Feedback on the Dell Inspiron 15R (N5110)

Hi Ulas,

Can you please specify which release of Ubuntu you have installed and also provide the output of 'lspci' from your system? We wouldn't certify a system with a non-functional HDMI port, but if you have different hardware configuration from that which we certified, or are not using Precise, then we can't guarantee it will work because we have only tested with Precise on two different hardware configs.

Ubuntu Version : 12.04 LTS

lspci >>

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family DRAM Controller (rev 09)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200/2nd Generation Core Processor Family PCI Express Root Port (rev 09)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 09)
00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family MEI Controller #1 (rev 04)
00:1a.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller #2 (rev 05)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family High Definition Audio Controller (rev 05)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 1 (rev b5)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 2 (rev b5)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 4 (rev b5)
00:1c.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 5 (rev b5)
00:1c.7 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 8 (rev b5)
00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller #1 (rev 05)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation HM67 Express Chipset Family LPC Controller (rev 05)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family 6 port SATA AHCI Controller (rev 05)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family SMBus Controller (rev 05)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation GF108 [GeForce GT 540M] (rev a1)
01:00.1 Audio device: NVIDIA Corporation GF108 High Definition Audio Controller (rev a1)
05:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8101E/RTL8102E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller (rev 05)
09:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation Centrino Wireless-N 1030 (rev 34)
0b:00.0 USB controller: Texas Instruments Device 8241 (rev 02)

Still waiting for a solution or an answer....

Please note the following two certified 15R models:
http://www.ubuntu.com/certification/hardware/201012-6931/
http://www.ubuntu.com/certification/hardware/201012-6932/

Neither certified model has nVidia graphics. An OEM can have several very different systems that all use the same name. In your case, there are at least 2 or 3 different models that are all called Inspiron 15R (N5110), and differ at the least by what graphics card they have. Some have Intel, some ATI/AMD, some nVidia. Also, an all too common occurrence is that an OEM will certify a laptop with one set of hardware, then change that hardware mid-production because of a cheaper supplier, or bugs not discovered during hardware development, or any number of other reasons.

You have what appears to be a hybrid system with both Intel and nVidia graphics. Look in your system's BIOS to be sure, you should see something about Optimus or disabling the nVidia GPU.

We have not certified any system using nVidia's Optimus system because they simply do not work very well at all with Linux. Not just Ubuntu, but Linux in general. One of the effects of this is that hdmi out does not work. This is because, while you can run Linux just fine using the Intel graphics chip, that chip is not physically connected to the HDMI output. The HDMI is directly wired to the nVidia graphics chip, which, as I mentioned, doesn't work well.

You can probably find a lot of info about this by searching around for things like "inspiron 15R optimus linux" or "nvidia optimus linux"

In fact, for this very reason, we failed several laptops that came up for certification because the Optimus graphics were so problematic.

I really am sorry that you had to discover this the hard way.

Well, that's the answer - I hadn't noticed the nVidia card in the lspci output so was wondering if this was a regression, but as Jeff says we don't have any Inspiron 15R with 'Optimus' graphics certified for the reasons stated.

Thank you. There are too many laptop models using NVIDIA with Optimus. Is there any progress about working this on Ubuntu? Thats a great, useful technology and its a big minus for people who want to use Linux..

There is, so you may want to keep trying the development releases as support may become available at some point. I have no idea when though.

Following on what Brendan said, there's also Bumblebee:

http://www.martin-juhl.dk/2011/05/optimus-on-linux-problem-solved/

HOWEVER: This is completely, unequivocally, utterly unsupported. I have read, through the internet, so take that for what it's worth, that they have gotten some good success getting the Optimus systems working. However, you must remember that it is completely experimental and could cause very bad things to happen.

The disclaimer is important, I don't want you to think that we in any way officially suggest that as a solution. BUT if you like trying new, cutting edge things, it may be worth looking in to.

Hi Jeff;

firs of all, thank you for search and advice.

i already installed Bumblebee and it works well.
I can run any application with optirun [app_name] via console..

But unfortunately that HDMI still not working;
when i plug HDMI cable screen blinks and than it doesn' t recognize my TV on the system settings -> displays.

any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Ulas,

I would recommend you engage with the Bumblebee developers - as Jeff said this is totally not supported and we aren't really able to provide troubleshooting for third-party software which is itself experimental. Good luck with getting it to work though.