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Old 05-12-2005, 12:05 AM   #1
dark_prancer
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Slack 10 system running well, except slow graphics. NVidia?


I wasn't sure whether to post this as a hardware or software problem, since I don't know what the problem is, so I posted here.

I'm running Slackware 10 (2.4.** kernel) on i686 machine that also runs WinXP. (don't hate me!) I use KDE (3.2.3).
I've only had Slackware for a few days, before that I had Fedora Core 3, for about two weeks, which I think made the transition from Win to Slack even harder

Anyway, everything is working great except the graphics are slow. At first it was hard to notice, because I haven't done anything more graphically heavy than run the WM, but the windows stutter if you move them (somewhat vigorously), and so I decided to run some of the screensavers with the FPS option on. There is a screensaver called Atlantis, in the OpenGL section and with every option set to miminum, with all the effects turned off and WIREFRAME dolphins, I managed a grand total of 3 FPS. (needless to say it didn't look very good)

This can't be right.

I'm using Nvidia GeforceFX 5900Ultra and the comp has BUCKETS of memory. In Windows (don't hate me) I can play games like Far Cry and Doom 3, with other applications and a download running in the back if I want to, without a hiccup.

My first thought was of course the NVidia driver. I solved the same problem in FC3 that way. So I grabbed a tutorial "Installing new accelerated Nvidia Linux drivers in 5 easy steps".
It said to edit the XF86Config file. I remember from doing it in FC3.
But opening up /etc/X11 I discovered there <b>is</b> no XF86Config file.

From their I have been stuck. As embarrassing it is, I can't even seem to find the card, to see if it has been recognized properly.
Anyway, I'd appreciate any help you could offer....

BTW - my sound doesn't work either, but that's another story.....


Quote:
He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom - Gandalf
 
Old 05-12-2005, 12:41 AM   #2
tuxrules
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Slack 10 uses Xorg which is almost similar to XFree86. look for file /etc/X11/xorg.conf. That is your x server configuration file.

You can try the following command to see if you Nvidia card is recognized

# lspci

and/or

# dmesg

Edit: Slack mutes sound by default. Try running this as root

#alsaconf - its a soundcard config utility and after this do

#alsamixer to set the mixer setting and increase the volume bars...and cross your fingers

or come back here and post details

Last edited by tuxrules; 05-12-2005 at 12:43 AM.
 
Old 05-12-2005, 06:33 AM   #3
dark_prancer
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Editing xorg.conf ...

Ok then.

At the risk of looking just a little bit stupid....
I went into xorg.conf planning to still follow the tuturiol as well as I could...

The tute says the Device section (for XF86Config) should look like this:

Section "Device"
Identifier "Videocard0"
Driver "nv" - **change this to "nvidia"**
VendorName "Videocard vendor"
BoardName "NVIDIA GeForce FX (generic)"
EndSection

Mine looks like this:

Section "Device"
Identifier "VESA Framebuffer"
Driver "vesa"
#VideoRam 4096
# Insert Clocks lines here if appropriate
EndSection

My question is, should I just change the values for Identifier and Driver or write in a new section?
Also, I ran 'lspci' and it appeared to detect the card....

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation NV35 [GeForce FX 5900 Ultra] (rev a1)

On the point of sound: I ran alsaconf and my sound works now. It was a silly oversight not to have done it in the first place.

Hooray for small blessings!
 
Old 05-12-2005, 07:26 AM   #4
tuxrules
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Don't write a new "Device Section"

Just comment out (with a # in the beginning of the line) the lines you don't want and write the new lines below it.

Section "Device"
#Identifier "VESA Framebuffer"
#Driver "vesa"
#VideoRam 4096
# Insert Clocks lines here if appropriate
Identifier "Videocard0"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "Videocard vendor"
BoardName "NVIDIA GeForce FX (generic)"
EndSection

I should also point out that you should change the refresh rates (horizontal and vertical) and also the default color depth and resolution. It might create a problem. After you are done...hit ctrl-alt-backspace to restart X server...if everything goes well you will first see an nvidia logo and then your login manager.

Tux

Edit: I also recommend you change your run level to 3 so that your pc boots to a command prompt that way you can trouble shoot X server if you hit a snag.

Last edited by tuxrules; 05-12-2005 at 10:16 AM.
 
Old 05-12-2005, 09:03 AM   #5
andresv
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Remember to change the Device parameter in the Screen section to Videocard0.

Andres V.
 
Old 05-12-2005, 10:23 AM   #6
tuxrules
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Here's my xorg.conf as a guide...

Code:
# File generated by xf86config.

#
# Copyright (c) 1999 by The XFree86 Project, Inc.
#
# Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a
# copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"),
# to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation
# the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense,
# and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the
# Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
# 
# The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
# all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
# 
# THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
# IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
# FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT.  IN NO EVENT SHALL
# THE XFREE86 PROJECT BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY,
# WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF
# OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
# SOFTWARE.
# 
# Except as contained in this notice, the name of the XFree86 Project shall
# not be used in advertising or otherwise to promote the sale, use or other
# dealings in this Software without prior written authorization from the
# XFree86 Project.
#

# **********************************************************************
# Refer to the XF86Config(4/5) man page for details about the format of 
# this file.
# **********************************************************************

# NOTE:  This is a NEW IMPROVED version of XF86Config-fbdev that uses the vesa
# driver instead of the fbdev driver.  Thanks to Kenneth Fanyo who pointed
# this out to me. :)

# This XF86Config file is designed for use with the VESA framebuffer.
# This generic interface should work with nearly all video cards
# (although not every card will support every resolution).

# With the new driver, it should no longer be required to have frame buffer
# support in the kernel, or to run it on the console.
#
# Enjoy! :)
# -- volkerdi@slackware.com
#

# **********************************************************************
# Module section -- this  section  is used to specify
# which dynamically loadable modules to load.
# **********************************************************************
#
Section "Module"

# This loads the DBE extension module.

    Load        "dbe"  	# Double buffer extension

# This loads the miscellaneous extensions module, and disables
# initialisation of the XFree86-DGA extension within that module.
    SubSection  "extmod"
      Option    "omit xfree86-dga"   # don't initialise the DGA extension
    EndSubSection

# This loads the font modules
    Load        "type1"
    Load        "freetype"
    Load        "speedo"

# This loads the GLX module
    Load       "glx"
    Load       "fbdevhw"
    Load       "record"
#  Load       "dri"	   
#comment "dri" if nvidia module is installed
EndSection

# **********************************************************************
# Files section.  This allows default font and rgb paths to be set
# **********************************************************************

Section "Files"

# The location of the RGB database.  Note, this is the name of the
# file minus the extension (like ".txt" or ".db").  There is normally
# no need to change the default.

    RgbPath	"/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"

# Multiple FontPath entries are allowed (which are concatenated together),
# as well as specifying multiple comma-separated entries in one FontPath
# command (or a combination of both methods)
# 
# If you don't have a floating point coprocessor and emacs, Mosaic or other
# programs take long to start up, try moving the Type1 and Speedo directory
# to the end of this list (or comment them out).
# 

    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/local/"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc/"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1/"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/CID/"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo/"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic/"

# ModulePath can be used to set a search path for the X server modules.
# The default path is shown here.

#    ModulePath "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules"

EndSection

# **********************************************************************
# Server flags section.
# **********************************************************************

Section "ServerFlags"

# Uncomment this to cause a core dump at the spot where a signal is
# received.  This may leave the console in an unusable state, but may
# provide a better stack trace in the core dump to aid in debugging

#    Option     "NoTrapSignals"

# Uncomment this to disable the <Crtl><Alt><Fn> VT switch sequence
# (where n is 1 through 12).  This allows clients to receive these key
# events.

#    Option     "DontVTSwitch"

# Uncomment this to disable the <Crtl><Alt><BS> server abort sequence
# This allows clients to receive this key event.

#    Option     "DontZap"

# Uncomment this to disable the <Crtl><Alt><KP_+>/<KP_-> mode switching
# sequences.  This allows clients to receive these key events.

#    Option     "DontZoom"

# Uncomment this to disable tuning with the xvidtune client. With
# it the client can still run and fetch card and monitor attributes,
# but it will not be allowed to change them. If it tries it will
# receive a protocol error.

#    Option     "DisableVidModeExtension"

# Uncomment this to enable the use of a non-local xvidtune client.

#    Option     "AllowNonLocalXvidtune"

# Uncomment this to disable dynamically modifying the input device
# (mouse and keyboard) settings.

#    Option     "DisableModInDev"

# Uncomment this to enable the use of a non-local client to
# change the keyboard or mouse settings (currently only xset).

#    Option     "AllowNonLocalModInDev"

# Set the basic blanking screen saver timeout.

#    Option      "blank time"    "10"    # 10 minutes

# Set the DPMS timeouts.  These are set here because they are global
# rather than screen-specific.  These settings alone don't enable DPMS.
# It is enabled per-screen (or per-monitor), and even then only when
# the driver supports it.

#    Option      "standby time"  "20"
#    Option      "suspend time"  "30"
#    Option      "off time"      "60"

# On some platform the server needs to estimate the sizes of PCI
# memory and pio ranges. This is done by assuming that PCI ranges
# don't overlap. Some broken BIOSes tend to set ranges of inactive
# devices wrong. Here one can adjust how aggressive the assumptions
# should be. Default is 0.

# Option   "EstimateSizesAggresively" "0"

EndSection

# **********************************************************************
# Input devices
# **********************************************************************

# **********************************************************************
# Core keyboard's InputDevice section
# **********************************************************************

Section "InputDevice"

    Identifier	"Keyboard1"
    Driver	"kbd"
# For most OSs the protocol can be omitted (it defaults to "Standard").
# When using XQUEUE (only for SVR3 and SVR4, but not Solaris),
# uncomment the following line.

#    Option     "Protocol"      "Xqueue"

# Set the keyboard auto repeat parameters.  Not all platforms implement
# this.

#    Option     "AutoRepeat"    "500 5"

# Specifiy which keyboard LEDs can be user-controlled (eg, with xset(1)).

#    Option     "Xleds" "1 2 3"

# To disable the XKEYBOARD extension, uncomment XkbDisable.

#    Option     "XkbDisable"

# To customise the XKB settings to suit your keyboard, modify the
# lines below (which are the defaults).  For example, for a European
# keyboard, you will probably want to use one of:
#
#    Option     "XkbModel"      "pc102"
#    Option     "XkbModel"      "pc105"
#
# If you have a Microsoft Natural keyboard, you can use:
#
#    Option     "XkbModel"      "microsoft"
#
# If you have a US "windows" keyboard you will want:
#
#    Option     "XkbModel"      "pc104"
#
# Then to change the language, change the Layout setting.
# For example, a german layout can be obtained with:
#
#    Option     "XkbLayout"     "de"
#
# or:
#
#    Option     "XkbLayout"     "de"
#    Option     "XkbVariant"    "nodeadkeys"
#
# If you'd like to switch the positions of your capslock and
# control keys, use:
#
#    Option     "XkbOptions"    "ctrl:swapcaps"


# These are the default XKB settings for X.Org
#
#    Option     "XkbRules"      "xorg"
#    Option     "XkbModel"      "pc101"
#    Option     "XkbLayout"     "us"
#    Option     "XkbVariant"    ""
#    Option     "XkbOptions"    ""

EndSection


# **********************************************************************
# Core Pointer's InputDevice section
# **********************************************************************

Section "InputDevice"

# Identifier and driver

    Identifier	"Mouse1"
    Driver	"mouse"

# On platforms where PnP mouse detection is supported the following
# protocol setting can be used when using a newer PnP mouse:

#    Option     "Protocol"      "Auto"

# The available mouse protocols types that you can set below are:
#    Auto BusMouse GlidePoint GlidePointPS/2 IntelliMouse IMPS/2
#    Logitech Microsoft MMHitTab MMSeries Mouseman MouseManPlusPS/2
#    MouseSystems NetMousePS/2 NetScrollPS/2 OSMouse PS/2 SysMouse
#    ThinkingMouse ThinkingMousePS/2 Xqueue
    Option "Protocol"    "IMPS/2"

# The mouse device.  The device is normally set to /dev/mouse,
# which is usually a symbolic link to the real device.

    Option "Device"      "/dev/mouse"
#   Option "Device"      "/dev/psaux"
#   Option "Device"      "/dev/ttyS0"
#   Option "Device"      "/dev/ttyS1"

# When using XQUEUE, comment out the above two lines, and uncomment
# the following line.

#    Option "Protocol"	"Xqueue"

# Baudrate and SampleRate are only for some Logitech mice. In
# almost every case these lines should be omitted.

#    Option "BaudRate"		"9600"
#    Option "SampleRate"	"150"

# Emulate3Buttons is an option for 2-button Microsoft mice
# Emulate3Timeout is the timeout in milliseconds (default is 50ms)

     Option "Emulate3Buttons" "yes"
#  Option "Emulate3Timeout"    "50"
     Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"	
# ChordMiddle is an option for some 3-button Logitech mice

#    Option "ChordMiddle"

EndSection

# Some examples of extended input devices

# Section "InputDevice"
#    Identifier "spaceball"
#    Driver     "magellan"
#    Option     "Device"        "/dev/cua0"
# EndSection
#
# Section "InputDevice"
#    Identifier "spaceball2"
#    Driver     "spaceorb"
#    Option     "Device"        "/dev/cua0"
# EndSection
#
# Section "InputDevice"
#    Identifier "touchscreen0"
#    Driver     "microtouch"
#    Option     "Device"        "/dev/ttyS0"
#    Option     "MinX"          "1412"
#    Option     "MaxX"          "15184"
#    Option     "MinY"          "15372"
#    Option     "MaxY"          "1230"
#    Option     "ScreenNumber"  "0"
#    Option     "ReportingMode" "Scaled"
#    Option     "ButtonNumber"  "1"
#    Option     "SendCoreEvents"
# EndSection
#
# Section "InputDevice"
#    Identifier "touchscreen1"
#    Driver     "elo2300"
#    Option     "Device"        "/dev/ttyS0"
#    Option     "MinX"          "231"
#    Option     "MaxX"          "3868"
#    Option     "MinY"          "3858"
#    Option     "MaxY"          "272"
#    Option     "ScreenNumber"  "0"
#    Option     "ReportingMode" "Scaled"
#    Option     "ButtonThreshold"       "17"
#    Option     "ButtonNumber"  "1"
#    Option     "SendCoreEvents"
# EndSection

# **********************************************************************
# Monitor section
# **********************************************************************

# Any number of monitor sections may be present

Section "Monitor"

    Identifier  "My Monitor"
    VendorName  "Monitor Vendor"
    ModelName   "Dell M782"
    DisplaySize 320	240
    Option	"dpms"
# HorizSync is in kHz unless units are specified.
# HorizSync may be a comma separated list of discrete values, or a
# comma separated list of ranges of values.
# NOTE: THE VALUES HERE ARE EXAMPLES ONLY.  REFER TO YOUR MONITOR'S
# USER MANUAL FOR THE CORRECT NUMBERS.

    HorizSync   30.0 - 85.0

#    HorizSync	30-64         # multisync
#    HorizSync	31.5, 35.2    # multiple fixed sync frequencies
#    HorizSync	15-25, 30-50  # multiple ranges of sync frequencies

# VertRefresh is in Hz unless units are specified.
# VertRefresh may be a comma separated list of discrete values, or a
# comma separated list of ranges of values.
# NOTE: THE VALUES HERE ARE EXAMPLES ONLY.  REFER TO YOUR MONITOR'S
# USER MANUAL FOR THE CORRECT NUMBERS.

    VertRefresh 50.0 - 160.0

EndSection


# **********************************************************************
# Graphics device section
# **********************************************************************

# Any number of graphics device sections may be present

Section "Device"
# Identifier  "VESA Framebuffer"
# Driver      "vesa"
# VideoRam    4096
# Insert Clocks lines here if appropriate
    Identifier  "Videocard0"
    Driver      "nvidia"
#  Driver	"nv" 
#used when i dont have nvidia module installed
    VendorName  "Videocard vendor"
    BoardName   "NVIDIA GeForce 2 MX (generic)"

#   Option "RenderAccel" "true"
###Option "RenderAccel" "true" added to show transparency in
###XFCE panel.  Done according to Oscillation graphical
###installer documentation...enabling transparency section.

EndSection

###Section "Extensions" added to use accelerated rendering in
###XFCE environment.  Done according to Oscillation graphical
###installer documentation...enabling transparency section.

#Section "Extensions"
#    Option "Composite" "Enable"
#EndSection
    
# **********************************************************************
# Screen sections
# **********************************************************************

# Any number of screen sections may be present.  Each describes
# the configuration of a single screen.  A single specific screen section
# may be specified from the X server command line with the "-screen"
# option.
Section "Screen"
    Identifier  "Screen 1"
# Device      "VESA Framebuffer"
    Device      "Videocard0"
    Monitor     "My Monitor"

# If your card can handle it, a higher default color depth (like 24 or 32)
# is highly recommended.

#   DefaultDepth 8
#   DefaultDepth 16
   DefaultDepth 24
#   DefaultDepth 32

# "1024x768" is also a conservative usable default resolution.  If you
# have a better monitor, feel free to try resolutions such as
# "1152x864", "1280x1024", "1600x1200", and "1800x1400" (or whatever your
# card/monitor can produce)

    Subsection "Display"
        Depth       8
        Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubsection
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth       16
        Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubsection
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth       24
        Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubsection
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth       32
        Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubsection

EndSection

# **********************************************************************
# ServerLayout sections.
# **********************************************************************

# Any number of ServerLayout sections may be present.  Each describes
# the way multiple screens are organised.  A specific ServerLayout
# section may be specified from the X server command line with the
# "-layout" option.  In the absence of this, the first section is used.
# When now ServerLayout section is present, the first Screen section
# is used alone.

Section "ServerLayout"

# The Identifier line must be present
    Identifier  "Simple Layout"

# Each Screen line specifies a Screen section name, and optionally
# the relative position of other screens.  The four names after
# primary screen name are the screens to the top, bottom, left and right
# of the primary screen.  In this example, screen 2 is located to the
# right of screen 1.

    Screen "Screen 1"

# Each InputDevice line specifies an InputDevice section name and
# optionally some options to specify the way the device is to be
# used.  Those options include "CorePointer", "CoreKeyboard" and
# "SendCoreEvents".

    InputDevice "Mouse1" "CorePointer"
    InputDevice "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard"

EndSection
Hope this helps
 
Old 05-13-2005, 04:20 AM   #7
dark_prancer
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Registered: Feb 2005
Location: qld aus
Distribution: Fedora Core 4
Posts: 43

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 15
Smile Thank you...

Well... I did what you guys said and my graphics are like a Ferrari in my computer!

Thank you guys for your help.... you made it heaps easier.

Quote:
He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom - Gandalf
 
  


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