VGA only at half

dellthinker · 07-21-2010, 12:03 PM

Hi all, ever since installing Debian I feel that my video card isn't being used to its full potential.

The results of lspci

Code:

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 07)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 07)

Someone suggested that I need to update my kernel but I'm hoping that I don't have to go through that trouble.

Code:

debian:# uname -r
2.6.26-2-686

Does anyone have a usable solution so I can use my video card to its full potential? Thanx in advance!

the trooper · 07-21-2010, 02:06 PM

Have you installed the appropriate driver?:

http://packages.debian.org/lenny/xse...rg-video-intel

dellthinker · 07-21-2010, 02:28 PM

It would appear that it's already installed on my system.

Code:

Debian:~# apt-get install xserver-xorg-video-intel
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
xserver-xorg-video-intel is already the newest version.

Further research shows that the resolution could be cranked up way farther than what it's using now.

Code:

Debian:~# cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep Chipset
(--) Chipset vesa found
Inferno:~# cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep Driver
   X.Org Video Driver: 2.0
   ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 2.0
   Module class: X.Org Video Driver
   ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 2.0
   Module class: X.Org XInput Driver
   Module class: X.Org XInput Driver
   ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 2.0
   ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 2.0
   Module class: X.Org XInput Driver
Debian:~# glxinfo | grep render
direct rendering: No (If you want to find out why, try setting LIBGL_DEBUG=verbose)
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa GLX Indirect
Debian:~# xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 640 x 480, current 1024 x 768, maximum 1024 x 768
default connected 1024x768+0+0 0mm x 0mm
   1024x768       61.0*
   800x600         0.0 
   640x480         0.0

It's supposed to be at 1366×768 resolution or 1600×900 resolution. Any other suggestions?

adamk75 · 07-22-2010, 10:15 AM

Please show us your /var/log/Xorg.0.log file.

Adam

dellthinker · 07-22-2010, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamk75

Please show us your /var/log/Xorg.0.log file.

Adam

I've already provided this information.

Code:

Inferno:~# cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep Driver
   X.Org Video Driver: 2.0
   ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 2.0
   Module class: X.Org Video Driver
   ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 2.0
   Module class: X.Org XInput Driver
   Module class: X.Org XInput Driver
   ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 2.0
   ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 2.0
   Module class: X.Org XInput Driver

adamk75 · 07-22-2010, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dellthinker

I've already provided this information.

Code:

Inferno:~# cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep Driver
   X.Org Video Driver: 2.0
   ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 2.0
   Module class: X.Org Video Driver
   ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 2.0
   Module class: X.Org XInput Driver
   Module class: X.Org XInput Driver
   ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 2.0
   ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 2.0
   Module class: X.Org XInput Driver

Excuse me, but that is not what I asked for. I asked for your /var/log/Xorg.0.log file, not just certain parts of it. You have yet to provide your /var/log/Xorg.0.log file in this thread.

Adam

dellthinker · 07-22-2010, 02:00 PM

My mistake. I forgot that I added the grep. This is a quite large log file, so I'll be pasting it here.

adamk75 · 07-22-2010, 02:37 PM

Well you're using the vesa driver, which provides absolutely no 2D or 3D acceleration. Edit your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file and switch the vesa driver to the intel driver. Bear in mind, of course, that you're using an X server from over two years ago. The intel driver will be from roughly the same time period. There have been lots of improvements in that time that you will be missing out on.

But it'll still be faster than vesa.

Adam

dellthinker · 07-22-2010, 03:18 PM

Okay, this is the contents of my /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Code:

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

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Configured Mouse"
	Driver		"mouse"
EndSection

Section "Device"
	Identifier	"Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"Default Screen"
	Monitor		"Configured Monitor"
EndSection

The vesa driver isn't there. So should I edit it like so...?

Code:

Section "Device"
	Identifier	"Configured Video Device"
        Driver       "intel"   
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"Configured Monitor"
EndSection

adamk75 · 07-22-2010, 03:21 PM

It would be in the Device section, under the "Configured Video Device" line.

dellthinker · 07-22-2010, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamk75

It would be in the Device section, under the "Configured Video Device" line.

What would? Driver "intel" ? I'm getting a bit confused by your answer.

adamk75 · 07-22-2010, 05:03 PM

Yes, you asked about the Driver "intel" line and I said that "would be" in the Device section. Perhaps I should have said that it "should go" there.

pljvaldez · 07-22-2010, 05:33 PM

You can also try running dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg as root. It should have a screen where you select the driver to use. Be sure to select "intel".

http://sbjaved.blogspot.com/2007/06/...ing-it-to.html

dellthinker · 07-24-2010, 12:02 PM

Okay that solution worked. My resolution is back to 1366×768. Although I've noticed that Xorg is taking a lot of system resources. As adamk75 said earlier I'm using an older version of X server, so my next step is to look into updating it.