Ubuntu Wiki

Poulsbo (GMA500) Support in Karmic (9.10)

Start by downloading lucazade's psb-kernel-* packages from http://swiss.ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=7773647&postcount=13

Following code samples are stripped from my install-poulsbo.sh, almost every command listed here requires sudo appended in front.

Adding required PPAs

echo 'deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-mobile/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main' >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ubuntu-mobile.list

echo 'deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-mobile/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main' >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ubuntu-mobile.list

echo 'deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/albertomilone/poulsbo-graphics/ubuntu jaunty main ' >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/poulsbo-graphics-alberto-milone.list

echo 'deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/albertomilone/poulsbo-graphics/ubuntu jaunty main' >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/poulsbo-graphics-alberto-milone.list

Keys for PPAs

apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys C6598A30

apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 99C0198F

apt-get update

apt-get install  dkms fakeroot

apt-get install libdrm-poulsbo1

apt-get install poulsbo-driver-2d poulsbo-driver-3d psb-firmware

Install downloaded psb-kernel-* packages

dpkg -i psb-kernel-*

echo "blacklist i915" >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf

update-initramfs -u

Create xorg.conf with following content and whitelist psb in /usr/bin/compiz by adding "psb" to the WHITELIST line.

Section "Device"
        Identifier      "GMA500"
        Option "AccelMethod" "EXA"
        Option "DRI" "on"
        Option "MigrationHeuristic" "greedy"
        Option "IgnoreACPI" "yes"
        Driver "psb"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
    Mode    0666
EndSection

Kernel parameters (in grub).

If you have a Vaio-P or if you are experiencing extremely slow performance (less than 14 fps running "/usr/bin/xscreensaver/glblur -fps -window") add "mem=2000mb" to /etc/default/grub, at the end of GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT, if using grub2, or at the end of the "# defoptions=" line in /boot/grub/menu.lst. For both grub versions run update-grub after editing those files. This reserves memory for the video driver and should improve your 3D performance.

Attention: For machines with only 1GB ram, the entry should be "mem=980mb"

Poulsbo (GMA500) Support in Intrepid (8.10) and Jaunty (9.04)

The drivers for the Poulsbo chipset are shipped in the ubuntu-mobile PPA.

Add the ubuntu-mobile PPA

Edit a file called /etc/apt/sources.list/psb.list, and add the following line to it: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-mobile/ppa/ubuntu YOUR RELEASE HERE main

You may also wish to add the key to the keyring by following the instructions here.

Which kernel are you running?

If you are using a kernel that you have compiled yourself, or are not using the latest kernel provided by either Intrepid or Jaunty, install the psb-kernel-source package (and make sure the headers for your kernel are available!) and then remove psb-modules.

Install packages

Install poulsbo-driver-2d if you only require 2D, and poulsbo-driver-3d if you also require 3D acceleration to work. Make sure your user is a member of the video group before using 3D.

Common problems

X doesn't start

Double check that the psb kernel module can be loaded into the running kernel by running modprobe psb.

Other problems?

If you're still having problems, please mail ubuntu-mobile@lists.ubuntu.com, and do not submit bug reports.