Matrox Millenium G400 3D Acceleration Problems

disconeck · 07-12-2003, 06:00 PM

My system is aging, but here are the relevant specs:

Pentium III 866
512 megs PC133
Matrox Millenium G400
Mandrake 9.1/Win2k

I've been having 3D acceleration problems playing Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory (Linux client; no emulation) on this system under Mandrake 9.1... looks like I get 1 fps or so, as everything's terribly choppy. I have installed the latest drivers from Matrox, but it's still unplayable.

On this system, WolfET plays perfectly fine under Win2k (no choppiness at all), but under Mandrake 9.1 the game's unplayable due to the choppiness. So, I'm guessing the problem isn't that my hardware isn't powerful enough to run the game.

Does anyone else have experience with Matrox cards under Linux and would know whether the problems I'm experiencing are the result of a driver problem? Could ther be some other configuration error that could account for this discrepency?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

finegan · 07-13-2003, 02:51 AM

What's your fps under glxgears? Also, are you certain DRI is loading? What's you /etc/X11/XF86Config file look like?

Cheers,

Finegan

disconeck · 07-13-2003, 02:40 PM

Thanks for the response, Finegan.

Here's the output from glxgears (which I'm guessing is OK):

Quote:

1407 frames in 5.0 seconds = 281.400 FPS
1660 frames in 5.0 seconds = 332.000 FPS
1663 frames in 5.0 seconds = 332.600 FPS
1661 frames in 5.0 seconds = 332.200 FPS
1662 frames in 5.0 seconds = 332.400 FPS
1657 frames in 5.0 seconds = 331.400 FPS
1666 frames in 5.0 seconds = 333.200 FPS
1657 frames in 5.0 seconds = 331.400 FPS
1651 frames in 5.0 seconds = 330.200 FPS

Is there a way I can tell if DRI is running? It doesn't show up under top, but /dev/dri/card0 exists.

And here's my XF86Config; it should be standard as I just kept what Mandrake set up for me on install.

Quote:

# File generated by XFdrake.

# **********************************************************************
# Refer to the XF86Config man page for details about the format of
# this file.
# **********************************************************************

Section "Files"
# Multiple FontPath entries are allowed (they are concatenated together)
# By default, Mandrake 6.0 and later now use a font server independent of
# the X server to render fonts.
FontPath "unix/:-1"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
#DontZap # disable <Crtl><Alt><BS> (server abort)
AllowMouseOpenFail # allows the server to start up even if the mouse doesn't work
#DontZoom # disable <Crtl><Alt><KP_+>/<KP_-> (resolution switching)
EndSection

Section "Keyboard"
Protocol "Standard"
XkbModel "pc105"
XkbLayout "us"
XkbCompat ""
XkbOptions ""
EndSection

Section "Pointer"
Protocol "IMPS/2"
Device "/dev/usbmouse"
ZAxisMapping 4 5
EndSection

Section "XInput"

Subsection "Mouse"
Protocol "PS/2"
Device "/dev/psaux"
AlwaysCore
Emulate3Buttons
Emulate3Timeout 50
EndSubsection
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "monitor1"
VendorName "Plug'n Play"
ModelName "LG StudioWorks 995E"
HorizSync 30-96
VertRefresh 50-160

# Sony Vaio C1(X,XS,VE,VN)?
# 1024x480 @ 85.6 Hz, 48 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1024x480" 65.00 1024 1032 1176 1344 480 488 494 563 -hsync -vsync

# TV fullscreen mode or DVD fullscreen output.
# 768x576 @ 79 Hz, 50 kHz hsync
ModeLine "768x576" 50.00 768 832 846 1000 576 590 595 630

# 768x576 @ 100 Hz, 61.6 kHz hsync
ModeLine "768x576" 63.07 768 800 960 1024 576 578 590 616

# This is a set of standard mode timings. Modes that are out of monitor spec
# are automatically deleted by the server (provided the HorizSync and
# VertRefresh lines are correct), so there's no immediate need to
# delete mode timings (unless particular mode timings don't work on your
# monitor). With these modes, the best standard mode that your monitor
# and video card can support for a given resolution is automatically
# used.

# 640x400 @ 70 Hz, 31.5 kHz hsync
ModeLine "640x400" 25.175 640 664 760 800 400 409 411 450

# 640x480 @ 60 Hz, 31.5 kHz hsync
ModeLine "640x480" 25.175 640 664 760 800 480 491 493 525

# 800x600 @ 56 Hz, 35.15 kHz hsync
ModeLine "800x600" 36 800 824 896 1024 600 601 603 625

# 1024x768 @ 87 Hz interlaced, 35.5 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1024x768" 44.9 1024 1048 1208 1264 768 776 784 817 Interlace

# 640x400 @ 85 Hz, 37.86 kHz hsync
ModeLine "640x400" 31.5 640 672 736 832 400 401 404 445 -HSync +VSync

# 640x480 @ 75 Hz, 37.50 kHz hsync
ModeLine "640x480" 31.5 640 656 720 840 480 481 484 500 -HSync -VSync

# 800x600 @ 60 Hz, 37.8 kHz hsync
ModeLine "800x600" 40 800 840 968 1056 600 601 605 628 +hsync +vsync

# 640x480 @ 85 Hz, 43.27 kHz hsync
ModeLine "640x480" 36 640 696 752 832 480 481 484 509 -HSync -VSync

# 1152x864 @ 89 Hz interlaced, 44 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1152x864" 65 1152 1168 1384 1480 864 865 875 985 Interlace

# 800x600 @ 72 Hz, 48.0 kHz hsync
ModeLine "800x600" 50 800 856 976 1040 600 637 643 666 +hsync +vsync

# 1024x768 @ 60 Hz, 48.4 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1024x768" 65 1024 1032 1176 1344 768 771 777 806 -hsync -vsync

# 640x480 @ 100 Hz, 53.01 kHz hsync
ModeLine "640x480" 45.8 640 672 768 864 480 488 494 530 -HSync -VSync

# 1152x864 @ 60 Hz, 53.5 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1152x864" 89.9 1152 1216 1472 1680 864 868 876 892 -HSync -VSync

# 800x600 @ 85 Hz, 55.84 kHz hsync
ModeLine "800x600" 60.75 800 864 928 1088 600 616 621 657 -HSync -VSync

# 1024x768 @ 70 Hz, 56.5 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1024x768" 75 1024 1048 1184 1328 768 771 777 806 -hsync -vsync

# 1280x1024 @ 87 Hz interlaced, 51 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1280x1024" 80 1280 1296 1512 1568 1024 1025 1037 1165 Interlace

# 800x600 @ 100 Hz, 64.02 kHz hsync
ModeLine "800x600" 69.65 800 864 928 1088 600 604 610 640 -HSync -VSync

# 1024x768 @ 76 Hz, 62.5 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1024x768" 85 1024 1032 1152 1360 768 784 787 823

# 1152x864 @ 70 Hz, 62.4 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1152x864" 92 1152 1208 1368 1474 864 865 875 895

# 1280x1024 @ 61 Hz, 64.2 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1280x1024" 110 1280 1328 1512 1712 1024 1025 1028 1054

# 1400x1050 @ 60 Hz, 65.5 kHz
ModeLine "1400x1050" 122.0 1400 1488 1640 1880 1050 1052 1064 1082 +HSync +VSync

# 1024x768 @ 85 Hz, 70.24 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1024x768" 98.9 1024 1056 1216 1408 768 782 788 822 -HSync -VSync

# 1152x864 @ 78 Hz, 70.8 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1152x864" 110 1152 1240 1324 1552 864 864 876 908

# 1280x1024 @ 70 Hz, 74.59 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1280x1024" 126.5 1280 1312 1472 1696 1024 1032 1040 1068 -HSync -VSync

# 1600x1200 @ 60Hz, 75.00 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1600x1200" 162 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +HSync +VSync

# 1152x864 @ 84 Hz, 76.0 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1152x864" 135 1152 1464 1592 1776 864 864 876 908

# 1280x1024 @ 75 Hz, 79.98 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1280x1024" 135 1280 1296 1440 1688 1024 1025 1028 1066 +HSync +VSync

# 1024x768 @ 100Hz, 80.21 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1024x768" 115.5 1024 1056 1248 1440 768 771 781 802 -HSync -VSync

# 1400x1050 @ 75 Hz, 82.2 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1400x1050" 155.8 1400 1464 1784 1912 1050 1052 1064 1090 +HSync +VSync

# 1600x1200 @ 70 Hz, 87.50 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1600x1200" 189 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 -HSync -VSync

# 1152x864 @ 100 Hz, 89.62 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1152x864" 137.65 1152 1184 1312 1536 864 866 885 902 -HSync -VSync

# 1280x1024 @ 85 Hz, 91.15 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1280x1024" 157.5 1280 1344 1504 1728 1024 1025 1028 1072 +HSync +VSync

# 1600x1200 @ 75 Hz, 93.75 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1600x1200" 202.5 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +HSync +VSync

# 1600x1200 @ 85 Hz, 105.77 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1600x1200" 220 1600 1616 1808 2080 1200 1204 1207 1244 +HSync +VSync

# 1600x1200 @ 85 Hz, 106.3 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1600x1200" 229.5 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +HSync +VSync

# 1280x1024 @ 100 Hz, 107.16 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1280x1024" 181.75 1280 1312 1440 1696 1024 1031 1046 1072 -HSync -VSync

# 1800x1440 @ 64Hz, 96.15 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1800X1440" 230 1800 1896 2088 2392 1440 1441 1444 1490 +HSync +VSync

# 1800x1440 @ 70Hz, 104.52 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1800X1440" 250 1800 1896 2088 2392 1440 1441 1444 1490 +HSync +VSync

# 1920x1440 @ 60 Hz, 90.0 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1920x1440" 234.0 1920 2048 2256 2600 1440 1441 1444 1500 -HSync +VSync

# 1920x1440 @ 75 Hz, 112.5kHz hsync
ModeLine "1920x1440" 297.0 1920 2064 2288 2640 1440 1441 1444 1500 -HSync +VSync

# 512x384 @ 78 Hz, 31.50 kHz hsync
ModeLine "512x384" 20.160 512 528 592 640 384 385 388 404 -HSync -VSync

# 512x384 @ 85 Hz, 34.38 kHz hsync
ModeLine "512x384" 22 512 528 592 640 384 385 388 404 -HSync -VSync

# Low-res Doublescan modes
# If your chipset does not support doublescan, you get a 'squashed'
# resolution like 320x400.

# 320x200 @ 70 Hz, 31.5 kHz hsync, 8:5 aspect ratio
ModeLine "320x200" 12.588 320 336 384 400 200 204 205 225 Doublescan

# 320x240 @ 60 Hz, 31.5 kHz hsync, 4:3 aspect ratio
ModeLine "320x240" 12.588 320 336 384 400 240 245 246 262 Doublescan

# 320x240 @ 72 Hz, 36.5 kHz hsync
ModeLine "320x240" 15.750 320 336 384 400 240 244 246 262 Doublescan

# 400x300 @ 56 Hz, 35.2 kHz hsync, 4:3 aspect ratio
ModeLine "400x300" 18 400 416 448 512 300 301 302 312 Doublescan

# 400x300 @ 60 Hz, 37.8 kHz hsync
ModeLine "400x300" 20 400 416 480 528 300 301 303 314 Doublescan

# 400x300 @ 72 Hz, 48.0 kHz hsync
ModeLine "400x300" 25 400 424 488 520 300 319 322 333 Doublescan

# 480x300 @ 56 Hz, 35.2 kHz hsync, 8:5 aspect ratio
ModeLine "480x300" 21.656 480 496 536 616 300 301 302 312 Doublescan

# 480x300 @ 60 Hz, 37.8 kHz hsync
ModeLine "480x300" 23.890 480 496 576 632 300 301 303 314 Doublescan

# 480x300 @ 63 Hz, 39.6 kHz hsync
ModeLine "480x300" 25 480 496 576 632 300 301 303 314 Doublescan

# 480x300 @ 72 Hz, 48.0 kHz hsync
ModeLine "480x300" 29.952 480 504 584 624 300 319 322 333 Doublescan
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "device1"
VendorName "Matrox Graphics, Inc."
BoardName "Matrox Millennium G400"
VideoRam 32768
Option "power_saver"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Driver "svga"
Device "device1"
Monitor "monitor1"
DefaultColorDepth 24

Subsection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1600x1200" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubsection

Subsection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1600x1200" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubsection

Subsection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1600x1200" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubsection

Subsection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1600x1200" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubsection

Subsection "Display"
Depth 32
Modes "1600x1200" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubsection
EndSection

Thanks again

finegan · 07-14-2003, 04:53 AM

You have no DRI subsection! Whew, this is probably going to be a quick fix (I hope), add at the end, wherever really, but its a good place to put it:

Code:

Section "DRI"
        Mode0666
EndSection

That'll let Joe user actually be able to use the hardware acceleration driver. Also, you might want to grab the utility, mgapdesk from Matrox, it does a good job at tailoring your XF86Config for the card, and it makes a backup for it it makes a mess.

Cheers,

Finegan

disconeck · 07-14-2003, 10:12 PM

Thanks again. I added the Section "DRI" block to XF86Config, but it didn't seem to help. Looking through /etc/X11/, I've got both XF86Config and XF86Config-4. Is this normal?

Here's the contents of XF86Config-4

Code:

# File generated by XFdrake.

# **********************************************************************
# Refer to the XF86Config man page for details about the format of
# this file.
# **********************************************************************

Section "Files"
    # Multiple FontPath entries are allowed (they are concatenated together)
    # By default, Mandrake 6.0 and later now use a font server independent of
    # the X server to render fonts.
    FontPath "unix/:-1"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
    #DontZap # disable <Crtl><Alt><BS> (server abort)
    AllowMouseOpenFail # allows the server to start up even if the mouse doesn't work
    #DontZoom # disable <Crtl><Alt><KP_+>/<KP_-> (resolution switching)
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load "dbe" # Double-Buffering Extension
    Load "v4l" # Video for Linux
    Load "extmod"
    Load "type1"
    Load "freetype"
    Load "glx" # 3D layer
    Load "dri" # direct rendering
EndSection

Section "DRI"
    Mode 0666
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier "Keyboard1"
    Driver "Keyboard"
    Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
    Option "XkbLayout" "us"
    Option "XkbCompat" ""
    Option "XkbOptions" ""
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier "Mouse1"
    Driver "mouse"
    Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
    Option "Device" "/dev/usbmouse"
    Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier "Mouse2"
    Driver "mouse"
    Option "Protocol" "PS/2"
    Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
    Option "Emulate3Buttons"
    Option "Emulate3Timeout" "50"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier "monitor1"
    VendorName "Plug'n Play"
    ModelName "LG StudioWorks 995E"
    HorizSync 30-96
    VertRefresh 50-160
    
    # Sony Vaio C1(X,XS,VE,VN)?
    # 1024x480 @ 85.6 Hz, 48 kHz hsync
    ModeLine "1024x480"    65.00 1024 1032 1176 1344   480  488  494  563 -hsync -vsync
    
    # TV fullscreen mode or DVD fullscreen output.
    # 768x576 @ 79 Hz, 50 kHz hsync
    ModeLine "768x576"     50.00  768  832  846 1000   576  590  595  630
    
    # 768x576 @ 100 Hz, 61.6 kHz hsync
    ModeLine "768x576"     63.07  768  800  960 1024   576  578  590  616
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier "device1"
    VendorName "Matrox Graphics, Inc."
    BoardName "Matrox Millennium G400"
    Driver "mga"
    VideoRam 32768
    Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "screen1"
    Device "device1"
    Monitor "monitor1"
    DefaultColorDepth 24
    
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth 8
        Modes "1600x1200" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubsection
    
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth 15
        Modes "1600x1200" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubsection
    
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth 16
        Modes "1600x1200" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubsection
    
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth 24
        Modes "1600x1200" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubsection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier "layout1"
    InputDevice "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice "Mouse1" "CorePointer"
    InputDevice "Mouse2" "SendCoreEvents"
    Screen "screen1"
EndSection

Is it normal to have both of these files in /etc/X11/?

Thanks again

finegan · 07-15-2003, 07:38 PM

When XFree86 4.x.x came out, Mandy, RH and SuSe kept 3.3.6 in the distro for cards/monitor combos that go all goofy in X 4.x.x, so they gave the XF86Config file for their 4 setup a different name. It should go away shortly as XFree 4.3.0 is pretty much solid and I don't see it getting much better.

Honestly, mgapdesk... it fed a bunch of card options into my XF file, and I pretty much have the same card as you, a 32Mb DDR card with little slower gpu, and I jumped for fps in the 200s to about 800.

Cheers,

Finegan

disconeck · 07-16-2003, 09:57 PM

Hi again,

Well, I installed and ran mgapdesk as you suggested... no change to 3D performance.

I checked out the DRI project page on SourceForge and went through the steps they recommend for the situation I'm experiencing (make sure DRI is enabled and make sure I've got the latest libGL module - both of which are the case), yet still no luck.

Finally, I looked at the support forums for Matrox and noticed someone had a problem similar to what I'm experiencing http://forum.matrox.com/mgaforum/For...ML/002376.html. Matrox tech support claims:

Quote:

For gl do not install the default mesa libs as you will be running in software mode. You may need to unisntall mesa and reinstall the XFree86 rpms for XF4.3.0.

We'll see what happens

thanks again for all your help - it's a learning experience.

adub · 07-16-2003, 11:00 PM

I just got my g450 running not that long ago myself. I run Slackware 9.0 and DRI(dri.sourceforge.net) wasn't installed by default so I downloaded and compilied it in. I dunno if this has any to do with the hardware acceleration but I also installed SDL(www.libsdl.org) because I noticed that games like UT needed this support. Also, check out the Docs on both of the websites mentioned above, they were a good source of help for me.

hope that helps,

Adub

disconeck · 07-18-2003, 02:09 PM

Thanks for the suggestion, adub. I'll check it out this weekend and let you know.

cobra7x · 10-17-2003, 06:01 AM

I'm running X's with G400 and getting quite decent performance in Enemy Territory - is playable in "fastest" mode, and even in "fast" except for Wurzburg Radar map, but little slower then win32.

My config: PIII600, 256RAM, G400, Slackware 9.0, recompiled X's.