Ubuntu Wiki

This page details support for the Intel GMA500 "Poulsbo" video hardware in various Ubuntu releases.

• Karmic (9.10)

• Jaunty (9.04)

• Intrepid (8.10)

• Hardy (8.04)

Karmic (9.10) - New Method

1) PPA-based (UbuntuMobile & Milone):
wget http://gma500re.altervista.org/scripts/poulsbo_ppa.sh && sh ./poulsbo_ppa.sh

or

2) FTP-based (no ppa repositories):
wget http://gma500re.altervista.org/scripts/poulsbo.sh && sh ./poulsbo.sh

Note: 1)The above method works with the original Karmic kernel - 2.6.31-14. When the above scripts are used with current versions [2.6.31-17+], it causes problems. It is suggested that kernel be held at 2.6.31-14 for best results. [Audio failure on Acer 751 has been reported for later kernels].

2)However, if you decide to test a new kernel, after the kernel update, the following steps are needed to re-enable the driver. Prior to a computer reboot, print these instructions so you have them available. Choose a "Recovery" option from the boot menu, and run the following commands from prompt. There are two ways to re-enable the driver, the first one is the easiest:

# dpkg-reconfigure psb-kernel-source

If it fails, try the second set of commands:

# apt-get purge psb-kernel-source
# wget http://gma500re.altervista.org/_altervista_ht/psb-kernel-source_4.41.2-0ubuntu1~910um1_all.deb -O /tmp/psb-kernel-source_4.41.2-0ubuntu1~910um1_all.deb
# dpkg -i /tmp/psb-kernel-source_4.41.2-0ubuntu1~910um1_all.deb

If you want to use VAAPI video acceleration, look at this howto: http://linux-tipps.blogspot.com/2009/12/vaapi-accelerated-hd-video-on-msi-wind.html

If you get a crash with kernel null pointer dereference on loading the psb module, try this: http://linux-tipps.blogspot.com/2009/12/x-video-finally-works-linux-on-msi-wind.html

Karmic (9.10) - Old Method

Run the following commands as root:

#
# Add 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


#
# Add keys for PPAs
#

apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 6699F3D9

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

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


#
# Install new packages
#
# Note: installing psb-kernel-source may take a while.
#

apt-get update

apt-get install dkms \
                fakeroot \
                libdrm-poulsbo1 \
                poulsbo-driver-2d \
                poulsbo-driver-3d \
                psb-firmware \
                psb-kernel-source \
                psb-kernel-headers \
                psb-modules

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

Now reboot, and your video should work correctly.

If it does not and fails while DKMS is trying to build your psb module, try downloading lucazades psb-kernel-*.deb packages from http://swiss.ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=7773647&postcount=13 and then do a:

 sudo dpkg -i psb-kernel-* 

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"

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.

Hardy (8.04)

The Poulsbo hardware is not supported in the community version of Ubuntu. However, it is reputed to "just work" on Hardy version shipped by a netbook manufacturer.

For example, the support for GMA 500 hardware by Dell Ubuntu Hardy 8.04 is provided by the following repository

deb http://dell-mini.archive.canonical.com/updates hardy-dell-mini public

Common problems

X doesn't start

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

3D Graphics (OpenGL) does not work after suspend and resume

This is a known bug with psb kernel driver. Due to partial close nature of the driver, because Intel has not released an open source driver, the bug fix is currently no available. There are reports¹ that a new driver will be available shortly.

Additional Reading

Why GMA 500 hardware doesn't work out of the box? Read "Blaming Intel for how the world is" by Henry Kingman

Other problems?

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