Xorg 2D hardware acceleration for Intel 865G video card

michal017 · 01-12-2006, 03:08 AM

I have Intel 865G video card and now I'm trying out the xcompmgr and window transparency. When making a window transparent, moving it gets really slow.. I don't know whether 2D hardware acceleration is on or off for me, i.e. whether it should be that slow or not.. Is there a way to find out?

I am using Xorg 6.9.0 from Debian unstable.
Agp kernel configuration is:
CONFIG_AGP=y
CONFIG_AGP_INTEL=y
CONFIG_DRM=y
CONFIG_DRM_I830=y

I am using i810 module for Xorg, kernel 2.6.15. Direct rendering is off according to glxinfo.

Thanks for your help..

nx5000 · 01-12-2006, 09:27 AM

I'm using a 855GM with xorg 6.9 on unstable with transparency (from experimental, I think you also got it there right?)

Can you try this:

CONFIG_DRM=m
CONFIG_DRM_I830=m

I also have CONFIG_DRM_i915 but I think it is causing me some problem (it is this one that is listed now in my lsmod)

You need a DRI section

Code:

Section "DRI"
        Mode    0666
EndSection

and

Code:

Section "Device"
        Identifier      "Video générique"
        Driver          "i810"
        BusID           "PCI:00:02:0"
        Videoram        64000
EndSection

Here you should have 3D acceleration (I don't know for 2D but I think it uses 3D accel). I have problems after suspending and some screensavers don't run properly... detail..

To check it:
glxinfo | grep rendering

then I guess you have the Composite line in xorg.conf
check it is loaded:
type xdpyinfo | grep Composite

and then
xcompmgr -c&
transset

and tweak

Well I'm not completely happy with it (I have KDE3.5), it still has a few bugs (experimental..) but it's a nice thing

Tell me if you manage to do it.

michal017 · 01-13-2006, 12:56 AM

First, thanks for your response and help..
In the meantime I have managed to turn on direct rendering - the problem was I did not have the appropriate software installed and this page http://dri.freedesktop.org/wiki/DriTroubleshooting helped me a lot, especially the 'Userspace setup' part.

Now, the problem here is that even with direct rendering, if I set a window (Firefox, mrxvt, etc.) being transparent, when I move it around the desktop it's still as slow as without direct rendering, plus consuming the same CPU as before (using gkrellm to monitor the CPU usage).. Is that normal?

Thanks..

nx5000 · 01-13-2006, 04:17 AM

Strange that you have to use something from freedesktop.
I only use my kernel and xorg.

What did you download exactly?

My glxgears gives me 1000/1200. Same for you?

For me its pretty fast. Little flickering when moving windows from one side to other, I mean its not *completely* smooth.
and my cpu is ok

You did use xcompmgr and transset from experimental?

Did you check your xorg log?

Code:

egrep "\((WW|EE)\)" /var/log/Xorg.0.log

the rest I did it like this:
Check in xdpyinfo you have Composite
With KDE 3.5, you go in Window behaviour in Kcontrol and enable translucidity
then I take the line I found on the net:

Code:

xcompmgr -cCfF -r7 -o.65 -l-10 -t-8 -D7&

And then transset to make a window transparent

Code:

transset

Btw, using my configuration (kernel and xorg only) you NEED i915, I tried yesterday and lost DRI.

edit:
firefox+composite+flash makes firefox crash.
Either disable flash or composite.
I have made a post in Debian forum

michal017 · 01-13-2006, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nx5000

Strange that you have to use something from freedesktop.
I only use my kernel and xorg.

Nope, I just searched the freedesktop for some troubleshooting, of course I downloaded stuff from Debian repository.. I did not have the i915_dri.so in X.org, that's why it was not working

Quote:

What did you download exactly?

My glxgears gives me 1000/1200. Same for you?

Nope, just about 770 fps

Quote:

For me its pretty fast. Little flickering when moving windows from one side to other, I mean its not *completely* smooth.
and my cpu is ok

You did use xcompmgr and transset from experimental?

yes

Quote:

Did you check your xorg log?

Code:

egrep "\((WW|EE)\)" /var/log/Xorg.0.log

Gives me this:

Code:

        (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(WW) Open ACPI failed (/proc/acpi/event) (No such file or directory)
(WW) Ignoring request to load module GLcore
(WW) Ignoring request to load module speedo
*(WW) (1920x1440,Generic Monitor) mode clock 297MHz exceeds DDC maximum 260MHz
(WW) (1920x1440,Generic Monitor) mode clock 341.35MHz exceeds DDC maximum 260MHz
(WW) I810(0): Extended BIOS function 0x5f05 not supported.
(WW) I810(0): PGTBL_ER is 0x00000029
(WW) I810(0): Extended BIOS function 0x5f05 not supported.
(WW) I810(0): Extended BIOS function 0x5f28 not supported.

Quote:

the rest I did it like this:
Check in xdpyinfo you have Composite
With KDE 3.5, you go in Window behaviour in Kcontrol and enable translucidity
then I take the line I found on the net:

Code:

xcompmgr -cCfF -r7 -o.65 -l-10 -t-8 -D7&

And then transset to make a window transparent

Code:

transset

Btw, using my configuration (kernel and xorg only) you NEED i915, I tried yesterday and lost DRI.

You need i915 where? In the kernel? Because I switched back to i830, I will try with i915 (CONFIG_DRM_I915).

Quote:

edit:
firefox+composite+flash makes firefox crash.
Either disable flash or composite.
I have made a post in Debian forum

nx5000 · 01-13-2006, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michal017

Nope, I just searched the freedesktop for some troubleshooting, of course I downloaded stuff from Debian repository.. I did not have the i915_dri.so in X.org, that's why it was not working

Ah interesting they have the xorg module for i915!
As you have seen in my xorg.conf, i use i810 (i810_drv.so)

Quote:

Gives me this:

Code:

        (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(WW) Open ACPI failed (/proc/acpi/event) (No such file or directory)
(WW) Ignoring request to load module GLcore
(WW) Ignoring request to load module speedo
*(WW) (1920x1440,Generic Monitor) mode clock 297MHz exceeds DDC maximum 260MHz
(WW) (1920x1440,Generic Monitor) mode clock 341.35MHz exceeds DDC maximum 260MHz
(WW) I810(0): Extended BIOS function 0x5f05 not supported.
(WW) I810(0): PGTBL_ER is 0x00000029
(WW) I810(0): Extended BIOS function 0x5f05 not supported.
(WW) I810(0): Extended BIOS function 0x5f28 not supported.

Seems good for me, so you have the dri using i915 xorg driver, while i use the i810 driver, your solution is maybe better!?

Quote:

You need i915 where? In the kernel? Because I switched back to i830, I will try with i915 (CONFIG_DRM_I915).

Yes, I need it in the kernel.

Your 600fps is not normal .
I bet glxinfo gives
direct rendering:No

?

its a bit confusing, I had some issues about it and was very happy when this damned thing worked I will regive you my working configuration, you should try it and then you probably will get a better one.

xorg:
see beginning of post
kernel:
CONFIG_DRM=m
CONFIG_DRM_I830=m
CONFIG_DRM_I915=m

Then in linux, lsmod gives:
module used by
i915 1
drm 2 i915

Then check glxinfo.

Sorry if it does'nt help you more
Good luck

michal017 · 01-13-2006, 09:58 AM

Actually I use i810 in xorg:

Code:

Section "Device"
        Identifier      "Generic Video Card"
        Driver          "i810"
#       Driver          "i915"

# option in case of problem
#       Option          "NoAccel" "True"
#       Option          "VBERestore"
EndSection

but the log says:

Code:

(II) I810(0): [drm] created "i915" driver at busid "pci:0000:00:02.0"

I will recompile kernel and retest.. Thanks for now..
Oh, and glxinfo gives:

Code:

direct rendering: Yes

nx5000 · 01-13-2006, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Code:

(II) I810(0): [drm] created "i915" driver at busid "pci:0000:00:02.0"

I will recompile kernel and retest.. Thanks for now..
Oh, and glxinfo gives:

Code:

direct rendering: Yes

Same for me:

Code:

drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card0
drmOpenDevice: open result is -1, (No such device or address)
drmOpenDevice: open result is -1, (No such device or address)
drmOpenDevice: Open failed
drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card0
drmOpenDevice: open result is -1, (No such device or address)
drmOpenDevice: open result is -1, (No such device or address)
drmOpenDevice: Open failed
drmOpenByBusid: Searching for BusID pci:0000:00:02.0
drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card0
drmOpenDevice: open result is 9, (OK)
drmOpenByBusid: drmOpenMinor returns 9
drmOpenByBusid: drmGetBusid reports pci:0000:00:02.0
(II) I810(0): [drm] loaded kernel module for "i915" driver
(II) I810(0): [drm] DRM interface version 1.2
(II) I810(0): [drm] created "i915" driver at busid "pci:0000:00:02.0"

So xorg module i810 uses kernel module i915 in my case.

I don't know about the performance of the i865 but you really seem to have DRI. 600fps is about what I get without DRI. strange.
Try with the module but I'm not sure it'll help.. anyway xorg prefers modules!

nx5000 · 01-13-2006, 10:16 AM

Before I leave..

you could try a recent LiveCD, they usually have good configuration, and it would not interfere with your current setting (maybe you have one library from an old xorg causing problem).
If you still have 600fps on one or two live cd, throw your card

michal017 · 01-16-2006, 01:51 AM

Here's a summary..
I get the same performance in glxgears using i830 or i915 kernel module.
Without direct rendering I get about 300 fps, with direct rendering about 750 fps..
I will download and try out some recent knoppix (when I have time)..
Thanks for your help and if you came up with something else please let me know..

Oh, and one more thing.. I have tried out xcompmgr on my PC at home where I have ATI Radeon 9600 with the new r300_dri.so module and I was getting about 2000 fps.. What's strange is that when I set a Firefox window instance to transparent, it felt slow while moving it around the desktop.. kind of same as moving it on this PC where I have around 750 fps..

m.