UMPC hardware configuration for Ubuntu

Here are a couple of scripts for Ultra Mobile PCs (UMPC) such as the GPD Pocket, GPD Pocket 2, GPD Pocket 3, GPD MicroPC, GPD WIN 2, GPD P2 Max, GPD WIN Max and Topjoy Falcon for Ubuntu users.

• umpc-ubuntu.sh: install the required hardware configuration on a running Ubuntu install.
• umpc-ubuntu-respin.sh: modify an existing Ubuntu .iso image with UMPC specific hardware configuration.

Ultra Mobile PCs (UMPC) have had something of a resurgence in recent years thanks to very successful crowd funding campaigns for netbook style laptops featuring a high resolution touch displays housed in an aluminium alloy body. These scripts for UMPC devices are based on the excellent work by Hans de Goede, nexus511, stockmind and many others.

Pre-configured images

The Ubuntu MATE team offers bespoke images for the GPD Pocket, GPD Pocket 2, GPD Pocket 3, GPD WIN 2, GPD MicroPC, GPD P2 Max, GPD WIN Max and Topjoy Falcon that include the hardware specific tweaks to get these devices working "out of the box" without any faffing about. Some models of the OneMix Yoga devices are also supported.

• https://ubuntu-mate.org/download/

What works

The Ubuntu MATE images for the UMPCs add the following tweaks:

• Enable frame buffer, Plymouth and Xorg display rotation.
  • Supports modesetting and xorg-video-intel display drivers.
• Enable TearFree rendering by default.
• Enable touch screen rotation for Xorg and Wayland.
• Enable scroll wheel emulation for Xorg.
  • While holding down the right track point button on the Pocket, Pocket 2 & Topjoy Falcon.
  • While holding down the centre track point button on the MicroPC & Pocket 3.
• Enable double size console (tty) font resolution for high resolution devices.
• Enable fractional scaling for 1920x1200 displays. (MATE Desktop only)
  • Results in an effective resolution of 1280x800 to make the display panels easily readable.
  • Simple to toggle on/off if you want to restore full resolution.
• GPD Pocket:
  • BRMC4356 WiFi firmware enabled by default.
  • Fan control kernel module enabled by default.
• GPD Pocket 3 & TopJoy Falcon:
  • Accelerometer support for automatic screen rotation.
• GPD WIN Max:
  • Features a custom, persistent, EDID.

Known Issues

The GRUB menu is rotated 90 degrees

The workaround is to tilt your head. Issue affects:

• GPD Pocket
• GPD Pocket 3
• GPD MicroPC
• GPD WIN 2
• GPD WIN Max
• TopJoy Falcon

Boot splash is rotated 90 degrees

The workaround is to tilt your head. Issue affects:

• GPD WIN Max

Touch coordinates incorrect when external HDMI monitor is connected

When a HDMI display is connected, the touch coordinates on the internal display are incorrect. Issue affects:

• GPD Pocket 3

The Scripts

These scripts have been tested on Ubuntu MATE 20.04.1. All Ubuntu flavours should work although if you use Wayland your mileage may vary.

umpc-ubuntu.sh

Install one of the Ubuntu 20.04 (or newer) flavours on a supported UMPC device and run the following to inject the required hardware configuration.

git clone https://github.com/wimpysworld/umpc-ubuntu.git
cd umpc-ubuntu

Edit ./umpc-ubuntu.sh and change UMPC="gpd-pocket3" at the top of the script to match your computer, supported options are: gpd-pocket, gpd-pocket2, gpd-pocket3, gpd-p2-max, gpd-micropc, gpd-win2, gpd-win-max or topjoy-falcon.

Then run the script to enable the configuration tweaks.

sudo ./umpc-ubuntu.sh enable

umpc-ubuntu-respin.sh

git clone https://github.com/wimpysworld/umpc-ubuntu.git
cd umpc-ubuntu

• Download an .iso image for one of the Ubuntu MATE 20.04 (or newer) or one of the other Ubuntu flavours.

sudo ./umpc-ubuntu-respin.sh -d gpd-pocket ubuntu-mate-20.04.3-desktop-amd64.iso
sudo ./umpc-ubuntu-respin.sh -d gpd-pocket2 ubuntu-mate-20.04.3-desktop-amd64.iso
sudo ./umpc-ubuntu-respin.sh -d gpd-pocket3 ubuntu-mate-21.10-desktop-amd64.iso
sudo ./umpc-ubuntu-respin.sh -d gpd-micropc ubuntu-mate-20.04.3-desktop-amd64.iso
sudo ./umpc-ubuntu-respin.sh -d gpd-p2-max ubuntu-mate-20.04.3-desktop-amd64.iso
sudo ./umpc-ubuntu-respin.sh -d gpd-win2 ubuntu-mate-20.04.3-desktop-amd64.iso
sudo ./umpc-ubuntu-respin.sh -d gpd-win-max ubuntu-mate-20.04.3-desktop-amd64.iso
sudo ./umpc-ubuntu-respin.sh -d topjoy-falcon ubuntu-mate-20.04.3-desktop-amd64.iso

A new .iso will be created that includes the additional hardware tweaks required by the selected UMPC device.

Accessing boot menus & BIOS

Switch the device on, immediately hold/tap the corresponding key(s).

• GPD WIN 2/3(!): Boot it by holding Del (Fn+Backspace), navigate to Save & Exit and choose the storage device you want to boot from under Boot Override

Device matrix

Please help complete this table by running the following commands from an Ubuntu Live image:

xrandr --query
xinput