Won't load X.

Moose-Dad · 05-17-2023, 06:34 PM

Hiya All,

I have used OpenSuse for years. I'm setting up a computer for my son. Computer has an Nvidia GeForce 6100 card.

OpenSuse somehow cannot get these drivers installed (even with adding the Nvidia repository that supposedly has drivers that work). No matter which driver I tried (OSS or proprietary), the hardware graphics acceleration wasn't working, so things like Youtube videos were choppy.

I tried ALL the drivers available. MOST would yield 640x480 as the ONLY resolution (screen is 1440x920 or something close to that - can't remember but it is 1440 across).

Only one driver would allow smooth video, but that was at the stupid 640/480 resolution.

After trying all options, I decided to download the drivers directly from Nvidia. It's install dialogue was going through but said I had to make an entry to avoid conflict with the Nouveaux OSS nvidia driver... The dialogue suggested it could be a problem, so I aborted and uninstalled Nouveaux, then reboot and re-try the Nvidia direct driver install from shell.

But, it wouldn't work...

Then, I tried installing/uninstalling a few graphics drivers again, and sadly now the Linux box won't even load up an X-org file.

If I delete the x-org file, will Linux re-create a new one for me...??

Any other ideas to help...? I'd REALLY like to avoid having to re-install, because with the install itself, and then adding extra software, it took me a full office day...

Really bummed that the newest opensuse doesn't even have a graphics card configuration module. It used to but no longer it seems...

Thanks eh!!

RadicalDreamer · 05-17-2023, 07:57 PM

I'd stick with the Nouveau driver if I were you.
NVIDIA drivers:
https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/drivers/unix/

NVIDIA Drivers for your card but the release date was "Release Date: 2013.12.6" so NVIDIA's support was dropped:
https://www.nvidia.com/Download/driv...x/71303/en-us/

mrmazda · 05-17-2023, 10:13 PM

NVidia's proprietary drivers for Linux distros haven't been available for GeForce 61xx for many many moons. Serious problems can arise by attempting their installation in any current distro. If that's what you did, it may be easier to just go ahead and reinstall.

I have a 6150, which last I checked about 3 weeks ago, worked fine for basic usage in both Leap and Tumbleweed:

Code:

# inxi -GSaz --vs --zl --hostname
inxi 3.3.26-00 (2023-03-28)
System:
  Host: mcp61 Kernel: 5.14.21-150400.24.28-default arch: x86_64 bits: 64
    compiler: gcc v: 7.5.0 parameters: root=LABEL=<filter> ipv6.disable=1
    net.ifnames=0 noresume consoleblank=0 mitigations=none preempt=full
  Desktop: Trinity v: R14.0.13 tk: Qt v: 3.5.0 info: kicker wm: Twin v: 3.0
    vt: 7 dm: 1: TDM 2: XDM Distro: openSUSE Leap 15.4
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA C61 [GeForce 6150SE nForce 430] vendor: Micro-Star MSI
    driver: nouveau v: kernel non-free: series: 304.xx status: legacy (EOL)
    last: release: 304.137 kernel: 4.13 xorg: 1.19 arch: Curie
    process: 90-130nm built: 2003-13 ports: active: VGA-1 empty: none
    bus-ID: 00:0d.0 chip-ID: 10de:03d0 class-ID: 0300
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.20.3 driver: X: loaded: modesetting
    dri: nouveau gpu: nouveau display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1680x1050 s-dpi: 108 s-size: 395x246mm (15.55x9.69")
    s-diag: 465mm (18.32")
  Monitor-1: VGA-1 model: Dell P2213 serial: <filter> built: 2012
    res: 1680x1050 hz: 60 dpi: 90 gamma: 1.2 size: 473x296mm (18.62x11.65")
    diag: 558mm (22") ratio: 16:10 modes: max: 1680x1050 min: 720x400
  API: OpenGL v: 2.1 Mesa 21.2.4 renderer: NV4C direct-render: Yes
# inxi -GSaz --vs --zl --hostname
inxi 3.3.26-00 (2023-03-28)
System:
  Host: mcp61 Kernel: 6.2.12-1-default arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc
    v: 13.0.1 parameters: root=LABEL=<filter> ipv6.disable=1 net.ifnames=0
    noresume mitigations=none preempt=full consoleblank=0
  Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 5.27.4 tk: Qt v: 5.15.8 wm: kwin_x11 vt: 7 dm:
    1: KDM 2: XDM Distro: openSUSE Tumbleweed 20230422
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA C61 [GeForce 6150SE nForce 430] vendor: Micro-Star MSI
    driver: nouveau v: kernel non-free: series: 304.xx status: legacy (EOL)
    last: release: 304.137 kernel: 4.13 xorg: 1.19 arch: Curie
    process: 90-130nm built: 2003-13 ports: active: VGA-1 empty: none
    bus-ID: 00:0d.0 chip-ID: 10de:03d0 class-ID: 0300
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.8 with: Xwayland v: 23.1.1
    compositor: kwin_x11 driver: X: loaded: modesetting dri: nouveau
    gpu: nouveau display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1680x1050 s-dpi: 108 s-size: 395x246mm (15.55x9.69")
    s-diag: 465mm (18.32")
  Monitor-1: VGA-1 model: Dell P2213 serial: <filter> built: 2012
    res: 1680x1050 hz: 60 dpi: 90 gamma: 1.2 size: 473x296mm (18.62x11.65")
    diag: 558mm (22") ratio: 16:10 modes: max: 1680x1050 min: 720x400
  API: OpenGL v: 2.1 Mesa 23.0.2 renderer: NV4C direct-render: Yes

My results suggest you shouldn't have any trouble running most software with all the upstream defaults, which means uninstallation of xf86-video-nouveau so that the more competent newer modesetting display driver can be used. It requires no special configuration in /etc/X11/. Check out the X driver primer for more info.

FWIW, I run my vttys @1400x900 when not running X, via video=1440x900 on the linu line in Grub, which only affects the vttys, not X.

All that said, I've never even tried running videos on my 6150. The 61xx series was probably one of the worst NVidia ever had to offer. If your PC provides a PCIe slot, I suggest installing any graphics card you can come up with. Any PCIe Radeon should work much better, without any driver fuss.

Moose-Dad · 05-18-2023, 05:40 AM

Thanks guys for the answers.

I did some more research and indeed, it seems like nvidia (used to be my favorite graphics cards) doesn't play well with linux. I bought a refurbished AMD Radeon card and I'll see how this works.

So, here's the thing though... Maybe you guys can still help.

I used to be more of a Linux Geek (getting into some more command line stuff and more knowledgeable than I am now)... But now I just USE the software instead of "play with" the operating systems.

So, once I replace the nvidia with the Radeon, how in the world am I going to get out of the 640x480 screen resolution...?? In fact, how do I do that now...?? Uninstalling drivers is NOT working. It DID work once (got locked at 640/480, then I uninstalled nvidia and it returned). Now it won't return to 1440x900...

I REALLY don't want to have to re-install, since it took a LONG time...

Thanks mates!!

Arnulf · 05-18-2023, 06:54 AM

It's nearly impossible to remove proprietory nvida driver from a system completely. A complete removal of installed system followed by a complete new install is highly recommended to get a working system and to waste less time as possible.

Disabling this awful "nvidia GeForce 6150SE nForce 430" chipset integrated GPU and using an "Ati Radeon HD" PCI Express graphics card instead is a good choice. Open your BIOS and completely disable this chipset integrated GPU:

Go to "Chipset Configuration"
- "Primary Graphics Adapter": Select "PCI Express" (aka "PEG")
- "Share Memory": Select "Disabled", "None" or "0 MB" or, if these selections are unavailable, "Auto".

mrmazda · 05-18-2023, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moose-Dad

So, once I replace the nvidia with the Radeon, how in the world am I going to get out of the 640x480 screen resolution...?? In fact, how do I do that now...?? Uninstalling drivers is NOT working. It DID work once (got locked at 640/480, then I uninstalled nvidia and it returned). Now it won't return to 1440x900...

Uninstalling successfully requires following precisely the instructions that were supposed to be included with the installation instructions. NVidia's driver installations commonly caused:

blacklisting nouveau kernel module
replacement of a FOSS library with a proprietary one
creation of file(s) in /etc/X11/xorg.con* incompatible with using competent FOSS drivers

Any one of those changes not reversed prevents use of competent FOSS X drivers. Most pure FOSS installations require no GPU-directed .conf files in /etc/X11/*.

RadicalDreamer · 05-18-2023, 07:11 PM

I believe Yast should be able to safely remove the NVIDIA proprietary driver.
https://doc.opensuse.org/documentati...yast-text.html

I would run.

Code:

sudo xorgsetup

What Desktop Environment are you using? It should allow you to adjust the display settings.

Moose-Dad · 05-18-2023, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RadicalDreamer

I believe Yast should be able to safely remove the NVIDIA proprietary driver.
https://doc.opensuse.org/documentati...yast-text.html

I would run.

Code:

sudo xorgsetup

What Desktop Environment are you using? It should allow you to adjust the display settings.

I use KDE... There is ONLY the option for 640/480.

It's really frustrating that there's no longer a graphic container for x-configuration settings.

I used to do x-org file editting, but I'm no longer that savvy... I just want to use the software, not be an expert on tweaking it... Like my motorcycle, I want to ride it, not wrench it...

Moose-Dad · 05-18-2023, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmazda

Uninstalling successfully requires following precisely the instructions that were supposed to be included with the installation instructions. NVidia's driver installations commonly caused:

blacklisting nouveau kernel module
replacement of a FOSS library with a proprietary one
creation of file(s) in /etc/X11/xorg.con* incompatible with using competent FOSS drivers

Any one of those changes not reversed prevents use of competent FOSS X drivers. Most pure FOSS installations require no GPU-directed .conf files in /etc/X11/*.

I am a supporter of both OSS and FOSS, but also I am agnostic in the sense that I really don't care about proprietary drivers. "If it works, use it. If it doesn't, don't." I've been using linux since 2003. Geez, 20 years!!! I've tried about 2 dozen distros over the years. Often, purely FOSS or OSS software would yield disappointing and non-full-functional results. Nvidia used to have extra steps for installation, but now with this most recent incarnation of OpenSuse, it is simply providing conflict to a box (computer) that used to run absolutely fine with the Nvidia driver. I even ran a virtual box and WINE so I could play my favorite game - Diablo II - but I no longer game (I'm a dad now, and too busy) but it would be nice to have a box that can view videos without being choppy. Neither the built in OSS drivers nor the optional install 'nouveau' driver will allow for smooth running of video. I can't watch news videos, I can't watch YouTube... And this box is for my son so he can start making some YouTube videos about Dinosaurs and other living creatures, amongst other things...

Corel linux, mandriva, pclos, sabayon, ubuntu, kubuntu, arch, fedora, suse, mint, debian, BSD (not linux I know), redhat, and more...

RadicalDreamer · 05-18-2023, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moose-Dad

I use KDE... There is ONLY the option for 640/480.

It's really frustrating that there's no longer a graphic container for x-configuration settings.

I used to do x-org file editting, but I'm no longer that savvy... I just want to use the software, not be an expert on tweaking it... Like my motorcycle, I want to ride it, not wrench it...

Oops the xorgsetup was for Slackware. My bad. I had a relative using OpenSUSE but we couldn't get the latest one configured like they wanted it so it was deleted so I should leave this conversation after this post. Yast is a powerful tool. Good luck!

I found these links.
https://en.opensuse.org/Archive:HCL:Video
https://en.opensuse.org/SDB:Configuring_graphics_cards

Youtube pushes my i7 3770 and GTX 1070 a bit. I haven't wrote a xorg config in about 18 years. I have nvidia-settings generate a xorg.conf for me.

This could be the driver that you are looking for. That could be why xorg isn't accurately picking up your Radeon card.
"xf86-video-ati

ATI video driver for the Xorg X server

ati is an Xorg driver for ATI/AMD video cards. It autodetects whether your hardware has a Radeon, Rage 128, or Mach64 or earlier class of chipset, and loads the radeon, r128, or mach64 driver as appropriate.
There is no official package available for openSUSE Leap 15.5"
https://software.opensuse.org/package/xf86-video-ati

Is your GPU listed?
https://man.archlinux.org/man/extra/...ti/radeon.4.en

mrmazda · 05-18-2023, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moose-Dad

I use KDE... There is ONLY the option for 640/480.

That means you're not running on a competent kernel driver, which means you're not running on a competent display driver. Instead, you're running on a fallback driver, either vesa or fbdev, probably the latter.

It needs to be determined if the radeon or amdgpu kernel driver not loading is the basic problem, and get it loading. It could be that kernel-firmware-radeon is missing, and needed. If the Radeon is new enough, you'd need kernel-firmware-amdgpu instead. If /var/log/Xorg.0.log contains a not found error for /dev/dri/card0, it usually means the kernel GPU driver didn't load, preventing the display driver (one of modesetting, radeon, or amdgpu) from loading.

If there's anything in /etc/modprobe.d/ besides 50-sound.conf, README, & tuned.conf, it should be removed. Anything else is probably in your initrds also, which means after cleanup in /etc/modprobe.d/ they may need to be rebuilt.

At this point, we need to see what's going on in the log. Please do cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | susepaste -e 40320 and provide the resulting URL so we can see what clues it provides. It would also help to know which Radeon you bought: lspci -nnk | grep -A3 VGA output would be good. Better might be: inxi -SGaz.

Cleaning up after NVidia's drivers is a PITA. You may find it easier to bite the reinstallation bullet.

Moose-Dad · 05-19-2023, 06:20 AM

Thanks everyone for your thoughts above.

I'll try to get some of the results, but here's the kicker... With 640/480 it is difficult to use. I'll see if I can get the logs and either email myself and post them to my own computer (on which I'm presently typing).

I just ordered the Radeon... It hasn't arrived yet. So, I've simply been trying to get my display to work at 1440/900. I will likely do a full re-install when the new GPU arrives, but don't want to re-install until then.

Here's the card: AMD Radeon R5 340 2 GB, Low Profile Graphics Card

RadicalDreamer · 05-19-2023, 02:53 PM

I misread the part about you buying the Radeon card

.

According to this, the card uses GCN 1.0
https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-spec...-340-oem.c2683

Arch says that you use the open source "AMDGPU / ATI" driver
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Xorg#AMD

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/AMDGPU

"xf86-video-amdgpu

AMDGPU video driver for the Xorg X server

amdgpu is an Xorg driver for AMD video cards. Its autodetects whether your hardware has a CI or newer AMD Graphics Card
There is no official package available for openSUSE Leap 15.5." There is one for Tumbleweed!
https://software.opensuse.org/package/xf86-video-amdgpu

I've got them in Slackware 15.

Code:

inst] slackware64 : xf86-video-amdgpu-21.0.0-x86_64-1

Code:

[inst] slackware64 : xf86-video-ati-19.1.0-x86_64-3

Maybe the website is wrong and Yast has packages for them.

Anyway, good luck!

mrmazda · 05-19-2023, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RadicalDreamer

There is no official package available for openSUSE Leap 15.5." There is one for Tumbleweed!
https://software.opensuse.org/package/xf86-video-amdgpu

That non-authoritative site is has been hopelessly broken for Leap users since 15.3, when Leap started utilizing SLE packages as-is, the proliferation of SLE repos confounding the site.

Code:

# grep RETT /etc/os-release
PRETTY_NAME="openSUSE Leap 15.5"
# cat /usr/local/bin/zypse
#!/bin/sh
zypper --no-refresh se -s $*  | grep -Ev 'debug|devel|srcp|openSUSE-20' | grep -E 'x86|noarch'| sort
# zypse amdgpu
  | criu-plugin-amdgpu     | package | 3.17.1-bp155.2.2    | x86_64 | OSS
  | kernel-firmware-amdgpu | package | 20230320-150500.1.1 | noarch | OSS
  | libdrm_amdgpu1-32bit   | package | 2.4.114-150500.3.2  | x86_64 | OSS
  | xf86-video-amdgpu      | package | 22.0.0-150500.2.1   | x86_64 | OSS
i | libdrm_amdgpu1         | package | 2.4.114-150500.3.2  | x86_64 | OSS

GCN-1 works just fine on 15.5:

Code:

# pinxi -GSaz --vs --zl --hostname
pinxi 3.3.26-45 (2023-05-04)
System:
  Host: fi965 Kernel: 5.14.21-150500.50-default arch: x86_64 bits: 64
    compiler: gcc v: 7.5.0 parameters: root=LABEL=<filter> ipv6.disable=1
    net.ifnames=0 noresume consoleblank=0 mitigations=none preempt=full
    radeon.si_support=0 amdgpu.si_support=1
  Desktop: IceWM v: 1.4.2 info: icewmtray vt: 7 dm: XDM
    Distro: openSUSE Leap 15.5
Graphics:
  Device-1: AMD Oland [Radeon HD 8570 / R5 430 OEM R7 240/340 Radeon 520 OEM]
    vendor: Dell driver: amdgpu v: kernel alternate: radeon arch: GCN-1
    code: Southern Islands process: TSMC 28nm built: 2011-20 pcie: gen: 1
    speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 8 link-max: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s ports:
    active: DP-1,DVI-I-1 empty: none bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 1002:6611
    class-ID: 0300 temp: 49.0 C
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.4 driver: X: loaded: modesetting
    dri: radeonsi gpu: amdgpu display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 4240x1440 s-dpi: 120 s-size: 897x304mm (35.31x11.97")
    s-diag: 947mm (37.29")
  Monitor-1: DP-1 pos: primary,left model: Acer K272HUL serial: <filter>
    built: 2018 res: 2560x1440 hz: 60 dpi: 109 gamma: 1.2
    size: 598x336mm (23.54x13.23") diag: 686mm (27") ratio: 16:9 modes:
    max: 2560x1440 min: 720x400
  Monitor-2: DVI-I-1 pos: right model: Dell P2213 serial: <filter>
    built: 2012 res: 1680x1050 hz: 60 dpi: 90 gamma: 1.2
    size: 473x296mm (18.62x11.65") diag: 558mm (22") ratio: 16:10 modes:
    max: 1680x1050 min: 720x400
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 Mesa 22.3.5 renderer: AMD Radeon R7 200 Series (oland
    LLVM 15.0.7 DRM 3.49 5.14.21-150500.50-default) direct-render: Yes

Moose-Dad · 06-05-2023, 12:00 PM

Hiya All,

Thanks for all your thoughts. I ended up installing the Radeon R5340 2GB graphics card. I had to modify my tower computer slot opening slightly (the card is smaller side-to-side than the opening), but the card fits in the mother board and now all is working quite nicely with smooth video.

It truly is strange however that there are such reversals in performance. When I got the computer, I was able to install drivers no problem and it worked A-ok. I expect, however, that I manually installed nVidia’s driver, which I did NOT do this time with updated Suse. This time, I installed nVidia drivers from the repos, which fully sucked and crashed. I suppose there’s a good chance that if I had installed the nVidia driver manually again, it could have functioned normally.

Anyhow, all is well and video is smooth. It’s likely a good thing to get the graphics processing off of the shared cpu resources. The whole computer, even though somewhat old, performs very smooth in both the OS and the graphics processing.

Cheers!

(I posted this on the Suse forum also.)