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[aclug-L] Re: OpenGL, 3D Graphics, & Linux
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[aclug-L] Re: OpenGL, 3D Graphics, & Linux

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To: discussion@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: [aclug-L] Re: OpenGL, 3D Graphics, & Linux
From: Nate Bargmann <n0nb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 6 Jan 2002 08:12:48 -0600
Reply-to: discussion@xxxxxxxxx

* David Carmichael <dec2955@xxxxxxxxxx> [2002 Jan 06 07:40 -0600]:
> OK it seems that my trying to get 3D graphics on my P-200mmx box using a
> Voodoo2 graphics card as failed so far.. most likely due to lack of
> knowledge.

Hi David.

I haven't followed this thread too closely, but what version of XFree
are you trying to set up the graphics card with?  Or, are you trying to
use 3D outside of X with SVGAlib (which I have not played with at all)?

For starters, I would recommend choosing a distribution that is using
XFree 4.1.x as that is the latest version and will likely have the best
support for your card.  Myself, I am using an older Matrox Millenium
that I had a lot of problems with under XFree 3.3.6 as packaged in
Debian 2.2.  Late last summer I moved up to Debian Testing (which is a
semi-stable version of their distribution) and updated to Xfree 4.0 and
things improved considerably.  This fall the system updated once more to
XFree 4.1.x and things have been rock-solid.  Now, the Millenium is not
a 3D card, however, I am getting a pseudo 3D with the Mesa library that
provides an OpenGL inteface.  I am running Xscreensaver with the OpenGL
hacks and it looks pretty cool.  Undoubtedly this is probably much
slower than hardware 3D.

> So which PCI graphics cards are supports by which Linux distributions to
> load OpenGL and 3D graphic drivers on install??

Probably the best resource on this would be http://www,xfree86.org as
these are the folks that write the Xfree code.  That said, there are
subtle differences between distributions at times.  A friend of mine had
in instance where he had a Red Hat version and Debian 2.2 that both use
Xfree 3.3.6 and the RH would properly identify the card and set it up
but Debian would not.  Perhaps RH has its own installer that had a
better library on card capabilities while Debian relied on information
supplied by XFree (which for version 3.3.6 is getting quite old).  As it
turned out, copying the XF86Config file over to the Debian side cured
the problem.

So, the XFree folks are your best resource.  There are mailing list
archives available at their site.  Also, you might try to see if Google
finds any links to Voodoo2 and XF86Config.  Perhaps someone has been
kind enough to post their working copy on the Web.

HTH,

- Nate >>

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