not easy to open, but hopefully you only have to do it once to add/replace NVME M2 drives (M2 SATA is not supported)

The things I don't like about this laptop however:

  • no trackpoint. I'm sorry trackpoint is so much more reliable and efficient when you know how to use it. The trackpoint only is why I go back to my thinkpad when I'm not travelling and need lightweight and long battery life
  • the keyboard layout sucks. Why trying to save keys on a 17" laptop? Why no Pg Down/Pg Up without Fn? Why no direct home and end? and OMG sysrq does not work :( Seriously, Dell, what were you thinking? Why such a crappy small laptop keyboard on your biggest keyboard? The other reason I go back to the thinkpad is because of the proper keyboard.
  • Linux config files

    You can get them here

    Missing hardware ports

    Somehow Dell decided it was worth removing the USB-A ports, that sucks, I really wanted at least one or two. Anyway, you can use USB-C to USB-A adapters, but now you're carrying dongles taped ton your laptop :-
    They do provide a dongle that outputs 1x USB-A (works but dongle is too big for that), and 1x HDMI. That latter one is actually the cool one, because it just worked on linux. Getting HDMI out on lenovo with their stupid nvidia chip in the way has been a complete pain, but HDMI over USB-C actually just worked!

    Hardware support

    A recent kernel is important with the right build options to get support for the touchpad, the touchscreen, and sound

    modprobe dell_laptop

    merlin:~# lsmod | grep ^dell dell_rbu 20480 0 dell_laptop 32768 0 dell_wmi 28672 1 dell_laptop dell_smbios 32768 2 dell_wmi,dell_laptop dell_wmi_sysman 53248 0 dell_wmi_descriptor 20480 2 dell_wmi,dell_smbios dell_wmi_ddv 24576 0

    Need this in kernel build: Dell X86 Platform Specific Device Drivers

    Dell X86 Platform Specific Device Drivers (X86_PLATFORM_DRIVERS_DELL) [N/y/?] (NEW) y Alienware Special feature control (ALIENWARE_WMI) [M/n/?] (NEW) m Dell Systems Management Base Driver (DCDBAS) [M/n/y/?] (NEW) m Dell Laptop Extras (DELL_LAPTOP) [M/n/?] (NEW) m BIOS update support for DELL systems via sysfs (DELL_RBU) [M/n/y/?] (NEW) m Dell Airplane Mode Switch driver (DELL_RBTN) [M/n/?] (NEW) m Dell SMBIOS driver (DELL_SMBIOS) [M/n/?] (NEW) m Dell SMBIOS driver WMI backend (DELL_SMBIOS_WMI) [Y/n/?] (NEW) m Dell Latitude freefall driver (ACPI SMO88XX) (DELL_SMO8800) [M/n/y/?] (NEW) y Dell WMI notifications (DELL_WMI) [M/n/?] (NEW) y Dell WMI Hardware Privacy Support (DELL_WMI_PRIVACY) [N/y/?] (NEW) y WMI Hotkeys for Dell All-In-One series (DELL_WMI_AIO) [M/n/?] (NEW) y Dell WMI sensors Support (DELL_WMI_DDV) [M/n/?] (NEW) m External LED on Dell Business Netbooks (DELL_WMI_LED) [M/n/?] (NEW) m Dell WMI-based Systems management driver (DELL_WMI_SYSMAN) [M/n/?] (NEW) m

    Touchpad

    https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-1026576-start-0.html <<< kernel modules for touchpad
    Have a look for USB HID SUPPORT and turn on raw HID SUPPORT there.
    merlin:~# lsmod | grep -i HID
    hid_sensor_als         16384  0
    hid_sensor_trigger     20480  2 hid_sensor_als
    industrialio_triggered_buffer    12288  1 hid_sensor_trigger
    industrialio          131072  4 industrialio_triggered_buffer,hid_sensor_trigger,kfifo_buf,hid_sensor_als
    hid_sensor_iio_common    20480  2 hid_sensor_trigger,hid_sensor_als
    intel_hid              32768  0
    sparse_keymap          16384  2 intel_hid,dell_wmi
    hid_multitouch         32768  0
    usbhid                 69632  0
    hid_sensor_custom      28672  0
    hid_sensor_hub         28672  4 hid_sensor_trigger,hid_sensor_iio_common,hid_sensor_als,hid_sensor_custom
    intel_ishtp_hid        28672  0
    hid_generic            12288  0
    usbcore               389120  5 xhci_hcd,usbhid,uvcvideo,btusb,xhci_pci
    intel_ishtp            73728  2 intel_ishtp_hid,intel_ish_ipc
    i2c_hid_acpi           12288  0
    i2c_hid                36864  1 i2c_hid_acpi
    hid                   167936  6 i2c_hid,usbhid,hid_multitouch,hid_sensor_hub,intel_ishtp_hid,hid_generic
    

    screen touch works

    touchpad: merlin:~$ xinput Unable to connect to X server merlin:~$ DISPLAY=:0 xinput | Virtual core pointer id=2 [master pointer (3)] | | Virtual core XTEST pointer id=4 [slave pointer (2)] | | ELAN2097:00 04F3:2A15 id=10 [slave pointer (2)] | | VEN_06CB:00 06CB:CE7E Mouse id=11 [slave pointer (2)] | | VEN_06CB:00 06CB:CE7E Touchpad id=12 [slave pointer (2)] | | PS/2 Generic Mouse id=19 [slave pointer (2)] | Virtual core keyboard id=3 [master keyboard (2)] | Virtual core XTEST keyboard id=5 [slave keyboard (3)] | Video Bus id=6 [slave keyboard (3)] | Video Bus id=7 [slave keyboard (3)] | Power Button id=8 [slave keyboard (3)] | Sleep Button id=9 [slave keyboard (3)] | sof-soundwire Headset Jack id=13 [slave keyboard (3)] | Intel HID events id=14 [slave keyboard (3)] | Intel HID 5 button array id=15 [slave keyboard (3)] | Dell Privacy Driver id=16 [slave keyboard (3)] | Dell WMI hotkeys id=17 [slave keyboard (3)] | AT Translated Set 2 keyboard id=18 [slave keyboard (3)]

    Other touchpad notes, including upgrading your firmware if it's too old and setup an ACPI hotkey to turn the touchpad back on with Fn+F3 if it gets turned off by mistake

    https://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-2392658.html So, the two touchpads (you can get the id easily with dmesg | grep -i touchpad): ELAN 04F3:311C <-- this is the one with issues Synaptics 06CB:CE7E => I have the right one but if not lastest firmware fixes things: https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=214597

    https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000150104/precision-xps-ubuntu-general-touchpad-mouse-issue-fix

    Added a hotkey to re-enablet touchpad if it gets turned off by mistake by syndaemon merlin:/etc/acpi# grep . touchpad-local.sh events/dell-f* touchpad-local.sh:#!/bin/bash touchpad-local.sh:su - merlin -c "DISPLAY=:0 synclient TouchpadOff=0" events/dell-f4-cdplay-sleep-local:event=button/volumeup VOLUP 00000080 00000000 events/dell-f4-cdplay-sleep-local:action=/etc/acpi/touchpad-local.sh

    Fan control needed for CPU

    Fan control is also required to allow CPUs to work faster, or they will be temperature throttled.

    merlin:~# smbios-thermal-ctl -g -------------------------------------------------------------------

    Current Thermal Modes: Performance

    Current Active Acoustic Controller (AAC) Mode: AAC mode Disabled

    Current Active Acoustic Controller (AAC) Mode: Global (AAC enable/disable applies to all supported USTT modes)

    Current Fan Failure Mode: Helper function to Get current Thermal Mode settings

    by default, CPUs are throttled down for temperature, install throttled to control fans which in turn allow CPUs to run harder: apt install thermald merlin:~# systemctl start thermald merlin:~# psg thermald root 45398 0.0 0.0 287000 10240 ? Ssl 04:09 0:00 /usr/sbin/thermald --systemd --dbus-enable --adaptive

    Sound

    Sound is fairly tricky, it worked in Ubuntu 23, nothing less than that and not so much on Debian.

    This firmware module is crutial and missing on debian: merlin:/# dpkg -S iwlwifi-so-a0-gf-a0-83.ucode linux-firmware: /lib/firmware/iwlwifi-so-a0-gf-a0-83.ucode.zst



    /etc/pipewire/microphone.conf

    # https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/PipeWire
    # this works for pipewire-media-session but not wireplumber (that uses lua)
    context.objects = [
        { factory = adapter
            args = {
                factory.name           = api.alsa.pcm.source
                node.name              = "microphone"
                node.description       = "Undetected Microphone"
                media.class            = "Audio/Source"
    # arecord -l
                api.alsa.path          = "hw:1,7"
            }
        }
    ]
    

    merlin:~# dmesg | grep snd [ 84.237700] snd_hda_intel 0000:00:1f.3: vgaarb: pci_notify [ 84.242752] snd_hda_intel 0000:00:1f.3: runtime IRQ mapping not provided by arch [ 84.242780] snd_hda_intel 0000:00:1f.3: DSP detected with PCI class/subclass/prog-if info 0x040100 [ 84.247195] snd_hda_intel 0000:00:1f.3: SoundWire enabled on CannonLake+ platform, using SOF driver [ 84.247203] snd_hda_intel 0000:00:1f.3: vgaarb: pci_notify

    merlin:~# dmesg | grep firmware [ 2.924714] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] Finished loading DMC firmware i915/adlp_dmc.bin (v2.19) [ 2.949985] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] GT0: GuC firmware i915/adlp_guc_70.bin version 70.5.1 [ 2.949993] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] GT0: HuC firmware i915/tgl_huc.bin version 7.9.3 [ 83.756991] systemd[1]: systemd-pcrmachine.service - TPM2 PCR Machine ID Measurement was skipped because of an unmet condition check (ConditionPathExists=/sys/firmware/efi/efivars/StubPcrKernelImage-4a67b082-0a4c-41cf-b6c7-440b29bb8c4f). [ 84.624266] iwlwifi 0000:00:14.3: loaded firmware version 83.e8f84e98.0 so-a0-gf-a0-83.ucode op_mode iwlmvm [ 85.611677] Bluetooth: hci0: Minimum firmware build 1 week 10 2014 [ 85.641830] Bluetooth: hci0: Found device firmware: intel/ibt-0040-0041.sfi [ 87.312791] Bluetooth: hci0: Waiting for firmware download to complete



    https://thesofproject.github.io/latest/getting_started/intel_debug/suggestions.html#run-alsa-info
    

    No sound on speakers on dell 9730 (But works on wired headphones and bluetooth) #4758: https://github.com/thesofproject/linux/issues/4758#issuecomment-1874578163

    apt-get install -t bullseye-backports firmware-sof-signed thermald intel-microcode amd64-microcode firmware-realtek firmware-iwlwifi

    apt-get install -t unstable firmware-sof-signed alsa-ucm-conf

    Without alsa-ucm.conf (not always installed on debian), this crutial file was missing: merlin:~# cat /usr/share/alsa/ucm2/sof-soundwire/rt1316-2.conf # Use case Configuration for sof-soundwire card

    SectionDevice."Speaker" { Comment "Speaker"

    If.lrswitch { Condition { Type ControlExists Control "name='rt1316-1 DAC L Switch'" } True { EnableSequence [ cset "name='rt1316-1 RX Channel Select' L,L" cset "name='rt1316-2 RX Channel Select' R,R" cset "name='rt1316-1 DAC L Switch' 1" cset "name='rt1316-1 DAC R Switch' 1" cset "name='rt1316-2 DAC L Switch' 1" cset "name='rt1316-2 DAC R Switch' 1" cset "name='Speaker Switch' on" ]

    merlin:~$ inxi -aA Audio: Device-1: Intel vendor: Dell driver: sof-audio-pci-intel-tgl alternate: snd_hda_intel,snd_sof_pci_intel_tgl bus-ID: 0000:00:1f.3 chip-ID: 8086:51ca class-ID: 0401 API: ALSA v: k6.6.9-amd64-volpre-sysrq-20240101 status: kernel-api with: aoss type: oss-emulator tools: alsamixer,amixer Server-1: PipeWire v: 0.3.65 status: active (process) with: 1: pipewire-pulse status: active 2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin 4: pw-jack type: plugin tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl

    merlin:~$ wpctl status PipeWire 'pipewire-0' [0.3.65, merlin@merlin.svh.merlins.org, cookie:3437972412] `- Clients: 31. pipewire [0.3.65, merlin@merlin.svh.merlins.org, pid:3849] 33. WirePlumber [0.3.65, merlin@merlin.svh.merlins.org, pid:3847] 34. WirePlumber [export] [0.3.65, merlin@merlin.svh.merlins.org, pid:3847] 81. Efl Volume Control [0.3.65, merlin@merlin.svh.merlins.org, pid:32317] 95. enlightenment [0.3.65, merlin@merlin.svh.merlins.org, pid:32317] 102. wpctl [0.3.65, merlin@merlin.svh.merlins.org, pid:41767]

    Audio |- Devices: | 44. sof-soundwire [alsa] | |- Sinks: | 53. sof-soundwire HDMI / DisplayPort 3 Output [vol: 1.00] | 54. sof-soundwire HDMI / DisplayPort 2 Output [vol: 1.00] | 55. sof-soundwire HDMI / DisplayPort 1 Output [vol: 1.00] | 56. sof-soundwire Headphones [vol: 1.00] | * 57. sof-soundwire Speaker [vol: 0.50] | |- Sink endpoints: | |- Sources: | 58. sof-soundwire Headset Microphone [vol: 1.03] | * 59. sof-soundwire SoundWire microphones [vol: 0.48] |

    Configs

    If that helps, a few config files ( You also can get them here )

    This config file is very important if you want to configure the touchpad to emulate 3 buttons at the bottom of the bad (left/middle/right)
    /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/70-synaptics.conf

    # https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Touchpad_Synaptics#Configuration
    # https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000150104/precision-xps-ubuntu-general-touchpad-mouse-issue-fix
    

    Section "InputClass" Identifier "touchpad" Driver "synaptics" MatchIsTouchpad "on" #Option "TapButton1" "1" #Option "TapButton2" "3" #Option "TapButton3" "2" #Option "VertEdgeScroll" "on" #Option "VertTwoFingerScroll" "on" #Option "HorizEdgeScroll" "on" #Option "HorizTwoFingerScroll" "on" #Option "CircularScrolling" "on" #Option "CircScrollTrigger" "2" #Option "EmulateTwoFingerMinZ" "40" #Option "EmulateTwoFingerMinW" "8" #Option "CoastingSpeed" "0" #Option "FingerLow" "30" #Option "FingerHigh" "50" #Option "MaxTapTime" "125" #Option "SendEventsMode" "disabled-on-external-mouse" #Option "Tapping" "True" Option "AccelProfile" "adaptive" Option "AccelSpeed" "0.3" #Option "TappingDrag" "True" #Option "HorizontalScrolling" "True" #Option "ScrollMethod" "edge" # https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Touchpad_Synaptics # left 40% middle 25% (40% to 65%) right 35% (from 65% to 0=inf) # buttons go from 90% down to 0=inf Option "SoftButtonAreas" "66% 0 90% 0 40% 65% 90% 0" EndSection

    lmsensors if the right kernel build options are set

    merlin:~# sensors
    coretemp-isa-0000
    Adapter: ISA adapter
    Package id 0:  +62.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
    Core 0:        +58.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
    Core 4:        +57.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
    Core 8:        +60.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
    Core 12:       +59.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
    Core 16:       +58.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
    Core 20:       +52.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
    Core 24:       +59.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
    Core 25:       +59.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
    Core 26:       +59.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
    Core 27:       +59.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
    Core 28:       +59.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
    Core 29:       +58.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
    Core 30:       +58.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
    Core 31:       +58.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
    

    dell_ddv-virtual-0 Adapter: Virtual device CPU Fan: 2866 RPM Video Fan: 2857 RPM CPU: +61.0°C (low = +0.0°C, high = +0.0°C) NB: +52.0°C (low = +0.0°C, high = +0.0°C) Other: +56.0°C (low = +0.0°C, high = +0.0°C) Other: +51.0°C (low = +0.0°C, high = +0.0°C) Other: +53.0°C (low = +0.0°C, high = +0.0°C) Ambient: +28.0°C (low = +0.0°C, high = +0.0°C) Other: +49.0°C (low = +0.0°C, high = +0.0°C) Unknown: +26.0°C (low = +0.0°C, high = +0.0°C) Video: +53.0°C (low = +0.0°C, high = +0.0°C)

    ubuntu 6.5.0-14 kernel: merlin:/lib/modules# sensors ucsi_source_psy_USBC000:002-isa-0000 Adapter: ISA adapter in0: 5.00 V (min = +5.00 V, max = +5.00 V) curr1: 0.00 A (max = +0.00 A)

    iwlwifi_1-virtual-0 Adapter: Virtual device temp1: +39.0°C

    ucsi_source_psy_USBC000:004-isa-0000 Adapter: ISA adapter in0: 5.00 V (min = +5.00 V, max = +5.00 V) curr1: 0.00 A (max = +3.00 A)

    coretemp-isa-0000 Adapter: ISA adapter Package id 0: +51.0°C (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C) Core 0: +44.0°C (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C) Core 4: +43.0°C (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C) Core 8: +46.0°C (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C) Core 12: +41.0°C (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C) Core 16: +41.0°C (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C) Core 20: +45.0°C (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C) Core 24: +47.0°C (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C) Core 25: +47.0°C (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C) Core 26: +47.0°C (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C) Core 27: +47.0°C (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C) Core 28: +48.0°C (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C) Core 29: +48.0°C (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C) Core 30: +48.0°C (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C) Core 31: +48.0°C (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)

    nvme-pci-e200 Adapter: PCI adapter Composite: +30.9°C (low = -40.1°C, high = +119.8°C) (crit = +129.8°C) Sensor 1: +40.9°C (low = -40.1°C, high = +139.8°C) Sensor 2: +30.9°C (low = -40.1°C, high = +119.8°C)

    ucsi_source_psy_USBC000:003-isa-0000 Adapter: ISA adapter in0: 5.00 V (min = +5.00 V, max = +5.00 V) curr1: 0.00 A (max = +0.00 A)

    ucsi_source_psy_USBC000:001-isa-0000 Adapter: ISA adapter in0: 18.00 V (min = +0.00 V, max = +20.00 V) curr1: 6.50 A (max = +6.50 A)

    dell_ddv-virtual-0 Adapter: Virtual device CPU Fan: 1221 RPM Video Fan: 1206 RPM CPU: +53.0°C (low = +0.0°C, high = +0.0°C) NB: +43.0°C (low = +0.0°C, high = +0.0°C) Other: +47.0°C (low = +0.0°C, high = +0.0°C) Other: +42.0°C (low = +0.0°C, high = +0.0°C) Other: +45.0°C (low = +0.0°C, high = +0.0°C) Ambient: +31.0°C (low = +0.0°C, high = +0.0°C) Other: +42.0°C (low = +0.0°C, high = +0.0°C) Unknown: +27.0°C (low = +0.0°C, high = +0.0°C) Video: +36.0°C (low = +0.0°C, high = +0.0°C)

    nvme-pci-e100 Adapter: PCI adapter Composite: +31.9°C (low = -5.2°C, high = +89.8°C) (crit = +93.8°C)

    BAT0-acpi-0 Adapter: ACPI interface in0: 13.13 V curr1: 1000.00 uA

    See more images for Linux on Dell XPS 9730

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