Low FPS with nVidia FX 5200
 

Before I begin, if this has been asked and answered before, then I'm sorry.

I am using Debian with the 2.6.9 kernel, with nVidia driver version 1.0-6629, an nVidia FX 5200 128 MB video card on a 4x AGP, and XFree86.

I am getting VERY low FPS when I use glxgears. Here's the output:

9 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1.800 FPS
8 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1.600 FPS
9 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1.800 FPS
8 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1.600 FPS

As you can see, the FPS is very low. I'm not sure what happened, but before reinstalling Linux (I was an idot when I first installed) I was getting about 1600 FPS.

Here is my XF86Config file:

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

Section "Device"
Identifier "NVIDIA Corporation NV34 [GeForce FX 5200]"
Driver "nvidia"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Generic Monitor"
HorizSync 30-65
VertRefresh 50-75
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "NVIDIA Corporation NV34 [GeForce FX 5200]"
Monitor "Generic Monitor"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection

Again, I'm sorry if this has been asked before, or, for that matter, if I'm posting in the wrong section of the forum.

I thank you in advance for any help. :)

-------------
Load "GLcore"
Load "dri"
-------------

comment those two out. ( put a " # " at the start of the line. )
if still no luck........what does " $glxinfo " reply ?

egag

Actually, I had those commented out. I removed them when I went to post here since I was trying it again with them uncommented.

Here's glxinfo:
glxinfo
name of display: :0.0
display: :0 screen: 0
direct rendering: Yes
server glx vendor string: NVIDIA Corporation
server glx version string: 1.3
server glx extensions:
GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig,
GLX_SGIX_pbuffer, GLX_SGI_video_sync, GLX_SGI_swap_control,
GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_NV_float_buffer
client glx vendor string: NVIDIA Corporation
client glx version string: 1.3
client glx extensions:
GLX_ARB_get_proc_address, GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_visual_info,
GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_EXT_import_context, GLX_SGI_video_sync,
GLX_NV_swap_group, GLX_NV_video_out, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig, GLX_SGIX_pbuffer,
GLX_SGI_swap_control, GLX_NV_float_buffer
GLX extensions:
GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig,
GLX_SGIX_pbuffer, GLX_SGI_video_sync, GLX_SGI_swap_control,
GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_NV_float_buffer, GLX_ARB_get_proc_address
OpenGL vendor string: NVIDIA Corporation
OpenGL renderer string: GeForce FX 5200/AGP/SSE2
OpenGL version string: 1.5.2 NVIDIA 66.29
OpenGL extensions:
GL_ARB_depth_texture, GL_ARB_fragment_program,
GL_ARB_fragment_program_shadow, GL_ARB_fragment_shader, GL_ARB_imaging,
GL_ARB_multisample, GL_ARB_multitexture, GL_ARB_occlusion_query,
GL_ARB_point_parameters, GL_ARB_point_sprite, GL_ARB_shadow,
GL_ARB_shader_objects, GL_ARB_shading_language_100,
GL_ARB_texture_border_clamp, GL_ARB_texture_compression,
GL_ARB_texture_cube_map, GL_ARB_texture_env_add,
GL_ARB_texture_env_combine, GL_ARB_texture_env_dot3,
GL_ARB_texture_mirrored_repeat, GL_ARB_texture_rectangle,
GL_ARB_transpose_matrix, GL_ARB_vertex_buffer_object,
GL_ARB_vertex_program, GL_ARB_vertex_shader, GL_ARB_window_pos,
GL_S3_s3tc, GL_EXT_texture_env_add, GL_EXT_abgr, GL_EXT_bgra,
GL_EXT_blend_color, GL_EXT_blend_func_separate, GL_EXT_blend_minmax,
GL_EXT_blend_subtract, GL_EXT_compiled_vertex_array, GL_EXT_Cg_shader,
GL_EXT_draw_range_elements, GL_EXT_fog_coord, GL_EXT_multi_draw_arrays,
GL_EXT_packed_pixels, GL_EXT_paletted_texture, GL_EXT_pixel_buffer_object,
GL_EXT_point_parameters, GL_EXT_rescale_normal, GL_EXT_secondary_color,
GL_EXT_separate_specular_color, GL_EXT_shadow_funcs,
GL_EXT_shared_texture_palette, GL_EXT_stencil_two_side,
GL_EXT_stencil_wrap, GL_EXT_texture3D, GL_EXT_texture_compression_s3tc,
GL_EXT_texture_cube_map, GL_EXT_texture_edge_clamp,
GL_EXT_texture_env_combine, GL_EXT_texture_env_dot3,
GL_EXT_texture_filter_anisotropic, GL_EXT_texture_lod,
GL_EXT_texture_lod_bias, GL_EXT_texture_object, GL_EXT_vertex_array,
GL_HP_occlusion_test, GL_IBM_rasterpos_clip,
GL_IBM_texture_mirrored_repeat, GL_KTX_buffer_region, GL_NV_blend_square,
GL_NV_copy_depth_to_color, GL_NV_depth_clamp, GL_NV_fence,
GL_NV_float_buffer, GL_NV_fog_distance, GL_NV_fragment_program,
GL_NV_fragment_program_option, GL_NV_half_float, GL_NV_light_max_exponent,
GL_NV_multisample_filter_hint, GL_NV_occlusion_query,
GL_NV_packed_depth_stencil, GL_NV_pixel_data_range, GL_NV_point_sprite,
GL_NV_primitive_restart, GL_NV_register_combiners,
GL_NV_register_combiners2, GL_NV_texgen_reflection,
GL_NV_texture_compression_vtc, GL_NV_texture_env_combine4,
GL_NV_texture_expand_normal, GL_NV_texture_rectangle,
GL_NV_texture_shader, GL_NV_texture_shader2, GL_NV_texture_shader3,
GL_NV_vertex_array_range, GL_NV_vertex_array_range2, GL_NV_vertex_program,
GL_NV_vertex_program1_1, GL_NV_vertex_program2,
GL_NV_vertex_program2_option, GL_SGIS_generate_mipmap,
GL_SGIS_texture_lod, GL_SGIX_depth_texture, GL_SGIX_shadow,
GL_SUN_slice_accum
glu version: 1.3
glu extensions:
GLU_EXT_nurbs_tessellator, GLU_EXT_object_space_tess

visual x bf lv rg d st colorbuffer ax dp st accumbuffer ms cav
id dep cl sp sz l ci b ro r g b a bf th cl r g b a ns b eat
----------------------------------------------------------------------
0x21 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 4 24 8 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x22 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 4 24 8 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x23 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 4 24 8 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x24 24 tc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 0 4 24 8 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x25 24 tc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 8 4 24 8 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x26 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 4 16 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x27 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 4 16 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x28 24 tc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 0 4 16 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x29 24 tc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 8 4 16 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x2a 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 4 0 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x2b 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 4 0 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x2c 24 tc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 0 4 0 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x2d 24 tc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 8 4 0 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x2e 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 4 24 8 16 16 16 16 2 1 Ncon
0x2f 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 4 24 8 16 16 16 16 2 1 Ncon
0x30 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 4 24 8 16 16 16 16 4 1 Ncon
0x31 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 4 24 8 16 16 16 16 4 1 Ncon
0x32 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 4 16 0 16 16 16 16 2 1 Ncon
0x33 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 4 16 0 16 16 16 16 2 1 Ncon
0x34 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 4 16 0 16 16 16 16 4 1 Ncon
0x35 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 4 16 0 16 16 16 16 4 1 Ncon
0x36 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 4 24 8 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x37 24 dc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 0 4 24 8 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x38 24 dc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 8 4 24 8 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x39 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 4 16 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x3a 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 4 16 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x3b 24 dc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 0 4 16 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x3c 24 dc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 8 4 16 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x3d 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 4 0 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x3e 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 4 0 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x3f 24 dc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 0 4 0 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x40 24 dc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 8 4 0 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x41 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 4 24 8 16 16 16 16 2 1 Ncon
0x42 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 4 24 8 16 16 16 16 2 1 Ncon
0x43 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 4 24 8 16 16 16 16 4 1 Ncon
0x44 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 4 24 8 16 16 16 16 4 1 Ncon
0x45 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 4 16 0 16 16 16 16 2 1 Ncon
0x46 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 4 16 0 16 16 16 16 2 1 Ncon
0x47 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 4 16 0 16 16 16 16 4 1 Ncon
0x48 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 4 16 0 16 16 16 16 4 1 Ncon

That's with them commented.
Thank you for your help. :)

What does "cat /proc/driver/nvidia/agp/status" and "cat /proc/driver/nvidia/agp/host-bridge".

You may want to comment
Load "GLcore"

cat /proc/driver/nvidia/agp/status
Status: Enabled
Driver: AGPGART
AGP Rate: 4x
Fast Writes: Disabled
SBA: Disabled

cat /proc/driver/nvidia/agp/host-bridge
Host Bridge: Intel Corp. 82845 845 (Brookdale) Chipset Host Bridge
Fast Writes: Supported
SBA: Supported
AGP Rates: 4x 2x 1x
Registers: 0x1f000217:0x00000104

GLcore was commented already, I removed it in one last atempt to see if it would help any before posting. Same goes for "dri".

...and also comment/remove glx.....

also , can you check /var/log/xorg.0.log for errors/warnings ?

egag

The problem is not in Linux. The problem is that you've got one of the 'dead' geforcefx 5200 cards.

When the first geforcefx cards were released, a whole bunch of 5200's had half of their memory bandwidth cut to half. As a result, they give the same speed as a geforce2mx card (or lower).

I have one of these as well. I dont use it any more (i switched to a geforcefx 5600).

There is nothing you can do about it, you either sell it and get a new card or keep it and avoid 3D graphics.

You can also read a lot of information about this issue in the nvnews site which is the semi-official nvidia forums.

good luck.

If I comment glx then I can't use glxgears! :(
I found nothing in the XF86Config-4 file, that looked like it would of caused it.

As for it being a "dead" do they pick and choose when they want to die? Or do they work for so long then go to crap? Like I said, I was getting 1600 FPS and higher (with a lighter CPU load) before I reinstalled Linux.

Thanks for telling me that, though. I'll read into it.

that's right, i also have glx loaded.

but did you look in the log-file or in the config-file ?
the log is in /var/log/....

egag

well, mine was dead from the start.

i searched in google and found out that many 5200's would perform like a geforce2mx and that was becase of half memory bandwidth. the nvidia forums at nvnews confirmed this as well. also, at a later stage newer 5200's didn't have this problem, though they are few.

i dont know any case that the card went dead after some time. so maybe your problem is completely different :P

If you did get 1600 FPS in glxgears, then something is wrong when you did it the second time. Remove the nvidia module and XFree86. Then reinstall those but with out mesa. You probably are not using a 3D hardware acceleration version of XFree86. You can try if using nv as the driver will fix your problem. If it does not then something is wrong with XFree86.

Try using Knoppix and run glxgears. If you get a high FPS rate in Knoppix, then something is wrong with your configuration.

That is what GeForceFX 5200 are. They have 64-bit for memory instead of 256-bit that is used in GeForceFX 5900. I do not suggest buying GeforceFX 5200 because it is worst than GeForce4. Even GeforceFX 5600 is worst than a GeForce4. The GeForceFX 5700 is best for budget mind users and they want good 3D performance for the money even though they have 128-bit for the memory. The GeForceFX 5700 Ultra, what I have, is very close to GeForceFX 5900 on terms of performance, but at half the cost. GeForceFX chips needs the memory bandwidth to work well in 3D environments because they do not have enough registers to store the data that is needed for complex scenes. They do alright if the scene is in 16-bit color and the detail is set to medium or low.

Oh, sorry, egag, I meant /var/log/XFree86.0.log, not XF86Config-4.

I'll try that, Electro. :)

It was a free card (Christmas present from a friend that was upgrading his system) so it's all good.

Thank you all for your help.