Jump to content

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
The version the device was shipped with.
4.0 on Linux 3.1
FOSS bootloader yes
postmarketOS
Category community
Pre-built images
Whether pre-built images are available here.
yes
pmOS kernel
The kernel version that runs on the device's port.
mainline grate
Generic port Nvidia Tegra armv7 (nvidia-tegra-armv7)
Features
Flashing
It is possible to flash the device with pmbootstrap flasher.
Works
USB Networking
After connecting the device with USB to your PC, you can connect to it via telnet (initramfs) or SSH (booted system).
Works
Battery
Charging and battery level reporting works
Works
Screen
Display works. Ideally with sleep mode and brightness control.
Works
Touchscreen
Works
Keyboard
Build in physical keyboard
Works
Touchpad
Build in Touchpad
Works
Multimedia
3D Acceleration
Partial
Audio
Audio playback, microphone, headset and buttons.
Works
Camera
Broken
Connectivity
WiFi
Works
Bluetooth
Works
GPS
Partial
Miscellaneous
FDE
Full disk encryption and unlocking with unl0kr.
Works
USB-A
Full-sized USB-A port works (Usually applicable to SBCs and laptops).
Works
HDMI/DP
Video and audio output with HDMI or Display Port works.
Works
Sensors
Accelerometer
Auto screen rotation works in desktops e.g. Phosh or Plasma Mobile
Works
Magnetometer
Sensor to measure magnetism
Works
Ambient Light
Works
Hall Effect
Also known as flip cover sensor
Works
U-Boot
Primary Bootloader
It is possible to replace stock bootloader with U-Boot.
Works
Secondary Bootloader
It is possible to chainload U-Boot from stock bootloader.
Works
Mainline
Latest versions of U-Boot are not broken and it is possible to use them.
Works
Internal Storage
It is possible to boot from internal storage (e.g. eMMC or UFS).
Works
SD card
It is possible to boot from SD card.
Works
USB Host
It is possible to boot from a USB storage or connect a keyboard.
Works
USB Peripheral
It is possible to use device as a peripheral in U-Boot, e.g. for fastboot mode.
Works
Display
Works
Keyboard
Broken
Buttons
It is possible to navigate in boot menu or grub with volume and power buttons.
Works

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.

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 are 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 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 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.

Issue with rootfs size

If the rootfs size is less than the partition size on tablet (i.e. equals to the image size flashed by pmbootstrap):

  • Reboot into U-Boot, connect the device to your PC
  • Mount internal storage
  • Use e2fsck(8) and resize2fs(8) on the device's root partition

When installed with --fde option, install pmOS on sdcard as live boot and load from it, unlock crypt_LUKS and do:

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

Lock crypt_LUKS and reboot to eMMC. The rootfs size should 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