Is my graphics card working correctly?

[pauljcg]

I've setup Ubuntu 6.06 on my laptop. It's generally working very well, however I'm not sure if the graphics card (S3 Twister K, 32MB of shared video memory) was configured correctly. This is because menus and the fade out/in effect of the admin password box flickers quite a lot. Also, Google Earth displays a message about running in software mode, however in Windows it can run Google Earth in hardware mode.

Are these issues here because the card is old and not very powerful, or because Ubuntu isn't set up correctly?

Also, is the card capable of the 3D window effects XGL/Compiz or is this for ATI/Nvidia cards only?

Thanks to anyone who can help.

[Ziox]

I've setup Ubuntu 6.06 on my laptop. It's generally working very well, however I'm not sure if the graphics card (S3 Twister K, 32MB of shared video memory) was configured correctly. This is because menus and the fade out/in effect of the admin password box flickers quite a lot. Also, Google Earth displays a message about running in software mode, however in Windows it can run Google Earth in hardware mode.

Are these issues here because the card is old and not very powerful, or because Ubuntu isn't set up correctly?

Also, is the card capable of the 3D window effects XGL/Compiz or is this for ATI/Nvidia cards only?

Thanks to anyone who can help.

glxinfo | grep direct

will tell you if direct rendering is on or not.

and

glxgears -printfps

will give you a "general" idea of how well your graphics card is doing

[pauljcg]

Here are the results of the commands you suggested:
paul@paul-laptop:~$ glxinfo | grep direct
direct rendering: No
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa GLX Indirect
paul@paul-laptop:~$ glxgears -printfps
487 frames in 5.8 seconds = 84.257 FPS
456 frames in 5.3 seconds = 85.897 FPS
456 frames in 5.1 seconds = 89.207 FPS

The first one suggests that the card isn't rendering, is that true?

[Ziox]

Here are the results of the commands you suggested:
paul@paul-laptop:~$ glxinfo | grep direct
direct rendering: No
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa GLX Indirect
paul@paul-laptop:~$ glxgears -printfps
487 frames in 5.8 seconds = 84.257 FPS
456 frames in 5.3 seconds = 85.897 FPS
456 frames in 5.1 seconds = 89.207 FPS

The first one suggests that the card isn't rendering, is that true?

yep

here's mine:

ziox@Xubuntu:~$ glxinfo | grep direct
direct rendering: Yes
ziox@Xubuntu:~$ glxgears -printfps
5723 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1144.443 FPS
5629 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1125.740 FPS
5556 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1111.085 FPS
2472 frames in 5.0 seconds = 494.209 FPS
2286 frames in 5.0 seconds = 457.147 FPS

[pauljcg]

Very nice, but how does that help me?

Or, to ask a better question; how can I get it to say "direct rendering: yes"?

Thanks!

[Ziox]

Very nice, but how does that help me?

Or, to ask a better question; how can I get it to say "direct rendering: yes"?

Thanks!

sorry...provide the following information:

lspci -v | grep VGA

cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf

[pauljcg]

Thanks for all your help so far. Here's what was displayed:
paul@paul-laptop:~$ lspci -v | grep VGA
0000:01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: S3 Inc. VT8636A [ProSavage KN133] AGP4X VGA Controller (TwisterK) (rev 01) (prog-if 00 [VGA])
paul@paul-laptop:~$ cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf
# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the /etc/X11/xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man /etc/X11/xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/misc"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi"
# path to defoma fonts
FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "i2c"
Load "bitmap"
Load "ddc"
Load "dri"
Load "extmod"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx"
Load "int10"
Load "type1"
Load "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "gb"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Synaptics Touchpad"
Driver "synaptics"
Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
Option "HorizScrollDelta" "0"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "stylus"
Option "Device" "/dev/wacom" # Change to
# /dev/input/event
# for USB
Option "Type" "stylus"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "eraser"
Option "Device" "/dev/wacom" # Change to
# /dev/input/event
# for USB
Option "Type" "eraser"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "cursor"
Option "Device" "/dev/wacom" # Change to
# /dev/input/event
# for USB
Option "Type" "cursor"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "S3 Inc. VT8636A [ProSavage KN133] AGP4X VGA Controller (TwisterK)"
Driver "vesa"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Generic Monitor"
Option "DPMS"
Gamma 0.6
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "S3 Inc. VT8636A [ProSavage KN133] AGP4X VGA Controller (TwisterK)"
Monitor "Generic Monitor"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen "Default Screen"
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
InputDevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
InputDevice "Synaptics Touchpad"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection
Note that in:
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Generic Monitor"
Option "DPMS"
Gamma 0.6
EndSection"Gamma 0.6" was added by me to try to correct my LCDs poor built-in gamma. I'm not sure if I added it correctly, but it's not of large importance.

[Ziox]

Thanks for all your help so far. Here's what was displayed:
paul@paul-laptop:~$ lspci -v | grep VGA
0000:01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: S3 Inc. VT8636A [ProSavage KN133] AGP4X VGA Controller (TwisterK) (rev 01) (prog-if 00 [VGA])
paul@paul-laptop:~$ cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf
# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the /etc/X11/xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man /etc/X11/xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/misc"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi"
# path to defoma fonts
FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "i2c"
Load "bitmap"
Load "ddc"
Load "dri"
Load "extmod"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx"
Load "int10"
Load "type1"
Load "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "gb"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Synaptics Touchpad"
Driver "synaptics"
Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
Option "HorizScrollDelta" "0"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "stylus"
Option "Device" "/dev/wacom" # Change to
# /dev/input/event
# for USB
Option "Type" "stylus"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "eraser"
Option "Device" "/dev/wacom" # Change to
# /dev/input/event
# for USB
Option "Type" "eraser"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "cursor"
Option "Device" "/dev/wacom" # Change to
# /dev/input/event
# for USB
Option "Type" "cursor"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "S3 Inc. VT8636A [ProSavage KN133] AGP4X VGA Controller (TwisterK)"
Driver "vesa"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Generic Monitor"
Option "DPMS"
Gamma 0.6
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "S3 Inc. VT8636A [ProSavage KN133] AGP4X VGA Controller (TwisterK)"
Monitor "Generic Monitor"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen "Default Screen"
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
InputDevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
InputDevice "Synaptics Touchpad"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection
Note that in:
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Generic Monitor"
Option "DPMS"
Gamma 0.6
EndSection"Gamma 0.6" was added by me to try to correct my LCDs poor built-in gamma. I'm not sure if I added it correctly, but it's not of large importance.

You need to install a card driver to enable Direct Rendering (3D support).

What kind of processor do you have? AMD/Intel(Without Hyperthreading)/Intel(With Hyperthreading)/etc...

[pauljcg]

My processor is an AMD Athlon Mobile 1800+

[Ziox]

ok...I was going to use the manual guide, but the guide was only for breezy, so...let's try this:

open up terminal and install these:

sudo aptitude install xserver-xorg-driver-s3
sudo aptitude install xserver-xorg-driver-savage

then enter this command:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

When it prompts to you choose a driver for your card, look for something similar to savage, or s3, etc....after that just basically choose defaults for the rest...

after it's all done, reboot the computer.

You might have to edit your xorg.conf file again to add the "GAMMA" part.

but use these two command to see if the card is "working"

glxinfo | grep direct

glxgears -printfps

[pauljcg]

Thank you :D

I followed your instructions and here's my result for the test commands:
paul@paul-laptop:~$ glxinfo | grep direct
direct rendering: Yes
paul@paul-laptop:~$ glxgears -printfps
691 frames in 5.0 seconds = 138.185 FPS
686 frames in 5.0 seconds = 136.997 FPS
680 frames in 5.0 seconds = 135.819 FPS
The gears moved much smoother in the second test, so this is great. Thanks again for all your help.

[szamot83]

Hello
I know that this topic is old, but I can not get help on several forums, so I'm trying everywhere.
I have problem with VGA drivers. I'm trying methods from this topic, but they don't work for me.

Sory for my english, I'm studying it.

I'm runing this system on "Actina neo" laptop.
1 ghz Duron
384 ram
I'm using Xfce desktop environment

I have S3 Twister VGA card and I have problem with drivers.

When I run:
sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg
I have no options concern with VGA card. Only options witch appears concern mouse and keyboard.
Also I can't download:
sudo aptitude install xserver-xorg-driver-s3
sudo aptitude install xserver-xorg-driver-savage
Even if I download those packets manually I cant install it. Aptitude says sth. like package collision (I don't know how to say it in english)
Could someone tell me how to install driver to this card, or what I should write in xorg.conf, to get this work?
Maybe you will want to see those logs, to help me.
glxinfo | grep direct

direct rendering: Yes


lspci -v | grep VGA

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: S3 Inc. VT8636A [ProSavage KN133] AGP4X VGA Controller (TwisterK) (rev 01) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])


cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf

# xorg.conf (X.Org X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "pl"
Option "XkbVariant" "pl"
Option "XkbOptions" "lv3:ralt_switch"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Synaptics Touchpad"
Driver "synaptics"
Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
Option "HorizEdgeScroll" "0"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
Option "UseFBDev" "true"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen "Default Screen"
InputDevice "Synaptics Touchpad"
EndSection