Installing Gentoo on Acer Aspire 4736z

Last updated: 12 December 2009

General Hardware Specifications of Acer Aspire 4736z:

Hardware Components
Status under Linux
Notes
Pentium Dual-Core CPU T4200 @ 2.00GHz Works No special procedure required during installation.
14" Acer CineCrystal TFT Display Works No special configuration required
Intel Mobile 4 Graphics Controller Works xf86-video-intel with i915 DRM module (no Kernel Mode Setting)
3GB DDR RAM Works No special configuration required
2.5" 250GB 5400RPM SATA HDD Works Uses ICH9M/M-E SATA AHCI Controller. Deselect ATA/RLL/MFM support, select only new libata driver, then CONFIG_SATA_AHCI
Built-in Intel HD Audio Mostly Works select snd-hda-intel, build as a module. Add 'model=acer' to modprobe options. Built-in mic does not work, external mic works when selected in alsamixer
Atheros AR928X Wireless Network Adapter Works select ATH9K, build as module. Also select cfg80211 and mac80211, both as modules, and do NOT select lib80211. Configured using wicd, wpa_supplicant
Atheros AR8121/AR8113/AR8114 PCI-E Ethernet Controller Works select ATL1E as a module, not built-in, under 1000mbit Ethernet section of network drivers
CD/DVD Drive - CDDVDW TS-L633B Works No special procedure required during installation
Touchpad Mouse Works uses xf86-input-evdev, and generic PS/2 mouse driver. Should build 'psmouse' as a module, not built-in, and change 'proto=imps' in modprobe configuration
Acer CrystalEye Webcam Works Find USB_VIDEO_CLASS in the kernel, build as module. Module should be 'uvcvideo'. Shows in lsusb as "04f2:b044 Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd". Works in Cheese, Skype, and Kopete

This laptop is operating under Kernel version 2.6.32-zen3

It has been tested with the following kernel versions:
Basic Installation of Gentoo:
Unresolved issues
Configuration Files