Upgrading from Acer V3-471G to ASUS Vivobook X1404VA: My Ubuntu Journey#

After nearly four years of faithful service, my trusty Acer V3-471G finally reached its end of life on August 1st, 2025. It’s time to share my journey of upgrading to a new machine and the challenges that came with it.

The Old Faithful: Acer V3-471G (2021-2025)#

My Acer V3-471G served me well from 2021 until its retirement. Here are the specs that powered my development work for almost four years:

Processor: Intel Core i7 3rd Generation
Memory: 8GB RAM
Operating System: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
Service Period: 2021 - August 1st, 2025

This machine was my companion through countless coding sessions, system administration tasks, and Linux experiments. While it wasn’t the most powerful machine by today’s standards, it handled Ubuntu 22.04 beautifully and rarely let me down.

The New Machine: ASUS Vivobook X1404VA#

After careful consideration, I decided to upgrade to the ASUS Vivobook_ASUSLaptop X1404VA_A1404VA 1.0. The specifications are quite an improvement:

Processor: Intel Core i7 13th Generation
Memory: 16GB RAM
Storage: 1TB SSD
Operating System: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

The performance jump from 3rd gen to 13th gen i7, along with doubling the RAM and getting a spacious SSD, promised to significantly improve my development workflow.

The Challenges: Hardware Compatibility Issues#

WiFi Driver Nightmare: MT7902#

The biggest challenge I’ve encountered with the new setup is the lack of proper support for the MT7902 WiFi network adapter. This MediaTek chipset seems to have limited Linux driver support, which has been quite frustrating for a developer who relies heavily on stable internet connectivity.

Currently, the WiFi performance is either unstable or completely non-functional, depending on the kernel version and driver combination I try.

No Ethernet Port#

Another significant challenge is that the ASUS Vivobook X1404VA doesn’t come with a built-in LAN/Ethernet port. This is increasingly common in modern ultrabooks, but it becomes problematic when WiFi drivers aren’t working properly.

Current Workaround: USB Tethering#

For now, I’m using USB tethering from my phone to maintain internet connectivity while I work on a permanent solution. While this works, it’s not ideal for bandwidth-intensive tasks or extended development sessions.

Future Plans: Multiple Solutions in Mind#

I’m considering several approaches to solve the connectivity issues:

1. Driver Development/Compilation#

Research and potentially compile custom drivers for the MT7902 chipset
Contribute to open-source driver development if possible
Work with kernel modules and driver debugging

2. Hardware Solutions#

WiFi Adapter Replacement: Look into replacing the internal WiFi card with a more Linux-compatible alternative
USB WiFi Dongle: Purchase a high-quality USB WiFi adapter with better Linux support
USB-to-Ethernet Adapter: Get a reliable USB-to-LAN dongle for wired connectivity

3. Hybrid Approach#

Combine multiple solutions for redundancy - having both a working WiFi solution and a USB Ethernet adapter as backup.

Performance Improvements#

Despite the connectivity challenges, the performance improvements are immediately noticeable:

Compilation Speed: The 13th gen i7 with 16GB RAM makes large project builds significantly faster
Multitasking: Running multiple IDEs, browsers, and development tools simultaneously is much smoother
Storage Performance: The 1TB SSD provides ample space and excellent I/O performance

Lessons Learned#

Research Hardware Compatibility: Always check Linux hardware compatibility before purchasing, especially for WiFi adapters
Have Backup Connectivity: Keep USB tethering or dongles as backup options
Ubuntu LTS Timing: Upgrading to Ubuntu 24.04 LTS provides a stable base for the next few years
Driver Support Evolution: Hardware support in Linux continues to improve, but cutting-edge hardware may require patience

Conclusion#

While the transition from my Acer V3-471G to the ASUS Vivobook X1404VA hasn’t been entirely smooth due to driver issues, the performance improvements make it worthwhile. The MT7902 WiFi driver challenge is a temporary setback that I’m confident will be resolved through either software solutions or hardware workarounds.

The journey from Ubuntu 22.04 to 24.04, combined with the significant hardware upgrade, represents a major step forward in my development environment. Sometimes the path to better hardware involves navigating compatibility challenges, but that’s all part of the Linux experience!

I’ll be documenting my progress with the WiFi driver solutions and will likely write follow-up posts about the specific technical approaches I take to resolve these issues.

Have you faced similar hardware compatibility challenges when upgrading to newer laptops? Feel free to share your experiences and solutions in the comments below!