The graphics card on a openSUSE11.4-32-bit system is a ATI RV530LE [Radeon X1650 PRO]
It looks as though xorg sets it up with the RV535 or RV560 chipset if the radeonhd driver is selected
Is there a way to ensure the RV530 chipset version is loaded when booting
Have a look at what is reported by
/sbin/lspci -nnk
(Just the lines pertaining to your graphics card)
Is there a way to ensure the RV530 chipset version is loaded when booting
No. The chipset will be as reported by the kernel.
/sbin/lspci -nnk
With the radeon driver its,
02:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: ATI Technologies Inc RV530LE [Radeon X1600/X1650 PRO] [1002:71c6]
Subsystem: PC Partner Limited Device [174b:0840]
Kernel driver in use: radeon
02:00.1 Display controller [0380]: ATI Technologies Inc RV530LE [Radeon X1650 PRO] (Secondary) [1002:71e6]
Subsystem: PC Partner Limited Device [174b:0841]
System settings, display and monitor shows
DVI-0 (connected)
VGA-0 (connected)
S_VIDEO
With the radeonhd driver its,
02:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: ATI Technologies Inc RV530LE [Radeon X1600/X1650 PRO] [1002:71c6]
Subsystem: PC Partner Limited Device [174b:0840]
02:00.1 Display controller [0380]: ATI Technologies Inc RV530LE [Radeon X1650 PRO] (Secondary) [1002:71e6]
Subsystem: PC Partner Limited Device [174b:0841]
System settings, display and monitor shows
VGA_1 (connected)
TV_SVIDEO
DVI-I_1/digital
DVI-I_1/analog
02:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: ATI Technologies Inc RV530LE [Radeon X1600/X1650 PRO] [1002:71c6]
Subsystem: PC Partner Limited Device [174b:0840]
Looks ok. Is there a particular problem with the driver? Anything unusual in /var/log/Xorg.0.log?
Info on the radeonhd driver (you’re probably already aware of):
If you’re searching for bug reports concerning the radeonhd driver
https://bugs.freedesktop.org/query.cgi?product=xorg&component=Driver/radeonhd
Thanks for the info.
With the radeonhd driver, (KMS not loaded and nomodeset)
/var/log/Xorg.0.log warnings,
219.148] (WW) RADEONHD(0): rhdAtomAllocateFbScratch: FW FB scratch area not located at the end of VRAM. Scratch End: 0x1005000 VRAM End: 0x10000000
219.152] (WW) RADEONHD(0): Not supporting SetVoltage V1 yet
219.172] (WW) RADEONHD(0): PowerPlayInfo Revision not yet implemented
219.320] (WW) RADEONHD(0): Not supporting SetVoltage V1 yet
219.355] (WW) RADEONHD(0): Not supporting SetVoltage V1 yet
219.446] (WW) RADEONHD(0): Not supporting SetVoltage V1 yet
radeon driver detects, (KMS is loaded and NO nomodeset)
/var/log/Xorg.0.log no warnings,
It looks as though for my hardware the radeon driver is the better option.
It looks as though for my hardware the radeon driver is the better option.
I agree. The radeon driver is being continually improved, and will generally give the best results. The radeonhd driver (supports only a limited number of chipsets) and is now deprecated AFAIU.
Yesterday updated xorg.
Then could only boot into terminal mode
Back to normal with NO_KMS_IN_INITRD set to ‘yes’ and boot cmd option modeset=1
If nomodeset used only boots to the terminal
Progress?
So, you needed to disable KMS in order for the updated Xorg to start properly and get the desktop up… What driver is in use? (I’m guessing fbdev if KMS disabled).
(FWIW, I think I would have stayed with the radeon driver and default 11.4 Xorg server version).
Hi deano_ferrari,
Yes. With no change only terminal mode was possible as normal user. The radeon driver is still being used.
I first tried KMS not loaded and nomodeset, as this is the setup on the nearest 64bit machine, but still went into terminal mode.
(I did not try second reboot - perhaps I should have)
Second try was with KMS not loaded and modeset=0 in boot cmd line. This worked and also for the following dozen of so warm and cold re/boots
so I’m staying with this setup until it breaks again.
Previously I said
radeon driver detects, (KMS is loaded and NO nomodeset)
- both monitors detected
- and 3D acceleration
/var/log/Xorg.0.log no warnings
which after the update changes to
radeon driver detects, (KMS not loaded and modeset=0 in boot cmd line)
- both monitors detected
- and 3D acceleration
/var/log/Xorg.0.log no warnings
regards,
michael
Good work. This may be helpful to others searching for support on this. 
As this seems to effect
This decision came after finding a Red Hat bug report Bug 633026 - (Kwin) Desktop Effect does not work on r600
Its a pity, all worked ok on this machine with openSUSE 11.3