Ubuntu on the Zephyrus G14
Ubuntu on the Zephyrus G14
I've been considering the G14, and it looks like it could be the ideal laptop for me. However, after checking its compatibility with Ubuntu, I received some frustrating results. Since Ubuntu is my primary operating system, this compatibility is essential for me. Many users have faced issues with fan control, GPU power management, and other settings, but there seems to be some improvement. Do you know anyone who can help make Ubuntu function properly on the G14 without these problems? Finding a solution would really make this laptop a great choice for my daily use. Thanks!
It functions on Arch using a modified kernel, rog-core, and PRIME. Compatibility with Manjaro Things of Interest is likely. https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Laptop/ASUS https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/PRIME https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/rog-core/ https://github.com/flukejones/rog-core https://aur.archlinux.org/linux-g14.git https://lab.retarded.farm/zappel/asus-rog-zephyrus-g14/ Required for AUR packages. Please note that AUR packages are built from source. Install with pacman -Sy base-devel git For AUR package installs via Makepkg, you must manually update it similarly: https://aur.archlinux.org/rog-core.git && cd rog-core makepkg -si cd .. git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/linux-g14.git && cd linux-g-14 This process might take a long time to complete. For AUR package installs using Yay, you can run "yay -Syu" to refresh everything: https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git && cd yay makepkg -si yay -Sy rog-core yay -S linux-g14 This setup also requires sudo, grub-mkconfig, and systemctl configuration. Installing nvidia-dkms and nvidia-prime is recommended.
For using the GPU effectively, consider updating Mesa to a version supported by Ubuntu. If you need it, Arch or Manjaro remain the most viable options.
I'm working on G14 with Ubuntu for a month. The stock kernel on Ubuntu 20.04 was quite harsh. I even thought about switching to Windows temporarily... Most issues disappeared after updating the kernel. It's straightforward to compile the mainline kernel, and here are the steps: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/MainlineBuilds. You can also use a script for assistance: https://github.com/pimlie/ubuntu-mainline-kernel.sh. I'm using kernel 5.7 with Nvidia 440 drivers on my 1650ti, and the LED matrix is on the back. All peripherals function well—GPUs, fans, power management, HDMI work fine. In iGPU mode I get around 7 hours of battery life, which isn't much longer. I don't have control over the LED matrix, and sound control needs some tweaks (the Arch Wiki Nayr438 has great help). The keyboard backlight is fixed, but the extra function keys aren't working except for volume up/down. I'm planning to move to Linux 5.8.8 soon, but I need to experiment with my current build more.
You're experiencing an issue with the keyboard backlight not turning on on your G14 laptop running Ubuntu 20.04 with kernel 5.8. Since you're new to Linux, here are some steps you can try:
1. **Check BIOS/UEFI Settings**
- Restart your laptop and enter BIOS/UEFI (usually by pressing Del, F2, or Esc during boot).
- Look for keyboard settings or display power options.
2. **Enable Display Power Management**
- In BIOS/UEFI, navigate to power management settings.
- Ensure "Enable display power management" is active.
3. **Test with a Different Keyboard**
- Try using another keyboard to see if the issue is specific to your original one.
4. **Check for Hardware Issues**
- Inspect the backlight circuitry or power supply.
- If possible, test with a different monitor to rule out display problems.
5. **Update or Reinstall Drivers**
- Update your graphics drivers via `sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade`
- Or try reinstalling the display driver.
6. **Use System Settings**
- Go to System Settings → Display → Power Management → Toggle on "Enable display power management."
If none of these work, consider checking the motherboard manual or contacting a support forum for your specific model. Let me know what you find!