www.tcpclan.net

Hi!

I installed Kubuntu V7.04 (Feisty Fawn) on Carhith's PC. Everything seems to work fine so far, but one thing that always seems to cause trouble under Linux, regardless which distibution I try, doesn't work there as well: 3D support.

She has an ATI Radeon 9700 graphics card, so I searched the web and found this howto (it's in German, sorry), which describes how to install 3D support for ATI cards. Basically, it says to install the xorg-driver-fglrx package and modify the xorg.conf.

Instead of using apt-get in the console, I used the adept installer to install the xorg-driver-fglrx package. After this, I edited the xorg.conf as described in the howto, which means I replaced "ati" by "fglrx" and added at the end of the file.

Now, after a reboot, the effect is the following:
3D acceleration works (i.e., I can run fgl_glxgears and it works), but there's a problem with the mousepointer. When it is moved towards the buttom of the screen, graphic errors suddenly appear. It's like a narrow vertical band of random coloured pixels (maybe 32 or 64 pixels wide) from the top to the buttom of the screen. It also follows the mouse moves while turning back to the mouse pointer every now and then. But even more problematic is that the displayed mouse pointer is no longer synchronous with its click position. For example, when clicking at the desktop and dragging the mouse to open a selection range, the square that is drawn is located above and right from the mouse pointer itself, showing the erroneous offset.

Does anyone have an idea how to solve this? It's depressing having to disable the 3D support under Linux all the time.

Coco.

This would be the point where Kay steps in

Hi!

}TCP{Carnage wrote:This would be the point where Kay steps in

Yes, that's what I hope. But some others might have an idea as well. Didn't Lizard Man, for example, also try Kubuntu? Or anyone else?

Coco.

Unfortunately, I don't have any experience with ATI cards, mine is a nvidia...

I searched the web and found this:
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Problems_ ... use_Cursor

I'll take a closer look when I have a bit more time, sorry...

Oh, and the version of fglrx you are running could also be helpful....

Edit: Just to be sure, what do those commands tell you?
# modprobe -l | grep video
# glxinfo | grep renderer

Hi!

Thanks, kay. I have tried what's written at the page of the link you posted. But unfortunately, it didn't work at all. The X server didn't start anymore and the boot process ended with a blinking cursor at the top of a black screen.

The version of fglrx is: 7.1.0-8.34.8+2.6.20.5-16.29

Coco.

Remember not all hardware is supported by Distos.
You may have more chance of getting water to flow up hill.

If it didn't work, undo it again.

Hm, the newest version is 8.40.4, according to Wikipedia...

And what about those commands...?
# modprobe -l | grep video
$ glxinfo | grep renderer
$ lsmod (search for your 3D driver)

Hi!

Hmm, so the version I installed seems to be quite old already. But why don't I find a newer version with adept? In that case, I might have to go to the ATI website and use the driver they offer. But I did that for my own PC (Suse 10.0) already and didn't see a customised version for Kubuntu. Anyway, I'll have a look at it.

Here's the output from the commands you suggested...

modprobe -l | grep video

Code: Select all

/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/ubuntu/media/usbvideo/uvcvideo.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/ieee1394/video1394.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/tridentfb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/s1d13xxxfb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/fb_ddc.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/intelfb/intelfb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/cyblafb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/sstfb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/backlight/backlight.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/backlight/lcd.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/cirrusfb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/savage/savagefb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/nvidia/nvidiafb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/neofb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/matrox/matroxfb_DAC1064.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/matrox/matroxfb_maven.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/matrox/matroxfb_accel.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/matrox/matroxfb_g450.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/matrox/matroxfb_base.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/matrox/matroxfb_Ti3026.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/matrox/matroxfb_misc.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/matrox/matroxfb_crtc2.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/matrox/i2c-matroxfb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/matrox/g450_pll.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/vgastate.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/vga16fb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/tdfxfb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/cyber2000fb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/macmodes.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/pm2fb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/geode/gxfb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/geode/gx1fb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/hgafb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/console/bitblit.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/console/tileblit.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/console/softcursor.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/console/font.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/console/mdacon.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/console/fbcon.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/riva/rivafb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/kyro/kyrofb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/i810/i810fb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/sis/sisfb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/aty/radeonfb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/aty/aty128fb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/video/aty/atyfb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/hexium_orion.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/cs53l32a.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/stv680.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/upd64083.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/v4l1-compat.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/wm8775.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/wm8739.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/w9968cf.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/hexium_gemini.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/dabusb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/adv7175.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/adv7170.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/cpia_usb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/w9966.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/tvmixer.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/se401.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/bt866.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/bt856.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/saa5249.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/bt819.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/c-qcam.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/usbvideo/quickcam_messenger.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/usbvideo/vicam.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/usbvideo/ibmcam.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/usbvideo/usbvideo.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/usbvideo/ultracam.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/usbvideo/konicawc.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/zc0301/zc0301.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/vivi.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/videocodec.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/vpx3220.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/tea6415c.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/zr36067.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/zr36060.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/zr36050.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/zr36016.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/ovcamchip/ovcamchip.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/v4l2-common.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/pms.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/tuner.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/ov7670.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/mxb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/et61x251/et61x251.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/videodev.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/btcx-risc.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/compat_ioctl32.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/cafe_ccic.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/tea6420.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/usbvision/usbvision.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/em28xx/em28xx.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/ks0127.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/tda9875.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/tda9840.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/upd64031a.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/meye.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/msp3400.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/tveeprom.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/video-buf.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/cx2341x.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/sn9c102/sn9c102.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/tlv320aic23b.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/cpia_pp.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/video-buf-dvb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/saa7134/saa7134-alsa.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/saa7134/saa7134-empress.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/saa7134/saa7134-oss.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/saa7134/saa7134-dvb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/saa7134/saa6752hs.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/saa7134/saa7134.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/tvaudio.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/ir-kbd-i2c.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/tvp5150.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/cpia2/cpia2.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/saa5246a.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/bt8xx/bttv.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/bw-qcam.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/stradis.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/saa7191.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/saa7185.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/dpc7146.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/saa7127.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/saa7115.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/saa7114.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/saa7111.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/saa7110.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/tda7432.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/tuner-3036.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/cx25840/cx25840.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/cpia.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/pvrusb2/pvrusb2.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/saa6588.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx88-alsa.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx88-dvb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx88-vp3054-i2c.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx88xx.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx8802.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx8800.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx88-blackbird.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/pwc/pwc.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.20-15-generic/kernel/drivers/acpi/video.ko

glxinfo | grep renderer

Code: Select all

OpenGL renderer string: RADEON 9700

lsmod | grep fgl

Code: Select all

fglrx                 540004  11 
agpgart                35400  2 fglrx,intel_agp

The output of the first command is very long (because of the word "video" appearing in the pathnames), but since I don't know what you're looking for, I posted the whole list.

As I said already, the 3D support works. There's just the problem with the mouse pointer display.

Coco.

Hi!

Okay, just for completeness: I finally helped myself and found this wiki for the ATI driver installation under Kubuntu. I chose Mode 2 and installed the latest drivers. There were some problems, but in the end (after approx. 2 hours), I finally succeeded and now the drivers work without problems.

Still, this was a lot of work to do and you must have some Linux knowledge or you'll never make it. For a beginner this is simply impossible to achieve. 3D graphics under Linux always was a problem and as it seems, not much has improved inbetween.

The thing I really wonder about is why the preinstalled installation sources offer such an old version of the drivers (version 7.1.0 instead of 8.40.4, which is the latest version). I was (once again) already close to moving the whole Linux crap into the waste bin.

Coco.

Good that everthing works fine now

There are two main problems with 3D video cards and their support for GNU/Linux today:
a) The existing drivers are crap (this is mostly for ATI, nvidia drivers are ok)
b) The existing drivers are proprietary and therefor can't be included in the kernel (cause of license issues)

If ATI or nvidia would just open up their drivers, they'd get improved soon and included in the kernel. And then you'd properly have to install nothing to play...

So the problem lies at ATI and nvidia, not at GNU/Linux...

Cool Coco.
Last Time I installed Ubuntu on a pc,it took all
day to sort out the drivers for my XFX5700le gfx card.
And in the end,i still could not see all the different media types
online and the TCP forum did not look or work right.
(Some video clips would not be displayed)
Linux rox but sad to say that XP is easier.
When Linux is fully compatible with all hardware or is a lot
easier to setup,then that will be a time to reinstall it.

I am glad you got things sorted Coco.

Hi!

@Slaphead: Thanks, I'm also happy about it. Now Carhith has a fully functional Linux running - with Sound and 3D support. And she uses it...

@the_kay: You're right, of course. The problem lies in the hands of ATI and nVidia. But regardless who's responsible, it's just a mess to deal with the drivers. Anyway, maybe we should be happy that it's possible to use our 3D cards under Linux at all.

Coco.

Linux remains hopeless as a desktop environment...