I want to determine if I need to download the NVidia drivers for Linux and install them on my machine. The video card in the Control Center is displayed as NV25 GeForce4 Ti4600, which is correct because that is the card installed on my system, but I highly doubt Mandrake is using the most optimal and correct driver out-of-the-box; I have not updated my system at all with the exeption of configuring urpmi sources to point to stable mirrors.

I'm currently running kernek 2.6.8.1-10mdksmp. Do I still need to install the driver?

SAFX

Yes, the generic provides normal functions but if you want your 3d hardware acceleration you need to install the nvidia driver from www.nvidia.com
first dl the driver
then

easiest way to do so its to first change
the nv or vesa drive name to nvidia in yoru xfree file

the log out of x and get into text mode

become su

install command is

sh Nvidia-rest-of-file-name.run

the su to user, and log back into X

Mandrake 10 "Official" does install NVIDIA provided "optimal" drivers.

10.1 Communicty utilizes the non-nvidia drivers, in which case you are better off installing the Nvidia download drivers.

The Official also makes the correct changes to the X configuration files while with the latter you need to do this manually.

In both cases you can further speed up X by making further modifications.

E.G.

1) Setting the amount of video ram available in the configuration files

2) Turning on SAVEUNDERS in the configuration files

3) Turning on BACKINGSTORE in the configuration files.

4) Tweaking AGP performance in the configuration files.

To make things accessible for the lowest common denominator, most distros do not turn these things on.

Since your 4600 probably has 128megs of RAM you really want to enable these for optimal performance as they make quite a difference.

Where and what are the names of these config files? Are these files on my machine now, or will I need to modify them after the install? I'm asking because it wasn't clear from your response, but thanks for the info anyway; I just need some clarity.

SAFX

I downloaded the NVidia driver. After running the installer from the command line, it complains that it cannot find an appropriate precompiled kernel. So I exit the installer and download the kernel source that matches my kernel.

I test to see if the currently installed kernel matches the kernel source I have, so I execute...

rpm -qa | grep kernel

..I see the following in the output...

kernel-smp-2.6.8.1.10mdk-1-1mdk
kernel-source-stripped-2.6-2.6.8.1-10mdkB]

That looks right to me; the versions match. So I run the installer again, but it complains that it cannot find kernel source tree for my kernel but recommends to use the --kernel-source-path for specifying the path to the sources if I have them. OK, so exit and run the installer again with that option...

sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-6111-pkg1.run --kernel-source-path /usr/src/linux-2.6.8.1-10mdk

This time the installer does not complain about not finding the kerenel sources, so it proceeds to perform the build and fails soon after. I checked the installer log file and verified that the path I specified for --kernel-source-path is definitely being used in the kernel make process. According to the logs the point of failure is when the build process attempts to make module nvidia.ko.

I think the problem might be with the kernel sources I have. The "stripped" sources are not full, but according to the documentation they are designated to work when compiling modules.

With urpmi, I was not able to find full kernel source for my current kernel. Perhaps I need to use a new mirror?

SAFX

No, there is a problem with the Nvidia installer with newer kernels.

Check out the Forums accessible via the NVIDIA web site.

This is covered quite a bit there as everyone seems to have the same problem.

Re: Config files

look in /etc/X11/XF*.*

Wow, I actually got it to work, at least I think I did. I read through some of the posts at the NVidia forums and found a guide for Mandrake 10.1/NVIDIA video cards. I managed to get the kernel to compile successfully. Now when I start KDE I get a NVIDIA splash screen that pops up just before the desktop loads.

Does the NVIDIA installer, or KDE, provide a tool that allows one to configure the video card settings?

Thanks for the help,

SAFX

The MCC permits you to adjust display resolution and color depth plus screen orientation.

The Nvidia readme talks about some of the changes you can make to the Config files to enable some other features, such as cursor hardware shadowing (yum!).

Google for saveunders and backingstore for two VERY useful parameters to improve desktop performance.

Yup, I just noticed those settings in the installation README file.

OK, cool man, thanks. The install wasn't that bad, thank goodness I have patience

SAFX

Hey, just one last question on the X config file. I only have a single file in my /etc/X11 directory named "XF86Config", so would it be safe to say that this is my X config file? This file is also to be used for specifying "Options" -- as listed in the NVIDIA README file -- for customizing the video performance/display.

SAFX

Yes.

Just remember to make a backup copy of it before you start changing things.

OK, bro, thanks for the help,

SAFX