nVidia and nvagp

predator.hawk · 10-28-2004, 02:53 PM

I am getting ready to install an nVidia card, So i installed the drivers and such. But i'm wondering howto go about disabling agpgart and use nvagp instead. The main thing is, on slack, Is agpgart a module?

techguy · 10-28-2004, 08:30 PM

I did something similar a few months ago.

I had a stock slackware 10.0, a stock 2.4.26 kernel, and an nvidia 5600xt. I took out my old ati, put in the new nvidia, and turned on the computer. Since I start the computer in run level 3, there weren't any issues.

I linked to nvidia's website and got these drivers.
http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux.html

I ran NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-6111-pkg1.run which installed the kernel modules. I edited /etc/X11/xorg.conf as prescribed by nvidia's documentation. Since I was using a stock xorg.conf, I didn't have any other modifications to do except to change the driver name from "nv" to "nvidia".

I didn't have to disable anything though I did get a warning about a module that *could* conflict, it wasn't loaded into the kernel so I didn't have to do anything.

Hope this helps.

Nichole_knc · 10-28-2004, 08:49 PM

I have tried to use the nvagp instead of the agpgarts...
It did not work...
Seems that the agpgart ARE required to even use a graphics card.
But if you would like to try you must comment out modprobe agpgart in the rc.modules and load the nvidia module.
You must also pass the nvagp options in the modules.conf/modprobe.conf file.
This info is located within the nvidia driver help files...

predator.hawk · 10-28-2004, 09:00 PM

Thanks for the advice, well unless agpgart gives me any probs i'm gonna stick to it. For now its working fine and doesn't seem to be making any probs.

ensnaregod · 11-21-2004, 11:40 AM

I have a problem with the agpgart when I am booting I can't even boot it hangs on there. I have tried using knoppix to put the agpgart in /etc/hotplug/blacklist, but it still hangs on boot. I have a Nvidia card. When i boot into knoppix i have to use "knoppix26 noagp" just to boot it uses the intel-agp, other wise it will hang on the ali-agp. So i don't really know what else to do. Any help would be great!!!! I have a zd7168cl HP laptop just incase you have questions on the specs.

ensnaregod · 11-21-2004, 11:52 AM

not sure if it will help for the agpgart but here is lspci -v

Code:

0000:00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corp. 82865G/PE/P DRAM Controller/Host-Hub Interface (rev 02)
	Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company: Unknown device 006a
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
	Memory at d8000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=128M]
	Capabilities: [e4] #09 [2106]
	Capabilities: [a0] AGP version 3.0

0000:00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corp. 82865G/PE/P PCI to AGP Controller (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
	Flags: bus master, 66MHz, fast devsel, latency 96
	Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=01, sec-latency=80
	Memory behind bridge: d1000000-d1ffffff
	Prefetchable memory behind bridge: e0000000-efffffff

0000:00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) USB UHCI #1 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
	Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company: Unknown device 006a
	Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
	I/O ports at 1cc0 [size=32]

0000:00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) USB UHCI #2 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
	Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company: Unknown device 006a
	Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 19
	I/O ports at 1ce0 [size=32]

0000:00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) USB UHCI #3 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
	Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company: Unknown device 006a
	Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 18
	I/O ports at 2000 [size=32]

0000:00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 02) (prog-if 20 [EHCI])
	Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company: Unknown device 006a
	Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 23
	Memory at d0000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
	Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
	Capabilities: [58] #0a [20a0]

0000:00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corp. 82801 PCI Bridge (rev c2) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
	Bus: primary=00, secondary=02, subordinate=02, sec-latency=32
	I/O behind bridge: 00003000-00003fff
	Memory behind bridge: d2000000-d23fffff

0000:00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corp. 82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) LPC Bridge (rev 02)
	Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0

0000:00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corp. 82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) Ultra ATA 100 Storage Controller (rev 02) (prog-if 8a [Master SecP PriP])
	Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company: Unknown device 006a
	Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 18
	I/O ports at <unassigned>
	I/O ports at <unassigned>
	I/O ports at <unassigned>
	I/O ports at <unassigned>
	I/O ports at 2040 [size=16]
	Memory at 20000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]

0000:00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corp. 82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) AC'97 Audio Controller (rev 02)
	Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company: Unknown device 006a
	Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 17
	I/O ports at 1400 [size=256]
	I/O ports at 1c80 [size=64]
	Memory at d0000c00 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512]
	Memory at d0000800 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
	Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2

0000:00:1f.6 Modem: Intel Corp. 82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) AC'97 Modem Controller (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [Generic])
	Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company: Unknown device 006a
	Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 17
	I/O ports at 1800 [size=256]
	I/O ports at 1c00 [size=128]
	Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2

0000:01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation NV31M [GeForce FX Go 5600] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA])
	Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company: Unknown device 006a
	Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 40, IRQ 16
	Memory at d1000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16M]
	Memory at e0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
	Capabilities: [60] Power Management version 2
	Capabilities: [44] AGP version 3.0

0000:02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10)
	Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company: Unknown device 006a
	Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 20
	I/O ports at 3000 [size=256]
	Memory at d2007800 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
	Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2

0000:02:01.0 CardBus bridge: ENE Technology Inc CB710 Cardbus Controller (rev 02)
	Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company: Unknown device 006a
	Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 168, IRQ 17
	Memory at d2006000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
	Bus: primary=02, secondary=03, subordinate=06, sec-latency=176
	Memory window 0: d2200000-d22ff000 (prefetchable)
	Memory window 1: d2100000-d21ff000
	I/O window 0: 00003800-000038ff
	I/O window 1: 00003400-000034ff
	16-bit legacy interface ports at 0001

0000:02:01.1 FLASH memory: ENE Technology Inc CB710 Memory Card Reader Controller
	Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company: Unknown device 006a
	Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 18
	I/O ports at 3c00 [size=128]
	Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 2

0000:02:02.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Texas Instruments TSB43AB21 IEEE-1394a-2000 Controller (PHY/Link) (prog-if 10 [OHCI])
	Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company: Unknown device 006a
	Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 19
	Memory at d2007000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=2K]
	Memory at d2000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
	Capabilities: [44] Power Management version 2

0000:02:03.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4306 802.11b/g Wireless LAN Controller (rev 02)
	Subsystem: Compaq Computer Corporation: Unknown device 00e7
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 32, IRQ 21
	Memory at d2004000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=8K]
	Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 2

ProtoformX · 11-21-2004, 03:20 PM

I have a custom kernel (2.6.9) and agpgart is disabled because I use NvAGP and I have no problems at all, actully for me NvAGP is actully faster then agpgart. If you want to enable NvAGP then recompile any kernel and disable DRI support in the kernel and the AGP driver agpgart, then in xorg's config add these lines.

Section "Device"
Identifier "nVidia GeForceFX 5200"
Driver "nvidia"
#VideoRam 131072
# Insert Clocks lines here if appropriate

# NvAGP is an alturnitive to agpgart

Option "NvAGP" "1"

# NoLogo disables the nVidia logos

Option "NoLogo" "true"

# RenderAccel accelerates mouse movement

Option "RenderAccel" "true"

# HWCursor tells the graphics card to handle the mouse cursor directly

Option "HWCursor" "true"

ensnaregod · 11-21-2004, 05:01 PM

I can't even boot. I need help with that before I can do anything else. Thanks I'll look into it if I can get up and running

Nichole_knc · 11-21-2004, 05:24 PM

You don't need to remove the apgart from the kernel to use the NvApg. But it must be a module that can be unloaded.
Also you must be sure that the NvApg supports your chipset.
Refer to Appendix F of the Nvidia driver readme docs.

Also you may need to pass options with modprobe.conf/modules.conf (kernel dependant) to load the NvApg during boot as it would replace the apgart.
`options nvidia NVAgp_Enable=1`

Happy CPUing..

ensnaregod · 11-21-2004, 05:31 PM

So, do you think this would help me be able to boot??

Nichole_knc · 11-21-2004, 06:26 PM

You should read Appendix F from the nvidia drivers README.
It will help you.
Also you will need to comment out the loading of the apgart module in the rc.modules or Debian's equal which is loading the apgart mod...
Not sure if it will help you boot. But you should have your system working in a default install prior to trick ups and tweaks.. Log or journel all changes made prior to test and have back-ups.
Case in point. None of my machine have a single drive. All machines have multi-drives with 2-4 variations of custom Slack based installs. I have been known to trash whole installs and even disk in experiments...

ensnaregod · 11-21-2004, 06:48 PM

__________________________________________________________________________

(app-f) APPENDIX F: CONFIGURING AGP
__________________________________________________________________________

There are several choices for configuring the NVIDIA kernel module's
use of AGP: you can choose to either use NVIDIA's AGP module (NVAGP),
or the AGP module that comes with the linux kernel (AGPGART). This is
controlled through the "NvAGP" option in your X config file:

I cannot get to a console or anything, my machine stops in the middle of the boot process

To use the Linux AGPGART module, it will need to be compiled with
your kernel, either statically linked in, or built as a module.
NVIDIA AGP support cannot be used if AGPGART is loaded in the kernel.
It is recommended that you compile AGPGART as a module and make sure that
it is not loaded when trying to use NVIDIA AGP.

I put agpgart into "/etc/hotplug/blacklist" isn't that how I would disable a module from loading?
If that isn't the way, then I know if I could login I could tell if it was a module of not using lsmod.

How can I do this if i can't even log in?

Nichole_knc · 11-21-2004, 07:42 PM

First of all your chipset is not supported by the NvApg chip in the nvidia card so you should be using the linux apgart in the frist place as the default apgart
your chipset = Intel Corp. 82865G/PE/P
NvApg supported intels...
o Intel 440LX
o Intel 440BX
o Intel 440GX
o Intel 815 ("Solano")
o Intel 820 ("Camino")
o Intel 830
o Intel 840 ("Carmel")
o Intel 845 ("Brookdale")
o Intel 845G
o Intel 850 ("Tehama")
o Intel 860 ("Colusa")
Next a look at the /etc/rc.modules
### AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) GART support ###
# This module takes care of programming the GART (part of your motherboard's
# chipset that handles gathering data from memory and passing it to the
# card) and enables faster AGP transfers. The AGP GART module is required
# to use AGP features of your 3D rendering video card. You'll need this to
# use XFree86's direct rendering support.
/sbin/modprobe agpgart

hotplug is usually only for pci cards, pcmcia cards, usb devices, firewire devices. Hotplug is liken to Windors PnP for devices, plug it in/unplug it... It does not normally have anything to do with sys modules for native chipsets (bridges), Least not as I have seen. Hotplug usually loads AFTER rc.modules.
You may want to consider dumping the Debian linux in favor of Slackware. see
http://www.arl.wustl.edu/~mgeorg/lin...nZD7168cl.html
Looks like Slackware works on your laptop right out of the box...
Here is a complete HP list
http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/hp.html
If Debian will not boot after a default install either the install went bunk or there is a compat problem...

ensnaregod · 11-21-2004, 07:46 PM

so why would my agpgart be stalling my boot process?

Nichole_knc · 11-21-2004, 08:41 PM

Was this a working install that broke when you did something or a fresh install that won't boot?
Without seeing the dmesg output I have no idea where the system is really stopping.
If it was a working install boot a rescue disk and undo what you did. If it is a fresh install of an OS not ran on the computer before either the install could have went bunk as I stated before or there is a compat issue with Debian. All the distro kernels way not be alike.
Case 2... I have a box that will only run Slack straight. I have tried to install SuSE, FC2, and Debian all of which hang during the kernel boot process a various points. Only Slack would install with a 2.4.26 kernel (custom).
You may wish to boot the install disk again with a bare.i class kernel and take note of how it loads the kernel (run `dmesg | less`). You may wish to run setup or configure again. if like most distros it will install "missed" items. If the install disk booted chances are you selected a wrong setting, maybe the wrong kernel or framebuffer setting. Are you booting from a boot disk or harddrive? If you are booting from a boot disk you may have missed an item for initrd if from a harddrive edit your boot loader to pass different params to your kernel for no agp if it will boot that way.
You may even want the try a SuSE live cd distro that boots to KDE.
I have pointed out about as much info as I can for you. Try a Googlian.