HOWTO: Use the repository on K/Ubuntu 9.10 and 10.04

[voria]

'samsung-tools' is not available for karmic from the repository. Anyway it works if manually installed.
The easier way is to download the lucid version from the repository and install it manually in your karmic installation (a double click on the .deb file is enough). Also, make sure that the old 'samsung-scripts' is uninstalled.

[cragg.]

Hm...so, I downloaded the Samsung-Tools for Lucid (the .deb one). The keys still work but there isnt any graphical interface
What shall I do? I also downloaded PHC-intel client which installed automatically dkms and fakeroot... but nothing changed...
what have I done wrongly?

Thank you. =)
cragg.

[voria]

The 'phc-intel' is not needed in karmic, since the phc module is already included in the kernel package.

You can find the 'Samsung Tools Preferences' dialog in the 'System'->'Preferences' menu.
Also, there is a gnome applet you can add to your panel. Click with the right button on a gnome panel, then 'Add to panel...' and in the new window select 'Samsung Tools' and add it.

[cragg.]

Ahh, ok, THANK YOU! Adding it to the gnome-panel worked well.

But when I click on "preferences..." at the bottom of the drop-down-menu nothing happens... No window appears :S
I am sorry that Im getting on everybodies nerves :/
Best Regards.
cragg.

[cragg.]

SORRY! Everything works fine now... I only had to restart the session device...

Is there an HOW-TO of how using the Undervolting-Feature?

[voria]

As far as I know, no.
Anyway, it's not that hard to use it.

First of all, you need to install 'cpuburn'. It's an application born to stress the CPU in order to check if it's yet stable in conditions of overclocking. Of course, it can also be used to test if the CPU is stable when undervolted.

Now, I'll use my case as example, explaining how I found my lowest VIDs.

My CPU can work at 4 frequencies: 1600Mhz, 1333 Mhz, 1067 Mhz and 800 Mhz.
The default VIDs for them, in order, are: 39, 31, 23, 15.

I start with the higher frequency.
By using the "CPU frequencies" applet (add it to your gnome panel in the same way you did for the "Samsung Tools" applet), set the CPU to work at fixed 1600Mhz.
Then, lower its VID by 1 (39->38).
In a terminal, launch the command "burnMMX" and keep it running for some minutes (5~6).
If during this time the program does not crash, then the current VID is ok. In this case, lower the VID again by 1 (38->37) and repeat the test.
Do this until "burnMMX" crashes. When this happens, the lower stable VID for that frequency is found.
In my case, at 1600Mhz, "burnMMX" crashed with a VID of 23. So the lower stable VID is 24.

Now set the CPU to work at fixed 1333Mhz and repeat everything. Once the lower stable VID for 1333Mhz is found, set the CPU to work at fixed 1067Mhz and repeat everything. And so on.

At the end, I've found my best VIDs, which are: 24 16 15 15.

[cragg.]

Thank you =)

And is that bad for the CPU? How much energy do you save?
cragg.

[voria]

No, it's not bad at all.
The pros are lower power consuming (ie, longer battery life) and lower CPU temperature.
The only cons coming to my mind is system instability, but this only happens when using VIDs not safe or not correctly tested.

On my NC10, powertop reports a gain of 0.5W when CPU is working at 1600Mhz.

[voria]

Main post updated with info about using the repository with K/Ubuntu 10.04 - Lucid Lynx.

[mileski]

Hi voria,

the latest update of the kernel broke the keys for backlight. Now on my N150 Endi Fn+UP or Fn+Down ist not working anymore.

Whats the problem?

2.6.31-21-generic #60~ppa1~loms~karmic-Ubuntu

[voria]

Along with the new kernel, you also need the new 'samsung-backlight' built against it.
As you can see here, 'samsung-backlight' has not yet been built, it's yet in queue. According to extimated wait times, It will be available and ready for installation in the next few hours.

[mileski]

Thank you for the quick reply voria. I think that we should tell launchpad to give you another priority for the farm-servers for your project, because it has become a part of the daily live for the samsung netbook ubuntu users.

[slomoric]

Hi,

many thanks for your good work, voRia! What do you think, are your kernel modifications are compatible to the coming release of Lubuntu!? Will the FN keys work as they do in "normal" Ubuntu Lucid? I think Lubuntu is quiet a good alternative to Ubuntu on my N130 because of the slim LXDE.

Kind regards,

Richard

[voria]

Since Lubuntu it's just a variation of Ubuntu, I don't see why the repository should not work.

The FN keys are now managed by 'samsung-tools' and, unlike the old 'samsung-scripts', it does not depend anymore from gconf (ie, gnome) in order to work.
I've tested it only with ubuntu and kubuntu, but I think it works good even with xubuntu, lubuntu, etc.

[voria]

Thank you for the quick reply voria. I think that we should tell launchpad to give you another priority for the farm-servers for your project, because it has become a part of the daily live for the samsung netbook ubuntu users.

Well, I don't know if this can be done and if it's really necessary, since in normal situations packages are built in very short times.
I think these days the servers are overloaded because of the Lucid release, the situation should be back to normal soon.