Matrox (g450) DVI problems in 2.6.17

Matrox (g450) DVI problems in 2.6.17

[Michal Suchanek]

Hello from the Matrox DVI land

For me matrox DVI framebuffer (sort of) works on Linux 2.6.16.19 and
fails on 2.6.17.13.

The DVI support on Matroxes is quite flaky I'd guess.

I got a matrox g450

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Matrox Graphics, Inc. G400/G450 (rev 85)

and I connect it with DVI to a flat panel.

For X to work I have to use kernel framebuffer to set the videomode
(UseFBDev in X). Otherwise X fails to set the timings correctly
(nothing is visible).
With kernel framebuffer I get an usable videomode in two steps. First
I start the X server, and there is only a message from the monitor
about bad timings. However, after switching to the console and back X
works well. Sometimes the switch is not needed (usually if started
from an already running X server). Works with software suspend as well
(as long as dri is not used).

With 2.6.17.13 the picture I get is noisy. The lines shift a few
pixels horizontally in various directions. It is much like the results
I got with g550 when there was no screen connected to DVI at startup.
only much more noise (there must be a screen connected to DVI at boot
for the framebuffer to work correctly with DVI - at least it had to
last time I tried).

I use Gentoo kernels but it does not look like there are new patches
in 2.6.17. The ones that are in both are only for splash and vesa.

I am not sure what other information would be helpful for diagnosing
the problem.

Thanks

Michal

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Re: Matrox (g450) DVI problems in 2.6.17

[Petr Vandrovec]

Michal Suchanek wrote:
> Hello from the Matrox DVI land
> 
> For me matrox DVI framebuffer (sort of) works on Linux 2.6.16.19 and
> fails on 2.6.17.13.
> 
> The DVI support on Matroxes is quite flaky I'd guess.

Ask Matrox to release documentation for their hardware...

> I got a matrox g450
> 
> 01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Matrox Graphics, Inc. G400/G450 (rev 85)
> 
> and I connect it with DVI to a flat panel.

> For X to work I have to use kernel framebuffer to set the videomode
> (UseFBDev in X). Otherwise X fails to set the timings correctly
> (nothing is visible).
> With kernel framebuffer I get an usable videomode in two steps. First
> I start the X server, and there is only a message from the monitor
> about bad timings. However, after switching to the console and back X
> works well. Sometimes the switch is not needed (usually if started
> from an already running X server). Works with software suspend as well
> (as long as dri is not used).

Are not you using ACER's monitor?  Try just powering monitor off and back on 
instead of doing mode switch.

> With 2.6.17.13 the picture I get is noisy. The lines shift a few
> pixels horizontally in various directions. It is much like the results
> I got with g550 when there was no screen connected to DVI at startup.
> only much more noise (there must be a screen connected to DVI at boot
> for the framebuffer to work correctly with DVI - at least it had to
> last time I tried).

Upgrade to 2.6.18, it should behave like 2.6.16 does.
						Petr


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Re: Matrox (g450) DVI problems in 2.6.17

[Michal Suchanek]

On 9/25/06, Petr Vandrovec <vandrove@vc.cvut.cz> wrote:
> Michal Suchanek wrote:
> > Hello from the Matrox DVI land
> >
> > For me matrox DVI framebuffer (sort of) works on Linux 2.6.16.19 and
> > fails on 2.6.17.13.
> >
> > The DVI support on Matroxes is quite flaky I'd guess.
>
> Ask Matrox to release documentation for their hardware...
Well, it looks like nobody releases the docs for thier graphics hardware...
>
> > I got a matrox g450
> >
> > 01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Matrox Graphics, Inc. G400/G450 (rev 85)
> >
> > and I connect it with DVI to a flat panel.
>
> > For X to work I have to use kernel framebuffer to set the videomode
> > (UseFBDev in X). Otherwise X fails to set the timings correctly
> > (nothing is visible).
> > With kernel framebuffer I get an usable videomode in two steps. First
> > I start the X server, and there is only a message from the monitor
> > about bad timings. However, after switching to the console and back X
> > works well. Sometimes the switch is not needed (usually if started
> > from an already running X server). Works with software suspend as well
> > (as long as dri is not used).
>
> Are not you using ACER's monitor?  Try just powering monitor off and back on
> instead of doing mode switch.

It's an EIZO display. Switching the mode is easier than pressing the
power button but I can try that when I get to start the X server
again.

>
> > With 2.6.17.13 the picture I get is noisy. The lines shift a few
> > pixels horizontally in various directions. It is much like the results
> > I got with g550 when there was no screen connected to DVI at startup.
> > only much more noise (there must be a screen connected to DVI at boot
> > for the framebuffer to work correctly with DVI - at least it had to
> > last time I tried).
>
> Upgrade to 2.6.18, it should behave like 2.6.16 does.
I will try. Thanks

Michal

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Re: Matrox (g450) DVI problems in 2.6.17

[Michal Suchanek]

On 9/25/06, Petr Vandrovec <vandrove@vc.cvut.cz> wrote:
> Michal Suchanek wrote:
> > Hello from the Matrox DVI land
> >

> > With kernel framebuffer I get an usable videomode in two steps. First
> > I start the X server, and there is only a message from the monitor
> > about bad timings. However, after switching to the console and back X
> > works well. Sometimes the switch is not needed (usually if started
> > from an already running X server). Works with software suspend as well
> > (as long as dri is not used).
>
> Are not you using ACER's monitor?  Try just powering monitor off and back on
> instead of doing mode switch.

For the EIZO monitor it works as well.

>
> > With 2.6.17.13 the picture I get is noisy. The lines shift a few
> > pixels horizontally in various directions. It is much like the results
> > I got with g550 when there was no screen connected to DVI at startup.
> > only much more noise (there must be a screen connected to DVI at boot
> > for the framebuffer to work correctly with DVI - at least it had to
> > last time I tried).
>
> Upgrade to 2.6.18, it should behave like 2.6.16 does.

yes, 2.6.18 works again.

Thanks

Michal

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