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Asus M2N-MX SE problem with X

I've been running Linux as my desktop for a couple of years, until recently I got a new motherboard, the Asus M2N MX SE do I have problem running X. Both Ubuntu 8.04 live CD and Open SUSE 11 live CD boot up (with noapic option) fine into KDE/Gnome, their respective live CD desktop of choice, and both of them complete the harddisk install without problem. But when rebooted, both of them fail to load up X. On ubuntu, the GDM simply flickers non stop. And on Open SUSE, once logged in through KDM, KDEinit said it simply won't load. I also used to install the latest stable Debian, Gnome worked but when trying to install Nvidia driver following the official Debian wiki, reloading X causes only blank screen. Is there any Asus M2N MX SE PRO user out there who can install any flavor of Linux on this board? Is this some serious compatibility issue?

Why don't you post the output of lspci so we can see what you are dealing with.

Quote:

Originally Posted by farslayer (Post 3316048)

Why don't you post the output of lspci so we can see what you are dealing with.

lspci listed the corresponded built-in ATI display chipset on this board. Please forgive me I'm on Windows right now and is unable to post the exact result.

Anyway, to cut the long story short, is there anyone at all out there manage to run any distro of Linux on the Asus M2N-MX-SE Plus mother board? Anyone?

EDIT Correction it is indeed Nvidia chipset and not ATI. I was drifted away

Yes

Are there multiple versions of this Motherboard ? Every reference I have looked at says it has a nVidia Graphics controller..

If your system has an ATI video controller built in do you have the model number of the Motherboard correct ?

I was considering buying this system with Asus M2N-MX SE Plus Motherboard, and nVIDIA GeForce 6100 graphics. Would I have a similar problem?

http://www.compusa.com/applications/...PBIZ052-_-48hr

I don't know.. The OP never followed up or provided the requested information so we could troubleshoot his problem to a resolution. (I see now he edited his post with updated info after my last reply.. but that doesn't trigger an email notification so I missed the correction)

I've never had difficulties getting nVidia graphics controllers to work in Linux so I wouldn't think there should be an issue with thi s motherboard or it's built in Graphics controller. Did you try a google search for it with the term Linux ?

A quick search showed me a ot of people running into issues with this motherboard.. looks more like a case of it being rather new. I would suggest looking elsewhere at this time.

I'm back, now with a video clip for illustration

The problem occurs only when Linux is installed to harddisk. But when booted up through live USB or live CD system, all is fine! Infact, I am posing the video together with this reply through Linux Mint5 live USB system! I've just updated this motherboard with the latest BIOS from Asus. Currently my situation can be summed up as

Harddisk install of Linux = nonstop GDM flickers
Booted up through live-USB/live-CD = system appeared to work properly, my latest attemp with Linux Mint live-USB onboard sound even works!

Please see this youtube video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jyu3LW7L7IM

Output of lspci

Code:

mint@mint ~ $ lspci

00:00.0 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation MCP61 Memory Controller (rev a1)

00:01.0 ISA bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP61 LPC Bridge (rev a2)

00:01.1 SMBus: nVidia Corporation MCP61 SMBus (rev a2)

00:01.2 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation MCP61 Memory Controller (rev a2)

00:02.0 USB Controller: nVidia Corporation MCP61 USB Controller (rev a3)

00:02.1 USB Controller: nVidia Corporation MCP61 USB Controller (rev a3)

00:04.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP61 PCI bridge (rev a1)

00:05.0 Audio device: nVidia Corporation MCP61 High Definition Audio (rev a2)

00:06.0 IDE interface: nVidia Corporation MCP61 IDE (rev a2)

00:07.0 Bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP61 Ethernet (rev a2)

00:08.0 IDE interface: nVidia Corporation MCP61 SATA Controller (rev a2)

00:09.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP61 PCI Express bridge (rev a2)

00:0b.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP61 PCI Express bridge (rev a2)

00:0c.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP61 PCI Express bridge (rev a2)

00:0d.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation GeForce 6100 nForce 430 (rev a2)

00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] HyperTransport Technology Configuration

00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Address Map

00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] DRAM Controller

00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Miscellaneous Control

Edit
All distro I've tried so far on this machine is an i386 version, haven't tried 64bit version, which could be a proper version for the combination of this board + CPU, yet.

Download and install the latest driver from nVidia. It will take care of the configuration for you automatically. You have to install the driver with X not running. You will need to stop your login manager,(did you say kdm?), because it will keep starting up X. If you need to use X to download the driver, change the driver in your xorg.conf to vesa, and kill X or reboot. You can always go into one of the virtual consoles by pressing Ctrl+Alt+[F1-F6] and Alt+F7 to go back to X. You can kill an X session by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Backspace, but keep in mind your login manager will start it back up if its running.
Generally in my experience the nVidia Linux drivers don't have whole lot of issues. I've had the following cards over the years: FX5700, 6600, 7900GT, 9600GT. 9600GT is the only card where older drivers lock up the system when they are probed, I have not encountered any other issues. Ever.
Let us know what result is produced with the latest drivers from nVidia.

Now Ubuntu Live installer just failed midway when some installation process keeps on crashing. I've tried googling and find another bloke who's gone greater length attempting to put linux on this board and yet failed. . I think getter a new board (or better yet a notebook computer) would simply take care of the problem. It is simply my fault not having done any research before buying the hardware, since all my previous boards has always gone smooth with Linux since 1997.

check http://www.phoronix.com for motherboard reviews for Linux, as well as other hardware..

My struggle seems to come to an end, when Sabayon Linux was installed and so far works flawless.

My wife's computer uses this motherboard and works flawlessly with Kubuntu 8.10, Debian, Slackware and Gentoo. Only modification for booting the live cd was to enable safe video mode and install, then I let Kubuntu install the Nvidia drivers with the restricted driver manager. Works like a champ.