OpenSuse 11.1 and Nvidia FX 5700LE Won't Work

English Hardware
#1

I just installed OpenSuse 11.1 with KDE 3.5 via network and am having a hell of time getting my Nvidia graphics card to display its native resolution of 1600x1200. Here are my system specs:

kernel 2.6.27.19-3.2-standard
P4 Prescott Processor
Nvidia FX 5700LE

I tried doing:

  1. The 1-Click install of the recommended driver (173.14.16-2); would start X but could not go higher than 1280x1024, so I uninstalled it via Yast.

  2. Adding the Nvidia repository to Yast and installing the G01 (173.14.XX – in this case the 16-2 again); would start X but could not go higher than 1280x1024, uninstalled via Yast.

  3. Installing the 96 series driver via Yast (this driver worked for me on FC10); X wouldn’t start, throwing an error saying nvidia.ko could not be found.

  4. Installing the .run packages directly from the Nvidia site by doing the sh NVIDIA-XXX command. The 173.14.18 driver would start X but could not go higher than 1280x1024. The 96.43.05 driver would not build the kernel module, throwing the following error:

unable to open '/lib/modules/2.6.27.19-3.2-standard/weak-updates/updates/nvidia.ko' for reading (No such file or directory)

After each of these steps, I went through the required configuration process (either doing sax2 -r or nvidia-settings), and after determining that the driver still wasn’t working, I would uninstall it.

I’m not sure where to go from here or what to do about the missing nvidia.ko file. Any ideas?

Many thanks,

Jeff

#2

Hi
It should work with a later driver 180.29?

You can download the driver for your arch from;
Nvidia Unix Drivers

On the download page, check that your card is supported by the driver
your about to download by using the following command;


echo -n "0x" && /sbin/lspci -nv |grep VGA|cut -f4 -d ":"|cut -f1 -d "("

From the above output use the numbers from the output to look at the
Supported Products List (link on the left) to verify your card is
supported by the driver.

If you don’t have the kernel source and tools etc installed then;


sudo zypper in kernel-source linux-kernel-headers kernel-syms
module-init-tools make gcc

Press ctrl+alt+F1 and login as your user :slight_smile:


su -
init 3

cd to the Nvidia Unix Driver you downloaded


sh NV*.run -q
sax2 -r -m 0=nvidia
init 5 && exit
ctrl+alt+F1
exit
ctrl+alt+F7

The ctrl+alt+F7 gets you back to the GUI (X session).

Now after a kernel update, you don’t need to run the sax2 command, just
the others to get to run level 3, rebuild the driver and exit.

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 (i586) Kernel 2.6.27.15-2-default
up 12:00, 3 users, load average: 1.62, 1.73, 1.09
GPU GeForce 6600 TE/6200 TE - Driver Version: 180.35

#3

Thank you for this detailed response. I hadn’t installed the kernel-syms package, so I used your zypper command.

According to Nvidia’s website, my card is only supported by the 173XX drivers and not the 180 series. I could try it anyway, but first I’ll see if an install of 173.14.18 works with the new kernel package.

Jeff

#4

Hi
It’s the PCI ID, I looked at the 180.29 and your card name is there,
just need to confirm the PCI ID is the same.

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 (i586) Kernel 2.6.27.15-2-default
up 12:42, 3 users, load average: 0.49, 0.38, 0.44
GPU GeForce 6600 TE/6200 TE - Driver Version: 180.35

#5

Well, the 180.29 driver would not install with the sh command because it was not supported by my graphics card GPU. I’ll try it via Yast tomorrow. I’m done with this tonight.

Thanks again for your responses.

Jeff

#6

180.29 didn’t work with Yast either. I’ve noticed that the files in the NVIDIA repository seem to be for linux kernel 2.6.27.18-3, while my kernel is 2.6.27.19-3. Should I try installing the older kernel?

Jeff

#7

Hi
Did you check your PCI ID? You will need to do it the hardway if the
repo and kernel don’t match as well as removing the old rpms and
disable the nvidia repository.

I wouldn’t roll the kernel back.

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 (i586) Kernel 2.6.27.15-2-default
up 0:10, 1 user, load average: 0.33, 0.73, 0.65
GPU GeForce 6600 TE/6200 TE - Driver Version: 180.35

#8

My PCI ID is 0x0343, which in the Nvidia Supported Products List falls under the 173 series driver, not 180.

By “the hard way,” do you mean downloading the *.pkg1.run file and using the sh command in init3? I’ve tried that with the 173.14.18, *.17, *.16-2, and *.15-2 drivers, as well as 180.29 and several 96’s. Now, whenever I try it this way, I get the same error originally posted in this thread.

unable to open '/lib/modules/2.6.27.19-3.2-standard/weak-updates/updates/nvidia.ko' for reading (No such file or directory)

Perhaps I’ve mis-compiled my kernel? I installed the source, header, and syms packages.

Jeff

#9

Duh, I can’t believe I didn’t do this until now. I tried to cd into the directory containing nvidia.ko in that error message and it didn’t exist. In fact, there is no kernel directory for the 2.6.27.19-3.2-standard kernel. Instead, I have 2.6.27.19-3.2-default.

If I cd to /lib/modules, I see:

2.6.27.19-3.2-debug 2.6.27.19-3.2-pae 2.6.27.19-3.2-vmi
2.6.27.19-3.2-default 2.6.27.19-3.2-trace 2.6.27.19-3.2-xen

The Suse installer originally used the pae kernel, so maybe I’ll try reinstalling that one and compiling the nvidia driver module with that.

Jeff

#10

Hi
Definitely the 173 series then. Now what is in /lib/modules directory
as there is no such kernel as standard? If it exists can you rename it?

I would then try running (as root user)


depmod -aq

As there may be some remnants lurking.

Do you have nvidia rpm’s installed via the repository, if so they need
to be removed if you do it the hard way.

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 (i586) Kernel 2.6.27.15-2-default
up 0:47, 1 user, load average: 1.34, 0.48, 0.32
GPU GeForce 6600 TE/6200 TE - Driver Version: 180.35

#11

I am really banging my head against the wall now.

I did a fresh install via network of Suse 11.1. It installed the 2.6.27.7-9 pae kernel.

I added the Nvidia repository to Yast. For the G01 (173 series) driver install it wanted to update the kernel to 2.6.27.19-3, which is what I did the last time and didn’t work. So this time I decided to cancel out of the repo install and install the latest stable Nvidia driver (173.14.18) at the CLI from their website. I made sure to install the appropriate versions of gcc, glibc, make, etc. with compatibility versions as well.

The process threw no errors, either during install or in /var/logs/nvidia-installer.log, but I still can’t view my screen in its native 1600x1200.

Here’s my xorg.conf file:

# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig:  version 1.0  (buildmeister@builder63)  Mon Mar  2 12:45:55 PST 2009

# /.../
# SaX generated X11 config file
# Created on: 2009-03-11T16:13:30-0400.
#
# Version: 8.1
# Contact: Marcus Schaefer <>, 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 "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Layout[all]"
    Screen         "Screen[0]" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Keyboard[0]" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse[1]" "CorePointer"
    Option         "Clone" "off"
    Option         "Xinerama" "off"
EndSection

Section "Files"
    InputDevices      "/dev/gpmdata"
    InputDevices      "/dev/input/mice"
    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"
EndSection

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

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

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

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "Mouse[1]"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "Buttons" "7"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
    Option         "Name" "GenPS/2 Genius Mouse"
    Option         "Protocol" "explorerps/2"
    Option         "Vendor" "Sysp"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "Modes"
    Identifier         "Modes[0]"
    ModeLine     "1600x1200" 162 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor[0]"
    VendorName     "VSC"
    ModelName      "VIEWSONIC VP201B"
    UseModes       "Modes[0]"
    DisplaySize     408    306
    HorizSync       30.0 - 92.0
    VertRefresh     43.0 - 85.0
    Option         "CalcAlgorithm" "XServerPool"
    Option         "DPMS"
    Option         "PreferredMode" "1600x1200"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device[0]"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVidia"
    BoardName      "GeForce FX 5700LE"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen[0]"
    Device         "Device[0]"
    Monitor        "Monitor[0]"
    DefaultDepth    24
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       15
        Modes      "1600x1200" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       16
        Modes      "1600x1200" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
        Modes      "1600x1200" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       8
        Modes      "1600x1200" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600"
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Extensions"
    Option         "Composite" "off"
EndSection

I’ve had trouble installing drivers for this card in the past but have always gotten it to work by adding mode lines or a particular version of the driver and kernel. This is really driving me nuts.

Any more suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Jeff

#12

Hi
What about when running sax2, can you configure and test at the correct
resolution. Have you configured the LCD to a generic one
1600x1200@60Hz, manually set(check) the vertical and horizontal
refresh rates, aspect ratio etc rather than using the pre-configured?

You could try verifying your modeline with;


xmode -x 1600 -y 1200

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 (i586) Kernel 2.6.27.15-2-default
up 5:00, 1 user, load average: 0.31, 0.54, 0.46
GPU GeForce 6600 TE/6200 TE - Driver Version: 180.35

#13

Just want to say thanks, Malcolm, for sticking with me through all this.

While logged into KDE as user, I opened Sax and tried changing the monitor setting to generic LCD at 1600x1200 with 60Hz, 70Hz, and 75Hz (the only frequencies available at that size), and it still won’t go larger than 1280x1024.

The command you gave me produces the following output:


182
140
Modeline "1600x1200" 407.99 1600 1744 1920 2240 1200 1201 1204 1301

What does this tell us?

Jeff

#14

Hi
You need to do it all at runlevel 3, not from the GUI :slight_smile: Try that
first, then see if the modeline is different in the newer xorg.conf.

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 (i586) Kernel 2.6.27.15-2-default
up 6:14, 1 user, load average: 0.18, 0.31, 0.41
GPU GeForce 6600 TE/6200 TE - Driver Version: 180.35

#15

OK, I ran sax2 -r in init3 and tried changing the monitor to generic LCD at 1600x1200 with the three frequencies offered. It still wouldn’t go larger than 1280x1024, so I saved it with the generic LCD at 1600x1200 and 60Hz. With the xmode command I get still the exact same output as above:


182
140
Modeline "1600x1200" 407.99 1600 1744 1920 2240 1200 1201 1204 1301

I tried looking in some of the Xorg logs and found this in Xorg.0.log:

(**) NVIDIA(0): Depth 24, (--) framebuffer bpp 32
(==) NVIDIA(0): RGB weight 888
(==) NVIDIA(0): Default visual is TrueColor
(==) NVIDIA(0): Using gamma correction (1.0, 1.0, 1.0)
(**) NVIDIA(0): Enabling RENDER acceleration
(II) NVIDIA(0): NVIDIA GPU GeForce FX 5700LE (NV36) at PCI:1:0:0 (GPU-0)
(--) NVIDIA(0): Memory: 262144 kBytes
(--) NVIDIA(0): VideoBIOS: 04.36.20.35.00
(II) NVIDIA(0): Detected AGP rate: 8X
(--) NVIDIA(0): Interlaced video modes are supported on this GPU
(--) NVIDIA(0): Connected display device(s) on GeForce FX 5700LE at
(--) NVIDIA(0):     PCI:1:0:0:
(--) NVIDIA(0):     ViewSonic VP201b (DFP-0)
(--) NVIDIA(0): ViewSonic VP201b (DFP-0): 150.0 MHz maximum pixel clock
(--) NVIDIA(0): ViewSonic VP201b (DFP-0): Internal Single Link TMDS
(II) NVIDIA(0): Assigned Display Device: DFP-0
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1600x1200"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1600x1024"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1600x1000"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1400x1050"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1600x900"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1440x900"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1366x768"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1360x768"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1280x800"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1152x864"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1280x768"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1280x720"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1280x600"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1024x600"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "768x576"; removing.
(II) NVIDIA(0): Validated modes:
(II) NVIDIA(0):     "1280x1024"
(II) NVIDIA(0):     "1280x960"
(II) NVIDIA(0):     "1024x768"
(II) NVIDIA(0):     "800x600"
(II) NVIDIA(0):     "640x480"
(II) NVIDIA(0): Virtual screen size determined to be 1280 x 1024
(--) NVIDIA(0): DPI set to (79, 83); computed from "UseEdidDpi" X config
(--) NVIDIA(0):     option
(==) NVIDIA(0): Disabling 32-bit ARGB GLX visuals.
(--) Depth 24 pixmap format is 32 bpp
(II) do I need RAC?  No, I don't.

I don’t know if that’s enough of the file to display, but it seems to be having a problem with the resolution modes.

Here’s an interesting bit from Xorg.1.log:

(II) NVIDIA(0): --- Modes in ModePool for ViewSonic VP201b (DFP-0) ---
(II) NVIDIA(0): "nvidia-auto-select" : 1280 x 1024 @  60.0 Hz  (from: X Server, VESA, EDID)
(II) NVIDIA(0): "1280x1024"          : 1280 x 1024 @  60.0 Hz  (from: X Server, VESA, EDID)
(II) NVIDIA(0): "1280x1024_60"       : 1280 x 1024 @  60.0 Hz  (from: X Server, VESA, EDID)
(II) NVIDIA(0): "1280x960"           : 1280 x  960 @  60.0 Hz  (from: X Server, VESA, EDID)
(II) NVIDIA(0): "1280x960_60"        : 1280 x  960 @  60.0 Hz  (from: X Server, VESA, EDID)
(II) NVIDIA(0): "1024x768"           : 1024 x  768 @  60.0 Hz  (from: X Server, VESA, EDID)
(II) NVIDIA(0): "1024x768_60"        : 1024 x  768 @  60.0 Hz  (from: X Server, VESA, EDID)
(II) NVIDIA(0): "960x720"            :  960 x  720 @  60.0 Hz DoubleScan  (from: X Server)
(II) NVIDIA(0): "960x720d60"         :  960 x  720 @  60.0 Hz DoubleScan  (from: X Server)
(II) NVIDIA(0): "928x696"            :  928 x  696 @  60.1 Hz DoubleScan  (from: X Server)
(II) NVIDIA(0): "928x696d60"         :  928 x  696 @  60.1 Hz DoubleScan  (from: X Server)
(II) NVIDIA(0): "896x672"            :  896 x  672 @  60.0 Hz DoubleScan  (from: X Server)
(II) NVIDIA(0): "896x672d60"         :  896 x  672 @  60.0 Hz DoubleScan  (from: X Server)
(II) NVIDIA(0): "800x600"            :  800 x  600 @  60.0 Hz DoubleScan  (from: X Server)
(II) NVIDIA(0): "800x600d60"         :  800 x  600 @  60.0 Hz DoubleScan  (from: X Server)
(II) NVIDIA(0): "800x600_60"         :  800 x  600 @  60.3 Hz  (from: X Server, VESA, EDID)
(II) NVIDIA(0): "640x512"            :  640 x  512 @  60.0 Hz DoubleScan  (from: X Server)
(II) NVIDIA(0): "640x512d60"         :  640 x  512 @  60.0 Hz DoubleScan  (from: X Server)
(II) NVIDIA(0): "640x480"            :  640 x  480 @  60.0 Hz DoubleScan  (from: X Server)
(II) NVIDIA(0): "640x480d60"         :  640 x  480 @  60.0 Hz DoubleScan  (from: X Server)
(II) NVIDIA(0): "640x480_60"         :  640 x  480 @  59.9 Hz  (from: X Server, VESA, EDID)
(II) NVIDIA(0): "512x384"            :  512 x  384 @  60.0 Hz DoubleScan  (from: X Server)
(II) NVIDIA(0): "512x384d60"         :  512 x  384 @  60.0 Hz DoubleScan  (from: X Server)
(II) NVIDIA(0): "400x300"            :  400 x  300 @  60.3 Hz DoubleScan  (from: X Server)
(II) NVIDIA(0): "400x300d60"         :  400 x  300 @  60.3 Hz DoubleScan  (from: X Server)
(II) NVIDIA(0): "320x240"            :  320 x  240 @  60.1 Hz DoubleScan  (from: X Server)
(II) NVIDIA(0): "320x240d60"         :  320 x  240 @  60.1 Hz DoubleScan  (from: X Server)
(II) NVIDIA(0): --- End of ModePool for ViewSonic VP201b (DFP-0): ---
(II) NVIDIA(0):
(II) NVIDIA(0): Assigned Display Device: DFP-0
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1600x1200"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1152x864"; removing.
(II) NVIDIA(0): Validated modes:
(II) NVIDIA(0): Virtual screen size determined to be 1280 x 1024

And this from Xorg.99.log seems to be the same as from Xorg.0.log:

(--) NVIDIA(0): Interlaced video modes are supported on this GPU
(--) NVIDIA(0): Connected display device(s) on GeForce FX 5700LE at
(--) NVIDIA(0):     PCI:1:0:0:
(--) NVIDIA(0):     ViewSonic VP201b (DFP-0)
(--) NVIDIA(0): ViewSonic VP201b (DFP-0): 150.0 MHz maximum pixel clock
(--) NVIDIA(0): ViewSonic VP201b (DFP-0): Internal Single Link TMDS
(II) NVIDIA(0): Assigned Display Device: DFP-0
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1600x1200"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1600x1024"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1600x1000"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1400x1050"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1600x900"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1440x900"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1366x768"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1360x768"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1280x800"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1152x864"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1280x768"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1280x720"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1280x600"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1024x600"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "768x576"; removing.
(II) NVIDIA(0): Validated modes:
(II) NVIDIA(0):     "1280x1024"
(II) NVIDIA(0):     "1280x960"
(II) NVIDIA(0):     "1024x768"
(II) NVIDIA(0):     "800x600"
(II) NVIDIA(0):     "640x480"
(II) NVIDIA(0): Virtual screen size determined to be 1280 x 1024
(--) NVIDIA(0): DPI set to (79, 83); computed from "UseEdidDpi" X config
(--) NVIDIA(0):     option
(==) NVIDIA(0): Disabling 32-bit ARGB GLX visuals.
(--) Depth 24 pixmap format is 32 bpp
(II) do I need RAC?  No, I don't.

I don’t know enough to understand what these messages mean or how to fix the mode problem. Maybe the 173.14.18 driver, which was released yesterday, is too new for the 2.6.27.7-9 kernel, which was released in December 2008?

The Nvidia repository is offering the 173.14.16-2.1 driver now, which seems to be designed for kernel 2.6.27.18-3.2. Should I try to install that kernel along with the Nvidia driver from the repository?

If I ask Yast to update the kernel, it will try to install 2.6.27.19-3, which doesn’t seem to match the repository Nvidia driver and might have been the root of my problems with the last Suse install.

Jeff

#16

Hi
If your doing it ‘the hard way’ then as long as you have the
kernel-source and syms matching your running kernel then you are good
to go.

You do need to ensure the Horizontal and Vertical are as per the
manufacturers specs.

I haven’t really played with modelines as so far all the nvidia cards
I’ve used have just worked :frowning: It may require a google for the best way
to configure it if your still getting the xorg log errors.

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 (i586) Kernel 2.6.27.15-2-default
up 8:37, 1 user, load average: 0.13, 0.07, 0.07
GPU GeForce 6600 TE/6200 TE - Driver Version: 180.35

#17

jpetrj at the Nvidia Linux forum (nvnews.net) suggested that most 5xxx cards have a low pixelclock frequency over DVI, which means that the resolution they can handle over DVI is less than VGA. He suggested that I add this line to the “Monitor” section xorg.conf, and it worked!

Option "ModeValidation" "NoMaxPClkCheck,NoEdidMaxPClkCheck"

When I googled one of the lines from my xorg.0.log file, I churned up this page, which explains the same problem.

Nvidia | Kolbu

I feel like I should proclaim this to the world. Now I finally understand a little better why I’ve had so many weird bugs with more recent versions of Linux.

Thanks again for helping me through all this. I appreciate it.

Jeff

#18

Hi Jeff
Many thanks for the information which I’m sure will be useful for other
nvidia 5xxx users running DVI :slight_smile:

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 (i586) Kernel 2.6.27.15-2-default
up 1 day 8:53, 1 user, load average: 0.15, 0.20, 0.20
GPU GeForce 6600 TE/6200 TE - Driver Version: 180.35

#19

Update: the option added to xorg.conf corrected the display at native resolution but to lots of red dots blinking on the screen, I guess digital noise or something.

I tried editing the line to use only NoMaxPClkCheck, which didn’t fix the noise problem, and then only NoEdidMaxPClkCheck, which didn’t allow it to display at native resolution.

I’m looking into fixes for the digital noise problem (or whatever it is) and will report back.

If anyone know the answer, though, I’m all ears.

Thanks,

Jeff

#20

Hi
Check your monitor specifications and ensure you have them set
correctly via sax2. The other one is to start nvidia-settings and have
a play with some of the settings.

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 (i586) Kernel 2.6.27.15-2-default
up 16:46, 1 user, load average: 0.04, 0.17, 0.21
GPU GeForce 6600 TE/6200 TE - Driver Version: 180.35