Google Chromebooks with x64 CPU (google-x64cros)

From postmarketOS
Google Chromebooks with x64 CPU
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Chromebook (11IGL05) ("Google Lick") running postmarketOS
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Chromebook (11IGL05) ("Google Lick") running postmarketOS
Manufacturer Google
Name Chromebooks with x64 CPU
Codename google-x64cros
Category community
Pre-built images yes
Original software ChromeOS
Hardware
Chipset Various x86_64
Architecture x86_64
Type generic


This device allows postmarketOS to run on x86_64 ChromeOS boards by using its verified boot mechanism.

Contributors

Based on the Generic x64 UEFI device port contributed by:

And ChromeOS-specific postmarketOS integration by:

Installation

See Chrome OS devices page.

Bios

There are three types of bios you can use with x86_64 Chromebooks. The default ChromeOS Depthcharge payload for Coreboot, the Tianocore payload for Coreboot, or the odd Legacy Boot implementation.

Depthcharge

The default bios that comes with Chromebooks are perfectly fine for usage with postmarketOS as long as they use the Depthcharge Coreboot payload (most Chromebooks do). The only downside of using this bios is that Google does not update these bios often, and if you device is unsupported by ChromeOS anymore you will most likely never get another bios update.

Tianocore

Note This bios implementation requires the usage of MrChromebox's Firmware Utility Script to work. This is a tool unaffiliated with postmarketOS, and as such YMMV.

An alternative UEFI implementation for Chromebooks is Tianocore, provided by MrChromebox. This bios does get updates, unlike Depthcharge, as it is a community effort. This makes booting Linux much easier on Chromebooks and even allows for the booting of "normal" distros such as Fedora or Ubuntu. The only downside to Tianocore over the stock bootloader is that it will be unable to load stock ChromeOS after flashing, but ChromiumOS and ChromeOS Flex still work fine.

Legacy Boot

Note This bios implementation requires the usage of MrChromebox's Firmware Utility Script to work. This is a tool unaffiliated with postmarketOS, and as such YMMV.

This was the de-facto method of booting Linux on Chromebooks before upstream Tianocore was ported. This method doesn't work in postmarketOS. It is recommended to use MrChromebox's Firmware Utility Script to flash a new version to fix the many bugs that vendors left. It is not recommended to use this method as Tianocore is much easier to use and less likely to break.

Common Issues

Audio on Intel laptops

There are reports of people damaging the speakers while tinkering with audio stuff on various Chromebooks. Although this generic port doesn't add any configuration beyond what upstream projects do, those upstream configurations may or may not be safe to run on your specific device.

Audio on AMD laptops

StoneyRidge (AMD A4/A6)

These laptops have a problem that requires kernel hacks, thus audio will most likely not work on these devices without making your own kernel build

Picasso (Ryzen 3000 Series)

These laptops should have working audio.

Cezanne (Ryzen 5000 Series)

These laptops don't have working audio out of the speakers, however, the headphones should still work.

Mendocino (Ryzen 7000 Series)

These laptops have working audio out of the speakers, but not the headphones.

See also