FreeBSD 7.1, nvidia-driver, GeForce 8500 GT
Paul Procacci
pprocacci at datapipe.com
Tue Jan 6 15:51:23 PST 2009
Paul Procacci wrote:
> Giuseppe Pagnoni wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> well that is interesting. I do have 4 Gigs of RAM but I thought that
>> the nvidia driver would not work only if the 64 bit version of FreeBSD
>> was installed. I installed the i386 version, so I assumed that I was
>> just wasting some memory. In case I would want to use the nvidia
>> driver, would you suggest to remove 1GB stick of RAM?
>>
>> thank you very much
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 11:21 PM, Paul Procacci
>> <pprocacci at datapipe.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Giuseppe Pagnoni wrote:
>>>
>>>> Dear all,
>>>>
>>>> I have just installed FreeBSD 7.1 Release on a machine with a GeForce
>>>> 8500 GT (I think this is the card, but more about that later...) and
>>>> an LCD screen with a native resolution of 1680 x 1050.
>>>>
>>>> Xorg works fine with the standard "nv" driver. However, if I try to
>>>> install the x11/nvidia-driver (which should bring better graphic
>>>> performance, right?) I get a total system freeze when I start the X
>>>> server.
>>>>
>>>> Here are the details of what I have done:
>>>>
>>>> 1) install x11/nvidia-driver
>>>> 2) add nvidia_load="YES" to /boot/loader.conf
>>>> 3) modify /etc/X11/xorg.conf by substituting "nvidia" to "nv" in the
>>>> Driver line.
>>>>
>>>> At this point (after rebooting), if I start the X server with startx,
>>>> I get a black screen and the system *completely* hangs (neither
>>>> ctrl-alt-backspace, nor even ctrl-alt-delete work). The only way to
>>>> get back the system is to power it off and on (which corrupts the
>>>> filesystem because it has not been properly dismounted).
>>>>
>>>> I also looked at the xorg log file in:
>>>>
>>>> /var/log/Xorg.0.log
>>>>
>>>> Interestingly it seems to detect the card as a GeForce 9500 GT rather
>>>> than a 8500 GT (which makes me wonder whether I got the right info
>>>> from the vendor receipt):
>>>>
>>>> (--) Assigning device section with no busID to primary device
>>>> (--) Chipset GeForce 9500 GT found
>>>>
>>>> But this should not be an issue because in the same log file it says
>>>> that both GeForce 8500 GT and GeForce 9500 GT are supported by the
>>>> "nv" driver.
>>>>
>>>> As for the monitor, the xorg log file says:
>>>>
>>>> II) NV(0): Supported additional Video Mode:
>>>> (II) NV(0): clock: 146.2 MHz Image Size: 473 x 296 mm
>>>> (II) NV(0): h_active: 1680 h_sync: 1784 h_sync_end 1960 h_blank_end
>>>> 2240 h_border: 0
>>>> (II) NV(0): v_active: 1050 v_sync: 1053 v_sync_end 1059 v_blanking:
>>>> 1089 v_border: 0
>>>> (II) NV(0): Ranges: V min: 56 V max: 75 Hz, H min: 28 H max: 83 kHz,
>>>> PixClock max 150 MHz(II)
>>>>
>>>> NV(0): Monitor name: L226WA
>>>> (II) NV(0): Supported additional Video Mode:
>>>> (II) NV(0): clock: 119.0 MHz Image Size: 473 x 296 mm
>>>> (II) NV(0): h_active: 1680 h_sync: 1728 h_sync_end 1760 h_blank_end
>>>> 1840 h_border: 0
>>>> (II) NV(0): v_active: 1050 v_sync: 1053 v_sync_end 1059 v_blanking:
>>>> 1080 v_border: 0
>>>>
>>>> Then the log file says:
>>>>
>>>> (II) NV(0): Output VGA1 disconnected
>>>> (II) NV(0): Output DVI0 disconnected
>>>> (II) NV(0): Output VGA2 disconnected
>>>> (II) NV(0): Output DVI1 connected
>>>> (II) NV(0): Output DVI1 using initial mode 1680x1050
>>>> (--) NV(0): Virtual size is 1680x1680 (pitch 1792)
>>>> (**) NV(0): Driver mode "1680x1050": 146.2 MHz (scaled from 0.0 MHz),
>>>> 65.3 kHz, 60.0 Hz
>>>> (II) NV(0): Modeline "1680x1050"x60.0 146.25 1680 1784 1960 2240
>>>> 1050 1053 1059 1089 -hsync +vsync (65.3 kHz)
>>>> (**) NV(0): Driver mode "1680x1050": 119.0 MHz (scaled from 0.0 MHz),
>>>> 64.7 kHz, 59.9 Hz
>>>> (II) NV(0): Modeline "1680x1050"x59.9 119.00 1680 1728 1760 1840
>>>> 1050 1053 1059 1080 +hsync -vsync (64.7 kHz)
>>>> (**) NV(0): Driver mode "1280x1024": 135.0 MHz (scaled from 0.0 MHz),
>>>> 80.0 kHz, 75.0 Hz
>>>> (II) NV(0): Modeline "1280x1024"x75.0 135.00 1280 1296 1440 1688
>>>> 1024 1025 1028 1066 +hsync +vsync (80.0 kHz)
>>>> (**) NV(0): Driver mode "1280x1024": 109.0 MHz (scaled from 0.0 MHz),
>>>> 63.7 kHz, 59.9 Hz
>>>> (II) NV(0): Modeline "1280x1024"x59.9 109.00 1280 1368 1496 1712
>>>> 1024 1027 1034 1063 -hsync +vsync (63.7 kHz)
>>>> (**) NV(0): Driver mode "1440x900": 136.8 MHz (scaled from 0.0 MHz),
>>>> 70.6 kHz, 75.0 Hz
>>>> (II) NV(0): Modeline "1440x900"x75.0 136.75 1440 1536 1688 1936 900
>>>> 903 909 942 -hsync +vsync (70.6 kHz)
>>>> (**) NV(0): Driver mode "1440x900": 106.5 MHz (scaled from 0.0 MHz),
>>>> 55.9 kHz, 59.9 Hz
>>>> (II) NV(0): Modeline "1440x900"x59.9 106.50 1440 1528 1672 1904 900
>>>> 903 909 934 -hsync +vsync (55.9 kHz)
>>>> (**) NV(0): Driver mode "1280x960": 101.2 MHz (scaled from 0.0 MHz),
>>>> 59.7 kHz, 59.9 Hz
>>>> (II) NV(0): Modeline "1280x960"x59.9 101.25 1280 1360 1488 1696 960
>>>> 963 967 996 -hsync +vsync (59.7 kHz)
>>>> (**) NV(0): Driver mode "1152x864": 108.0 MHz (scaled from 0.0 MHz),
>>>> 67.5 kHz, 75.0 Hz
>>>> (II) NV(0): Modeline "1152x864"x75.0 108.00 1152 1216 1344 1600 864
>>>> 865 868 900 +hsync +vsync (67.5 kHz)
>>>> (**) NV(0): Driver mode "1152x864": 104.0 MHz (scaled from 0.0 MHz),
>>>> 67.7 kHz, 74.8 Hz
>>>> (II) NV(0): Modeline "1152x864"x74.8 104.00 1152 1224 1344 1536 864
>>>> 867 871 905 -hsync +vsync (67.7 kHz)
>>>> (**) NV(0): Driver mode "1024x768": 78.8 MHz (scaled from 0.0 MHz),
>>>> 60.1 kHz, 75.1 Hz
>>>> (II) NV(0): Modeline "1024x768"x75.1 78.80 1024 1040 1136 1312 768
>>>> 769 772 800 +hsync +vsync (60.1 kHz)
>>>> (**) NV(0): Driver mode "1024x768": 65.0 MHz (scaled from 0.0 MHz),
>>>> 48.4 kHz, 60.0 Hz
>>>> (II) NV(0): Modeline "1024x768"x60.0 65.00 1024 1048 1184 1344 768
>>>> 771 777 806 -hsync -vsync (48.4 kHz)
>>>> (**) NV(0): Driver mode "832x624": 57.3 MHz (scaled from 0.0 MHz),
>>>> 49.7 kHz, 74.6 Hz
>>>> (II) NV(0): Modeline "832x624"x74.6 57.28 832 864 928 1152 624 625
>>>> 628 667 -hsync -vsync (49.7 kHz)
>>>> (**) NV(0): Driver mode "800x600": 49.5 MHz (scaled from 0.0 MHz),
>>>> 46.9 kHz, 75.0 Hz
>>>> (II) NV(0): Modeline "800x600"x75.0 49.50 800 816 896 1056 600 601
>>>> 604 625 +hsync +vsync (46.9 kHz)
>>>> (**) NV(0): Driver mode "800x600": 40.0 MHz (scaled from 0.0 MHz),
>>>> 37.9 kHz, 60.3 Hz
>>>> (II) NV(0): Modeline "800x600"x60.3 40.00 800 840 968 1056 600 601
>>>> 605 628 +hsync +vsync (37.9 kHz)
>>>> (**) NV(0): Driver mode "800x600": 36.0 MHz (scaled from 0.0 MHz),
>>>> 35.2 kHz, 56.2 Hz
>>>> (II) NV(0): Modeline "800x600"x56.2 36.00 800 824 896 1024 600 601
>>>> 603 625 +hsync +vsync (35.2 kHz)
>>>> (**) NV(0): Driver mode "640x480": 31.5 MHz (scaled from 0.0 MHz),
>>>> 37.5 kHz, 75.0 Hz
>>>> (II) NV(0): Modeline "640x480"x75.0 31.50 640 656 720 840 480 481
>>>> 484 500 -hsync -vsync (37.5 kHz)
>>>> (**) NV(0): Driver mode "640x480": 25.2 MHz (scaled from 0.0 MHz),
>>>> 31.5 kHz, 60.0 Hz
>>>> (II) NV(0): Modeline "640x480"x60.0 25.20 640 656 752 800 480 490
>>>> 492 525 -hsync -vsync (31.5 kHz)
>>>> (**) NV(0): Driver mode "720x400": 28.3 MHz (scaled from 0.0 MHz),
>>>> 31.5 kHz, 70.1 Hz
>>>> (II) NV(0): Modeline "720x400"x70.1 28.32 720 738 846 900 400 412
>>>> 414 449 -hsync +vsync (31.5 kHz)
>>>> (==) NV(0): DPI set to (96, 96)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> After this rather long post (I apologize), I have two simple
>>>> questions:
>>>> 1) is there a way to use the "nvidia" driver on this system?
>>>> 2) is it worthwhile or does "nv" work just as well?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks in advance for any help or suggestion.
>>>>
>>>> best
>>>>
>>>> giuseppe
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> How much memory do you have? Freebsd/Nvidia doesn't work with 4Gigs of
>>> memory OR PAE enabled kernels. Nvidia's forums have lots more
>>> information
>>> regarding this.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
> I'm not sure of the internals exactly, but the amount of onboard
> memory plus the memory that comes with the card can't exceed 4G. (I
> could be wrong, but I think this is accurate). In this case, assuming
> you have a 512M card or similar then 3 Gigs of memory should work. I
> have seen reports of 2Gigs of memory working (i386) and am sure that
> works without problems. amd64 doesn't work at all, as you have
> already stated.
>
> If you have a requirement to use the nvidia based graphics driver,
> then you really don't have an alternative at this time, then to remove
> system memory from your main board.
>
> ~Paul
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Posting a follow-up to myself:
http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=1700234
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