ASUS X553MA

This article covers configuration specific to this laptop's hardware.

Device Status Kernel modules X.org modules
Bluetooth adapter Does not work wl
GPU Works i915 intel_drv
Touchpad Works psmouse synaptics_drv
Wireless NIC Works wl

Hardware

Bluetooth adapter

Installing the Broadcom wireless#broadcom-wl driver will not help and the Bluetooth adapter is essentially inoperational.

GPU

GPU has kernel support and works out of the box.

For X.org drivers, install xf86-video-intel.

Touchpad

Install xf86-input-synaptics.

Note: linux-lts has no support for FocalTech touchpads and the device will remain in mouse emulation mode.

Wireless NIC

See Broadcom wireless#broadcom-wl.

Warning: Version 6.30.223.248 is unstable with linux in the interim, consider downgrading to linux-lts. Enabling the monitor mode causes a lockup as does somewhat heavy network traffic.
Note: The FLOSS driver b43 does not support LCN40 PHYs (as demonstrated that BCM43142, the chip this laptop sports, is one here) yet.

Troubleshooting

ACPI

Laptop freezes when booting Linux

Set the BIOS setting OS Selection in the Advanced menu to Windows 7.

It’s possible to boot into Linux by either disabling ACPI or overriding the DSDT, but some devices might no longer operate.

Unable to control screen backlight

Add kernel parameter video.use_native_backlight=1 to bootloader configuration.