Need help with 3D acceleration

vojd · June 3, 2011, 8:13pm

Please help me with my video driver. I have IBM ThinkPad X40 laptop (I know it’s an old one, but it still works great) and though most of the time, I’m using M$ operating systems (because of my work), I also want to become more familiar with Linux systems, so I have dual boot on my laptop. Last year I had installed OpenSUSE 11.2 x86 on this notebook and my graphics drivers worked perfectly (with full 3D acceleration). Now I decided to install newer version OpenSUSE 11.4 (i586) with KDE 4.6 and kernel version 2.6.37.6. I like to have always updated systems, so I have all the necessary repositories and all fixes installed. But I have problem with my graphics video adapter: Intel 855GM. The fact is that for 3D acceleration my operating system uses Unknown classic (7.10.2) driver.

I know, there’s a lot of already written about video drivers, but I’ve tried them all and nothing helped me, or maybe i was doing something wrong. I like thread about SDB:Configuring graphics cards and also very helpful thread: Essential openSUSE Practical Graphic Card Theory (thanks to oldspu), but I could not help myself. I tried to boot with ‘nomodeset’ command, I also tried to manually configure /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/50-device.conf file, but as i understand, all of those suggestions are for people, who are either unable to boot GUI (I mean X Widow), or who gets wrong display resolution. But, in my case, I can boot in normal mode KDE Desktop and even play games, but when I’m trying to switch visual effects on, then my poor laptop goes crazy. Screen begins blinking and hanging.

I just want to ask you, where can I find configuration file, where I could set for using 3D driver, also from intel. As I said above, when I had OpenSUSE 11.2, I also used intel driver for both 2D and 3D (it was installed automatically) and 3D acceleration worked great (I’ve Upgraded my operating memory, so i have 1.5GB installed and have no problem with that). So, I think, if I’ll manage how to say to operating system, to use intel driver for 3D, this should solve all my problems.

It’s very strange that Intel is cooperating with FSF very actively, they have official free drivers, they develop their distribution for mobile platforms and why it’s so difficult to get proper 3D acceleration on Linux distribution with an older graphics adapter.

Please, maybe someone help me with that.

caf4926 · June 3, 2011, 8:40pm

This may offer advice
Category:X40 - ThinkWiki

Your driver sounds correct.
Same as mine

Though I have

Vendor: Intel Corporation
Model: Mobile IntelÂ® GM45 Express Chipset
2D driver: intel
3D driver: Unknown classic (7.10.2)

neildarlow · June 3, 2011, 8:45pm

Hi,

It is possible that the Intel Legacy driver might help you (as it did with my 915GM graphics).

Add a line to /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/50-device.conf (within the Section “Device” and EndSection block), as follows, and restart X:


    Driver "intellegacy"

Regards,
Neil Darlow

vojd · June 3, 2011, 9:59pm

Can you please tell me, what does this ‘Unknown classic’ mean? Is this some kind of 3D video driver, or it just means that the driver it uses for 3D is Unknown? I just want to find out, in which configuration file is written which driver to use for 3D? I know that one big advantage of linux distributions over the Windows is, that Microsoft has messy registry and linux on the other hand has clear configuration files, which can be read in a simple text editor. So, why we can’t find where it gets the command what driver to use for 3D? As I mentioned above, I tried to configure Xorg file and put there manually device driver ‘intel’, but it didn’t override the system’s state. Anyway it said that for 2D driver uses intel, but for 3D …

By the way, I have one question regarding to malualy building the Xorg configuration file. When I’ll create it under runlevel 3, after restarting, should i put ‘nomodeset’ anyway, or system will automatically load the legacy driver from xorg.conf? (though I tried both versions and neither helped me).

vojd · June 3, 2011, 10:12pm

neildarlow:

Hi,

It is possible that the Intel Legacy driver might help you (as it did with my 915GM graphics).

Add a line to /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/50-device.conf (within the Section “Device” and EndSection block), as follows, and restart X:
    Driver "intellegacy"
Regards,
Neil Darlow

Hi, thanks for suggestion, but when I’m trying to put in configuration files ‘intellegacy’, I get just a blank screen, though I have xorg-x11-driver-video-intel package installed on my system. Anyway the intellegacey is driver for an older graphics chipset (even for olders then mine), as according to official documentation, for my (855GM) chip, I should use driver with code name ‘intel’ (which my computer now uses just for the 2D acceleration).

vojd · June 3, 2011, 10:15pm

Yes, it’s very strange why it’s so difficult to configure video chip, when we have free opensource official driver? Your graphics chip looks a brand new one (compared with mine) and you also have the same problem?!! ****, it seems we have no solution. But everything worked so great on 11.2

martin_helm · June 3, 2011, 10:48pm

vojd wrote:

>
> Can you please tell me, what does this ‘Unknown classic’ mean? Is this
> some kind of 3D video driver, or it just means that the driver it uses
> for 3D is Unknown?
I have to say that my knowledge about intel drivers is not good, but it may
help if you post the output of the command glxinfo to susepaste.org and then
post the link here, it gives a more detailed output for the opengl (3d)
features of your driver in use.

martin_helm · June 3, 2011, 11:04pm

martin_helm wrote:

> vojd wrote:
>
>>
>> Can you please tell me, what does this ‘Unknown classic’ mean? Is this
>> some kind of 3D video driver, or it just means that the driver it uses
>> for 3D is Unknown?
> I have to say that my knowledge about intel drivers is not good, but it
> may help if you post the output of the command glxinfo to susepaste.org
> and then post the link here, it gives a more detailed output for the
> opengl (3d) features of your driver in use.
>
Before I forget the desktop effects rely to a large degree NOT on 3d
features but the composite features of the graphic card and drivers, which
is a bit a different beast.

martin_helm · June 4, 2011, 12:09am

I do not know if that affects you, but I found an article (in german) which
states that there is a kernel bug (no link there, sorry) for the 855GM which
is solved in kernel 2.6.38.

Maybe one of the intel graphic users more familiar with your card can
comment on that if it makes sense to update your kernel or not, I have no
idea.

vojd · June 4, 2011, 10:04am

Thanks for your reply, because of time zones, I was sleeping and thats why I delayed with response. Now I’m at work and have not my laptop with me. When I go back, I’ll try what you asked and post the command output here, hope you’ll have some ideas about this. Thanks in advance.

vojd · June 4, 2011, 10:15am

Yes, I know what you mean under “large degree”, I know that even if I had the correct video driver, I’ll unable to play latests 3D video games with my video adapter, but as I said, in later version, when I had 3D driver also installed ‘intel’, then my adapter were able to draw some visual effects, like wobbly windows and animated minimization, but now, when I’m switching the checkbox “visual effects”, all my plasma work place gets messed up.

As for the kernel update, wow, thats a great suggestion. I also wanted to ask, if there’ll be any help from updating kernel, but in some threads I’ve read, that kernel update will be reasonable only for new hardwares supports :\

neildarlow · June 4, 2011, 11:56am

Hi,

Another possibility is to change, in Desktop Effects|Advanced|Compositing type:, from OpenGL to XRENDER.

This will isolate opengl from the equation and might get your desktop effects working - although with fewer effects available.

Regards,
Neil Darlow

martin_helm · June 4, 2011, 2:32pm

neildarlow wrote:
> Another possibility is to change, in Desktop
> Effects|Advanced|Compositing type:, from OpenGL to XRENDER.
>
> This will isolate opengl from the equation and might get your desktop
> effects working - although with fewer effects available.
>
Thanks Neil, I want to second that. I am sorry that I forgot about it, used
it on an old laptop to make some effects work (with via chrome9 not intel).
It will push more work to the CPU which is otherwise done by the GPU, but
even on an old amilo 1703la it worked well.

vojd · June 4, 2011, 6:10pm

name of display: :0
display: :0  screen: 0
direct rendering: Yes
server glx vendor string: SGI
server glx version string: 1.4
server glx extensions:
    GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_import_context, GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap, 
    GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_MESA_copy_sub_buffer, 
    GLX_OML_swap_method, GLX_SGI_make_current_read, GLX_SGI_swap_control, 
    GLX_SGIS_multisample, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig, GLX_SGIX_pbuffer, 
    GLX_SGIX_visual_select_group, GLX_INTEL_swap_event
client glx vendor string: Mesa Project and SGI
client glx version string: 1.4
client glx extensions:
    GLX_ARB_get_proc_address, GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_import_context, 
    GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_MESA_copy_sub_buffer, 
    GLX_MESA_swap_control, GLX_OML_swap_method, GLX_OML_sync_control, 
    GLX_SGI_make_current_read, GLX_SGI_swap_control, GLX_SGI_video_sync, 
    GLX_SGIS_multisample, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig, GLX_SGIX_pbuffer, 
    GLX_SGIX_visual_select_group, GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap, 
    GLX_INTEL_swap_event
GLX extensions:
    GLX_ARB_get_proc_address, GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_import_context, 
    GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_MESA_copy_sub_buffer, 
    GLX_MESA_swap_control, GLX_OML_swap_method, GLX_OML_sync_control, 
    GLX_SGI_make_current_read, GLX_SGI_swap_control, GLX_SGI_video_sync, 
    GLX_SGIS_multisample, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig, GLX_SGIX_pbuffer, 
    GLX_SGIX_visual_select_group, GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap, 
    GLX_INTEL_swap_event
OpenGL vendor string: Tungsten Graphics, Inc
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa DRI Intel(R) 852GM/855GM  x86/MMX/SSE2
OpenGL version string: 1.3 Mesa 7.10.2
OpenGL extensions:
    GL_ARB_copy_buffer, GL_ARB_draw_buffers, GL_ARB_draw_elements_base_vertex, 
    GL_ARB_explicit_attrib_location, GL_ARB_half_float_pixel, 
    GL_ARB_map_buffer_range, GL_ARB_multisample, GL_ARB_multitexture, 
    GL_ARB_pixel_buffer_object, GL_ARB_point_parameters, GL_ARB_point_sprite, 
    GL_ARB_provoking_vertex, GL_ARB_shader_objects, 
    GL_ARB_shading_language_100, GL_ARB_sync, GL_ARB_texture_border_clamp, 
    GL_ARB_texture_compression, GL_ARB_texture_cube_map, 
    GL_ARB_texture_env_add, GL_ARB_texture_env_combine, 
    GL_ARB_texture_env_crossbar, GL_ARB_texture_env_dot3, 
    GL_ARB_texture_mirrored_repeat, GL_ARB_texture_rectangle, 
    GL_ARB_transpose_matrix, GL_ARB_vertex_array_object, 
    GL_ARB_vertex_buffer_object, GL_ARB_vertex_program, GL_ARB_vertex_shader, 
    GL_ARB_window_pos, GL_EXT_abgr, GL_EXT_bgra, GL_EXT_blend_color, 
    GL_EXT_blend_equation_separate, GL_EXT_blend_func_separate, 
    GL_EXT_blend_logic_op, GL_EXT_blend_minmax, GL_EXT_blend_subtract, 
    GL_EXT_compiled_vertex_array, GL_EXT_copy_texture, 
    GL_EXT_draw_range_elements, GL_EXT_fog_coord, GL_EXT_framebuffer_blit, 
    GL_EXT_framebuffer_multisample, GL_EXT_framebuffer_object, 
    GL_EXT_gpu_program_parameters, GL_EXT_multi_draw_arrays, 
    GL_EXT_packed_depth_stencil, GL_EXT_packed_pixels, 
    GL_EXT_pixel_buffer_object, GL_EXT_point_parameters, 
    GL_EXT_polygon_offset, GL_EXT_provoking_vertex, GL_EXT_rescale_normal, 
    GL_EXT_secondary_color, GL_EXT_separate_shader_objects, 
    GL_EXT_separate_specular_color, GL_EXT_stencil_wrap, GL_EXT_subtexture, 
    GL_EXT_texture3D, GL_EXT_texture_cube_map, GL_EXT_texture_edge_clamp, 
    GL_EXT_texture_env_add, GL_EXT_texture_env_combine, 
    GL_EXT_texture_env_dot3, GL_EXT_texture_filter_anisotropic, 
    GL_EXT_texture_lod_bias, GL_EXT_texture_object, GL_EXT_texture, 
    GL_EXT_texture_rectangle, GL_EXT_vertex_array, GL_OES_EGL_image, 
    GL_OES_read_format, GL_3DFX_texture_compression_FXT1, 
    GL_APPLE_client_storage, GL_APPLE_object_purgeable, 
    GL_APPLE_packed_pixels, GL_APPLE_vertex_array_object, 
    GL_ATI_blend_equation_separate, GL_IBM_multimode_draw_arrays, 
    GL_IBM_rasterpos_clip, GL_IBM_texture_mirrored_repeat, 
    GL_INGR_blend_func_separate, GL_MESA_pack_invert, GL_MESA_window_pos, 
    GL_MESA_ycbcr_texture, GL_NV_blend_square, GL_NV_light_max_exponent, 
    GL_NV_packed_depth_stencil, GL_NV_texgen_reflection, 
    GL_NV_texture_rectangle, GL_NV_vertex_program1_1, GL_NV_vertex_program, 
    GL_SGIS_generate_mipmap, GL_SGIS_texture_border_clamp, 
    GL_SGIS_texture_edge_clamp, GL_SGIS_texture_lod, GL_SUN_multi_draw_arrays
glu version: 1.3
glu extensions:
    GLU_EXT_nurbs_tessellator, GLU_EXT_object_space_tess

   visual  x  bf lv rg d st colorbuffer ax dp st accumbuffer  ms  cav
 id dep cl sp sz l  ci b ro  r  g  b  a bf th cl  r  g  b  a ns b eat
----------------------------------------------------------------------
0x21 24 tc  0 32  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  8  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x22 24 dc  0 32  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  8  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x8b 24 tc  0 24  0 r  .  .  8  8  8  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x8c 24 tc  0 24  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x8d 24 tc  0 24  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x8e 24 tc  0 24  0 r  .  .  8  8  8  0  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x8f 24 tc  0 24  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  0  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x90 24 tc  0 24  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  0  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x91 24 tc  0 32  0 r  .  .  8  8  8  8  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x92 24 tc  0 32  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  8  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x93 24 tc  0 32  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  8  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x94 24 tc  0 32  0 r  .  .  8  8  8  8  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x95 24 tc  0 24  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  0  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x96 24 tc  0 24  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  0  0 24  8 16 16 16  0  0 0 Slow
0x97 24 tc  0 32  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  8  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x98 24 tc  0 32  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  8  0 24  8 16 16 16 16  0 0 Slow
0x99 24 dc  0 24  0 r  .  .  8  8  8  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x9a 24 dc  0 24  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x9b 24 dc  0 24  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x9c 24 dc  0 24  0 r  .  .  8  8  8  0  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x9d 24 dc  0 24  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  0  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x9e 24 dc  0 24  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  0  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x9f 24 dc  0 32  0 r  .  .  8  8  8  8  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0xa0 24 dc  0 32  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  8  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0xa1 24 dc  0 32  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  8  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0xa2 24 dc  0 32  0 r  .  .  8  8  8  8  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0xa3 24 dc  0 32  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  8  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0xa4 24 dc  0 24  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  0  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0xa5 24 dc  0 24  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  0  0 24  8 16 16 16  0  0 0 Slow
0xa6 24 dc  0 32  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  8  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0xa7 24 dc  0 32  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  8  0 24  8 16 16 16 16  0 0 Slow
0x5a 32 tc  0 32  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  8  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None

Here’s the output of command, can you find anything wrong here?

vojd · June 4, 2011, 6:18pm

Thanks to neildarlow and martin_helm also, I tried to change compositing type and it worked!!! It was a bit difficult to change anything after I enabled the desktop effects, as all my desktop began blinking, but I managed and now though the KWin gives the error massage that the following effects could not be activated, but at least I have transparent windows without any trouble at all. Thanks to everyone who replied me, but it’s still strange and difficult to understand, why we’re unable to install intel driver so, that it was used for 3D acceleration too.

martin_helm · June 4, 2011, 6:51pm

vojd wrote:

> OpenGL renderer string: Mesa DRI Intel(R) 852GM/855GM x86/MMX/SSE2
> OpenGL version string: 1.3 Mesa 7.10.2
>
The good news is you have 3d hardware acceleration active (first line: DRI
is used and not software rasterizer).
The bad news it falls back to an incredibly old opengl version which nearly
supports nothing (everything below 2.0 is “bad”). At least it supports a
little bit shaders as extensions (GL_ARB_shader_objects,
GL_ARB_shading_language_100) but for most things that will not be
sufficient, the quasi minimal standard is shading language 1.20 or higher
which came first with opengl 2 as integrated part of the opengl standard.

vojd · June 4, 2011, 9:20pm

martin_helm:

vojd wrote:

> OpenGL renderer string: Mesa DRI Intel(R) 852GM/855GM x86/MMX/SSE2
> OpenGL version string: 1.3 Mesa 7.10.2
>
The good news is you have 3d hardware acceleration active (first line: DRI
is used and not software rasterizer).
The bad news it falls back to an incredibly old opengl version which nearly
supports nothing (everything below 2.0 is “bad”). At least it supports a
little bit shaders as extensions (GL_ARB_shader_objects,
GL_ARB_shading_language_100) but for most things that will not be
sufficient, the quasi minimal standard is shading language 1.20 or higher
which came first with opengl 2 as integrated part of the opengl standard.

–
PC: oS 11.3 64 bit | Intel Core2 Quad Q8300@2.50GHz | KDE 4.6.3 | GeForce
9600 GT | 4GB Ram
Eee PC 1201n: oS 11.4 64 bit | Intel Atom 330@1.60GHz | KDE 4.6.0 | nVidia
ION | 3GB Ram

Wow, as I see you understand the OpenGL veeeery well. That’s great Well, yes I know that I can use for example OpenGL screen savers and see 3D stuff rotating on my screen, but full support, it’s obvious and the really bad news is, that no one knows how I can achieve full 3D acceleration (I mean to use full power of my video adapter). O.K. anyways, thanks a lot guys for trying to help me and spend so much time in reading my post Thanks you very much. That’s why I like SUSE forum.

martin_helm · June 4, 2011, 9:55pm

vojd wrote:
> Wow, as I see you understand the OpenGL veeeery well.
Just a working knowledge, not more, since I do 3D programming with opengl,
but I am not an expert. For most parts I know what the output of programs
like glxinfo means because the same things have to be checked by a program
if you want to use the features available.
It is abit sad that your graphics card is not so well supported and that I
cannot help further, but good to see you were able to have at least some
nice desktop features thanks to Neil’s idea with xrender.