Arch-Linux-on-a-ASUS-TUFF-ROG-laptop

how to install and use your's laptop functionallities on arch linux

Acknowledgements

Step 1. Installation

First install Arch Linux the normal way with, or without archinstall. Select Nvidia drivers (proprietary). choose Grub as bootloader if u dont want problems. As for Desktop Enviroment, i prefer gnome, choose it for needed extensions.

Step 2. Install YAY

i think yay is very needed, u should have it for more packages.

sudo pacman -S --needed git base-devel
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
cd yay
makepkg -si

Step 3. Asusctl

Follow the best tutorial on asus-linux site, on how to install asusctl, for rgb, power profiles, and gpu switching. https://asus-linux.org/guides/arch-guide/

Step 4. Mkinitcpio

open the Mkinitcpio file:

    sudo nano /etc/mkinitcpio.conf

u need to add the following into the modules.

  MODULES=(nvidia nvidia_modeset nvidia_uvm nvidia_drm amdgpu)

once u did that, save, and then rebuild it

    sudo mkinitcpio -p linux-g14

see i used linux-g14 as kernel to build, u will install it in step 3 on the asus-linux site, if u didnt then delete "-g14" leave just linux.

Step 5. Kernel Parameters.

u will need some parameters in the kernel or smth. I dont know what does all of them, some are for suspend on gdm, its just to work properly, on my system works, soo should on yours too.

    sudo nano /etc/default/grub

then where u see GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT , add the follwing in the " ".

    loglevel=3 quiet splash vt.global_cursor_default=0 systemd.show_status=auto rd.udev.log_level=3  nvidia-drm.modeset=1 amd_pstate=active amd_iommu=off idle=nomwait amdgpu.gpu_recovery=1

if uk what are u doing, then remove what u dont like here, but if your not, then leave them like that.

now u need to update grub, do this:

    grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

or use grub-customizer, its in aur, for graphical interface.

Step 6. NVIDIA Problems.

now as always NVIDIA is a pain in the ass, but we can make it to kinda work for us and to have good game experience, and overall experience.

With proprietary drivers that u installed with archinstall, it should work out of the box, but on gnome, please enable these:

    sudo systemctl enable nvidia-persistenced.service nvidia-suspend.service nvidia-hibernate.service nvidia-resume.service nvidia-powerd.service

works for me, it should work for u too.

now, run this to create a xorg config file for nvidia.

    sudo nvidia-xconfig -a

open the file

sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf

here in the section ServerLayout add the following

    Option         "AllowNVIDIAGPUScreens"

it should looks smth like this:

    Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "layout"
    Screen      0  "Screen0"
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
    Option         "AllowNVIDIAGPUScreens"  # here its the needed line.
EndSection

now, from interned, its says that this will make your dGPU (nvidia) when idle to go to performance mode P8, and to consume 2 to 5 wats, instead of 15w like how did on my system.

Step 7. Some optional things.

u will need some gnome extensions, that will make your life better.

install these:

asus gpu switcher extension: https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/5344/supergfxctl-gex/

power profile indicator: https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/6679/power-profile-indicator/

profile switcher based on battery or charging. https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/6583/auto-power-profile/

I found a cool udev rule to run applications on dedicated gpu, to not mess with settings and sometimes it dosent ever run on dedicated gpu.

Install switcheroo-control

yay -S switcheroo-control

then start and enable it

sudo systemctl enable switcheroo-control.service
sudo systemctl start switcheroo-control.service

now when u right click on a .desktop app u can see the option "Launch using Discrete Graphics Card"

To change keyboard rgb style, colors, bios settings, fan curves etc, use rog-cotrol-center app which has GUI and its interactive.

I recoment creating some shortcuts for rgb, and power profile, here is a tutorial from a guy from youtube. https://youtu.be/nbDpnot7sR0?si=_SrmPWu6Tk9QfG9K&t=669

Step 8. Enable Gnome Wayland

Xorg is bad, and outdated, and unusable no nvidia GPU, thats my opinion, the thing is that GDM, does not show it as option to hop on gnome wayland by default.

to do that just run in terminal:

    ln -s /dev/null /etc/udev/rules.d/61-gdm.rules

if it gives an error, put sudo before the command and run it again. Now u will see gnome-wayland as option in gdm.

Thats all

this is kinda what i did on my ASUS TUF Gaming A15 FA507NV, because i didnt find a specific tutorial for my laptop, soo i kinda tried myself. I installed STEAM, Lutris, with EA, Ubisoft Store, etc, everything works, and i have good gaming experience, no lags, high fps.

mooncoffee1 / Arch-Linux-on-a-ASUS-TUFF-ROG-laptop

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