Intel GMA video drivers

**MirceaKitsune** · 19-Sep-2009, 05:07

I googled, searched the repos, but nothing. I'm using OpenSuse on my Compaq 6720s laptop and can't find the correct video drivers anywhere. I need them because OpenSuse often crashes when I try to open a 3D game, and if a game does open I get a very low framerate.

My laptops graphics is an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 integrated video card. Anyone know where I can get the correct drivers for it please?

**deano_ferrari** · 19-Sep-2009, 05:14

Your graphics card should be using the 'intel' driver for best results. However, it doesn't seem to be configured easily with some intel hardware.

This terminal command will tell us which driver is in use:

/sbin/lspci -k |grep VGA -A2|grep

**deano_ferrari** · 19-Sep-2009, 05:29

FWIW, some information about the Intel driver situation, and current development:

Ubuntu 9.04 and Intel graphics - The H Open Source: News and Features

**MirceaKitsune** · 19-Sep-2009, 06:46

Tried the command, it says

Code:

Mircea@linux-n8df:/> /sbin/lspci -k |grep VGA -A2|grep
Usage: grep [OPTION]... PATTERN [FILE]...
Try `grep --help' for more information.
Mircea@linux-n8df:/>

**didencool** · 19-Sep-2009, 07:07

I have a same card, and same problems

Code:

~> /sbin/lspci |grep Graphics
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 82G33/G31 Express
Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 02)

what can I do to update driver?

--
WBR

**deano_ferrari** · 19-Sep-2009, 14:46

Tried the command, it says

Sorry, it was late my mistake with editing. It should have been

/sbin/lspci -k |grep VGA -A2

Maybe good idea to paste your /etc/X11/xorg.conf contents as well.

**deano_ferrari** · 19-Sep-2009, 15:05

I have a same card, and same problems

@didencool. The idea is to check what kernel driver (module) is in use with your intel card. Its likely to be 'fbdev', 'vesa', or hopefully the 'intel' driver. Even with the latter, performance will be average in a linux environment as far as 3D acceleration is concerned.

Assuming, you're using the intel driver, it is possible to experiment a bit with xorg.conf settings, but the results may not be significant.

FWIW, see if any of these help:

Modify xorg.conf for better performance | TuxRadar

Intel 965 GM (X3100) | Xorg 7.3 | Tweaked Settings | ErlePereira.com

**MirceaKitsune** · 19-Sep-2009, 16:33

Code:

Mircea@linux-cf5u:~> /sbin/lspci -k |grep VGA -A2
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile GME965/GLE960 Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 0c)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile GME965/GLE960 Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 0c)
00:19.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82562GT 10/100 Network Connection (rev 03)
Mircea@linux-cf5u:~>

xorg.conf is:

Code:

# /.../
# SaX generated X11 config file
# Created on: 2009-09-19T20:08:10+0300.
#
# Version: 8.1
# Contact: Marcus Schaefer <sax@suse.de>, 2005
# Contact: SaX-User list <https://lists.berlios.de/mailman/listinfo/sax-users>
#
# Automatically generated by [ISaX] (8.1)
# PLEASE DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE!
#

Section "Files"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/misc:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/local"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/Type1"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/URW"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/Speedo"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/PEX"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/cyrillic"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/latin2/misc:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/latin2/75dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/latin2/100dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/latin2/Type1"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/latin7/75dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/baekmuk:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/japanese:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/kwintv"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/truetype"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/uni:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/CID"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/ucs/misc:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/ucs/75dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/ucs/100dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/hellas/misc:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/hellas/75dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/hellas/100dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/hellas/Type1"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/misc/sgi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/xtest"
  FontPath     "/opt/kde3/share/fonts"
  InputDevices "/dev/gpmdata"
  InputDevices "/dev/input/mice"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
  Option       "AIGLX" "on"
  Option       "AllowMouseOpenFail" "on"
  Option       "ZapWarning" "on"
EndSection

Section "Module"
  Load         "dri"
  Load         "dbe"
  Load         "freetype"
  Load         "extmod"
  Load         "glx"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Driver       "kbd"
  Identifier   "Keyboard[0]"
  Option       "Protocol" "Standard"
  Option       "XkbLayout" "us"
  Option       "XkbModel" "microsoftpro"
  Option       "XkbRules" "xfree86"
EndSection


Section "InputDevice"
  Driver       "synaptics"
  Identifier   "Mouse[1]"
  Option       "Buttons" "5"
  Option       "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
  Option       "Emulate3Buttons" "on"
  Option       "HorizScrollDelta" "0"
  Option       "InputFashion" "Mouse"
  Option       "Name" "Synaptics;Touchpad"
  Option       "Protocol" "explorerps/2"
  Option       "SHMConfig" "on"
  Option       "Vendor" "Sysp"
  Option       "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Driver       "mouse"
  Identifier   "Mouse[3]"
  Option       "Buttons" "5"
  Option       "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
  Option       "Name" "ImPS/2 Generic Wheel Mouse"
  Option       "Protocol" "explorerps/2"
  Option       "Vendor" "Sysp"
  Option       "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection


Section "Monitor"
  DisplaySize  331 207
  HorizSync    30-62
  Identifier   "Monitor[0]"
  ModelName    "SAMSUNG LCD MONITOR"
  Option       "DPMS"
  Option       "PreferredMode" "1280x800"
  VendorName   "SEC"
  VertRefresh  43-60
  UseModes     "Modes[0]"
EndSection


Section "Modes"
  Identifier   "Modes[0]"
  Modeline 	"1280x800" 83.46 1280 1344 1480 1680 800 801 804 828
  Modeline 	"1280x800" 69.75 1280 1328 1360 1440 800 803 809 823 +HSync -Vsync
EndSection


Section "Screen"
  DefaultDepth 24
  SubSection "Display"
    Depth      15
    Modes      "1280x800" 
    Virtual    3840 1200
  EndSubSection
  SubSection "Display"
    Depth      16
    Modes      "1280x800" 
    Virtual    3840 1200
  EndSubSection
  SubSection "Display"
    Depth      24
    Modes      "1280x800" 
    Virtual    3840 1200
  EndSubSection
  SubSection "Display"
    Depth      8
    Modes      "1280x800" 
    Virtual    3840 1200
  EndSubSection
  Device       "Device[0]"
  Identifier   "Screen[0]"
  Monitor      "Monitor[0]"
EndSection


Section "Device"
  BoardName    "965 GME/GLE"
  Driver       "intel"
  Identifier   "Device[0]"
  Option       "monitor-LVDS" "Monitor[0]"
  Option       "SaXDualHSync" "31-48"
  Option       "SaXDualHead" ""
  Option       "SaXDualMode" "Clone"
  Option       "SaXDualMonitorModel" "1024X768@60HZ"
  Option       "SaXDualMonitorVendor" "--> VESA"
  Option       "SaXDualOrientation" "LeftOf"
  Option       "SaXDualResolution" "1024x768"
  Option       "SaXDualVSync" "50-60"
  Option       "SaXExternal" "Identifier&EXT+VertRefresh&50-60+HorizSync&31-48+PreferredMode&1024x768+VendorName&--> VESA+ModelName&1024X768@60HZ"
  VendorName   "Intel"
EndSection


Section "Monitor"
  HorizSync    31-48
  Identifier   "EXT"
  ModelName    "1024X768@60HZ"
  Option       "PreferredMode" "1024x768"
  VendorName   "--> VESA"
  VertRefresh  50-60
EndSection


Section "ServerLayout"
  Identifier   "Layout[all]"
  InputDevice  "Keyboard[0]" "CoreKeyboard"
  InputDevice  "Mouse[1]" "CorePointer"
  InputDevice  "Mouse[3]" "SendCoreEvents"
  Option       "Clone" "off"
  Option       "Xinerama" "off"
  Screen       "Screen[0]"
EndSection


Section "DRI"
    Group      "video"
    Mode       0660
EndSection

Section "Extensions"
  Option       "Composite" "on"
EndSection

**deano_ferrari** · 19-Sep-2009, 19:53

Well, you're using the intel driver already, with composite enabled. All I can recommend is experimenting with some of the device options available, especially the acceleration method (EXA vs XAA). They're outlined in the two links I posted earlier.

You will need to edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf as root, and restart the X-server after any changes are made (with CTRL-ALT-Backspace). Make a backup of your existing xorg.conf, before you make any changes, just in case you need to reinstate the original file:

cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.works

Maybe some intel graphics users can offer further tips to improving your graphics performance, but don't expect too much from these relatively low-end chipsets. If you are using a desktop, and require better gaming performance, then consider a decent NVIDIA graphics card. Thats all I can offer.

**MirceaKitsune** · 23-Sep-2009, 08:34

Thanks, that helped improve framerate a little. It's not by far close to the performance I get in Windows on the same machine and in the same games though... I wonder if Linux is normally slower at running games than Windows.

I have another problem however: All textures in 3D applications get corrupted and mixed, and the menus look like a soup (although 3D rendering is correct). Does anyone know what may be causing this? (its something like this, randomly googled example: http://undeath.homestead.com/files/NWN1.jpg ).