NVidia problem, nv_check error

Sata · 05-11-2003, 01:19 AM

Hi, im running Mandrake 9.1 and have a GeForce4 MX440 64MB. I downloaded and installed driver 4363. I modprob nvidia and everything seems to be ok, most 3d games work ok but there are some things that bothers me.

OK, here is what I've got:

[root@carmiol downloads]# glxinfo | grep direct
direct rendering: Yes
[root@carmiol downloads]# glxgears
2133 frames in 5.0 seconds = 426.600 FPS
2248 frames in 5.0 seconds = 449.600 FPS
2252 frames in 5.0 seconds = 450.400 FPS
2292 frames in 5.0 seconds = 458.400 FPS
2466 frames in 5.0 seconds = 493.200 FPS
2414 frames in 5.0 seconds = 482.800 FPS
2420 frames in 5.0 seconds = 484.000 FPS
2209 frames in 5.0 seconds = 441.800 FPS
2382 frames in 5.0 seconds = 476.400 FPS
2451 frames in 5.0 seconds = 490.200 FPS
2435 frames in 5.0 seconds = 487.000 FPS
2373 frames in 5.0 seconds = 474.600 FPS
2382 frames in 5.0 seconds = 476.400 FPS
2396 frames in 5.0 seconds = 479.200 FPS
2446 frames in 5.0 seconds = 489.200 FPS
2462 frames in 5.0 seconds = 492.400 FPS
2343 frames in 5.0 seconds = 468.600 FPS
X connection to :0.0 broken (explicit kill or server shutdown).
[root@carmiol downloads]#

As you can see I never break the 500FPS mark, and I have seen people who gets up to 7000FPS. Im running on 1024x768x16. nv_check didn't gave any errors so I don't know anything else that might work, any ideas???

MasterC · 05-11-2003, 01:32 AM

If your games are working, and your display looks acceptible, I don't think you have any problems...

You are using direct rendering, you could try different AGP modules (check the readme for AGPGart and NVAGP) to see if one works better with your chipset.

Really though, this appears to be a "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" situation.

My 2 cents...

Cool

Sata · 05-11-2003, 01:37 AM

First of all thanks for the really hasty reply (couple of minutes actually).

Now, I forgot to say that when I run some other games it runnes a tiny bit slow, even if I use 640x480x16.

Finally, how do I add or use a AGPGart or NVAGP module?

MasterC · 05-11-2003, 01:40 AM

http://gatos.sourceforge.net/linuxvideo/dri-debug.html

Not really pertaining to the Nvidia cards specifically, but the general info there is good to know...

As for how to choose, it's in the README:

Quote:

Option "NvAGP" "integer"
Configure AGP support. Integer argument can be one of:
0 : disable agp
1 : use NVIDIA's internal AGP support, if possible
2 : use AGPGART, if possible
3 : use any agp support (try AGPGART, then NVIDIA's AGP)
Please note that NVIDIA's internal AGP support cannot
work if AGPGART is either statically compiled into your
kernel or is built as a module, but loaded into your
kernel (some distributions load AGPGART into the kernel
at boot up). Default: 3 (the default was 1 until after
1.0-1251).

Cool

MasterC · 05-11-2003, 01:46 AM

Other ways to speed up your system:
* Use a lighter window manager
* increase your RAM and CPU
* Run apps at a higher "nice" value, games at a lower "nice" value to allow more resources to be devoted to your games
* Kill processes (or end them) that you don't need/use.
* Shutdown servers that you don't use/need or are temporarily not in need of (ssh)

Also, try other drivers. You might find that an older (not too old since you are running a G4) driver just works better for some reason...

Cool

MasterC · 05-11-2003, 02:00 AM

Just browsing over the README, you might also wanna look at your cards capabilities so you know at least what to work on:
cat /proc/driver/nvidia

And choose each option in there and read about it. Your card probably has more abilities than you are using right now, you just have to figure out which ones it has first

Just plug through that README, there is certainly more info than one can/should swallow in one day in there.

Cool