Which Nvidia video driver to use, and how far can I push the resolution?

[socref]

Hello, everyone.

New pooter, just installed SuSE 11.1. Would appreciate some insight into which Nvidia driver is right for my system, and what is the maximum resolution I can use without potentially causing any damage (if that’s even a real concern).

Here are the specifics.

Motherboard is a Biostar GF8200C M2+
See this URL:
BIOSTAR :: GF8200C M2+ :: Specification

The motherboard has an onboard Nvidia chip. About it the Biostar website states:

NVIDIA GeForce 8200 GPU, On Board Graphic Max. Memory Share Up to 512MB

The info. I received from the company that built the pooter is as follows:

VGA: Integrated NVIDIA GeForce 8 Series GPU. Hybrid SLI Support
(support Windows Vista only.). Supports HDMI Technology with max.
resolution up to 1920 x 1200. Supports DVI with max. resolution up to
1600 X 1200. Supports D-Sub with max. resolution up to 1920 X 1440.
Supports Microsoft DirectX 10, OpenGL 2.0, Pixel Shader 4.0. Support
PCIe 2.0 / 1.0 Architecture. Maximum shared memory of 256MB.

While installing SuSE 11.1 I downloaded the following items from the Nvidia repository:

1. nvidia-gfxG01-kmp-default (NVIDIA graphics driver kernel module for
   GeForceFX GPUs)

1a) x11-video-nvidiaG01(NVIDIA graphics driver for GeForceFX GPUs)

2. nvidia-gfxG02-kmp-default (NVIDIA graphics driver kernel module for
   GeForce 6xxx and newer GPUs)

2a) x11-video-nvidiaG02 (NVIDIA graphics driver for GeForce 6xxx and
newer GPUs)

So, now the questions.

a) Should I leave both sets of drivers installed, or should I delete one of them?

b) If delete, which should be taken off?

c) If neither of these drivers is the right one, which do you suggest I get instead?

d) I currently have the resolution set at 1920X1440. Is there any reason to worry that I might be overdriving anything and potentially causing damage to the system?

Many thanks!
socref

[hendersj]

On Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:36:01 +0000, socref wrote:

> a) Should I leave both sets of drivers installed, or should I delete one
> of them?

I believe you need the G02 driver.

> b) If delete, which should be taken off?

The G01 driver is probably unneeded.

> d) I currently have the resolution set at 1920X1440. Is there any reason
> to worry that I might be overdriving anything and potentially causing
> damage to the system?

If your monitor is capable of displaying the output, then I wouldn’t
worry about it.

Jim

–
Jim Henderson
openSUSE Forums Administrator

[socref]

Thanks, Jim. Appreciate the input and your best estimate of the situation.

Can anyone provide a definitive answer?

socref

[malcolmlewis]

@socref

Thanks, Jim. Appreciate the input and your best estimate of the
situation.

Can anyone provide a definitive answer?

socref

Hi
I would recommend the DVI option for max resolution it will be much
better that vga (D-Sub). As long as your external display can handle it
you should be fine.

The only likely problems you could have is if you add the coolbits
option to your xorg.conf file device section and start overclocking the
GPU.

Option       "Coolbits" "1"

Also the output from xrandr should show all the possible
resolution configs, for example here is my output;

xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 1280 x 480, current 3360 x 1050, maximum 3360 x 1050
default connected 3360x1050+0+0 0mm x 0mm
3360x1050      50.0*
2800x1050      51.0
3200x900       52.0
2560x1024      53.0
2880x900       54.0
2560x960       55.0
2560x800       56.0
2304x864       57.0
2560x720       58.0
2048x768       59.0
1600x600       60.0
1280x480       61.0

As you can see I’m running 3360x1050 across two LCD’s.

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 (x86_64) Kernel 2.6.27.45-0.1-default
up 4 days 8:55, 3 users, load average: 0.07, 0.23, 0.34
GPU GeForce 8600 GTS Silent - CUDA Driver Version: 195.36.15

[socref]

@malcolmlewis

Hi
I would recommend the DVI option for max resolution it will be much
better that vga (D-Sub). As long as your external display can handle it
you should be fine.

The only likely problems you could have is if you add the coolbits
option to your xorg.conf file device section and start overclocking the
GPU.

Option       "Coolbits" "1"

Also the output from xrandr should show all the possible
resolution configs, for example here is my output;

xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 1280 x 480, current 3360 x 1050, maximum 3360 x 1050
default connected 3360x1050+0+0 0mm x 0mm
3360x1050      50.0*
2800x1050      51.0
3200x900       52.0
2560x1024      53.0
2880x900       54.0
2560x960       55.0
2560x800       56.0
2304x864       57.0
2560x720       58.0
2048x768       59.0
1600x600       60.0
1280x480       61.0

As you can see I’m running 3360x1050 across two LCD’s.

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 (x86_64) Kernel 2.6.27.45-0.1-default
up 4 days 8:55, 3 users, load average: 0.07, 0.23, 0.34
GPU GeForce 8600 GTS Silent - CUDA Driver Version: 195.36.15

Thanks, Malcolm.

Here is my output of xrandr:

gil@phred:~> xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 240, current 1680 x 1050, maximum 1680 x 1050
default connected 1680x1050+0+0 0mm x 0mm
1680x1050 50.0*
1400x1050 51.0 58.0
1280x1024 52.0 59.0
1280x960 53.0
1152x864 54.0
1024x768 55.0 60.0 61.0
800x600 56.0 64.0 65.0 66.0 67.0 68.0
640x480 57.0 73.0 74.0 75.0
896x672 62.0
832x624 63.0
700x525 69.0 70.0
640x512 71.0 72.0
576x432 76.0
512x384 77.0 78.0 79.0
416x312 80.0
400x300 81.0 82.0 83.0 84.0
320x240 85.0 86.0 87.0
gil@phred:~>

What do all these numbers mean in non-geekspeak?

Also, you recommended DVI rather than vga (D-sub). How do I determine if I’m doing that? (I don’t even know what it means.)

How do I set for DVI rather than vga (D-sub)?

Many thanks.
socref

[malcolmlewis]

@socref

Thanks, Malcolm.

Here is my output of xrandr:

gil@phred:~> xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 240, current 1680 x 1050, maximum 1680 x 1050
default connected 1680x1050+0+0 0mm x 0mm
1680x1050 50.0*

What do all these numbers mean in non-geekspeak?

So your currently running at the above resolution (not what you thought
you were )

@socref

Also, you recommended DVI rather than vga (D-sub). How do
I determine if I’m doing that? (I don’t even know what it means.)

How do I set for DVI rather than vga (D-sub)?

VGA is analog signal and a 15pin connector, DVI is Digital have a look
here Analog and DVI Connections - How Computer Monitors Work | HowStuffWorks

It depends, if the monitor your using can accept VGA and/or DVI use
that if you can. You may need to check your BIOS can be set to use DVI
on boot as well.

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 (x86_64) Kernel 2.6.27.45-0.1-default
up 4 days 13:03, 3 users, load average: 0.08, 0.34, 0.35
GPU GeForce 8600 GTS Silent - CUDA Driver Version: 195.36.15

[socref]

@malcolmlewis

So your currently running at the above resolution (not what you thought
you were )

Yes, I see that now. Thanks. I have brought it down to 1680X1050 (WSXGA+).

@malcolmlewis

VGA is analog signal and a 15pin connector, DVI is Digital have a look
here HowStuffWorks “How Computer Monitors Work”

It depends, if the monitor your using can accept VGA and/or DVI use
that if you can. You may need to check your BIOS can be set to use DVI
on boot as well.

Oh! That was so very simple once I understood it was in relation to the connector/cable combination. I am running a monitor that can accept either analog or digital. I have it connected via a single link DVI-D cable.

Thanks for your explanation and pointing to the resource.
socref

[malcolmlewis]

@socref

malcolmlewis;2154930 Wrote:
> So your currently running at the above resolution (not what you
> thought you were )

Yes, I see that now. Thanks. I have brought it down to 1680X1050
(WSXGA+).

malcolmlewis;2154930 Wrote:
> VGA is analog signal and a 15pin connector, DVI is Digital have a look
> here ‘HowStuffWorks "How Computer Monitors Work"’
> (Analog and DVI Connections - How Computer Monitors Work | HowStuffWorks)
>
> It depends, if the monitor your using can accept VGA and/or DVI use
> that if you can. You may need to check your BIOS can be set to use DVI
> on boot as well.

Oh! That was so very simple once I understood it was in relation to the
connector/cable combination. I am running a monitor that can accept
either analog or digital. I have it connected via a single link DVI-D
cable.

Thanks for your explanation and pointing to the resource.
socref

Hi
Your welcome. I’m wondering if you modify the RAM available to the
video card in the BIOS, you can probably increase the resolution (if
your monitor supports it) to get the higher resolutions, just check
with the xrandr command.

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 (x86_64) Kernel 2.6.27.45-0.1-default
up 4 days 14:14, 3 users, load average: 0.00, 0.09, 0.26
GPU GeForce 8600 GTS Silent - CUDA Driver Version: 195.36.15

[socref]

@malcolmlewis

Hi
Your welcome. I’m wondering if you modify the RAM available to the
video card in the BIOS, you can probably increase the resolution (if
your monitor supports it) to get the higher resolutions, just check
with the xrandr command.

Malcolm, by the term “video card” did you actually mean the on-board (integrated) video chip? No video card in this computer.

Assuming the answer is yes, where in the BIOS would I modify the amount of video RAM available? I see nothing obvious – nothing listed as video RAM or similar.

Thx
socref

[malcolmlewis]

@socref

malcolmlewis;2154944 Wrote:
> Hi
> Your welcome. I’m wondering if you modify the RAM available to the
> video card in the BIOS, you can probably increase the resolution (if
> your monitor supports it) to get the higher resolutions, just check
> with the xrandr command.

Malcolm, by the term “video card” did you actually mean the on-board
(integrated) video chip? No video card in this computer.

Assuming the answer is yes, where in the BIOS would I modify the amount
of video RAM available? I see nothing obvious – nothing listed as video
RAM or similar.

Thx
socref

Hi
You need to look at the ‘Chipset Menu’ there should be an entry for
‘iGPU Frame Buffer Size’.

Just to confirm you are running the onboard video?

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 (x86_64) Kernel 2.6.27.45-0.1-default
up 5 days 1:03, 3 users, load average: 0.08, 0.13, 0.28
GPU GeForce 8600 GTS Silent - CUDA Driver Version: 195.36.15

[knurpht]

Don’t have both drivers installed, things do go wrong. You need the G02 versions. Can you please post the contents of /etc/X11/xorg.conf ?

[socref]

@malcolmlewis

Hi
You need to look at the ‘Chipset Menu’ there should be an entry for
‘iGPU Frame Buffer Size’.

Where is the “Chipset Menu?” I looked in YaST2, Hardware Information but did not see anything labelled as “iGPU Frame Buffer Size.”

@malcolmlewis

Just to confirm you are running the onboard video?

Yes, no separate video card in this pooter.
socref

[malcolmlewis]

@socref

malcolmlewis;2155123 Wrote:
> Hi
> You need to look at the ‘Chipset Menu’ there should be an entry for
> ‘iGPU Frame Buffer Size’.

Where is the “Chipset Menu?” I looked in YaST2, Hardware Information
but did not see anything labelled as “iGPU Frame Buffer Size.”

malcolmlewis;2155123 Wrote:
> Just to confirm you are running the onboard video?

Yes, no separate video card in this pooter.
socref

Hi
No it’s in the computer BIOS when you first boot the computer (usually
press the delete key). If you check the computer motherboard manual it
will show you

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
openSUSE 11.3 Milestone 5 (i586) Kernel 2.6.34-rc3-3-desktop
up 3 days 23:02, 2 users, load average: 0.09, 0.11, 0.09
ASUS eeePC 1000HE ATOM N280 1.66GHz | GPU Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME

[socref]

@Knurpht

Don’t have both drivers installed, things do go wrong. You need the G02 versions. Can you please post the contents of /etc/X11/xorg.conf ?

Thanks for reply.

I have now removed all packages that referenced “G01,” and only G02 remain on the pooter.

Here is the output you requested. Interestingly I don’t see any reference to the current resolution I set and which shows in Sax2: 1680 X 1050 (WSXGA+).
Thx.
socref

/…/

SaX generated X11 config file

Created on: 2010-04-20T13:46:24-0400.

Version: 8.1

Contact: Marcus Schaefer <sax@suse.de>, 2005

Contact: SaX-User list <https://lists.berlios.de/mailman/listinfo/sax-users&gt;

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 “AllowMouseOpenFail” “on”
Option “ZapWarning” “on”
EndSection

Section “Module”
Load “glx”
Load “dbe”
Load “extmod”
Load “dri”
Load “freetype”
EndSection

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

Section “InputDevice”
Driver “mouse”
Identifier “Mouse[1]”
Option “Buttons” “14”
Option “Device” “/dev/input/mice”
Option “Name” “Logitech USB Receiver”
Option “Protocol” “explorerps/2”
Option “Vendor” “Sysp”
Option “ZAxisMapping” “4 5”
EndSection

Section “Monitor”
Option “CalcAlgorithm” “XServerPool”
DisplaySize 478 299
HorizSync 31-83
Identifier “Monitor[0]”
ModelName “2208WFP(Digital)”
Option “PreferredMode” “800x600”
VendorName “DELL”
VertRefresh 56-75
UseModes “Modes[0]”
EndSection

Section “Modes”
Identifier “Modes[0]”
EndSection

Section “Screen”
SubSection “Display”
Depth 15
Modes “default”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 16
Modes “default”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 24
Modes “default”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 8
Modes “default”
EndSubSection
Device “Device[0]”
Identifier “Screen[0]”
Monitor “Monitor[0]”
EndSection

Section “Device”
BoardName “Framebuffer Graphics”
Driver “fbdev”
Identifier “Device[0]”
Screen 0
VendorName “VESA”
EndSection

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

Section “DRI”
Group “video”
Mode 0660
EndSection

Section “Extensions”
EndSection

[deano_ferrari]

Here is the output you requested. Interestingly I don’t see any reference to the current resolution I set and which shows in Sax2: 1680 X 1050 (WSXGA+).

Thats because EDID is used by Xorg to try and determine your monitor’s capabilities automatically.

[socref]

@malcolmlewis

Hi
No it’s in the computer BIOS when you first boot the computer (usually
press the delete key). If you check the computer motherboard manual it
will show you

Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
openSUSE 11.3 Milestone 5 (i586) Kernel 2.6.34-rc3-3-desktop
up 3 days 23:02, 2 users, load average: 0.09, 0.11, 0.09
ASUS eeePC 1000HE ATOM N280 1.66GHz | GPU Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME

LOL! Thanks.

I found it. Says 256MB.

It is grayed-out so cannot be changed.

“Frame buffer detect” is set to “auto.”

No manual came with the pooter – just a “quick installation guide.”

socref