This article or section needs language, wiki syntax or style improvements. See Help:Style for reference.

In 2016 Razer decided they were going to bring a ton of high-end value to the market with this amazing laptop. 4k screen, eGPU compatible, anti-ghosting keyboard, backlit keyboard, oh my.Unfortunately, nothing is perfect and this Razer. The Razer Blade Stealth has the potential to be a daily laptop/ultrabook for Linux users. The downsides though is the potential battery/EC matter if you happen to receive an affected model, the web camera running into some glitches, and Razer not yet offering their customization software on Linux.

Razer Blade is Razer's line of gaming laptops. There is currently a 13' model (Razer Blade Stealth), 15' model (Razer Blade), and a 17' model (Razer Blade Pro).

This article or section needs expansion.

Due to the proprietary SBUI trackpad on the 17' model, it will be extremely difficult to get it to work without extensive USB protocol reversing.

Installation

Before uninstalling windows make sure to update the bios. It is easier to install the Razer drivers with windows. You can find updates on the support page related to your model.

If you are for some reason unable to boot into windows to perform the update, there is still a patch that you an apply to your kernel build to get things working. However, this will unlikely be maintained due to the availability of the BIOS patch.

The normal installation process works in general with the exceptions enumerated below.

Touchpad

Install the xf86-input-libinput package: this is also the only one that will enable natural scrolling. See Libinput for more information on this driver.

Alternatively, if you prefer using the Touchpad Synaptics driver, install the xf86-input-synaptics package.

If you have issues with the touchpad not working after resuming from sleep, restarting the module i2c_hid seems to work.

In the 2013 version the touchpad works only on Linux 4.0+ without libinput-based X.Org input driver (xf86-input-libinput) thanks to Andrew Duggan's work.

In the 2018 version the touchpad works with the vanilla kernel with BIOS version 1.05.

In the 2019 version the touchpad works with the vanilla kernel and BIOS version 1.02.

Touchscreen

While the touchscreen will provide basic functionality out of the box, it is best to use touchegg^AUR to configure multitouch gestures. These include two-finger scrolling, right-click, etc.

Graphics Drivers

The graphics card works OK with the standard intel drivers which you can install with the xf86-video-intel package. See Intel graphics for more information on installation and configuration.

Issues with screen flickering seem to be resolved by changing AccelMethod to uxa as described in the SNA issues^{[broken link: invalid section]} section.

If you experience screen tearing while scrolling add the following line to the conf above: Option 'TearFree' 'true' and set the 'AccelMethod' to 'sna' and comment out 'uxa'

If you have an Intel Kaby Lake chip wikipedia:Kaby_Lake, and the issue is not fixed with the conf above, add to i915.enable_rc6=0 to the kernel parameters.

Hybrid graphics

If the discrete Nvidia GPU is switched off before starting Xorg or Wayland, then the system freezes. The only possible solution is to manually disable/enable the discrete card after starting the graphical session.However there is a ACPI DSDT fix available which fixes this problem. Check the repository for more information.

Known issues

The trackpad does not work with certain bios versions.

2013 version problems

• SwitchBlade UI does not work due to lack of drivers.
• Trackpad scrolling does not work.

2019 Razer Blade Stealth

• Doesn't resume from sleep properly when the lid is opened. A workaround has been merged into the 5.6 kernel.

Audio

On the latest 'KabyLake' Intel CPU, if you also have a dual-boot with Windows, you might experience some audio issues when booting to Windows and restarting on Linux. The problem is no sound from the speakers and some cracking noises on the headphones - especially when using the touchpad -.No official solution has been posted yet, but a quick hack is to completely shut down the computer (so power off, not restart).

Tips and tricks

Tweaking

If you are using GNOME, the gnome-tweak-tool can be used to adjust the window and font scaling. A font scale of 1.25 puts the font sizes closer to how they are displayed by default in Windows 10.

If you are using an external monitor that is not HiDPI, you can use xrandr to alter the scaling of the external monitor using the instructions for Multiple Displays. You may have better results though running GNOME on Wayland. When installed, clicking the gear icon in GDM will allow you to select Gnome On Wayland and will default to that in the future.

Power management

Configuration option 1 is compatible if you use optimus manager to switch between intel and nvidia drivers.

Power modes and fan control

Razer-Laptop-Control can be used to switch between balanced, gaming and creator power modes, as well as manually adjust fan RPM for much better gaming performance and cooling. You can install it via razer-laptop-control-dkms-git^AUR package for the driver, and use razer-laptop-control-git^AUR package for the CLI tool

Troubleshooting

2016 model issues

Webcam

There is a known issue using high resolutions (more than 360p) on the webcam video driver used by this models. This is well described in this issue #207045 from the Linux Kernel. You can solve it using Arch_Build_System to build your custom kernel and applying this small patch.

Here is how to Patch your kernel.

2014 model issues

• touchpad (multitouch, although this may be a kernel bug that has since been fixed)
• keys to increase/decrease screen illumination not working
• keys to increase/decrease keyboard illumination not working

Possible trackpad solution

Source^{[dead link 2020-04-02 ⓘ]}

Then install the xf86-input-synaptics package.

Feature still not working: pinch to zoom, 3rd mouse button.

Webcam

Setting the uvcvideo option 'quirks=128' appears to let the webcam work at 720p30, thus enabling Google Hangouts support. cheese works after changing resolution to 720p and relaunching. Multiplying the quirk by a power of 2+ further improves video quality to a point. 'quirks=512' seems to work best for one user.

Keyboard

The openrazer-meta^AUR package enables backlight control capabilities (including effects) and macro controls. You may use polychromatic^AUR or razercommander-git^AUR for a GUI to set the keyboard options.

For more information on OpenRazer, see the Razer peripherals#OpenRazer

Infinite suspend loop

Add the following kernel param:

to fix the suspend-resume-loop after closing the lid the first time after boot.

Suspend Loop

Suspending (Close laptop lid) does not seem to work with a basic installation. The lid state transitions from 'open' to 'closed' correctly the first time (and the system suspends), but after resuming from suspend by opening the lid, the lid state does not change back to 'open'. This results in the laptop entering a suspend loop because systemd monitors the lid state, sees that the lid is closed, and suspends the system.

A bug was filed against the kernel ACPI driver in November 2016. It contains a fair amount of documentation on the issue along with a workaround which seems to solve the problem.

To work around the issue, add the following to your kernel parameters:

This will instruct the acpi driver to generate an extra open event when waking from suspend which will keep the system up.

You can check that the setting was acknowledged:

And also view all boot parameters:

Suspending

Some users are reporting the laptop immediately waking up after suspending. It appears to be XHC (USB 3.0 chip) that is causing the wakeups.

You can fix this by running

This will not persist on a restart though. To run this command on every startup, see Systemd#Writing unit files.

Suspending stall issue

If you have suspending stall issue, try to add a new file in /etc/modprobe.d/ with the following contents:

If you have an infinite suspend loop after the first time you close laptop's lid then try adding button.lid_init_state=open to your kernel parameters.[1]

Screen flickering / distorted / noise on 2017 stealth

Option 1: Change edp_vswing=2

Add the kernel parameter:

Other fixes (changing xf86-video-intel settings like DRI and AccelMode do not seem to help)

Option 2: Use LTS Kernel With enable_rc6=0

If the above does not work try adding the following kernel param instead:

The parameter is not available in the latest kernels (e.g. '4.17.5-1') but the linux-lts kernel does (e.g. '4.14.54-1-lts'). This was the only thing I found that worked on my Razer Blade Stealth 13 with i7-8550U cpu.

Option 3: Use intel_idle.max_cstate=1

Instead of reverting to the LTS release, I was able to add the following kernel parameter:

This changes the power options for the kernel. This will increase power usage, as it keeps the processor on all the time. More information can be found here: https://gist.github.com/wmealing/2dd2b543c4d3cff6cab7 . I did not try any other cstates. It may be worth setting max_cstate as high as possible to reduce power usage. I have tested from 8 downward and the first one to work was 'intel_idle.max_cstate=4'

Possible trackpad solution for 2013 version

Source^{[dead link 2020-04-02 ⓘ]}

Then install the xf86-input-synaptics packages.

Razer Blade Stealth 2018 Linux Iso

Feature still not working: pinch to zoom, 3rd mouse button

This article or section needs expansion.

pcieport PCIe Bus Error

You may see the following errors in dmesg:

To fix this, add kernel param:

2013 version

What works

Source^{[dead link 2020-04-02 ⓘ]}

• Wireless
• Switchable graphics
• Bluetooth
• Keyboard light (HW controlled)
• UEFI boot

See also

Razer Blade Stealth (late 2016, Intel 7500U, UHD / HiDPI) Ubuntu Linux 18.04.

• Razer Blade Stealth Linux & Ubuntu 18.04
  • 1. Issues
  • 2. Tweaks
  • 3. Unsolved Issues

1. Issues

1.1. Installation

Running the live session and starting the installation ends with segfaults.

• Select “Installation” while boot (Grub / USB Stick) works.
• Minimal installation, include 3rd party
• After installation, update and install Intel Microcode

1.2. Suspend Loop

After resume, the system loops back in suspend.The system send an ACPI event where the kernel defaults are different.

Change kernel defaults:

Update grub

1.3. Caps-Lock Crash

The RBS crashes randomly mostly if you hit “Caps Lock”, causes by the build-in driver.

Modify /etc/default/keyboard, replacing capslocks by a second ctrl:

Solution 2:

Only needed if you run X11 instead of Wayland and enabled Capslock.

Get your keyboard description and use it instead of “AT Raw Set 2 keyboard”:

Re’disable keyboard after suspend:

1.4. Touchpad Temporary Freezes

With libinput, the pointer “jumps” while moving. The synaptics driver hasn’t this issue.Other users with RBS late 2017 reports dead zones, I’m not sure if they have tested the synaptics driver.Maybe 4.17-1 kernel solves this problem Issue 19.

Note: A new kernel workd better with libinput.

For me, synaptics works:

Reboot

Check if synaptics driver is running:

At boot and after suspend, the settings “TapButton3=0 ClickFinger3=0” are gone.Workaround:

1.5. Touchpad Suspend

Touchpad fails resuming from suspend with:

Temporary fix:

Solution:

Libinput-gestures solves the problem:

My config.(If you prefer natural scrolling, change up/down)

Logout - Login

1.6. Touchscreen & Firefox

Firefox doesn’t seem to care about the touchscreen at all.

Tell Firefox to use XINPUT2:

Logout - Login.

2. Tweaks

2.1. Power Management

TLP is an advanced power management tool for Linux that tries to apply tweaks for you automatically, depending on your Linux distribution and hardware.

2.2. Touchpad tap & click

macOS touchpad feeling.

• Keyboard & Mouse
• Click Method: Fingers

Razer Blade 2018 Specs

2.3. “Capitaine” Cursors

• Install “Capitaine” Cursors
• Select via tweaks tool, Appearance, Themes, Cursor

2.4. Dual Boot Antergos

“update-grub” add only /boot/intel-ucode.img to initrd.(Maybe) a hack, but works well on my system.

2.5. Grub Razer Theme

2.7. Gnome Theme

My current favorite :)

• Theme Application (Tweaks, Theme): “Numix” (✓)
• Theme Icons (Tweaks, Theme): “Yaru” (✓)
• Theme Sound (Tweaks, Theme): “Yaru” (✓)

2.8. Steam Interface

Change Steam interface enlargement based on monitor size:

• Settings, Interface, Enlarge text and icons based on monitor size

3. Unsolved Issues

3.1. Keyboard Colors & Openrazer

Currently Openrazer not used.

Issue: Settings are lost after suspend (Gnome, Wayland).

Razer Blade 2018 Review

3.2. Webcam

Razer Blade Stealth Linux

Working only with 176x in cheese, or 640x480 in guvcview with 15/1 frames.

Download Drivers Razer Blade 2018

This fix not really helped:

Razer Blade Stealth Ubuntu

3.3. Razer Core

Thunderbolt works, but nvidia with optirun won’t work.