[PPC] problems with ati display and syncmaster 906bw monitor

[skier354]

Ok, I am trying to get up and running with ubuntu still. Everything is installed but when I boot up I get a messed up screen (half black, half grey, with black squares everywhere). I have searched many forums looking at different xorg.conf's regarding both my ati radeon x800 xt and SyncMaster 906bw. This is what I have for my xorg.conf as of right now, I have tried a few different things in the configuration. My question is, where is the problem? Is it with my ati card, or with my monitor? or both? Any suggestions for fixing this?
System info:
Powermac G5 dual 2 GHz (model identifier: PowerMac7,2)
ati radeon x800 xt video card 256mb w/dvi
1.5 gb ram
160 gb sata hard drive(osx and ubuntu)
320 gb sata hard drive(no os, only for file storage)
Samsung SyncMaster 906bw monitor (1440x900)

Here are all relevant (I think) parts of my xorg.conf

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

Section "Device"
	Identifier	"ATI Technologies Inc R420 JH [Radeon X800]"
	Driver		"ati"
#	Driver		"fbdev"
	BusID		"PCI:240:16:0"
	Option          "NoInt10"       	"yes"
#	Option		"UseFBDev"		"true"
	Option		"AGPMode"		"4"
	Option		"AGPFastWrite"		"1"
#	Option		"UseInternalAGPGART" 	"no"
	Option 		"UseInternalAGPGART" 	"yes"
	Option		"AccelMethod"		"XAA"
	Option		"EnablePageFlip"	"1"
	Option		"AccelDFS"		"0"
	Option          "RenderAccel" 		"on"
#	Option		"GARTSize"		"64"
#	Option		"GARTSize"		"32"
	Option		"ColorTiling"		"1"
	Option		"XAANoOffscreenPixmaps"	"true"
	Option          "MergedXinerama" 	"true"
	Option          "DRI" 			"true"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"SyncMaster"
	Option		"DPMS"
	HorizSync	30-81
	VertRefresh	56-75
	Modeline "1440x900_60.00" 106.47 1440 1520 1672 1904 900 901 904 932 -HSync +Vsync
	Displaysize 410 256
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"Default Screen"
	Device		"ATI Technologies Inc R420 JH [Radeon X800]"
	Monitor		"SyncMaster"
	DefaultDepth	24
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		1
		Modes		"1440x900_60"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		4
		Modes		"1440x900_60"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		8
		Modes		"1440x900_60"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		15
		Modes		"1440x900_60"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		16
		Modes		"1440x900_60"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		24 
		Modes		"1440x900_70.00" "1440x900_60.00"
	EndSubSection
EndSection


Section "DRI"
	Mode	0666
EndSection

this image is slightly outdated, now I get a few colored squares near the bottom of the screen, but essentially this is what it looks like

EDIT: sorry I forgot to mention, I am trying to run 8.04. I installed using alternate CD and everything went well until I tried to boot up

[stream303]

Ok, let's try this. Do you get anything when you specify this at the second-stage boot: prompt?

Linux nosplash video=radeonfb:1440x900-24@60

Thanks to BladeMelbourne and OswaldKelso for helping out with this earlier in the archives!

You can see that it specifies your native resolution at 24bit at 60hz refresh.

I would try this at the second-stage boot: prompt, and with both your original Hardy /etc/X11/xorg.conf, and that new one you have.

[skier354]

thanks for all your help stream303, I really appreciate it. I tried that and the same exact thing happened as with just hitting enter at the second stage boot, and the same as "Linux video=ofonly". I'm wondering, is it my ati card that is giving me issues or my monitor? I was looking at THIS thread and noticed that he got ubuntu up and running easily. However he has an Nvidia card. But I saw this in a post and was wondering if this has anything to do with video.

was able to install Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy
with no issues what so ever (aside from editing the /etc/modules file to load the snd_powermac)

[stream303]

Ah, I forgot if you are using a dvi or vga connector? (or the vga adapter?) I looked here and it seems that if you are using analog vga, 1440x900 is not supported by that card:

http://ati.amd.com/products/radeonx8...tme/specs.html

Can you use any of the other resolutions? Or perhaps instead of using "autodectect" on the monitor, force the monitor into a resolution directly? Is there a way to force it into 1440x900?

Oh, the snd_powermac has to do with sound and not video..

[skier354]

I am using dvi, so it should work just fine (it works without a problem on mac os x at least). Hmmm, I'm not sure if I can force it, I'll check that out and see if I can get that working. I'm kinda confused though about what exactly is wrong here. I get a cursor and it works just fine and I can move it around and it doesn't go past the edges of my screen, its just everything else that is weird graphically. Does that mean the resolution is right? When I move the cursor over where you type your login info, it does change into the insert cursor. I would think that if something were wrong with refresh rate, resolution, ect.. it would affect everything on the screen, but how it is now, the cursor is unaffected.

[stream303]

Ok, sometimes the gdm display can have strange resolutions, which is where we are sitting at now.

Can you add -Virtual- to this section and try. I'd also delete any other display subsections other than 24 at this point...

SubSection "Display"
                Depth		24
                Virtual 1440 900
		Modes		"1440x900_70.00" "1440x900_60.00"
	EndSubSection

This has been known to help out strange login resolutions, might be worth a shot..

[skier354]

Ok awesome, I'll try that once I get a chance (its finals week so i'm a little busy). Also, is there a boot parameter that will let me use a command line? I find it easier that having to boot into a rescue, no big deal though.

[stream303]

Can you bring up a virtual terminal via CTRL-ALT-F1

(You may have to hit return once to get to the username and password prompt). It may not look pretty, but should be a lot easier.

To get back to the gui when you are done, just hit CTRL-ALT-F7, however you'll still have a messed up display. You could restart the xserver, but I'll chicken out and just say that after editing, reboot with

sudo shutdown -r now

It's not elegant I know...

[skier354]

I edited the xorg.conf and added " Virtual 1440 900" and got rid of everything except 24 depth. It did change what the screen looks like but its still garbage. Also when I hit CTRL-ALT-F1, the display doesn't change, all that happens is my cursor disappears. Hmmmm. I searched and found these two threads. I'm gonna go through and try some of this.
http://www.backports.ubuntuforums.or...=280683&page=3
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=370204

[stream303]

Wow, ok no console either. Man, scratching my head over this one too...

Have you tried zapping your pram?
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238

Also, I'd be interested to see if we can get some sort of console working to make life easier. Does this do anything:

1- CTRL-ALT-F1 to get to the console (even though it is dark and you'll be typing in the blind)

2- Hit return

3- Type in your username (in the blind) and hit return.

4- Type in your password and hit return

5- Type

setupcon

Does this bring the display to life?