🔗Installing
To install Arch on all ASUS laptops just follow the regular installation guide
Only issue which might appear is nouveau crashing the installation, this can be solved by adding a boot parameter modprobe.blacklist=nouveau to the kernel cmdline before booting the installation media.
To edit the installation media boot entry just press e on it and then put the blacklist parameter at the end off all parameters. Example:
The same parameter can be used to boot the system after installing as long you don't install nvidia drivers.
🔗Repo
g14 repo contains all the tools you need on a ROG laptop precompiled for you. g14 is only a name and all tools from it apply to most ROG laptops Before adding the repo you need to add the repo sign key to your pacman-key. Run the following commands to add it:
pacman-key --recv-keys 8F654886F17D497FEFE3DB448B15A6B0E9A3FA35
pacman-key --finger 8F654886F17D497FEFE3DB448B15A6B0E9A3FA35
pacman-key --lsign-key 8F654886F17D497FEFE3DB448B15A6B0E9A3FA35
pacman-key --finger 8F654886F17D497FEFE3DB448B15A6B0E9A3FA35
This should show output similar to this:
If you have any problems check if /etc/pacman.d/gnupg/gpg.conf doesn't have specified the keyserver or make sure it is hkp://keyserver.ubuntu.com
If you still have problems check if you are not running some active VPN connection, this does sometimes cause problems when fetching the server.
If you still have problems you can do it the less proper way by running those commands:
wget "https://keyserver.ubuntu.com/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0x8b15a6b0e9a3fa35" -O g14.sec
sudo pacman-key -a g14.sec
After that to get the repo add to your /etc/pacman.conf at the end:
[g14]
Server = https://arch.asus-linux.org
You could use a mirror instead if the origin has slow connection. Following is a list of available servers:
https://arch.asus-linux.org # Germany, origin
https://naru.jhyub.dev/$repo # Republic of Korea
After adding the repo run a full system update before you go to install tools from the repo:
pacman -Suy
🔗Asusctl - custom fan profiles, anime, led control etc.
The recommended way to install asusctl is using g14 pacman repo. Packages like asusctl-git from AUR aren't supported. Also installing manually from cloned git isn't supported. For installing it run:
pacman -S asusctl
asusd service is triggered by a udev rule after the keyboard driver is ready, the service doesn't need to be enabled and is not supposed to be.
asusctl needs power-profiles-daemon installed and running. It gets installed automatic when installing asusctl but you need to enable it:
systemctl enable --now power-profiles-daemon.service
Be aware that some functions or asusctl need kernel level drivers support, take a look at the "Custom kernel section"
🔗Supergfxctl - graphics switching
The same rules as for asusctl, installing:
pacman -S supergfxctl
Enable and start the systemd service:
systemctl enable --now supergfxd
supergfxctl can be used without asusctl. Currently installing asusctl installs supergfxctl as a dependency but that will be changed in the future.
🔗ROG Control Center
ROG Control Center is a GUI tool for configuring few aspects of asusctl and supergfxctl. It was previously part of the asusctl package, but has now been separated as its own package in G14 repo. After adding the repo to /etc/pacman.conf as stated above, then you can install the tool:
pacman -S rog-control-center
🔗Custom kernel - drivers fixes, hardware support
Newer devices often require custom kernel with patches, that kernel is also available in the g14 pacman repo, to install it just run:
pacman -Sy linux-g14 linux-g14-headers
Again, don't get confused by the name, it exists only for historical reasons.
If you are using a custom kernel use the nvidia-dkms package for nvidia drivers, the regular nvidia package works only with stock Arch kernel
Currently all models needs a custom kernel, starting with 5.15 2020 models will only miss custom fan curve option.
There is also a xanmod kernel with all the patches needed xanmod-rog which might give you better performance in games.
After installing the new kernel you need to regenerate your boot menu or add a new boot entry depending on what boot manager you are using. For GRUB that will be:
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
For others refer to their documentation/Arch Wiki page. You can check currently booted kernel with command uname -r. It should give you for example:
6.1.6-arch1-g14-1
The -g14 part is the important one.
🔗Other distros based on Arch
To ease the installation you can use other distro based on Arch, only Manjaro is highly not recommend (it is not really based on Arch and might not be compatible with points above and things might break with upgrades).
Recommended ones are: EndeavourOS, RebornOS, Garuda.
Blacklisting nouveau might be still needed.
🔗EndeavourOS
When installing EndeavourOS don't use the option with Nvidia drivers preinstalled, this installs configs with might conflict with supergfxctl and installs the driver with works only with stock kernel. Use the default install option then install nvidia-dkms post install.
Has this guide helped you set up your machine?
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