complete system crash when i start x server

[321frank123]

Hello,
I have a problem to get the nvidia-driver running on my system. My distribution is Suse9.1 and i have the latest version of the nvidia-driver (1.0-5336).
After i install driver and want to configure X with sax2 i only get blackscreen...same thing happens with startx. I have to do a reset because I can neither switch to an other terminal nor reboot the computer from my other workstation over telnet.
The log file of the XServer say that the initialisation of AGP fails.
I think this can be a problem with the agpgart-modul and my chipset (SIS748). But I don't know what I can do to get it running.
Has anyone an idea????

---------------------------
ASUS V9250 GeForce FX5200
AMD Athlon XP 2500
AsRock K7S8XE+ chipset SIS 748
Suse 9.1 Pro
Kernel 2.6.4-52-default

[jerickson314]

Try disabling AGP support. The card will still work when connected to an AGP port, but will have somewhat slower performance. Still, it should function.

1.) Start SaX2. ("sax2 -m 0=nvidia" from runlevel 3)
If this does not work see below.
2.) Choose "Graphics Card" under "Display" and click the "Change Configuration" button.
3.) On the dialog that pops up, go to the Expert tab.
4.) Under "Card Options", click on "NvAGP".
5.) Select "0" on the box it brings up.
6.) Save the settings and restart the graphics system as usual with SaX2.

If SaX2 does not work even using the command as detailed above try adding the line:
Option "NvAGP" "0"
under section "Device" of /etc/X11/XF86Config
Then startx should work and you can configure XFree86 from SaX2 by running it from X. (Such as running it from KDE). When you do so, make sure SaX is set to use NvAGP 0 as directed above.

[321frank123]

Thank you, I added: "NvAGP" "0" in my XF86Config file and now it works.
Is there a solution to get it running with AGP-Support to get a better performance?

[jerickson314]

You may want to try one of the other AGP modes. Here's what each does, quoting from the nVidia readme:

Option "NvAgp" "0" ... disables AGP support
Option "NvAgp" "1" ... use NVAGP, if possible
Option "NvAgp" "2" ... use AGPGART, if possible
Option "NvAGP" "3" ... try AGPGART; if that fails, try NVAGP

Option 3 is the default if you don't specify a mode. I use option 2 with my Asus A7V8X-X motherboard (VIA KT400 chipset) and FX5200, you may want to see if that option works. You can view the file "/proc/driver/nvidia/agp/status" to see if AGP is working.

If not, try updating your BIOS (check with your motherboard manufacturer if your computer is self-built or your computer manufacturer if you bought it pre-made). Also, make sure you have the latest kernel update from YaST Online Update.

Also, note that even without AGP support OpenGL uses hardware rendering, it just lacks some speed-up features. Your setup is still much faster than it would be if you used MESA software rendering for 3D.

[321frank123]

I still think there is a problem with the agpgart kernel module and the SIS748 chipset. I found out that if I set the AGP rate to 4x in the BIOS, then it works. But if I set it to 8x the system crashes, and not only the X-Server.
But for the moment, I am glad that it works.