Can't Disable AGP

[misterflibble]

I'm trying to disable AGP support in X to improve my system's stability. However I can't set Nvagp to anything but 2 or 3 (agpgart) or I end up with kind of a white staticy screen AFTER the nvidia splash screen comes up. The only changes in the Xorg log is these WAIT messages:

(II) Loading extension NV-CONTROL
(WW) NVIDIA(0): WAIT (0, 6, 0x8000, 0x00000db8, 0x00000db8, 0)
(==) RandR enabled
(II) Setting vga for screen 0.
(II) Initializing built-in extension MIT-SHM
(II) Initializing built-in extension XInputExtension
(II) Initializing built-in extension XTEST
(II) Initializing built-in extension XKEYBOARD
(II) Initializing built-in extension LBX
(II) Initializing built-in extension XC-APPGROUP
(II) Initializing built-in extension SECURITY
(II) Initializing built-in extension XINERAMA
(II) Initializing built-in extension XFIXES
(II) Initializing built-in extension XFree86-Bigfont
(II) Initializing built-in extension RENDER
(II) Initializing built-in extension RANDR
(II) Initializing built-in extension COMPOSITE
(II) Initializing built-in extension DAMAGE
(II) Initializing built-in extension XEVIE
(II) Initializing extension GLX
(**) Option "CoreKeyboard"
(**) Keyboard0: Core Keyboard
(**) Option "Protocol" "standard"
(**) Keyboard0: Protocol: standard
(**) Option "AutoRepeat" "500 30"
(**) Option "XkbRules" "xfree86"
(**) Keyboard0: XkbRules: "xfree86"
(**) Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
(**) Keyboard0: XkbModel: "pc105"
(WW) Option "XkbLayout" requires an string value
(**) Option "CustomKeycodes" "off"
(**) Keyboard0: CustomKeycodes disabled
(**) Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
(**) USB Mouse: Device: "/dev/input/mice"
(**) USB Mouse: Protocol: "IMPS/2"
(**) Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
(**) USB Mouse: always reports core events
(**) Option "CorePointer"
(**) USB Mouse: Core Pointer
(**) Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
(**) Option "Buttons" "5"
(==) USB Mouse: Emulate3Buttons, Emulate3Timeout: 50
(**) Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
(**) USB Mouse: ZAxisMapping: buttons 4 and 5
(**) USB Mouse: Buttons: 9
(II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "USB Mouse" (type: MOUSE)
(II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "Keyboard0" (type: KEYBOARD)
(II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "NVIDIA Event Handler" (type: Other)
(II) USB Mouse: ps2EnableDataReporting: succeeded
Warning: font renderer for ".pcf" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".pcf.Z" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".pcf.gz" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".snf" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".snf.Z" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".snf.gz" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".bdf" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".bdf.Z" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".bdf.gz" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".pmf" already registered at priority 0
Could not init font path element /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo, removing from list!
(WW) NVIDIA(0): WAIT (2, 6, 0x8000, 0x00000e0c, 0x00000f7c, 0)
(WW) NVIDIA(0): WAIT (1, 6, 0x8000, 0x00000e0c, 0x00000f7c, 0)

Any ideas?

[pauljohn]

add

agp=off

in the end of the "kernel" line that starts your system. I added it in /etc/grub.conf.

If you don't do that, you need to rebuild the entire kernel after reconfiguring to remove all the AGP components. Hassle

[Nailor]

Seems like a same kind of problem I have. Gotta try that agp-thing, if it helps.

- Jyrki

[misterflibble]

The agp=off option changed nothing, and according to my kernel-parameters file in the source documentation (2.6.15), its not even a listed option.
I tried removing my agp modules (agpgart and via-agp) from loading at bootup, and I succeeded...partially. The nvidia driver seems to depend on the agpgart driver and loads it again anyways!

[zander]

@misterflibble: so X doesn't work correctly if you start it with Option "NvAGP" "0"? The NVIDIA kernel module depends on agpgart.ko, the Linux AGPGART frontend, in order to determine if a backend driver (in your case, via-agp.ko) is present.

[misterflibble]

That's correct, Zander: Starting X with NvAGP 0 either gives me a messed up screen after the excellent-looking splash screen or sometimes just a competely black screen with no splash. X itself seems to be running fine, all the programs started up.

I just 2 minutes ago found a previous post of yours explaining why agpgart is required. Sorry.

[zander]

@misterflibble: does the X startup problem with Option "NvAGP" "0" also reproduce if you comment out the Load "glx" line in the modules section?

[misterflibble]

Yes, it does

[zander]

@misterflibble: which driver(s) does this reproduce with? Is this a recent regression or does it reproduce with earlier drivers? Please generate and attach an nvidia-bug-report.log file, preferably after attempting to start X with Option "NvAGP" "0" (please also see http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=46678).

[misterflibble]

I've encountered the problem with 8178, 8756, and 7676, which is all I've tested. I've noticed that Xorg also shoots up to 100% cpu usage when this problem happens and has to be killed. Attached is my log generated with 7676.