How enable AGP support in the kernel?

[Moro]

Hi guys,
I’m new in the Linux world, I installed Linux redhat 9 (kernel 2.4.20-8) in dual boot on my PC (Intel Pentium 4, 2GHz, nVidia GeForce 4 MX 440, AGP 4x). All run ok, but I think that the Accelerated Graphics Port doesn’t run under linux.
Could anyone can tell me how can I enable AGP support in the kernel?
Thank you for you help,
Moro.

[sYk0_frEak]

Considering the fact that you said you can get graphics and your card is working, I would say the AGP Bus is fine, due to the fact that if it wasnt detected you would not get any video, if I am not mistaken.

[LordMorgul]

To find out what state the AGP bus is being used in, check the output of:

cat /proc/driver/nvidia/agp/status

cat /proc/driver/nvidia/agp/card

These will tell you if it is working or not. They presume that the nvidia accelerated driver has been installed, and is working. If the file isn't there, its not working.

You didn't mention whether you had installed this driver or not, so here's the quick tip on that. Linux will not support your nVidia card running in hardware, for 2d or 3d GL, but can support AGP transfers across the bus. What that boils down to is, you're running software 2d until you install the driver found at the link below. You'll find plenty of help on installing it in the Readme and on the forum.

nVidia Linux Display Driver

[TrueLenny]

I do have a similar problem.
So i allow myself to post the required informations :

cat proc....agp/status :
Satusisabled

cat proc ...agp/card :
Fast Writes: Supported
SBA: Supported
AGP Rates: 8x 4x
Registers: 0x1f000e1b:0x00000000

cat proc .... nvidia/cards/0
Model: GeForce4 MX 440 with AGP8X
IRQ: 16
Video BIOS: 04.18.20.13.00
Card Type: AGP

I have NO agpgart at all (not in kernel, not in module either), "NvAgp" "1" in XF86Config, latests drivers.


I hope we'l both find an answer in this thread :-)

[LordMorgul]

I've never tried this having built absolutely no agpgart at all (I usually leave it as a module but build it anyway). Lets see what we can figure out. Could we have /var/log/XFree86.0.log attached?
Also, does the nvidia module initialize and show as used in 'lsmod'? Is your motherboards AGP chipset correctly identified in:

 cat /proc/driver/nvidia/agp/host-bridge

Perhaps someone else who has used the driver without building agpgart has a secret, but I haven't heard of a reason this would cause an issue.

[TrueLenny]

cat /proc/driver/nvidia/agp/host-bridge
Host Bridge: Intel Corp. 82865G/PE/P Processor to I/O Controller
Fast Writes: Supported
SBA: Supported
AGP Rates: 8x 4x
Registers: 0x1f004a1b:0x00000000

I decided not to build agpgart even as a module, because it the only sure way I found in order to not autoload it :-).

Before that, I did compile it as a module, configuerd XF86Config with "NvAgp" "1", but with no better result.

[LordMorgul]

Sorry to say I don't have anything else to suggest right now. Good luck with the search.

wish I was a guru for ya

[TrueLenny]

Found out something great !

Do not ask me why, but 'MTRR' option was deactivated in my kernel.
As i read about it, it is used ina way by VGA cards adressing methods.

now ... :
tadaam :

cat /proc/driver/nvidia/agp/status
Status: Enabled
Driver: AGPGART
AGP Rate: 8x
Fast Writes: Disabled
SBA: Disabled

Hope it may help.

Now i will try something more tricky : the "patched" nvidia driver, supposed to support better the 8x mode. More info there :

http://www.minion.de/nvidia.html

[on my way to guru_land :-)]