HOWTO: Intel GMA 500 (Poulsbo) on Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx
UPDATE 5/31/2010 – thanks to bibitte
This script is not valid anymore (well it works, but there is a newer, better method).
use this PPA repository, you can see instructions here: http://code.google.com/p/gma500/wiki/PPARepository
A little heads up to every angry Intel GMA 500, “Poulsbo” chip-powered netbook owner who has not been following this great thread on the Ubuntu Forums: a user called Lucazade, the main driving force behind the 9.10 script, brings you the new modified Poulsbo driver install script.
Owners of netbooks like the Asus EeePC 1101HA, Dell Mini v10, MSI X320, Sony Vaio P and similar Poulsbo machines can now rejoice because you can install Lucid Lynx and have acceptable graphics support right after installing Lucazade’s patch.
If you already installed the patch on a previous Ubuntu version, try to clean your system with the following command:
sudo apt-get remove –purge poulsbo-* psb-firmware psb-kernel-* xpsb-glx* xserver-xorg-video-psb* libdrm-poulsbo1* libva1 libva1-*
Then get the patch:
wget http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1338581/Gma500/scripts/poulsbo_lucid.sh && sh ./poulsbo_lucid.sh
The patch now reportedly works, but it is still being improved. I am not the author of this script and haven’t yet had the chance to try it on my own machine. If you are having trouble installing or want to troubleshoot please visit the Poulsbo thread on the Ubuntu Forums. If the script works for you, please also take the chance to thank Lucazade.


thanks heaps!!!
I’m based in china though, and yesterday they blocked dropbox.
friggin ducks!!!
Hello
for purge option, I never try -purge, but, I think is –purge instead.
And, if I try why SH
wget http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1338581/Gma500/scripts/poulsbo_lucid.sh && sh ./poulsbo_lucid.sh
Does’nt work, we have to use bash. (source in the forum http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=9292208&postcount=805)
And for finish, thank you for you usefull article, I found it in few clic.
bye
I add ) to close to end of link for forum, and, for – -purge the 2 – is replace by one double ? you blog engine do that ?
Normally, it shouldn’t.
[...] HOWTO: Intel GMA 500 (Poulsbo) on Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx [...]
Great news!
This script and patches work on my Asus 1201HAB with Ubuntu Lucid Lynx 10.04. I have my resolution back to 1366 x 768 on my 12.1 inch screen. Things look great and the video functionality is much improved as well.
Once again the Linux community provides the support that companies do not, Intel in this case dropped the ball. I am always amazed how, in the Linux community, somebody is always working to help improve our lives.
Spread the word about this patch.
My thanks to Lucazade!! Question: Will there be a PPA available to keep it updated?
Where do we contact him directly?
Thank you!
Works fine on VAIO P VGN-P21ZR.
But only after one manual fix : add mem=1500mb to my kernel opts (grub.cfg).
Looking forward to see your packages in repositories!!!
Thank you very much, Lucazade !
Working great on Acer 751h ZA3 netbook at 1366×768 resolution. YouTube streaming is fluid as well as scrolling. Thank you.
Very glad that the patch works for everyone, I’m just helping to spread the word.
As I said, you can thank / contact Lucazade by visiting the thread I linked to in the blogpost.
I’ve tried that script on my machine, PICO820 (a small embedded PC platform from Axiomtek). After finish running the script and reboot, the screen is always blank. No keyboard response at all. What should I do?
Hi there.
I have installed Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid (notebook edition) on my Sony Vaio P series laptop. After running the Ubuntu update manager, I have followed the instructions above – it all seems to run ok – no error messages. But after a reboot, I get a black screen with no response from keyboard or mouse (although pushing the power button does turn it off). I have tried changing xorg.conf and even deleting it completely but it makes no difference.
Any help would be appreciated.
Many thanks.
@Ben Try booting to a fail safe terminal and running “dpkg-reconfigure psb-kernel-source” as root.
~Jeff
I have an asus eeepc1201, and it worked perfect.
Thanks to all those who made things possible, now especially to Lucazade
Worked great on my Sony VGN-P688E. I did something like the following:
$ wget http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1338581/Gma500/scripts/poulsbo_lucid.sh
$ sudo bash ./poulsbo_lucid.sh
Edit /etc/default/grub as follows
old line: GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=”quiet splash”
new line: GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=”quiet splash mem=1500mb”
$ sudo update-grub
reboot
It’s like night and day. Even scrolling in Terminal was slow before, and not videos work fine. Thanks so much!
this script is not valid anymore.
use this PPA repository you can see instruction here : http://code.google.com/p/gma500/wiki/PPARepository
Can you modify your article and indicate this?
I found it on the thread that you quote.
I’m sorry for my english (I’m french)
Thx
It work’s fine in Ubuntu Remix 10.04 and Dell Inspiron Mini 10.
Thanx for this great Script.
I got Lynx: “Error 7″, what am i doing wrong?
@bibitte
No need to be sorry about your english, it is great.
I am sorry for my (lack of) french, and that is after studying for 4 years!
Thanks for the update on the PPA
The newer script did not work for me (Asus T91), but this one did. Thank you!
[...] still socks, but people have started porting drivers that actually works to [...]
[...] HOWTO: Intel GMA 500 (Poulsbo) on Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx [...]
So far, so good. Works on a Dell Mini 10 if you only use the built-in screen.
Restrictions: Since the resolution is not adjustable, some windows “fall off the edge” of the screen. When used with an external HDMI/DVI screen, cannot turn off laptop.
I’m looking forward to more fixes for better configure-ability, but this is by far the best patch.
@Sathit:
This is the case for me too:
When trying to install Ubuntu > 8.04 on my Axiomtek eBox (with PICO820 mb) the screen goes totally blank when entering X.
Works as a charm with Ubuntu 8.04, though.
Is there a fix for XP or am I completely fucked?
Does it work on 11.04 ?