Ubuntu Best Options - F. Armbian.
This is my experience more for a more gaming experience and as I love the web apps this is the system I can recommend yous. Here’s to take the best Rock 5A/B resources:
Download Joshuas-Riek latest Ubuntu-RockChip Image
https://github.com/Joshua-Riek/ubuntu-rockchip/releases
Notes:
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if downloading with wget use condition –no-check-certificate to avoid the download to fail or use an app like jdownloader.
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After starting the system you most likely have to open your disk storage and perform a disk resize
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Some systems start in x11 so you will notice that the system fails to deliver its brilliant performance at launch make sure you switch gnome to wayland.
For this guide I took the liberty of using nala as a main option for this board:
Do your operations with nala instead of apt:
(It’s faster - It’s modern - It’s graphically easier - Has better debug)
sudo apt update && sudo apt install nala -y && sudo nala upgrade -y
Chrome optimizations flags
sudo gedit /etc/chromium-browser/default
malirun chromium-browser (terminal boster for an extra kick - optional)
#Set Chromium ozone to Wayland only if you intend to use Gnome Wayland
--ozone-platform=wayland
--enable-zero-copy
#Set user agents specifically so it works on Netflix with widevine
--user-agent="Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux aarch64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/110.0.0.0 Safari/537.36" --accept-lang=en-US
#Fixes Chromium browser pixelation bug on wayland
--use-gl=angle
For the fan heatsink to work: (Armbian - might not be required in further armbian updates.)
git clone https://github.com/lukaszsobala/fan-control-rock5b
cd fan-control-rock5b
make package
sudo dpkg -i fan-control*.deb
sudo systemctl enable fan-control
systemctl start fan-control
#Rock 5A
sudo su
echo step_wise > /sys/class/thermal/thermal_zone0/policy
exit
sudo reboot
The fix for some Bluetooth Modules (A8, AX210, etc.):
sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
then add these lines somewhere (at the bottom of the file is fine):
blacklist pgdrv
blacklist btusb
blacklist btrtl
blacklist btbcm
#blacklist btintel
Then press Ctrl+X, then Y.
sudo apt install bluez or bluetooth – not needed to install since latest armbian version
systemctl status bluetooth CTRL+ C
systemctl start bluetooth
Then reboot .
For AX210 Wifi and BT to Work - You will need ethernet to do this.
#wifi
sudo wget -P /lib/firmware https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/plain/iwlwifi-ty-a0-gf-a0-59.ucode
sudo mv /lib/firmware/iwlwifi-ty-a0-gf-a0.pnvm /lib/firmware/iwlwifi-ty-a0-gf-a0.pnvm.bak
#bt
sudo wget -P /lib/firmware/intel https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/plain/intel/ibt-0041-0041.sfi
sudo wget -P /lib/firmware/intel https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/plain/intel/ibt-0041-0041.ddc
Max out the 5B performance (Optional) - That’s if you want some real performance at the cost of being hot and power-hungry.
echo performance | sudo tee /sys/bus/cpu/devices/cpu[046]/cpufreq/scaling_governor /sys/class/devfreq/dmc/governor /sys/class/devfreq/fb000000.gpu/governor
Once you’re done with your benchmarks, you may want to go back:
echo ondemand | sudo tee /sys/bus/cpu/devices/cpu[046]/cpufreq/scaling_governor
echo dmc_ondemand | sudo tee /sys/class/devfreq/dmc/governor
echo simple_ondemand | sudo tee /sys/class/devfreq/fb000000.gpu/governor
Or if you want a shortcut for performance / ondemand and powersave do nano .bash_aliases and add these instructions - save it Ctrl X, Yes, restart and after just type the governor you desire Terminal: performance to trigger it.
alias performance="echo performance | sudo tee /sys/bus/cpu/devices/cpu[046]/cpufreq/scaling_governor /sys/class/devfreq/dmc/governor /sys/class/devfreq/fb000000.gpu/governor"
alias ondemand="echo ondemand | sudo tee /sys/bus/cpu/devices/cpu[046]/cpufreq/scaling_governor && echo dmc_ondemand | sudo tee /sys/class/devfreq/dmc/governor && echo simple_ondemand | sudo tee /sys/class/devfreq/fb000000.gpu/governor"
alias powersave="echo powersave | sudo tee /sys/bus/cpu/devices/cpu[046]/cpufreq/scaling_governor /sys/class/devfreq/dmc/governor /sys/class/devfreq/fb000000.gpu/governor"
** Try some benchmarks - on Ubuntu Wayland to guarantee you are all set.**
sudo apt install mesa-utils glmark2 glmark2-es-wayland -y
PAN_MESA_DEBUG=gofaster glmark2
Expected results: 1st Line - 1669fps - Score: 1249fps - you are good.
PAN_MESA_DEBUG=gofaster glmark2-es2-wayland
Expected results: 1st Line - 3527fps - Score: 4067fps - you are sorted.
LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/usr/lib/aarch64-linux-gnu/mali glmark2-es2-wayland
Expected results: 1st Line - 4229fps - Score: 3933fps - what a legend.
Try chromium with malirun chromium-browser on terminal for some extra performance (malirun works with other apps too).
Play Geforce Now via Chromium Browser well optimised on this little Rock 5B!
Play Boosteroid too!
Diablo 4 on boosteroid ? Hell Yeah Boy!
Steam Installation Guide
Install Malior-Droid for the Android fun with Scrypy Container
sudo nala install docker docker.io adb -y
sudo mkdir /dev/binderfs
sudo mount -t binder binder /dev/binderfs
wget -O - https://github.com/ChisBread/malior/raw/main/install.sh > /tmp/malior-install.sh && bash /tmp/malior-install.sh && rm /tmp/malior-install.sh
malior update
malior install malior-droid
malior-droid update
Install scrpy version 2.0 that is needed for audio forwarding from the android docker container
sudo nala install ffmpeg libsdl2-2.0-0 adb wget gcc git pkg-config meson ninja-build libsdl2-dev libavcodec-dev libavdevice-dev libavformat-dev libavutil-dev libswresample-dev libusb-1.0-0 libusb-1.0-0-dev -y
git clone https://github.com/Genymobile/scrcpy
cd scrcpy
./install_release.sh
Start the Android Emulator on Terminal:
#malior-droid start / stop / restart
malior-droid start
adb connect localhost:5555
scrcpy -s localhost:5555
malior-droid resize 720x1280
#malior-droid resize 1920x1080
Change it to english this way. Just drag and drop your .apk file into the android window it will auto install it.
https://odysee.com/@DarkevilPT:4/malior-droid-apk:7?&autoplay=true
App to map the gamepad controller sudo nala install antimicro
To become certified with access to the play store you have to:
1 - Install a device ID apk to get this Device ID and register it on your google account.
2 - Register it here: https://www.google.com/android/uncertified/
3 - Give it a day till google approval happens. (Hours minutes or maybe 1 day not in our control).
Credits to @bread for this.
Sources: https://github.com/ChisBread/malior/
@NicoD Has also a gaming script that works for all rockchip single boards:
_ __ _ ____ ______ _
/ | / /(_)_____ ____ / __ \ / ____/____ _ ____ ___ (_)____ ____ _
/ |/ // // ___// __ \ / / / / / / __ / __ `// __ `__ \ / // __ \ / __ `/
/ /| // // /__ / /_/ // /_/ / / /_/ // /_/ // / / / / // // / / // /_/ /
/_/ |_//_/ \___/ \____//_____/ \____/ \__,_//_/ /_/ /_//_//_/ /_/ \__, /
__ _ _____ _ __/____/
/ / (_)____ __ __ _ __ / ___/ _____ _____ (_)____ / /_
/ / / // __ \ / / / /| |/_/ \__ \ / ___// ___// // __ \ / __/
/ /___ / // / / // /_/ /_> < ___/ // /__ / / / // /_/ // /_
/_____//_//_/ /_/ \__,_//_/|_| /____/ \___//_/ /_// .___/ \__/
/_/
git clone https://github.com/NicoD-SBC/armbian-gaming.git
cd armbian-gaming
/bin/bash ./armbian-gaming.sh
#Install box64/box86 and steam and malior-droid.
More useful stuff on Linux:
#--OBS--
sudo nala install obs-studio obs-gstreamer obs-plugins xdg-desktop-portal pipewire qtwayland5 librga2 gstreamer1.0-rockchip1 -y
#RESTART here and then run OBS with:
MESA_GL_VERSION_OVERRIDE=3.3 MESA_GLSL_VERSION_OVERRIDE=330 obs
#--this is the way it works on armbian not sure if needs changed for FydeOS
#for a better desktop experience dont use nala on ubuntu-desktop
sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop
sudo nala install htop -y
sudo nala install neofetch -y
sudo nala install bpytop -y
sudo nala install snapd -y
sudo nala install emojione -y
sudo nala install kodi -y
sudo nala install inkscape -y
sudo nala install flatpak gnome-software-plugin-flatpak squashfs-tools && sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
sudo nala install gnome-software gnome-packagekit -y
# or all at once and correctly
sudo nala update && sudo nala install htop bpytop neofetch snapd flatpak xcb obs-studio obs-gstreamer obs-plugins xdg-desktop-portal pipewire qtwayland5 wpasupplicant librga2 gstreamer1.0-rockchip1 gnome-software-plugin-flatpak squashfs-tools gnome-software gnome-packagekit kodi inkscape -y && sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo && sudo nala upgrade -y && sudo nala autoremove
sudo reboot
exit
Eta Prime made us a video about this specific image! EnJoy!
Im not an linux expert… compiling kernels makes me a lot of confusion so I have a lot to learn yet… but I like to share my experience hoping it helps you the same way it helped me.
Also very important… : Grab a proper power supply like Samsung 45W TA845 Super Fast Charger (works perfect) connected with Emmc, Micro SD, A8 module, 1TB Nvme, K7 keyChron BT Keyboard and a cheap BT mouse with a scorpion logo via usb dongle it all works with also a JBL Flip 5 BT speaker perfectly fine between images and so long… If there’s an usb type C power brick that I can say YES it works it’s this one.
SP1 to boot Rock5b running Armbian from NVMe SSD
http://www.fieldday.io/armbian-rock5b/
This post is made possible thanks to a few members who helped me a lot on Discord so I want to thank them and off course many others did help too (but I can’t find all their names here). Discord for a more direct approach: Radxa Discord
Credits goes to all who this possible and also a group of talented users: @GinKage @bread @igorp @rippanda12 @amazingfate @student @NicoD
Another guide to install steam step by step on rock 5B here:
Im open to suggestions and improvements and more additional stuff we can add to this system and improve our experience.
