Re: ATI Radeon 7500 QW; XFree86 4.2.1 (sid)
On Mit, 2002-10-09 at 20:18, John Lenton wrote: > On Wed, Oct 09, 2002 at 09:39:59AM -0500, Sudhindra Herle wrote: > > > > When I ran 'glxgears' I seem to get between 500-2000fps. However, the CPU is > > maxed out at 100% -- this on an Athlon XP1700. Also, if I move any window on > > the desktop, the gears seem to stutter and slow down. This leads me to > > believe that 3D support is done in software. Am I correct? > > I don't think you'd reach even 100fps on software. Try it: simply comment > out (put a '#' infront of) the 'Load "dri"' line in your > /etc/X11/XF86Config-4. Or simply set the LIBGL_ALWAYS_INDIRECT environment variable when running an OpenGL client. > One thing, however, to note: 2D with the DRI off is faster on the radeon > than 2D with the DRI working, so if you use 2D a lot more than 3D, you might > want to consider having the default layout bring up a non-dri-enabled X. This was true until 4.2 but has been remedied in the meantime. My DRI CVS snapshot packages provide the same 2D acceleration functions in both cases, but with DRI enabled they're faster thanks to the CP DMA engine. Oh, and glxgears won't use 100% CPU running those either thanks to IRQs. PS: For more info about the DRI go to http://dri.sf.net/ -- Earthling Michel Dänzer (MrCooper)/ Debian GNU/Linux (powerpc) developer XFree86 and DRI project member / CS student, Free Software enthusiast
Re: ATI Radeon 7500 QW; XFree86 4.2.1 (sid)
On Mit, 2002-10-09 at 20:18, John Lenton wrote: > On Wed, Oct 09, 2002 at 09:39:59AM -0500, Sudhindra Herle wrote: > > > > When I ran 'glxgears' I seem to get between 500-2000fps. However, the CPU is > > maxed out at 100% -- this on an Athlon XP1700. Also, if I move any window on > > the desktop, the gears seem to stutter and slow down. This leads me to > > believe that 3D support is done in software. Am I correct? > > I don't think you'd reach even 100fps on software. Try it: simply comment > out (put a '#' infront of) the 'Load "dri"' line in your > /etc/X11/XF86Config-4. Or simply set the LIBGL_ALWAYS_INDIRECT environment variable when running an OpenGL client. > One thing, however, to note: 2D with the DRI off is faster on the radeon > than 2D with the DRI working, so if you use 2D a lot more than 3D, you might > want to consider having the default layout bring up a non-dri-enabled X. This was true until 4.2 but has been remedied in the meantime. My DRI CVS snapshot packages provide the same 2D acceleration functions in both cases, but with DRI enabled they're faster thanks to the CP DMA engine. Oh, and glxgears won't use 100% CPU running those either thanks to IRQs. PS: For more info about the DRI go to http://dri.sf.net/ -- Earthling Michel Dänzer (MrCooper)/ Debian GNU/Linux (powerpc) developer XFree86 and DRI project member / CS student, Free Software enthusiast -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: ATI Radeon 7500 QW; XFree86 4.2.1 (sid)
On Wed, Oct 09, 2002 at 09:39:59AM -0500, Sudhindra Herle wrote: > > When I ran 'glxgears' I seem to get between 500-2000fps. However, the CPU is > maxed out at 100% -- this on an Athlon XP1700. Also, if I move any window on > the desktop, the gears seem to stutter and slow down. This leads me to > believe that 3D support is done in software. Am I correct? I don't think you'd reach even 100fps on software. Try it: simply comment out (put a '#' infront of) the 'Load "dri"' line in your /etc/X11/XF86Config-4. One thing, however, to note: 2D with the DRI off is faster on the radeon than 2D with the DRI working, so if you use 2D a lot more than 3D, you might want to consider having the default layout bring up a non-dri-enabled X. > If there is sufficient interest, I can post my Xf86config-4 file to the list > (I had to change it _very_ little to get it working.) exactly what did you have to change? I found it worked fine (i.e. I could get dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86 to build a setup that left dri working) -- John Lenton ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) -- Random fortune: Montana: Where forty-three below keeps out the riff-raff.
Re: ATI Radeon 7500 QW; XFree86 4.2.1 (sid)
On Wed, Oct 09, 2002 at 09:39:59AM -0500, Sudhindra Herle wrote: > Thanks to the helpful info on this mailing list, I was able to get > Xfree86 working with my new ATI Radeon 7500 QW with the latest version > of XFree86 in sid (4.2.1-1) using the DRI module in 2.4.20-pre8-ac3. Glad to hear it's working for you. > This email is not a bug report of any kind. I just want to understand a few > things better and I am hoping the kind souls on this list can help me. > > 1. What is the relationship between DRI & XFree86? Does DRI expose > generic "ops" and mmap the framebuffer address? Or, does it do more? I > haven't tried to start X without DRI support in the kernel. Will it > even work if I do? DRI is a way of passing commands that take advantage of the 3D engine on the video card's silicon to the graphics processor. This bypasses the X protocol, so DRI is largely a means of ensuring that the video card's internal rendering and the X server don't get in each other's way in terms of screen real estate. Also, not stuffing the acceleration commands into the X protocol stream saves quite a bit of overhead and improved performance. Remember that X was originally developed within, and for, network computing environments. The Debian X FAQ speaks more about these issues. /usr/share/doc/xfree86-common/FAQ.gz > 2. How can I know the features of the card exploited by X? More > specifically, 2D and 3D acceleration. On the ati website, they claim > that 3D acceleration is supported on their 8500 and FireGL based > cards. They also mention that DRI supports 3D acceleration on the > radeon family (no specific chip information is supplied). Are there > generic tools one can run to see/query the info? I cannot help you here. Perhaps someone else from the list can. > When I ran 'glxgears' I seem to get between 500-2000fps. However, the CPU is > maxed out at 100% -- this on an Athlon XP1700. Also, if I move any window on > the desktop, the gears seem to stutter and slow down. This leads me to believe > that 3D support is done in software. Am I correct? I'm not sure. In theory yor CPU shouldn't be getting pegged, but then there's the real world... > I am not subscribed to this mailing list. I would appreciate if you can CC me > on the reply. If you think I should subscribe to the mailing list, please send > me a private email and I'll do so. > > If there is sufficient interest, I can post my Xf86config-4 file to the list > (I > had to change it _very_ little to get it working.) Please do; I'm curious to know what was necessary. It may suggest a possible enhancement in my debconf. -- G. Branden Robinson| Good judgement comes from Debian GNU/Linux | experience; experience comes from [EMAIL PROTECTED] | bad judgement. http://people.debian.org/~branden/ | -- Fred Brooks pgpkc3tK2mGs3.pgp Description: PGP signature
Re: ATI Radeon 7500 QW; XFree86 4.2.1 (sid)
On Wed, Oct 09, 2002 at 09:39:59AM -0500, Sudhindra Herle wrote: > > When I ran 'glxgears' I seem to get between 500-2000fps. However, the CPU is > maxed out at 100% -- this on an Athlon XP1700. Also, if I move any window on > the desktop, the gears seem to stutter and slow down. This leads me to > believe that 3D support is done in software. Am I correct? I don't think you'd reach even 100fps on software. Try it: simply comment out (put a '#' infront of) the 'Load "dri"' line in your /etc/X11/XF86Config-4. One thing, however, to note: 2D with the DRI off is faster on the radeon than 2D with the DRI working, so if you use 2D a lot more than 3D, you might want to consider having the default layout bring up a non-dri-enabled X. > If there is sufficient interest, I can post my Xf86config-4 file to the list > (I had to change it _very_ little to get it working.) exactly what did you have to change? I found it worked fine (i.e. I could get dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86 to build a setup that left dri working) -- John Lenton ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) -- Random fortune: Montana: Where forty-three below keeps out the riff-raff. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: ATI Radeon 7500 QW; XFree86 4.2.1 (sid)
On Wed, Oct 09, 2002 at 09:39:59AM -0500, Sudhindra Herle wrote: > Thanks to the helpful info on this mailing list, I was able to get > Xfree86 working with my new ATI Radeon 7500 QW with the latest version > of XFree86 in sid (4.2.1-1) using the DRI module in 2.4.20-pre8-ac3. Glad to hear it's working for you. > This email is not a bug report of any kind. I just want to understand a few > things better and I am hoping the kind souls on this list can help me. > > 1. What is the relationship between DRI & XFree86? Does DRI expose > generic "ops" and mmap the framebuffer address? Or, does it do more? I > haven't tried to start X without DRI support in the kernel. Will it > even work if I do? DRI is a way of passing commands that take advantage of the 3D engine on the video card's silicon to the graphics processor. This bypasses the X protocol, so DRI is largely a means of ensuring that the video card's internal rendering and the X server don't get in each other's way in terms of screen real estate. Also, not stuffing the acceleration commands into the X protocol stream saves quite a bit of overhead and improved performance. Remember that X was originally developed within, and for, network computing environments. The Debian X FAQ speaks more about these issues. /usr/share/doc/xfree86-common/FAQ.gz > 2. How can I know the features of the card exploited by X? More > specifically, 2D and 3D acceleration. On the ati website, they claim > that 3D acceleration is supported on their 8500 and FireGL based > cards. They also mention that DRI supports 3D acceleration on the > radeon family (no specific chip information is supplied). Are there > generic tools one can run to see/query the info? I cannot help you here. Perhaps someone else from the list can. > When I ran 'glxgears' I seem to get between 500-2000fps. However, the CPU is > maxed out at 100% -- this on an Athlon XP1700. Also, if I move any window on > the desktop, the gears seem to stutter and slow down. This leads me to believe > that 3D support is done in software. Am I correct? I'm not sure. In theory yor CPU shouldn't be getting pegged, but then there's the real world... > I am not subscribed to this mailing list. I would appreciate if you can CC me > on the reply. If you think I should subscribe to the mailing list, please send > me a private email and I'll do so. > > If there is sufficient interest, I can post my Xf86config-4 file to the list (I > had to change it _very_ little to get it working.) Please do; I'm curious to know what was necessary. It may suggest a possible enhancement in my debconf. -- G. Branden Robinson| Good judgement comes from Debian GNU/Linux | experience; experience comes from [EMAIL PROTECTED] | bad judgement. http://people.debian.org/~branden/ | -- Fred Brooks msg04091/pgp0.pgp Description: PGP signature
ATI Radeon 7500 QW; XFree86 4.2.1 (sid)
Title: ATI Radeon 7500 QW; XFree86 4.2.1 (sid) Hello all, Thanks to the helpful info on this mailing list, I was able to get Xfree86 working with my new ATI Radeon 7500 QW with the latest version of XFree86 in sid (4.2.1-1) using the DRI module in 2.4.20-pre8-ac3. This email is not a bug report of any kind. I just want to understand a few things better and I am hoping the kind souls on this list can help me. 1. What is the relationship between DRI & XFree86? Does DRI expose generic "ops" and mmap the framebuffer address? Or, does it do more? I haven't tried to start X without DRI support in the kernel. Will it even work if I do? 2. How can I know the features of the card exploited by X? More specifically, 2D and 3D acceleration. On the ati website, they claim that 3D acceleration is supported on their 8500 and FireGL based cards. They also mention that DRI supports 3D acceleration on the radeon family (no specific chip information is supplied). Are there generic tools one can run to see/query the info? When I ran 'glxgears' I seem to get between 500-2000fps. However, the CPU is maxed out at 100% -- this on an Athlon XP1700. Also, if I move any window on the desktop, the gears seem to stutter and slow down. This leads me to believe that 3D support is done in software. Am I correct? I am not subscribed to this mailing list. I would appreciate if you can CC me on the reply. If you think I should subscribe to the mailing list, please send me a private email and I'll do so. If there is sufficient interest, I can post my Xf86config-4 file to the list (I had to change it _very_ little to get it working.) Much thanks. Regards, Sudhi.
ATI Radeon 7500 QW; XFree86 4.2.1 (sid)
Title: ATI Radeon 7500 QW; XFree86 4.2.1 (sid) Hello all, Thanks to the helpful info on this mailing list, I was able to get Xfree86 working with my new ATI Radeon 7500 QW with the latest version of XFree86 in sid (4.2.1-1) using the DRI module in 2.4.20-pre8-ac3. This email is not a bug report of any kind. I just want to understand a few things better and I am hoping the kind souls on this list can help me. 1. What is the relationship between DRI & XFree86? Does DRI expose generic "ops" and mmap the framebuffer address? Or, does it do more? I haven't tried to start X without DRI support in the kernel. Will it even work if I do? 2. How can I know the features of the card exploited by X? More specifically, 2D and 3D acceleration. On the ati website, they claim that 3D acceleration is supported on their 8500 and FireGL based cards. They also mention that DRI supports 3D acceleration on the radeon family (no specific chip information is supplied). Are there generic tools one can run to see/query the info? When I ran 'glxgears' I seem to get between 500-2000fps. However, the CPU is maxed out at 100% -- this on an Athlon XP1700. Also, if I move any window on the desktop, the gears seem to stutter and slow down. This leads me to believe that 3D support is done in software. Am I correct? I am not subscribed to this mailing list. I would appreciate if you can CC me on the reply. If you think I should subscribe to the mailing list, please send me a private email and I'll do so. If there is sufficient interest, I can post my Xf86config-4 file to the list (I had to change it _very_ little to get it working.) Much thanks. Regards, Sudhi.
