All kind of video-settings/kernel options ( was: Re: So New I have
an Umbillical Cord)
Markus Deistler
yellowdog-newbie@lists.terrasoftsolutions.com
27 Feb 2003 02:27:16 +0100
Hi,
On Wed, 2003-02-26 Nick wrote:
> Hi Markus, cheers for all the help on this, when i type in what you
> suggested it simply says its the openFirmware frame buffer.
I think I read somewhere that OFfb shouldn't be used on Oldworld
Powermacs. A PPC9600 probably has an ATI Mach64 card. You may tell the
kernel to use atyfb instead of OFfb by passsing aditional kernel comand
options in BootX: "video=atyfb:vmode:15,cmode:24", and leave "no
videodriver" unchecked. On a CRT-screen vmode:16 might be nicer (I use a
TFT, so 72 MHz is fast enough). That will fix consolevideo ... for X see
end of this message.
Now, to shed light into the framebuffer/vmode/cmode-issue, this is taken
from
http://www.jonh.net/lppcfom-serve/cache/1043.html
(Maybe it good to have it in the YDL-lists-archive, nobody knows how
long the old LinuxPPC/MkLinux-faqomatic will stay alive)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
FRAME BUFFERS
By computer model:
Comany Model Frame Buffer Video Chipset/Card
------ ----- ------------ ------------------
Apple 20th Ann. atyfb ATI 3D RAGE II
PB 2400 chipsfb Chips&Tech 65550,65554
PB 3400 chipsfb
PB G3 3500 chipsfb
PB G3 atyfb
PB G3 Wallstreet atyfb ATI Rage LT Pro
PB G3 Lombard ?
PB G3 Pismo aty128fb ATI Rage 128 AGP (8MB)
4400 - No Video Driver
5400 valkyriefb3 valkyrie
5500 ?
6360,6400 valkyriefb3 valkyrie
6500 atyfb onboard ATI Rage II
7200 platinumfb
7300,7500,7600 controlfb
8200 platinumfb
8500,8600 controlfb
9500 atyfb ATI Mach64
9600 atyfb ATI Mach64
G3 (beige) atyfb ATI Mach64 (rev B)
G3 (beige) atyfb ATI Rage Pro (rev A)
G3 (b&w) ?
G4 (Sawtooth) aty128fb ATI Rage 128 Pro AGP/PCI
iBook atyfb ATI Rage Mobility
w/2xAGP
iMac Rev.A 233 atyfb ATI Rage IIc
iMac Rev.B 233 atyfb ATI Rage Pro chip set
iMac Rev.C 266 atyfb ATI Rage Pro Turbo
chipset
iMac Rev.D 333 atyfb ATI Rage Pro Turbo
chipset
iMac Kihei 350 aty128fb ATI RAGE 128 w/ 2X AGP
iMacDV Kihei 400 aty128fb ATI RAGE 128 VR w/ 2X
AGP
iMacDVSE Kihei 400 aty128fb ATI RAGE 128 VR w/ 2x
AGP
iMac Indigo 350 aty128fb ATI RAGE Pro 128 chipset
Moto 3000,4000 ?
5000,5500 ?
Power Powerbase ?
Powercenter ?
Powercenter Pro ?
Powercurve ?
Powertower ?
Powertower Pro ?
Powerwave ?
UMAX Apus 2000 ?
C500,C600 ?
J700 ?
S900 ?
By video card:
Card Frame Buffer
---- ------------
ATI Mach64 atyfb
ATI Rage II atyfb
ATI Rage IIc atyfb
ATI 3D Rage II atyfb
ATI Rage Pro atyfb
ATI Rage Pro Turbo atyfb
ATI Rage LT Pro atyfb
ATI Rage 128 aty128fb
ATI Rage 128 VR aty128fb
ATI Rage 128 Pro aty128fb
ATI Xclaim 3d ?
ATI Rage Mobility atyfb
ixMicro TwinTurbo imsttfb
VMODE
vmode refers to both the screen size in pixels (horizontal x vertical)
and the
refresh rate (in Hz).
vmode size(pixels) refresh notes
----- ------------ ------- -----
1 512 x 384 60 Hz Interlaced NTSC
2 512 x 384 60 Hz
3 640 x 480 50 Hz Interlaced PAL
4 640 x 480 60 Hz Interlaced NTSC
5 640 x 480 60 Hz
6 640 x 480 67 Hz
7 640 x 870 75 Hz Portrait
8 768 x 576 50 Hz Interlaced PAL
9 800 x 600 56 Hz
10 800 x 600 60 Hz
11 800 x 600 72 Hz
12 800 x 600 75 Hz
13 832 x 624 75 Hz
14 1024 x 768 60 Hz
15 1024 x 768 72 Hz
16 1024 x 768 75 Hz
17 1024 x 768 75 Hz
18 1152 x 870 75 Hz
19 1280 x 960 75 Hz
20 1280 x 1024 75 Hz
CMODE
cmode refers to the bit depth and will be either 8, 16, 24, or 32
(though 24
and 32 might actually produce the same result). To convert bit depth
into
number of colors simply find 2^(bit depth). So an 8-bit display will
have 2^8
or 256 colors, while a 24-bit display will have 2^24 or 16,777,216
colors
(millions of colors).
MAC PORTABLES & ALL-IN-ONES
The video choices are obviously limited for powerbooks and all-in-one
systems
like the iMac. Below is a list of machines with supported video
options.
Model/Codename Family Screen Frame Buffer cmode(s) vmode(s)
-------------- ------ ------ ------------ -------- --------
20th Ann. 12.1" atyfb 16 10
PB2400 10.4" chipsfb 16 10
PB3400 12.1" chipsfb 16 10
PBG3 3500,Kanga M3553 12.1" chipsfb 16 10
PBG3 Wallstreet M4753 12.1" atyfb? 24 (800x600
?Hz)
13.3" atyfb? 24
(1024x768 ?Hz)
266 14.1" atyfb 24/32 14
PBG3 Lombard M5343 14.1" atyfb? 24
(1024x768 ?Hz)
PBG3 Pismo M7630 14.1" atyfb? 24
(1024x768 ?Hz)
iBook M2453 12.1" atyfb 24 (800x600
?Hz)
iMacs
-----
Rev.A 233 15" atyfb 24 (800x600
?Hz)
" " "" atyfb 16
(1024x768 ?Hz)
Rev.B 233 M6709 15" atyfb ?
(1024x768 ?Hz)
Rev.C 266 15" atyfb ?
(1024x768 ?Hz)
Rev.D 333 15" atyfb 16 17
Kihei 350 15" aty128fb ?
(1024x768 ?Hz)
DV Kihei 400 15" aty128fb ?
(1024x768 ?Hz)
DV SE Kihei 400 15" aty128fb ?
(1024x768 ?Hz)
Indigo 350 15" aty128fb ?
(1024x768 ?Hz)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Now if consolevideo works run "dexter.py" or "/usr/sbin/xconfigurator".
Usually that will tell you what videocard you are using.
Next look at the Driver entry in the "Section Device" of
/etc/X11/XF86Config-4. There should appear an entry "ati" (with "i"
now!!), well, if you have an ATI Mach64.
In "Section Screen" should be a sane entry "Default Depth" (16 for
16bit-video, 24 for truecolor, or sometimes 15 (!) for 16bit-video, for
whatever reason). There are severel Subsections "Display", they all
should have a line 'Modes "1024x768"'.
If X fails to come up at all, look at /var/log/XFree86.0.log. It's
likely that there are some (at least one) line(s) that begin with a
warning (WW) or an error (EE).
Markus