A Guide: Enabling 3D Acceleration in X11

vince4amy · 05-31-2010, 01:29 PM

I've been using the FOSS ATi driver with an ATi HD4850 and it's working really nicely.

cwwilson721 · 09-06-2010, 05:36 PM

Hmmm...Tons of hits, and no questions since May?

onebuck · 09-07-2010, 08:16 AM

Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwwilson721

Hmmm...Tons of hits, and no questions since May?

I think that the Slackware team should be applauded for the new release. I'm sure people are still reading the sticky whenever there are problems and the content provides the means to correction(s)

cwwilson721 · 09-07-2010, 08:44 AM

Well, the drivers from Nvidia and ATi have been getting more and more stable, plus the 'new' OSS for both have helped.

The absolute BIGGEST issue I've been seeing elsewhere is for WoW/wine. Seems the Intel opengl for there imbedded chips has quite a few issues, to the point where you can't play anymore.

Such is progress...

onebuck · 09-07-2010, 09:26 AM

Hi,

I do agree! But the way things are developing with FOSS/GNU/GPL have greatly improved so that things are becoming a lot easier for GNU/Linux users as a whole. Add to the mixed the kernel improvements along with upstream and independent driver evolutions then GNU/Linux is starting to be a stable opportunity for a lot of new users. No matter which distribution chosen, even though Slackware surpasses all in my book for simplicity and configuration abilities the GNU/Linux world is a lot better today.

cwwilson721 · 09-07-2010, 09:34 AM

If only the OSS versions can do 3D better...sigh...

Slightly OT, but...

I've been running Ubuntu for awhile now. Man, the package management is top-notch. DEFINATELY more "mainstream" user-friendly, and might be the push Linux/GNU needs to get into a bigger marketshare and reduce MS's stranglehold on the desktop. With that being said, I still run SW in VMWare Player, and it's still rock-solid. I love the "getting under the hood" aspect of it. And running SW for all these years has sure made Ubuntu seem like a kids toy when problems arise. I'm amazed at how many in the Ubuntu community are afraid to compile kernels, programs, or "Use The Source"....

onebuck · 09-07-2010, 10:08 AM

Hi,

So true!

It's always seems easier to have someone do things for you especially if the understanding or knowledge is not up to snuff.

I've noticed you haven't been around for awhile. Some members have hinted to what was up. I'm sure your presence is justified and appreciated over there.

So, Welcome Back.... Welcome back.... Or so the song goes.

cwwilson721 · 09-07-2010, 11:16 AM

I've been keeping Ubuntu straight for awhile. I'm keeping up with SW with a VM just to keep me wits about me...lol

ballabh · 09-08-2010, 12:27 AM

hi guys,

i plan to strip off windows xp from this old computer amd 2600+ (32 bit), 1 gb ram, radeon 1300 pro, 80 gb HDD, and a 20 inches samsung lcd, install a linux release, and donate it to by domestic helper, but i have not been able to run red hat on it, there is no acceleration, although the display shows up, i tried t-shooting but no help, do you think slackware will work with it>?? is the gfx card compatible, will the ram be enough for the newest release? ( i mean practically, will it work smooth)

please help as i plan to download if the answers are positive

adamk75 · 09-08-2010, 02:18 AM

The video card is supported by the open source drivers that are shipped and enabled by default, including 2D and 3D acceleration. There's nothing else in the specifications that suggests there would be any slow downs running Slackware on that machine.

hitest · 09-08-2010, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwwilson721

I've been keeping Ubuntu straight for awhile. I'm keeping up with SW with a VM just to keep me wits about me...lol

Welcome back, it is good to see you! :-)

cwwilson721 · 09-08-2010, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballabh

hi guys,

i plan to strip off windows xp from this old computer amd 2600+ (32 bit), 1 gb ram, radeon 1300 pro, 80 gb HDD, and a 20 inches samsung lcd, install a linux release, and donate it to by domestic helper, but i have not been able to run red hat on it, there is no acceleration, although the display shows up, i tried t-shooting but no help, do you think slackware will work with it>?? is the gfx card compatible, will the ram be enough for the newest release? ( i mean practically, will it work smooth)

please help as i plan to download if the answers are positive

Well, it WILL run. But your performance will be iffy.

Soloing, you'll be fine, but anything 'busy' you will suffer greatly. CPU and vid just aren't up to Dalaran and raids. 5mans, maybe.

qweasd · 09-13-2010, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwwilson721

Soloing, you'll be fine, but anything 'busy' you will suffer greatly. CPU and vid just aren't up to Dalaran and raids. 5mans, maybe.

You know, you never actually catch the dragon.

cwwilson721 · 09-16-2010, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qweasd

You know, you never actually catch the dragon.

A little OT, but I'll bite...

Yes, you DO catch him. Quite a few times. There's even a video of 400-500 level 10 Dwarven Hunters catching and killing a World Dragon...lol

marquisor · 10-02-2010, 06:34 PM

hello cwwilson721!

good thread so far and guide, thx for your effort!

now BEFORE i try to setup 3D hardware acc. i have a few questions:

hardware:

got a AMD X2 3800+ here. 2GB RAM, SATA/IDE etc. nothing special

my gfx board is an AGP nVidia 7800 GS with 512MB RAM (it has the 7900 G71 chip on.. one of the fastest AGP available back then)

questions:

i favor xfce4, will 3D acc. work with that wm?
i plan to configure/setup a new smaller lean kernel, what do i have to pay attention on? failed on fedora with nvidia.ko kernelmodule etc. a hassle deluxe
will it run faster? i already got builtin standard 2D driver "nv" loaded, but dunno what options. switching workspaces, restoring, maximizing firefox window etc. is very slow.

EDIT:

glxinfo:

Code:

name of display: :0.0
display: :0  screen: 0
direct rendering: Yes
server glx vendor string: SGI
server glx version string: 1.2
server glx extensions:
... <snip> ...

glxgears:

Code:

bash-4.1$ glxgears
1111 frames in 5.0 seconds = 222.002 FPS
1106 frames in 5.0 seconds = 220.870 FPS
1099 frames in 5.0 seconds = 219.706 FPS
1099 frames in 5.0 seconds = 219.770 FPS
1102 frames in 5.0 seconds = 220.289 FPS
1106 frames in 5.0 seconds = 221.173 FPS
1039 frames in 5.0 seconds = 207.719 FPS
^C

iirc glxgears was 8x-10x faster on fedora with nvidia-173xx drivers.

thx so far in advance!

as this is all in testing stadium, how linux fits for me as a workstation i can't destroy much, so i try different distros, but slackware is the best for me i guess... i hate SELinux and big kernels with features i don't need (radio, tv capture, firewire, fibre channel, raid, ISDN, modem and many more...)

regards
marquisor