Baslinux mailing list

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

> > > > VBE version 3.0 (Intel(R) 8xx Chipset Video BIOS)
> > > > Total memory: 512 kilobytes
> > >
> > > There is your problem.  Can you up that in your BIOS config?
> >
> > No.
>
> Look again in setup, it may be under 'advanced' or something.  I can check
> on our computers if you don't find the 1MB option.
>
> > But why is it a problem? This same image I've been using
> > looks real with debian.
>
> Debian and Windows must have some way around this memory limitation.  Read
> up on i810 video.


A quick search on i810 and video RAM reveals that in order to use more 
than the 512K or 1MB video RAM assigned by BIOS, you need a kernel 
compiled with agpgart or to insert agpgart.o.  I don't recall if my 
kernels support that module. (I ran across it but could not make any sense 
of it).  David's 2.4.31 or Steven's 'big' kernel might. Check for the 
module in the userspec.tgz or the online list for 2.2.26.

Debian must have this support built in or inserted as a module.  Try your 
Debian kernel first.  Dmesg might mention agpgart.

If you get this working with Xvesa and more RAM I might try our onboard 
video too.  If Xvesa cannot handle the chip properly, then try a later 
Xfree86.

The default video RAM usage with agpgart is 8MB, which probably provides 
1600 resolution at 24-bit color (but our 32MB Riva video card did not, 
only up to 1280 at 24-bit or less at 1600).

This chip appears to date from 2000 and was used by Gateway, HP, IBM and 
DELL in their more compact computers with everything onboard.

Sindi