The Dell Precision M4800 laptop is a mobile workstation released in late 2013. **Note:** The author of this article ordered the system pre-installed with Ubuntu, so some assumptions made in this article may differ if your system came pre-installed with Windows (e.g. Secure Boot). ## Contents * [1 System specifications](#System_specifications) * [1.1 Parts list](#Parts_list) * [1.2 lspci](#lspci) * [1.3 lsusb](#lsusb) * [2 Pre-installation notes](#Pre-installation_notes) * [3 What does not work](#What_does_not_work) ## System specifications ### Parts list **CPU:** Intel Core i7-4800MQ Processor (Quad Core, 6 MB Cache, 2.7 GHz, w/HD Graphics 4600) **Memory:** 16 GB (2x8 GB) 1600 MHz DDR3L **Storage:** Samsung 840 EVO 1 TB Solid State Drive **Display:** 39.6cm (15.6") UltraSharp QHD+ (3200x1800) Wide View Anti-Glare LED-backlit Premium Panel **Graphics:** NVIDIA Quadro K2100M w/2GB GDDR5 **Optical:** 8X DVD+/-RW Drive Slot Load **Wireless networking:** Dell Wireless 1601 2x2 802.11n+BT+60GHz (WiGig) **Keyboard:** Internal English Backlit Dual Pointing Keyboard ### lspci `# lspci` ``` 00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor DRAM Controller (rev 06) 00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor PCI Express x16 Controller (rev 06) 00:14.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family USB xHCI (rev 04) 00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family MEI Controller #1 (rev 04) 00:19.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation Ethernet Connection I217-LM (rev 04) 00:1a.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family USB EHCI #2 (rev 04) 00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset High Definition Audio Controller (rev 04) 00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #1 (rev d4) 00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #3 (rev d4) 00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #4 (rev d4) 00:1c.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #5 (rev d4) 00:1c.6 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #7 (rev d4) 00:1c.7 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #8 (rev d4) 00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family USB EHCI #1 (rev 04) 00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation QM87 Express LPC Controller (rev 04) 00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family 6-port SATA Controller 1 [AHCI mode] (rev 04) 00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family SMBus Controller (rev 04) 01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation GK106GLM [Quadro K2100M] (rev a1) 01:00.1 Audio device: NVIDIA Corporation GK106 HDMI Audio Controller (rev a1) 03:00.0 PCI bridge: Wilocity Ltd. Wil6200 PCI Express Root Port (rev 04) 04:00.0 PCI bridge: Wilocity Ltd. Wil6200 PCI Express Port (rev 04) 04:02.0 PCI bridge: Wilocity Ltd. Wil6200 Wireless PCI Express Port (rev 14) 04:03.0 PCI bridge: Wilocity Ltd. Wil6200 Wireless PCI Express Port (rev 14) 05:00.0 Network controller: Qualcomm Atheros AR9462 Wireless Network Adapter (rev 01) 15:00.0 SD Host controller: O2 Micro, Inc. Device 8520 (rev 01) ``` ### lsusb `# lsusb` ``` Bus 004 Device 003: ID 0a5c:5800 Broadcom Corp. BCM5880 Secure Applications Processor Bus 004 Device 002: ID 8087:8000 Intel Corp. Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub Bus 003 Device 003: ID 0c45:64d0 Microdia Bus 003 Device 002: ID 8087:8008 Intel Corp. Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub ``` ## Pre-installation notes The M4800 comes with a legacy BIOS and UEFI. The Arch installation media, version 2014.04.01, may not properly boot or install if using legacy BIOS and/or a MS-DOS partition table. Using the UEFI option with a GPT-partitioned hard drive was required to successfully complete the installation process. The M4800 *will not* give you a usable system *unless* `nomodeset` is added to the kernel command line. This is required for both the Arch installation media and post-installation. Because `nomodeset` is required even after booting, use of the [Nouveau](/index.php/Nouveau "Nouveau") driver is not possible because Nouveau requires KMS. If following [SSD memory cell clearing](/index.php/SSD_memory_cell_clearing "SSD memory cell clearing"), after boot the SSD drive (SK hynix SH920 2.5 7MM 512GB) may be set to the `frozen` state. Ejecting the SSD and then re-inserting the SSD cleared the `frozen` state. After clearing the `frozen` state, the instructions in [SSD memory cell clearing](/index.php/SSD_memory_cell_clearing "SSD memory cell clearing") were followed successfully and the drive was cleared. ## What does not work * The brightness up/down buttons do not work in [Cinnamon](/index.php/Cinnamon "Cinnamon") or at the virtual console without X (untested on other [desktop environments](/index.php/Desktop_environments "Desktop environments")). Interestingly, [redshift](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=redshift) is able to adjust the display brightness. * When Cinnamon locks the screen due to inactivity, pressing keys or moving the mouse does not automatically turn the display back on to allow unlocking the screen. A workaround is to press `Ctrl+Alt+F2` followed by `Ctrl+Alt+F1`, which switches from TTY1 to TTY2 and back again. * Switching TTYs with `Ctrl+Alt+F*X*` after X has started does not present the user with a usable TTY. * When closing the GUI (e.g. by logging out of Cinnamon), the screen goes black, and the virtual console does not appear like it should.