Baslinux mailing list

[sindi keesan <keesan AT sdf.lonestar.org>]

On Sat, 19 Nov 2005, sindi keesan wrote:
> No point to this if I need something that will work with your latest
> kernel.  I will upgrade to SW81 svgalib and report back how it works with
> 2.2.26 and 2.4.31.
>
> > > I put
> > > chipset VESA
> > > in the config file for chips like SiS, Tseng, Trident and Matrox.
> >
> > I tried that with the svgalib.org one, but it gave an error message
> > which I did not copy down.

I just downloaded the Slackware 8.1 svgalib package (i386) and it works 
perfectly with David's  2.4.31 usb kernel except that I suspect he did not 
compile support for any mouse.

I edited /etc/libvga.config to change the mouse from microsoft to PS/2 
(and I also added chipset VESA, so my Tseng card now works up to 1024 
instead of only 800, though it ought to work at 1280 like it does with 
Xvesa) but

svgalib - failed to initialize mouse

The mouse does not work in links2.  zgv does not use a mouse.

On the subject of graphics, my better Tseng card (2.5MB RAM, works with 
X_SVGA to 1280), when used with framebuffer, won't do 1280 at more than 
256 colors.  An S3 Trio3D with 2MB does 64K colors.  The Tseng card seems 
rather nonstandard - svgalib and framebuffer don't work as well as 
expected with it.

Is there some way, by editing the config files for svgalib or regular X, 
to get a Matrox card to work at 1280 on a monitor that does only 50KHz 
Hsync?  svgalib and Xvesa work only to 1024, as does DOS diagnostic 
program whatvga2.  (I have three Matrox cards, and I think the newer one 
won't even work with whatvga2).  Or to 1600 on a monitor that does up to 
66-70K, when whatvga2 tests it at 72 or 75K?  I. e., can you tell the 
video card to work at a lower frequency?  At 1280 it puts out something 
between 56K and 66K when used with whatvga2.

People send me scanned documents that display more clearly at higher 
resolution.

S3 cards display at higher resolutions, but don't do framebuffer (except 
for the AGP Trio3D).  AGP cards do framebuffer but don't work with MGA 
cards, and all but the Trio3D have the same problem as the Matrox - Hsync 
too high for the monitor.  My only framebuffer PCI cards are Tseng (which 
keeps crashing X and only does 1024 in svgalib) and Matrox (which won't 
work at 1280 on a 15" monitor).

libvga.config has a section similar to XF86Config where you can change 
horizontal sync from 31.5-35.5 to something that will support 1280 
(31.5-50 ought to work), and a modelines section.  Can I edit the 
modelines sections of both config files so that Matrox will display at 
1280 at a lower frequency?

Sindi