MSI GS63VR
Contents
Installation
Standard installation works per the Installation guide using Systemd-boot when the laptop is in UEFI mode.
Drivers
Nvidia/Optimus
It is possible to use Bumblebee to make the Nvidia GPU in this laptop usable. In order to avoid issues caused by the BIOS in the GS63VR when using bbswitch, add acpi_osi=! acpi_osi="Windows 2009"
to the kernel options at boot (per NVIDIA Optimus#Lockup issue (lspci hangs)).
For HDMI/DP ouput: Bumblebee#Output wired to the NVIDIA chip.
Touchpad
This laptop uses an Elantech touchpad, and as such libinput works well.
Networking
Wireless
NetworkManager works out of the box for wifi on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks.
Audio
The headphone jack always acts as SPDIF out and subsequently has no volume control and does not mute the speakers when a device is plugged in. Link to a description of the issue on the ALSA mailing list.
As a workaround it is possible to reassign a microphone input jack using hdajackretask to behave as an audio output.
SteelSeries Keyboard
To set color to Steel Series Keyboard use MSIKLM
Misc
BIOS
To access the BIOS, from a cold shutdown, repeatedly press the delete
key immediately after pressing the power button.