Composite eye candy! With DRI!

shpalsam · 01-17-2006, 05:04 PM

First of all read this: www(dot)linuxquestions.org/questions/showthread.php?t=402003

after this you can think it could be cool enabling eye candy features of X (X.org 6.9.0) using KDE 3.5 downloaded form www(dot)kde.org (should work whit gnome too).

I have a ati radeon IGP 320 whit 64mb of shared memory (with 16 mb is too slow), 512 mb ram (512-64 because of the video memory) and athlon XP 2200+ mobile. (3 years old notebook)

In order to increase the performance it is possible to try to enable EXA module (defaul is the good old XAA).
Modify Device section in xorg.conf like this

Code:

Section "Device"
    Identifier  "ATI Radeon"
    Driver      "radeon"

    Option      "AccelMethod"            "EXA"
EndSection

If this seems to work well then it's ok, else continue to use old acceletation method XAA.

After this add this section to xorg.conf

Code:

Section "Extensions"
	Option "Composite" "Enable"
EndSection

Now go to the KDE control center, desktop, window behavior, translucency.
Enable translucency/shadows. Clicl Apply and restart KDE.

Now all should work... but not so fast... or very slow.
In order to increase performance go again to the Device section and add the "AllowGXLWithComposite" line.

Code:

Section "Device"
    Identifier  "ATI Radeon"
    Driver      "radeon"

    Option      "AccelMethod"            "EXA"
    Option      "AllowGLXWithComposite"  "true"
EndSection

then restart KDE.

Is it better?

I would like to post a screenshot but I think I can't.
Just think my desktop now is cool!

egag · 01-19-2006, 01:57 PM

hmm...i had a strange thing with these settings.
my self written proggie using Xlib didn't work anymore.
can you tell where you found the info ?

egag

shpalsam · 01-19-2006, 02:44 PM

many motnths ago I found some information at the baghira web site. It's a theme for kde that looks like mac osx.
Now the page has been moved.
However you could search x compostie manager in google.
Sure you'll find some info.
Now I've done all with my kowledge and the manpages. In the end it's not difficult! try and remember to do a backup copy of your xorg.conf file! I didn't compile nothing.

What you need to know is:
what's your graphic card.
the driver you're using. (radeon module included in xorg 6.9.0 works for IGP 320. Nvidia driver from nvidia web site also support acceleration but for now I haven't tried with my home pc).
if your card support dri. (this is an option but if your is a slow cpu is very important)

if your video driver does not support acceleration with composite you can use the effects just using your cpu but it's not the best way...

I found info about EXA just typing "man radeon" in a terminal window...

look at the x.org website. You'll find lots of info.

ah! I found this now!!!
doc.gwos.org/index.php/Poofyhairguy's_Eye_Candy_Report

PS
My friend is trying to compile Xglx modules. you could also try this!

egag · 01-19-2006, 03:06 PM

i did some googling on "exa" and found a lot on the xorg mailing list.
( and more... )

the prob was ( is) that all programs worked exept my selfmade proggie.
( well, it's just missing some stuff i guess )
thanks for the link.
( didn't read it yet... )

egag