AGP Support Disabled

[jager]

I get really slow performance in my 3d games. No lockups or crashes...just very slow performance.
Lots of people seem to be having similar problems but I don't seem to be able to relate their information and solutions to my problem. I have tried option "NvAGP" "1"...2 and 3 none of them seem to do anything. AGPGART doesn't appear to be loading nor does NvAGP. I really feel like the fact that agp is disabled is my problem but I can't figure out how to get it enabled.
Here are my specs:

Nivida Driver Version 1.0-4496
Model: GeForce4 MX 440
IRQ: 11
Video BIOS: 04.17.00.30.11
Card Type: AGP
PIII 800

/proc/driver/nvidia/agp/status
Status: Disabled

My XFree86 file:
# XFree86 4 configuration created by redhat-config-xfree86

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "DevInputMice" "AlwaysCore"
EndSection

Section "Files"

# RgbPath is the location of the RGB database. Note, this is the name of the
# file minus the extension (like ".txt" or ".db"). There is normally
# no need to change the default.
# Multiple FontPath entries are allowed (they are concatenated together)
# By default, Red Hat 6.0 and later now use a font server independent of
# the X server to render fonts.
RgbPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
FontPath "unix/:7100"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "dbe"
Load "extmod"
Load "fbdevhw"
Load "glx"
Load "record"
Load "freetype"
Load "type1"
# Load "dri"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

# Specify which keyboard LEDs can be user-controlled (eg, with xset(1))
# Option "Xleds" "1 2 3"
# To disable the XKEYBOARD extension, uncomment XkbDisable.
# Option "XkbDisable"
# To customise the XKB settings to suit your keyboard, modify the
# lines below (which are the defaults). For example, for a non-U.S.
# keyboard, you will probably want to use:
# Option "XkbModel" "pc102"
# If you have a US Microsoft Natural keyboard, you can use:
# Option "XkbModel" "microsoft"
#
# Then to change the language, change the Layout setting.
# For example, a german layout can be obtained with:
# Option "XkbLayout" "de"
# or:
# Option "XkbLayout" "de"
# Option "XkbVariant" "nodeadkeys"
#
# If you'd like to switch the positions of your capslock and
# control keys, use:
# Option "XkbOptions" "ctrl:swapcaps"
# Or if you just want both to be control, use:
# Option "XkbOptions" "ctrl:nocaps"
#
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "keyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xfree86"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

# If the normal CorePointer mouse is not a USB mouse then
# this input device can be used in AlwaysCore mode to let you
# also use USB mice at the same time.
Identifier "DevInputMice"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "Monitor Vendor"
ModelName "Hitachi CM2198M"
HorizSync 30.0 - 94.0
VertRefresh 50.0 - 150.0
Option "dpms"
EndSection

Section "Device"

# BusID "PCI:1:0"
Identifier "NV AGP"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "nvidia"
BoardName "NVIDIA GeForce 4 MX (generic)"
option "NvAGP" "1"
VideoRam 65536
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "NV AGP"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

#Section "DRI"
# Group 0
# Mode 0666
#EndSection
#


Any help is truely appreciated.

[Ross Clement]

Hi. I'm no expert, but I have the option

Option "NvAGP" "1"

in my "Screen" section. Looking at my XFree86.0.log file, it's recognising the option and acting on it.

As I said, I'm not expert enough to know that this is the solution, but you might want to try it.

Cheers,

Ross-c

[jager]

The follwing two lines are in my XFree86.0.log:

(**) NVIDIA(0): Option "NvAGP" "1"
(**) NVIDIA(0): Use of NVIDIA internal AGP requested

Then lower down in the log file it has this:

(WW) NVIDIA(0): Failed to verify AGP usage
(II) NVIDIA(0): Setting mode "1152x864"
(II) NVIDIA(0): Using the NVIDIA 2D acceleration architecture

I am guessing that my XFree86Config file is set up correctly but for some reason the AGP is just not being recognized. I can post the entire XFree86.0.log if you think it will help?

Thanks

[Ross Clement]

Hmmm..... I haven't seen this problem in my own struggles, but posting the full log file may help someone else fill in the gap.

When you type in "glxinfo" you should get a line listing your rendering hardware. E.g. mine looks like:

OpenGL renderer string: GeForce4 MX Integrated GPU/AGP/SSE/3DNOW!

When AGP was acting up on my machine the line had "PCI" in the middle, rather than "AGP".

And, what do you get if you look at the contents of the files in the /proc/driver/nvidia/agp/ directory? Especially, the file 'status'. On my machine it's:

Status: Enabled
Driver: NVIDIA
AGP Rate: 4x
Fast Writes: Disabled
SBA: Disabled

It may just be my ignorance, but I'm not convinced that the XFree86.0.log lines that you printed confirm that AGP is not running. Hence, while it's unlikely I can help, I would be interested in seeing confirmation that AGP isn't running on your machine.

Cheers,

Ross-c

[jager]

Just as you said...mine is set to PCI instead of AGP. Do you know how I can change that?
I attached the XFree86.0.log file
Here is the output of glxinfo....

name of display: :0.0
display: :0 screen: 0
direct rendering: Yes
server glx vendor string: NVIDIA Corporation
server glx version string: 1.3
server glx extensions:
GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig,
GLX_SGIX_pbuffer
client glx vendor string: NVIDIA Corporation
client glx version string: 1.3
client glx extensions:
GLX_ARB_get_proc_address, GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_visual_info,
GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_EXT_import_context, GLX_SGI_video_sync,
GLX_SGIX_swap_group, GLX_SGIX_swap_barrier, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig,
GLX_SGIX_pbuffer, GLX_NV_float_buffer
GLX extensions:
GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig,
GLX_SGIX_pbuffer, GLX_ARB_get_proc_address
OpenGL vendor string: NVIDIA Corporation
OpenGL renderer string: GeForce4 MX 440/PCI/SSE
OpenGL version string: 1.4.0 NVIDIA 44.96
OpenGL extensions:
GL_ARB_imaging, GL_ARB_multitexture, GL_ARB_point_parameters,
GL_ARB_texture_compression, GL_ARB_texture_cube_map,
GL_ARB_texture_env_add, GL_ARB_texture_env_combine,
GL_ARB_texture_env_dot3, GL_ARB_texture_mirrored_repeat,
GL_ARB_transpose_matrix, GL_ARB_vertex_buffer_object,
GL_ARB_vertex_program, GL_ARB_window_pos, GL_S3_s3tc, GL_EXT_abgr,
GL_EXT_bgra, GL_EXT_blend_color, GL_EXT_blend_minmax,
GL_EXT_blend_subtract, GL_EXT_clip_volume_hint,
GL_EXT_compiled_vertex_array, GL_EXT_draw_range_elements,
GL_EXT_fog_coord, GL_EXT_multi_draw_arrays, GL_EXT_packed_pixels,
GL_EXT_paletted_texture, GL_EXT_point_parameters, GL_EXT_rescale_normal,
GL_EXT_secondary_color, GL_EXT_separate_specular_color,
GL_EXT_shared_texture_palette, GL_EXT_stencil_wrap,
GL_EXT_texture_compression_s3tc, GL_EXT_texture_cube_map,
GL_EXT_texture_edge_clamp, GL_EXT_texture_env_add,
GL_EXT_texture_env_combine, GL_EXT_texture_env_dot3,
GL_EXT_texture_filter_anisotropic, GL_EXT_texture_lod,
GL_EXT_texture_lod_bias, GL_EXT_texture_object, GL_EXT_vertex_array,
GL_IBM_texture_mirrored_repeat, GL_KTX_buffer_region, GL_NV_blend_square,
GL_NV_fence, GL_NV_fog_distance, GL_NV_light_max_exponent,
GL_NV_packed_depth_stencil, GL_NV_pixel_data_range, GL_NV_point_sprite,
GL_NV_register_combiners, GL_NV_texgen_reflection,
GL_NV_texture_env_combine4, GL_NV_texture_rectangle,
GL_NV_vertex_array_range, GL_NV_vertex_array_range2, GL_NV_vertex_program,
GL_NV_vertex_program1_1, GL_NVX_ycrcb, GL_SGIS_generate_mipmap,
GL_SGIS_multitexture, GL_SGIS_texture_lod
glu version: 1.3
glu extensions:
GLU_EXT_nurbs_tessellator, GLU_EXT_object_space_tess

visual x bf lv rg d st colorbuffer ax dp st accumbuffer ms cav
id dep cl sp sz l ci b ro r g b a bf th cl r g b a ns b eat
----------------------------------------------------------------------
0x21 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 0 24 8 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x22 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 0 24 8 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x23 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 0 24 8 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x24 24 tc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 0 0 24 8 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x25 24 tc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 8 0 24 8 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x26 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 0 16 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x27 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 0 16 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x28 24 tc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 0 0 16 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x29 24 tc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 8 0 16 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x2a 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 0 0 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x2b 24 tc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 0 0 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x2c 24 tc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 0 0 0 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x2d 24 tc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 8 0 0 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x2e 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 0 24 8 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x2f 24 dc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 0 0 24 8 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x30 24 dc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 8 0 24 8 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x31 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 0 16 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x32 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 0 16 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x33 24 dc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 0 0 16 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x34 24 dc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 8 0 16 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x35 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 0 0 0 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x36 24 dc 0 32 0 r y . 8 8 8 8 0 0 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x37 24 dc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 0 0 0 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None
0x38 24 dc 0 32 0 r . . 8 8 8 8 0 0 0 16 16 16 16 0 0 None

[jager]

I forgot to tell you that my /proc/driver/nvidia/agp/status file says:
Status: Disabled

[Miadlo]

i just recently fixed this problem it has to do with the module not loading i havent been using nix too long so i dont have it set so that it does it automatically yet but click on this link and the fix is there

http://www.linuxiso.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9286

[Glorandar]

NvAGP="1" is requesting that you only use the nvidia driver's internal agp driver.

A) Have you checked the nvidia driver's README to ensure your motherboard's AGP hardware is directly supported by the nvidia driver? If it isn't, then you will want to use the kernel's agpgart driver and update your XF86Config's NvAGP setting to have it request use of the agpgart (not nvidia's internal) agp driver.

B) Have you directly loaded the nvidia module, via modprobe? If not, try modprobe nvidia and then look at the /proc's agp status again.

C) Despite being loaded, the nvidia module will fail to initialize agp if you either #1) compile the kernel's agpgart driver into the kernel (kernel option "y") or load agpgart as a module (kernel option "m").

Maybe one of these three issues is the problem?

[Ross Clement]

I compiled a custom kernel with agpgart disabled (not even loadable as a module). I have another machine that works, even though agpgart is loadable as a module, but configuration on that machine prevents agpgart loading. Hence, the nvidia module works fine on both. What does the OP get when he runs modprobe agpgart?

Cheers,

Ross-c

[etr]

jager,

It would probably be very helpful if you posted some information on your kernel. Like you, I had a lot of trouble getting AGP working when I initially tried the Linux drivers. In my case, the problem was that I was using a stock kernel and didn't have MTRR (Memory Type Range Register) support enabled. Once I enabled this option and rebuilt my kernel, everything worked great.

If you can post your kernel .config, someone may be able to point out the problem. Even if you're running a stock kernel, other users experienced with the distribution you are running may be familiar with the problem and able to help.

For reference, AGP support will make the most difference in performance when you are having to stream data from RAM to the video card. In extreme cases, this might be the case with textures, but scene geometry is more often the culprit (because it be kept in video RAM like textures can, because it changes from frame to frame). You may find that a game runs fine with just you in a level, but badly once other people are around and firing.

[jager]

Per peoples suggestion I have tried the following to negative results:

modprobe agpgart agp_try_unsupported=1 and modprobe nvidia returned nothing. I then ran modprobe agpgart and it returned:
/lib/modules/2.4.20-8/kernel/drivers/char/agp/agpgart.o: init_module: No such device
Hint: insmod errors can be caused by incorrect module parameters, including invalid IO or IRQ parameters.
You may find more information in syslog or the output from dmesg
/lib/modules/2.4.20-8/kernel/drivers/char/agp/agpgart.o: insmod /lib/modules/2.4.20-8/kernel/drivers/char/agp/agpgart.o failed
/lib/modules/2.4.20-8/kernel/drivers/char/agp/agpgart.o: insmod agpgart failed

I checked the /proc/drivers/nvidia/agp/status after each command and they all returned "Disabled"

"What does the OP get when he runs modprobe agpgart?"....I don't know what OP is.

"Recompile the Kernal"...I am some what of a newb and don't have the slightest idea how to do this. If some one could tell me what to do I would be more than willing to give it a shot.

"If you can post your kernel .config, someone may be able to point out the problem."....I can't find this file on my system. Where is it located? I will gladly post it.

Thanks for everybodys help!

[jager]

All I know about my kernal is that it is 2.4.20-8. The default one installed with RedHat 9.0.

Jager