ASUS N550JV - ArchWiki

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Hardware | PCI/USB ID | Working?
--- | --- | ---
Intel |  | Yes
Nvidia |  | Yes
Ethernet |  | Yes
Wireless |  | Yes
Audio |  | Yes
Touchpad |  | Yes
Camera |  | Yes
Card Reader |  | Yes
Bluetooth |  | Yes

ASUS N550JV - this article covers hardware specific configuration. All topics covered can be performed after an installation of Arch Linux has been finished and the machine rebooted into it.

For a general overview of laptop-related articles and recommendations, see Laptop.

## Configuration

### Video

#### Drivers

See Intel Graphics, Hardware Acceleration and NVIDIA Optimus.

#### Brightness

In order to be able to adjust the screen brightness using `Fn+F5` and `Fn+F6` you need to set the kernel parameter `acpi_osi=` (the space is required).

### Audio

Install PulseAudio.

After installation, reboot the laptop to ensure all modules are loaded. Check if the fallback device is correctly set to Built-in Audio Analog Stereo with pavucontrol. See PulseAudio/Troubleshooting#Fallback device is not respected for more information. Also check for muted devices:

    $ alsamixer -c PCH

Note: alsa-utils provides `alsamixer` and `amixer` shell programs.

### Keyboard

#### Brightness

Key mappings `Fn+F3` and `Fn+F4` should work with most desktop environments out of the box. If not, install asus-kbd-backlightAUR, load kernel module `asus-nb-wmi` to control hotkeys, then start and enable the `asus-kbd-backlight.service`.

Now you can control the keyboard backlighting using:

    $ asus-kbd-backlight up
    $ asus-kbd-backlight down
    $ asus-kbd-backlight max
    $ asus-kbd-backlight off
    $ asus-kbd-backlight night
    $ asus-kbd-backlight 2
    $ asus-kbd-backlight show

#### Incorrectly mapped buttons

`Media` and `Fn+F7` buttons are not mapped correctly. It is not necessary to remap `Fn+F7` shortcut, because it works without any additional configuration.

Install xorg-xmodmap, which provides app `xmodmap`. Generate a xmodmap config file if you have not done it already:

    $ xmodmap -pke > ~/.Xmodmap

Then open it and locate keycode 234:

    ~/.Xmodmap

    ...
    keycode 233 = XF86MonBrightnessUp NoSymbol XF86MonBrightnessUp
    keycode 234 = XF86AudioMedia NoSymbol XF86AudioMedia
    keycode 235 = XF86Display NoSymbol XF86Display
    ...

Now move `XF86AudioMedia NoSymbol XF86AudioMedia` text on the empty keycode 248 and leave keycode 234 empty:

    ~/.Xmodmap

    ...
    keycode 234 =
    ...
    ...
    ...
    keycode 247 =
    keycode 248 = XF86AudioMedia NoSymbol XF86AudioMedia
    keycode 249 =
    ...

Optionally, for `Fn+F7` give some value on keycode 253.

    ~/.Xmodmap

    ...
    keycode 252 =
    keycode 253 = XF86Launch0 NoSymbol XF86Launch0
    keycode 254 =
    ...

The next step is apply changes:

    $ xmodmap ~/.Xmodmap

Test with `xev` or try to bind something on media button. `Fn+F7` should be controlled by hardware and switch display without any additional configuration. Also, if you are satisfied, put the command above to Xinitrc.

    ~/.xinitrc

    { sleep 10; xmodmap ~/.Xmodmap; } &

### Touchpad

Install libinput. If there are any problems, try Touchpad Synaptics.

## Troubleshooting

### Audio

#### Dual boot

If you boot your laptop right after Windows to Linux, sound might only work through headphones jack, but not through speakers and subwoofer. The quick fix is to suspend your laptop and resume it back.

#### Bug

The internal speakers seems not to play any sound until volume is being increased significantly. This also occurs on Windows operation system as well as on Linux.

#### Sound pops twice during shutdown and sleep

Create and enable the following two services:

    /etc/systemd/system/beep-disable.service

    [Unit]
    Description=Unloads audio module to prevent beep on shutdown
    DefaultDependencies=no

    [Service]
    Type=oneshot
    ExecStart=/bin/sh -c 'rmmod snd_hda_intel'

    [Install]
    WantedBy=shutdown.target suspend.target

    /etc/systemd/system/beep-disable-wakeup.service

    [Unit]
    Description=Load sound module back on system resume
    After=suspend.target
    Wants=local-system-resume.service
    Before=local-system-resume.service

    [Service]
    Type=oneshot
    ExecStart=/bin/sh -c 'modprobe snd_hda_intel'

    [Install]
    WantedBy=suspend.target

#### Crackling sound

Add `tsched=0` to pulseaudio config file as per instructions at PulseAudio/Troubleshooting#Glitches, skips or crackling.

### Failed to initialize the NVIDIA GPU

If you receive error similar to this `Failed to initialize the NVIDIA GPU at PCI:1:0:0 (GPU fallen off the bus / RmInitAdapter failed!)`, see here.

### Messages during console login

After booting up, when Linux asks you to enter your login and password, some messages might appear similar to these:

    Nouveau E[    PBUS][0000:01:00.0] MIMO write of 0x00000002 FAULT at 0x4188ac [ IBUS]
    Nouveau E[    DRM] Pointer to TMDS table invalid
    Nouveau E[    DRM] Pointer to flat panel table invalid

To resolve, refer to #Drivers.

### USB devices and sleep

Note: You might experience USB devices (e.g. mouse) are not being turned on immediately after wake up. Current 4.9 kernel (and probably further versions) does not have this issue and below fix might not be required

Hibernate via systemd works out of the box when the swap space or file is correctly identified in the resume kernel parameter. However, even though the system suspends properly it will lock up when resuming. This is due to the USB controller not properly turning off on its own. Create two the following files as shown:

    /etc/systemd/system/root-suspend.service

    [Unit]
    Description=Local system suspend actions
    Before=sleep.target

    [Service]
    Type=oneshot
    ExecStart=-/usr/bin/rmmod ehci_pci ; /usr/bin/rmmod ehci_hcd ; /usr/bin/rmmod xhci_pci ; /usr/bin/rmmod xhci_hcd

    [Install]
    WantedBy=sleep.target

    /etc/systemd/system/root-resume.service

    [Unit]
    Description=Local system resume actions
    After=suspend.target

    [Service]
    Type=oneshot
    ExecStart=/usr/bin/modprobe ehci_hcd ; /usr/bin/modprobe ehci_pci ; /usr/bin/modprobe xhci_hcd ; /usr/bin/modprobe xhci_pci

    [Install]
    WantedBy=suspend.target

Then enable `root-suspend.service` and `root-resume.service` as root.

#### Battery charging issues

This battery in this laptop can only be accessed by removing the bottom of the entire laptop, which requires removing 10 TORX-5 screws. That there appears to be a power issue related to the recharging USB port (the USB port with a lightning bolt) under Linux. When an externally powered device is plugged into the charging USB port and the system is power cycled, the battery indicator will begin flashing orange and the system no longer recognizes or charges the battery. One way to reset the charging circuit is to force shutdown by holding the power button for a few seconds. See this thread at the Ubuntu forums for other possible solutions.

### Card reader does not detect cards

Due to unknown reasons, card reader does not detect cards. To resolve this, quickly pull out the card and insert it back for several times (leave inserted afterwards) and after few seconds card will be detected in your system.

## Tips and tricks

### Fan control

See Fan speed control.

Here is a configuration file, which was tested on Asus N550JV and was used with `asus-nb-wmi` kernel module. It however might need some tweaking:

    /etc/fancontrol

    INTERVAL=10
    FCTEMPS=/sys/devices/platform/asus-nb-wmi/hwmon/hwmon[[:print:]]*/pwm1=/sys/devices/platform/coretemp.0/hwmon/hwmon[[:print:]]*/temp1_input
    FCFANS= /sys/devices/platform/asus-nb-wmi/hwmon/hwmon[[:print:]]*/pwm1=/sys/devices/platform/asus-nb-wmi/hwmon/hwmon[[:print:]]*/fan1_input
    MINTEMP=/sys/devices/platform/asus-nb-wmi/hwmon/hwmon[[:print:]]*/pwm1=50
    MAXTEMP=/sys/devices/platform/asus-nb-wmi/hwmon/hwmon[[:print:]]*/pwm1=80
    MINSTART=/sys/devices/platform/asus-nb-wmi/hwmon/hwmon[[:print:]]*/pwm1=40
    MINSTOP=/sys/devices/platform/asus-nb-wmi/hwmon/hwmon[[:print:]]*/pwm1=10

Here is a configuration file, which was tested on Asus N550JV and was used with `asus-fan` kernel module. It however might need some tweaking:

    /etc/fancontrol

    INTERVAL=10
    FCTEMPS=/sys/devices/platform/asus_fan/hwmon/hwmon[[:print:]]*/pwm1=/sys/devices/platform/coretemp.0/hwmon/hwmon[[:print:]]*/temp1_input /sys/devices/platform/asus_fan/hwmon/hwmon[[:print:]]*/pwm2=/sys/devices/platform/asus_fan/hwmon/hwmon[[:print:]]*/temp1_input
    FCFANS=/sys/devices/platform/asus_fan/hwmon/hwmon[[:print:]]*/pwm1=/sys/devices/platform/asus_fan/hwmon/hwmon[[:print:]]*/fan1_input /sys/devices/platform/asus_fan/hwmon/hwmon[[:print:]]*/pwm2=/sys/devices/platform/asus_fan/hwmon/hwmon[[:print:]]*/fan2_input
    MINTEMP=/sys/devices/platform/asus_fan/hwmon/hwmon[[:print:]]*/pwm1=50 /sys/devices/platform/asus_fan/hwmon/hwmon[[:print:]]*/pwm2=45
    MAXTEMP=/sys/devices/platform/asus_fan/hwmon/hwmon[[:print:]]*/pwm1=80 /sys/devices/platform/asus_fan/hwmon/hwmon[[:print:]]*/pwm2=90
    MINSTART=/sys/devices/platform/asus_fan/hwmon/hwmon[[:print:]]*/pwm1=40 /sys/devices/platform/asus_fan/hwmon/hwmon[[:print:]]*/pwm2=40
    MINSTOP=/sys/devices/platform/asus_fan/hwmon/hwmon[[:print:]]*/pwm1=10 /sys/devices/platform/asus_fan/hwmon/hwmon[[:print:]]*/pwm2=10

### Enable full performance of GPU

Note: This only applicable if you have BIOS 207 or BIOS 208 installed. BIOS 206 and earlier are not affected.

If you have BIOS 208 or 207 installed and tried to play something heavy, you noticed that for a few seconds game runs for 60fps, but most of the time - 20-40fps. This is strange behaviour, which happens on Windows as well as on Linux. Even if the temperature limit is set to 90c, GPU throttling occurs at 75c or even all the time (with a feeling that GPU only runs at 60-70% of its full potential).

To fix this, flash bios 206. If your BIOS version is newer than this, you must follow this guide, which requires you to have Windows installed on this laptop.

Note: If you get error while installing WinFlash that this is only supported on Asus notebooks - first you need to install ATKACPI driver.

### Special keys for window managers

If you prefer using a Window manager rather than a Desktop environment, most settings will not work out of the box, so you might need to manually bind every single `FN` button combination. How to bind, see Extra keyboard keys in Xorg.

Buttons | Output
--- | ---
Media Button | `XF86AudioMedia` (xmodmap)
`Fn+F1` | `XF86Sleep`
`Fn+F2` | `XF86WLAN`
`Fn+F3` | `XF86KbdBrightnessDown`
`Fn+F4` | `XF86KbdBrightnessUp`
`Fn+F5` | `XF86MonBrightnessDown`
`Fn+F6` | `XF86MonBrightnessUp`
`Fn+F7` | `XF86Launch0` (xmodmap)
`Fn+F8` | `XF86Display`
`Fn+F9` | `XF86TouchpadToggle`
`Fn+F10` | `XF86AudioMute`
`Fn+F11` | `XF86AudioLowerVolume`
`Fn+F12` | `XF86AudioRaiseVolume`
`Fn+c` | `XF86Launch1`
`Fn+v` | `XF86WebCam`
`Fn+Space` | `XF86Launch6`
`Fn+NumEnter` | `XF86Calculator`
`Fn+Left` | `XF86AudioPrev`
`Fn+Right` | `XF86AudioNext`
`Fn+Up` | `XF86AudioStop`
`Fn+Down` | `XF86AudioPlay`
`Fn+Delete` | `Ins`

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