Getting the framebuffer to work with nvidia graphics cards

kvh009 · Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2002 6:42 pm Post subject: Still no /dev/fb0

I have a nvidia geforce2 and have followed the above instructions. When I reboot and for example, pick 80x40, the terminal automatically changes to that. However, I still don't have a /dev/fb0. I can't figure out why...
Do I have to do something with devfs to get it to work?

TheCoop · Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2002 7:09 am Post subject:

try typing 0317 at the vga selection screen
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butters · Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2002 8:20 pm Post subject:

I have never gotten a framebuffer console working under gentoo on my box with a GeForce2 MX card.

I compiled with the settings suggested (MTRR and the settings from the framebuffer HOWTO). Compiled X, then the nvidia modules, modified the grub.conf file, and still the modes available are things like 80X25 and 80x50.

Typing 0317 or passing vga=791 doesn't work. This has to be a kernel level problem, because the console is created before modules are loaded in init. And, for this reason I made sure to compile the kernel settings into the kernel directly, rather than as modules. Typing 'scan' at the mode selection prompt does verify that the console vga driver is vesa, but there are no vga modes and <sigh> no tux logo. Help?
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alyent · Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2002 12:40 am Post subject:

What about refresh rate? Howto make it to be 85 Hz???
(nv geforce2mx400)

_SkeLeToN_ · Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2002 2:44 am Post subject:

Well I was able to get framebuffer with works with my nvidia Geforce 2 MX 400.

This what I did : in the kernel config I use those setting

_SkeLeToN_ · Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2002 2:49 am Post subject:

iwasbiggs · Apprentice Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 203

Using a geforce 2mx 400, I was able to get 1280x1024x32k using the vga=794 (or, 031A on the ask screen) before the other, previously stated, kernel parameters. 31B (32bit) Wasn't recognized under vga=ask, so I didn't try it.

This is using grub btw.
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ghoti · Advocate Joined: 30 Dec 2002 Posts: 3636 Location: Belgium

Hi !
Just replaced my old card with a new GF4 ti4200-8x.
No problem to get 1280x1024 with either vga=0x307, 0x319, 0x31a or 0x31b.

Moreover, I also tried 0x346 (=838) witch I discovered in the SuSE SDB.
And, bingo : 1600x1200 !

But, amazingly, the "official" codes (796,...) are not accepted !?!

TheCoop · Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2003 9:48 am Post subject:

accepted as in do not work?
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Lowspirit · Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2003 9:04 pm Post subject: FBcon

I'd love to compile in framebuffer support for console but it seems to default to a resolution/hz that my monitor doesn't support cause it simply blacks out, system still doing it's thing in the background.

In 2.5.x kernel console framebuffer and framebuffer is separated, but still in the USE="" you have to put fbcon, but can I still use this? I have /dev/fb and all that set and ready to go, but my console doesn't use framebuffer.
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TheCoop · Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2003 9:08 pm Post subject:

have you tried putting 'vga=ask' in the bzImage grub.conf line?

btw, in the 2.5 kernel, does the riva framebuffer driver and nvdriver play well together?
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carambola5 · Apprentice Joined: 10 Jul 2002 Posts: 214

ghoti · Advocate Joined: 30 Dec 2002 Posts: 3636 Location: Belgium

seaweed · n00b Joined: 22 Apr 2002 Posts: 53 Location: NJ, USA

_SkeLeToN_ · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2003 11:43 pm Post subject:

rb338 · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2003 5:20 pm Post subject:

Didnt see this topic before I posted a solution for the refresh rates, so heres the link:

https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic.php?p=237075#237075

I got my framebuffer on 1280x1024 @ 85 Hz, with a Geforce4

squidly · n00b Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 12

Has any one tried and succedded with splitting the concole on to 2 monitors with the framebuffers and a nvidia gforce4 mx440? I know that under X its possible with the twinview.. (that is a pain with two different monitors of different sizes!)
To respond to some of the other posts I dont use X all that much I just use it when I need a LOT of terms open.. (usualy when Im doing a lot of code hacking) so I like a lot of colors on the Framebuffer.

Thanks

static_void · Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2003 10:42 am Post subject: MTRR

I have a quick question....mtrr registers are used bye the NVdriver to speed up shit, but in your grub.conf if you assign video=vesa;x:mtrr...Will they free them up when NVdriver tries to access them or will they just not and Nvdriver will not get them?>
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pubecon · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2003 5:23 pm Post subject:

sorry static_void but this isn't a reply to your message

when I add the

vga=ask video=vesa:mtrr

parameter with grub (in the grub.conf file or at the grub prompt) the background colours of the grub gentoo splash screen just go psychadelic on me and everything stops. admittedly I haven't waited for more than 10 minutes for anything to happen, but then again i don't want to

I do however want a high resolution console. It is so frustrating seeing it load automatically with my package remastered knoppix cd and then coming back to huge land for gentoo.

as an aside, I followed the nvidia troubleshooting guide and it appears I am best suited to NVAGP and so I edited my XF86Config file as such (with a "1" option I believe) and also built the nvidia kernel through the ebuild by exporting the relevant variable...BUILD_PARAMS=something ...however a dmesg outputs

"0: NVRM: not using NVAGP, AGPGART is loaded!!"

fluxbox loads fine so I am wondering whether I just shouldn't be trying to fix something that isn't broken.

TheCoop · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2003 5:42 pm Post subject:

disable agpgart in the kernel and recompile. Do you get as far as asking what console text you want?
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pubecon · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2003 7:26 pm Post subject:

ok, now here I suspect is where I'm stupidly going wrong with the fundaments of it all so bear with me.

I thought that I was disabling agpgart in the kernel with the BUILD_PARAMS=NOAGPGART (or whatever it was equal to, you know which variable I mean) and then recompiling.

oh, and I don't get as far as what console text I want. I hit enter after the grub command and then the display goes all altered-coloured on me and nothing else happens. I can hear no hard disc activity.

TheCoop · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2003 8:04 pm Post subject:

what does it say in menuconfig?
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pubecon · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2003 8:11 pm Post subject:

now I feel real bad for taking up so much real estate in the tips and tricks forum....

ok, so now I'm just going to look damn silly I think.

To install the nvidia module for my needs I just followed the desktop setup documentation and emerged nvidia-kernel and nvidia-glx (which I since upgraded to 4xxx [the latest in portage]).

I've never found a directory where it would be possible to make menuconfig for the nvidia kernel which is where I've possibly gone wrong...

...and I can't find any agp related option in my vanilla-source menuconfig but then it is quite easy to miss some options

[edit]
via an april 2002 post (https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic.php?t=9049) I discovered various framebuffer options in the kernel that I wouldn't have spotted otherwise I don't think.). won't know what difference enabling those options will make for a wee while yet although suddenly, in lacking vga support in the kernel for the console the freezing when being passed the vga=ask parameter makes more sense.
[/edit]

phlashback · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2003 7:31 pm Post subject:

I'm still investigating this, but hears the problem. I have used the vesa frambuffer w/ my visiontek gforce4 Ti4600 since I got it about a year ago, w/ no problems. I run dual amd 1900+ on a tyan 2462 MB. I had 2 of my banks filled w/ 256MB Regesterd DDR (512 Total) all was well.

I just added a 512MB Regesterd DDR module, and I no longer get a fram buffer... Instead my system boots w/ blank screen ( I can Use X) but I have only blank consolse. I had run memtest 86 on the system for 48 hours prior to booting linux w/ out issue. So far I have found that after trying ever combination, I f I leave 1 of the 256 MB modules out The Fram buffer works.....

An body heard of this.....

When I go to work tonight I am going to snag memory from another puter,m and see if that make the difference... but for now I am completely confused

btw I have tried w/ kernels {2.4.20-gentoo, 2.4.20-gaming, 2.5.66, 2.5.66-mm3}

Thanks fo any assistance

phlashback · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2003 10:06 pm Post subject:

Update to previous.... Have not had chance to swap memory yet..... but, a freinds lent me his ATI Radeon 7500... frame buffer works w/it... aprently it is a videocard problem..... hmmmm

Any suggestions