ASUS Transformer Pad (asus-tf300t)

From postmarketOS Wiki
Note This device is supported as part of a generic port. Refer to Nvidia Tegra armv7 (nvidia-tegra-armv7) for installation instructions and more information.
Asus Transformer Pad
ASUS Transformer Pad
ASUS Transformer Pad
Manufacturer Asus
Name Transformer Pad
Codename asus-tf300t
Released 2012
Type detachable
Hardware
Chipset Nvidia Tegra 3 (T30L)
CPU Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A9
GPU NVIDIA ULP GeForce GPU 12 cores
Display 1280x800 IPS
Storage 16/32 GB
Memory 1 GB
Architecture armv7
Software
Original software Android
Original version 4.0 on Linux 3.1
FOSS bootloader yes
postmarketOS
Category community
Pre-built images yes
postmarketOS kernel mainline grate
Generic port Nvidia Tegra armv7 (nvidia-tegra-armv7)
Features
Flashing
Works
USB Networking
Works
Internal storage
SD card
Battery
Works
Screen
Works
Touchscreen
Works
Keyboard
Works
Touchpad
Works
Multimedia
3D Acceleration
Partial
Audio
Works
Camera
Broken
Camera Flash
Connectivity
WiFi
Works
Bluetooth
Works
Ethernet
GPS
Partial
Miscellaneous
FDE
Works
USB-A
Works
HDMI/DP
Works
Sensors
Accelerometer
Works
Magnetometer
Works
Ambient Light
Works
Hall Effect
Works
Haptics
U-Boot
Primary Bootloader
Works
Secondary Bootloader
Works
Mainline
Works
Internal Storage
Works
SD card
Works
USB Host
Works
USB Peripheral
Works
Display
Works
Keyboard
Broken
Buttons
Works
This device is based on the Tegra 3.
See the SoC page for common tips, guides and troubleshooting steps

Contributors

  • osctobe (Michał Mirosław)
  • Clamor
  • Ion Agorria

Device owners


Variants

  • TF300T - regular wifi only tablet, currently has support both in pmaports and grate Linux kernel fork.
  • TF300TG - 3G version of TF300T with some slight differences. Modem is very close to Nexus 7 2012 cellular (tilapia).
  • TF300TL - LTE version of TF300T with differences similar to TF300TG. Uses Asus custom modem setup and doesn't have mainline driver for it.

Note: TF300TL has experimental support in this grate fork. TF300T and TF300TG are officially supported.

Unlocking

Note This is only needed if you do not want to use U-boot

The first step to do anything with the device is unlocking, with this device its done by sideloading the unlock apk from asus and clicking a few buttons in the app. In case you get a network connection error, you will need to patch the unlocker.

Compiling a kernel

Android kernel

Mainline (Grate)

Hardware status (mainline)

Status Hardware Info
Y Booting boot.img has restriction of approx 8MB, which is /boot partition size.
Y Bootloader Open source bootloader U-Boot is available as alternative for stock Asus bootloader and can replace it. U-Boot can not boot downstream kernel due to TrustZone problem.
Y Panel Innolux G101ICE-L01 WXGA (1280x800) LCD IPS panel through LVDS controller.
Y HDMI output HDMI works, but maximum output is 1080p due to Tegra 3 limitations.
Y Touchscreen Used Elantech EKTH1036 touchscreen.
Y USB One full size USB 2.0 in dock or via 40pin adapter.
Y SD cards MicroSD card and full sized SD card (recognized as USB drive) in dock.
Y Internal memory Hynix emmc, works.
P GPS Broadcom GPS BCM4751 is used. Needs more attention.
Y WiFi Uses Azurewave AW-NH615 BCM4329. Wi-Fi works and firmwares are included.
Y Bluetooth Uses Azurewave AW-NH615 BCM4329B1. Works fine out of the box.
Y GPIO keys There is 3 keys on GPIO: Power, Volume up, Volume down.

Additionally GPIO-keys like are LID sensor and Audio dock line-out detect.

Y Dock Keyboard Both pad and dock have Nuvoton NPCE795LA0BX embedded controller which handles battery data, charging, leds, keyboard and touchpad. Driver of this EC is mainlined and is fully functional. Keyboard and Touchpad work.

Alt Gr can be used for alternate multimedia keys instead of escape, fn keys, volumes and delete. Alt GR + Lock changes the default key mode.

Y Battery/Charger Driver is based on Texas Instruments bq24725 SMBus Charge Controller driver and GPIO charger but works through pad/dock EC. Charging and charge level of both batteries are shown correctly.
Y PMIC Transformers use Texas Instruments TPS659110 PMIC and TPS62361 core regulator.
Y Sound Sound codec is WM8903 on TF300T and RT5631 on cellular models. Kernel driver and tegra_wm8903/tegra_rt5631 glue drivers are present. UCMs are ready. Audio through HDMI works.
Y Voice processor Transformers use separate Fortemedia FM34NE voice processor. Mainline driver prototype is available but kernel lacks way to get mic status (dsp is internal mic dependent), set into constant bypass mode.
Y Thermal sensor NCT1008 ON Semiconductor LM90 series thermometer.
Y Orientation sensors Include Invensense mpu3050 gyroscope with Kionix KXTF9 accelerometer and Aichi AMI306 3-axis digital compass.
Y Light sensor Driver Dyna-Image AL3010. Brightness regulation works, install iio-sensor-proxy . It's slightly oversensitive.
N Front camera Aptina mi1040 camera sensor. Grate kernel doesn't support VI yet. Mainline linux driver exists (authored by Okias) and proper nodes are added to device tree.
N Rear camera Is not planned to be added to support list. If you have such a need, development is welcome. Mainline driver doesn't exist.
P ULP GeForce GPU Acceleration partially works.
N Modem TF300TG uses XMM6260. TF300TL in downstream uses some Asus implementation of modem driver. Contributions are welcome, no work done yet.

Usability

Desktop environment

Since 3D acceleration is not available yet, all DE which use it will be painfully slow and laggy.

Currently xfce4 or mate are recommended.

U-Boot

Icon WARNING: This part is HIGHLY EXPERIMENTAL! DO NOT USE THIS IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
Note Further procedure needs pre-made nvflash. Files blob.bin and bricksave.img are only thing that will save you from full brick and allow replace/restore Asus bootloader.

Installing PMOS with U-Boot on eMMC

1. Primary, we need to compile a u-boot on legacy branch: 

$ git clone https://github.com/clamor-s/u-boot -b legacy
$ cd ~/legacy
$ export CROSS_COMPILE=arm-linux-gnueabi-
$ make transformer_t30_defconfig tf300tg.config # Make sure to use the correct model number
$ make all

Copy u-boot-dtb-tegra.bin file to nvflash folder. Now, flash new bootloader with nvflash tool. Go to nvflash folder and do (Make sure to flash to EBT partition): 

# ./wheelie --blob blob.bin
# ./nvflash --resume --download 4 u-boot-dtb-tegra.bin

2. Secondary, during the Installation process add --split option then export: 

$ pmbootstrap pull
$ pmbootstarp init
$ pmbootstrap install --split # --fde (optional)
$ pmbootstrap export

3. Finally, set /boot partition: Mount pm_boot, copy dtb from dtbs folder to root directory (NOT rootfs), make uInitrd: 

# mount /tmp/postmarketOS-export/asus-tf300tg-boot.img /mnt/tmp/
# cd /mnt/tmp/
# cp /mnt/tmp/dtbs/tegra30-asus-tf300tg.dtb /mnt/tmp/
# mkimage -n "Ramdisk Image" -A arm -O linux -T ramdisk -C gzip -d initramfs uInitrd
# umount  /mnt/tmp

Go to nvflash folder and flash /root and /boot to tablet (Make sure to flash /root to UDA and /boot to APP): 

# ./wheelie --blob blob.bin
# ./nvflash --resume --download 17 /tmp/postmarketOS-export/asus-tf300tg-root.img
# ./wheelie --blob blob.bin
# ./nvflash --resume --download 10 /tmp/postmarketOS-export/asus-tf300tg-boot.img

Issue with rootfs size

When install with --fde option (Maybe without encryption issue the same. It's not tested yet), the rootfs size less than Data partition on tablet. To fix it, we'll need sdcard as Live boot (just install PMOS on it). Load from sdcard, unlock crypt_LUKS and do: 

# parted /dev/mapper/luks-xxxxx
(parted) print all # Look at max size partition
(parted) resizepart 1 <max size partition>

Then lock crypt_LUKS and reboot to eMMC. The rootfs size must to be changed.

Disassembly

Dock

  • Remove 2 torx screws on the bottom
  • Remove 4 Philips screws under the glued pads on the bottom
  • Remove 3 Philips screws near the mouse buttons. Be careful with removing and adding back the top plastic piece, it has small clips

Tablet

See also

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