>===== Original Message From Miguel Griffa <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> =====
>Hi,
> I just got a new PC and I tihnk that onboard video adapter (will
>check modem and soundcard later) are not (yet) supported by X, and idea,
>suggestion (if posible not involving 'buying a video card') will be
>highly apreciated, thanks
I have the same motherboard. Nothing is compatible - or at least, only barely
so.
The modem is a PCTel HSP (that is, winmodem), and not supported by Linux
(although I hear that some people are working on drivers for winmodems, I
haven't found any yet), I would get an external modem, as there is no
possibility that it would be a winmodem.
The soundcard can be run under Linux, but you'll probably have to recompile
the kernel (not a bad idea anyway, if you just installed it - once you learn
your way around compiling and installing programs, recompile the kernel with
the options for your specific hardware), and depending on your distribution,
possibly download isapnptools. Instructions on how to get the soundcard to
work are in /usr/src/linux/Documentation , the file is named after the chip
used in the sound card, something like CMI8330. If nothing else, you should
be able to get an ISA SB16 (to go in the single ISA slot on the motherboard)
for around $20-30.
The video card (sigh), I have found no drivers for, either SVGALIB or X11. If
you go to the company's website (don't remember the address, do a search for
Silicon Integrated Systems on Altavista or Metacrawler), they tell you that
they most emphatically do not support Linux (shake fist and curse), but do
give you links to some third-parties who are writing drivers for their
products. (including xfree86.org) Unfortunately, this particular built-in
video card (SiS 620 AGP) appears to be too new for third-parties to have built
drivers for it yet. (it just came out in late January or early February, I
think) SVGAlib runs imperfectly in vanilla VGA mode (320x200 only, no higher
resolutions), and X11 is unusable at 320x204 (according to my system - odd
resolution, though) with no virtual desktop. The only real solution at the
moment, unfortunately, appears to be "buy a new video card". I'm going to get
one myself later this week.
The only hope appears to be that if enough of us disgruntled motherboard
purchasers e-mail or otherwise contact them, they will rethink their position
on writing drivers for their products, or at least releasing technical notes
on them to developers.
If you find or receive any information on drivers for winmodems or for the 620
AGP card, please forward it to me. I'll ad your address to my book and do the
same for you.
Later,
Ethan
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