nVidia Graphics Card installation

jawaking00 · 07-23-2005, 12:53 PM

I just installed Ubuntu Hoary Hedgehog, and it's been a while since I've ran a Linux system and I've never managed to get one running with my current GeForce card.

I used the guide at www.ubuntuguide.org and followed it exactly. Now when I start my computer the nVidia splash screen comes up, but I have no idea if my card is working correctly. Also, I cannot change my resolution under System->Preferences->Screen Resolution. The only option I have is for 640x480 and that's a bit annoying.

Could anyone help me to find out if my card is working?

My system:

Athlon 2500+ Barton
128mb GeForce 6600 GT
1.5 Gb RAM
nForce2 mobo
Ubuntu 5.04

Thanks.

Xihuitl · 07-23-2005, 01:09 PM

First off, if you would like to not display the nVidia logo on startup (I assume you mean X startup), edit xorg.conf to have something like this:

Section "Device"
Identifier "nVidia Inc. GeForce2"
Driver "nvidia"
Option "NoLogo" "true"
VideoRam 65536
EndSection

Key to this is the Option "NoLogo" "true" line.

To see if the driver is working properly,
"glxinfo | grep direct"
and see what the output is.

To adjust the resolution of you screen, make sure you have correct information entered for hsync and vsync for your monitor (otherwise modes will be deleted) and edit the Screen section of Xorg.conf

jawaking00 · 07-23-2005, 01:36 PM

Ok.

When I did the glxinfo thing I got this back:

Code:

direct rendering: Yes

So I assume it's working. Plus I was getting fps of 6000 in glxgears and Tux Racer was running fine.

Now for the screen resolution thing, this is my xorg.conf file:

Code:

# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the /etc/X11/xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man /etc/X11/xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following commands:
#
#   cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.custom
#   sudo sh -c 'md5sum /etc/X11/xorg.conf >/var/lib/xfree86/xorg.conf.md5sum'
#   sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
	FontPath	"unix/:7100"			# local font server
	# if the local font server has problems, we can fall back on these
	FontPath	"/usr/lib/X11/fonts/misc"
	FontPath	"/usr/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
	FontPath	"/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
	FontPath	"/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
	FontPath	"/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"
	FontPath	"/usr/lib/X11/fonts/CID"
	FontPath	"/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi"
	FontPath	"/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi"
        # paths to defoma fonts
	FontPath	"/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
	FontPath	"/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/CID"
EndSection

Section "Module"
	Load	"bitmap"
	Load	"dbe"
	Load	"ddc"
	Load	"dri"
	Load	"extmod"
	Load	"freetype"
	Load	"glx"
	Load	"int10"
	Load	"record"
	Load	"type1"
	Load	"vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Generic Keyboard"
	Driver		"keyboard"
	Option		"CoreKeyboard"
	Option		"XkbRules"	"xorg"
	Option		"XkbModel"	"pc104"
	Option		"XkbLayout"	"us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Configured Mouse"
	Driver		"mouse"
	Option		"CorePointer"
	Option		"Device"		"/dev/input/mice"
	Option		"Protocol"		"ImPS/2"
	Option		"Emulate3Buttons"	"true"
	Option		"ZAxisMapping"		"4 5"
EndSection

Section "Device"
	Identifier	"NVIDIA Corporation NV43 [GeForce 6600/GeForce 6600 Ultra]"
	Driver		"nvidia"
	BusID		"PCI:2:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"DELL P780"
	Option		"DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"Default Screen"
	Device		"NVIDIA Corporation NV43 [GeForce 6600/GeForce 6600 Ultra]"
	Monitor		"DELL P780"
	DefaultDepth	24
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		1
		Modes		"1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		4
		Modes		"1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		8
		Modes		"1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		15
		Modes		"1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		16
		Modes		"1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		24
		Modes		"1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
	Identifier	"Default Layout"
	Screen		"Default Screen"
	InputDevice	"Generic Keyboard"
	InputDevice	"Configured Mouse"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
	Mode	0666
EndSection

I can kind of remember what to edit, but I'm not 100% positive. Also, I never really understood the whole hsync and vsync thing. How do I figure out what my monitor can handle?

Thanks for the help.

Xihuitl · 07-24-2005, 12:11 AM

Being as I am on vacation right now visiting family, and none of them are smart enough to run any flavor of linux (and have forgotten my Knoppix livecd to boot --pun intended) I will be answering by memory.

Code:

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"DELL P780"
	Option		"DPMS"

Needs to contain the sync rates. Assuming that the Dell P780 IS in fact the montior that you are using, try using this instead

Code:

Section "Monitor"
          Identifier	"DELL P780"
          HorizSync   30 - 85
          VertRefresh 48-120
          Option		"DPMS"

Your modes are present, and should be working. Need more information from your console running behind the X server to determine why you are not getting the modes you want. If your X starts with bootup, that should be on your first console, otherwise, it will be on the console you started X from.

But, from what I see thus far, it is because of a lack of refresh rates. If you enter that information into xorg.conf and still are unable to get the higher resolutions, post the output of your X server.

By the way, try running SuperTux in addition to or instead of Tux Racer.

JediDB · 07-24-2005, 12:19 AM

Hi all,

Im learning my way around Linux by reading alot of these posts.

What does the refernce of "X" mean? Is "X" the dist. of the Linux been used?

Thanks ")

jawaking00 · 07-24-2005, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JediDB
Hi all,

Im learning my way around Linux by reading alot of these posts.

What does the refernce of "X" mean? Is "X" the dist. of the Linux been used?

Thanks ")

X is the gui server. X is what lets you see something other than the console. Hope that helps.

As for my problem I fixed it. I added those sync rates into xorg.conf and everything works swimmingly. Now I just need to work on getting my second monitor up and running.

Also, I'm just wondering, where do you find what the actual sync rates for a monitor are? I always just use the defaults, but can I get better preformance by using specific ones?

JediDB · 07-24-2005, 11:33 AM

Hi,

How do you access the "xorg.conf" file? and how do you edit it?
I tried to type that in my Ubuntu Terminal and nothing happens.

Thanks

jawaking00 · 07-24-2005, 11:44 AM

the file is in /etc/X11, and you need root access to edit it.

so you'd type sudo <favorite editor> /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Where <favorite editor> is whatever editor you like best. Probably gedit. Also, be sure to make a backup copy of xorg.conf by copying the file to xorg.back or something in case you mess something up.

JediDB · 07-24-2005, 12:07 PM

Hi,

How do i backup that file? Im still running CDLive versions of different dist so, with my not been 'root' i cant access/change things.

Thanks.

jawaking00 · 07-24-2005, 02:56 PM

I doubt you'd be able to change much of anything with a LiveCD edition. I don't have much experience with them, so I don't know what can or can't be saved or modified.

JediDB · 07-24-2005, 03:49 PM

Hi,

Yes, i was wondering if using the CDLive version would lock out some features. Im just trying to find a dist. of Linux i like before i install one.

codec · 07-25-2005, 03:49 AM

in my case (FX5200, hoary), following the ubuntuguide is not sufficient

I have to add the users to group "video" or else no 3d

tamills · 10-03-2005, 10:06 AM

Regarding editing xorg.conf in a liveCD version of Ubuntu/Kubuntu:

Yes, it is possible; I do this quite often. I was having a problem getting my nvidia driver working so I changed the driver to vesa after X was already up. Here's how:
[list=1][*]I switched to console #2 (keyboard shortcut: Ctl-Alt-F2)[*]Loaded the file into the editor VI. (BTW, if you are going to become Unix/Linux friendly, learn VI, just because every distro will have it; and yes it is odd). [*]I found the "nv" driver and changed it to "vesa"[*]I switched back to my X windows server (keyboard shortcut is: Ctl-Alt-F7) [*]I restarted the X server by using the keyboard shortcut Ctl-Alt-Backspace (*NOT* Ctl-Alt-DEL!!!). [/list=1]

When the X Windows server restarts it will then re-read the xorg.conf file.

All you need to do is swap out the changes I made for the ones you want to make.

Right now I do this a lot because Ubuntu/Grub screwed up my master boot record and I can't boot any longer so I'm stuck with using the LiveCD until I master the details of Grub and can fix my MBR.

Drew

Xihuitl · 10-03-2005, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jawaking00
X is the gui server. X is what lets you see something other than the console. Hope that helps.

As for my problem I fixed it. I added those sync rates into xorg.conf and everything works swimmingly. Now I just need to work on getting my second monitor up and running.

Also, I'm just wondering, where do you find what the actual sync rates for a monitor are? I always just use the defaults, but can I get better preformance by using specific ones?

The refresh rates are found in the owner's manuals, but I did a google search for your monitor. You will always have better results by inserting the exact refresh rates for your monitor.