Kubuntu 9.04 Want to switch to nv driver.

JosephS · 08-05-2009, 11:22 PM

Using Kubuntu 9.04

I think I am using the vesa driver. Do you know how to switch to
the nv driver? I want to see if that works better. I can only get to
1024 x768 resolution and refresh is auto (whatever that is).
My xorg.conf file doesn't show much, so I don't think that I can
edit it.

Thanks

tommcd · 08-06-2009, 04:35 AM

What video card are you using? Run this command to find out and post it here:

Code:

 
/sbin/lspci | grep -i vga

Here is what I get with my nvidia 7300GT for example:

Code:

bash-3.1$ /sbin/lspci | grep -i vga
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation G70 [GeForce 7300 GT] (rev a1)
bash-3.1$

If you have a nvidia card, then you are probably running the nv driver. Post your xorg.conf here also. Even though the default xorg.conf in Ubuntu is mostly empty these days, you still can edit it, and it should honor what you put in the file.
To specify the nv driver, you could put something like this in xorg.conf:

Code:

Section    "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device" #(or "Card0" or something like that)
Driver     "nv"

You may be better off with the nvidia driver. In Ubuntu, go to: system > administration > hardware_drivers, and see if you can enable the nvidia driver, then reboot.
I'm not sure where the hardware drivers application is in the Kubuntu menu. It is there though, if you want to try the 3D nvidia driver.

JosephS · 08-06-2009, 10:29 PM

Yesterday I could set the resolution to 1024x768, with the refresh rate
at auto or 0. I think I was using the vesa driver. When I booted up
today Kubuntu had changed the xorg settings. Now I can set the
resolution up to 1600x1200, with refresh up t0 85hz. I looked at
glxinfo and direct rendering was yes.

I don't want the nvidia driver to be used. I have problems with the
display, because this driver doesn't work with my card (there are white
lines flickering across the sreen).

Quote:

Post tommcd
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...driver-742776/
users with the nvidia cards that used the 71 and 96 drivers were transitioned
to the 2D "nv" driver, because the 71 and 96 drivers were not compatible with
the xorg.conf that shipped with Ubuntu 8.10. See "nVidia "legacy" video
support" in the release notes here:
http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/releasenotes/810

I followed the instructions you gave here:

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommcd

What video card are you using? Run this command to find out and post it here:

Code:

 
/sbin/lspci | grep -i vga

Code:

lspci
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation NV6 [Vanta/Vanta LT] (rev 15)

Quote:

Post your xorg.conf here also.

Quote:

# xorg.conf (X.Org X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# Note that some configuration settings that could be done previously
# in this file, now are automatically configured by the server and settings
# here are ignored.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
Option "DontZap" "True"
EndSection

Quote:

Even though the default xorg.conf in Ubuntu is mostly empty these
days, you still can edit it, and it should honor what you put in the
file. To specify the nv driver, you could put something like this in
xorg.conf:

Code:

Section    "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device" #(or "Card0" or something like that)
Driver     "nv"

I tried that. It didn't solve the problem.

After this I ran dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg. Once with the
framebuffer (couldn't load the Desktop) and once without. Neither gave
me the opportunity to choose a driver. I don't understand this. It seems
Kubuntu doesn't want to let me configure anything. I don't know if there is
anything else I can try. I would appreciate your input.

Thanks

tommcd · 08-07-2009, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JosephS

Yesterday I could set the resolution to 1024x768, with the refresh rate
at auto or 0. I think I was using the vesa driver. When I booted up
today Kubuntu had changed the xorg settings. Now I can set the
resolution up to 1600x1200, with refresh up t0 85hz. I looked at
glxinfo and direct rendering was yes.

If the glxinfo command reports "direct rendering: Yes", then you are likely using the nv driver. It would almost certainly report "no" if you were using the vesa driver. I thought the only way you could get any direct rendering with a nvidia card was if you installed the nvidia 3D driver.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JosephS

After this I ran dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg. Once with the
framebuffer (couldn't load the Desktop) and once without. Neither gave
me the opportunity to choose a driver. I don't understand this. It seems
Kubuntu doesn't want to let me configure anything. I don't know if there is
anything else I can try. I would appreciate your input.

You could try booting to recovery mode and choosing the option xfix fix video and go through that and reboot, and see if that helps.
If that does not get you the resolutions you want, you can try xrandr as discussed here:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Config/Resolution