Problematic Chipsets

Support knowledgebase (wessels_problematic_chipsets)

Symptom:

You cannot configure your graphics card with sax or sax2.

Cause:

Problems with the drivers or your graphics card is not supported by the current XFree86 packages.

Solution:

A list of all problematic chipsets currently known to the installation support desk follows. Each device has a vendor ID (manufacturer) and subsystem ID (device ID) that identify the hardware. The command /sbin/lspci -n | grep 300 enables you to easily find your graphics card's data. If you have one of the graphics chipsets listed below, refer to the following articles for the configuration:

If you want to configure the framebuffer:

http://sdb.suse.de/en/sdb/html/wessels_easy_fbdev.html

General instructions for XFree86 updates:

http://sdb.suse.de/en/sdb/html/wessels_how_to_install_xfree.html

General information about sax and sax2

"X Server Configuration with SaX" (http://sdb.suse.de/en/sdb/html/wessels_sax.html) "X Server Configuration with SaX2" (http://sdb.suse.de/en/sdb/html/wessels_sax2.html) "X Server Configuration with SaX2 (8.1 or higher)" (http://sdb.suse.de/en/sdb/html/wessels_sax247.html)

If a solution is already available for a known problem, you will find it right below the entry.

ACPI

Kernel support for ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) is available from SuSE Linux 8.1 on (kernel 2.4.19). Due to the wide rage of hardware available on the market, every system configuration or operation may react differently to the ACPI function. In some cases, the following error messages might be displayed during the graphics card configuration:

	lspci: cannot find any working access method
	init: no graphic card(s) found at usr/X11R6/lib/sax/init.pl
	

Although everything seems to suggest a SaX problem, this error message is caused by the ACPI code.

Solution: Enter the parameter pci=bios at the boot prompt.

For further information on the ACPI management and its parameters, please refer to "Kernel Parameters for Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI)" (http://sdb.suse.de/en/sdb/html/81_acpi.html)

SuSE Linux 8.2

SuSE Linux 8.1

SuSE Linux 8.0

SuSE Linux 7.3

SuSE Linux 7.2

SuSE Linux 8.2

Vendor Chipset
type
Vendor ID Device ID XFree/driver
version
Problem Solution
ATI Mobility U1 0x1002 0x4336 4.3.0 No XFree86 support available

Refer to the following articles for the framebuffer configuration:

Setting up Unsupported Graphics Cards with the Framebuffer Device
Setting up Unsupported Graphics Cards with the Framebuffer Device (GRUB)
ATI Radeon R300 NF [Radeon 9700] 0x1002 0x4e46 primary 0x4e66 secondary 4.3.0 Configuration problems due to unsupported dual-head function.

During the configuration, enter the chipset you want to configure and to which the monitor is attached (this is usually chip 0). You can use sax2 -p to find out what chipsets have been detected. Then start SaX2 specifying the chip:

sax2 -c 0

or

sax2 -c 1

Matrox Parhelia 0x102B 0x0527 4.3.0 No XFree86 support available Install the driver provided by Matrox for this card.
NVIDIA GeForce chipsets 0x10de - 4.3.0

After having selected the installation or started the system, the screen remains black until X starts.

Enter the parameter vga=normal at the boot prompt. For more information refer to "Image Problems" (http://sdb.suse.de/en/sdb/html/wessels_blackinst.html)
PowerVR Kyro 0x104a 0x0010 4.3.0

For Kyro graphics cards, refer to the SDB article Support for Graphics Cards with Kyro Chipsets

Setting up Unsupported Graphics Cards with the Framebuffer Device

SuSE Linux 8.1

Vendor Chipset
type
Vendor ID Device ID XFree/driver
version
Problem Solution
ATI Radeon 9700 0x1002 0x4144 primary
0x4145
0x4146
0x4164 secondary
4.2.0 No XFree86 support available

Refer to the following articles for the framebuffer configuration:

Setting up Unsupported Graphics Cards with the Framebuffer Device
Setting up Unsupported Graphics Cards with the Framebuffer Device (GRUB)

These cards may also be equipped with dual-head features. If this is the case and X cannot be configured, try sax2 -c 0 or sax2 -c 1.

PowerVR Kyro 0x104a 0x0010 4.2.0

For Kyro graphics cards, refer to the SDB article Support for Graphics Cards with Kyro Chipsets

Setting up Unsupported Graphics Cards with the Framebuffer Device

SuSE Linux 8.0

Vendor Chipset
type
Vendor ID Device ID XFree/driver
version
Problem Solution
Intel i830 8086 3577 4.2.0 This chipset is equipped with 832 kb memory, which enables a maximum color depth of 16 bit with a 640x480 resolution. Higher resolutions can only be rendered with an 8-bit color depth. Try the entry Option "FixMem" in Section "Device" in your /etc/X11/XF86Config file.
PowerVR Kyro 0x104a 0x0010 4.2.0

For Kyro graphics cards, refer to the SDB article Support for Graphics Cards with Kyro Chipsets

Setting up Unsupported Graphics Cards with the Framebuffer Device
S3 Pro Savage (KM133) 5333 8a26 4.2.0 During the boot process, horizontal stripes are displayed on the screen's upper and lower border. The X server crashes during the configuration -> neon colors. -

SuSE Linux 7.3

If SaX2 fails to start and causes a system crash, see:

The System Hangs During Installation or in Operation

Vendor Chipset
type
Vendor ID Device ID XFree/driver
version
Problem Solution
3dfx/Voodoo Banshee 0x121a 0x0003 4.1.0 Non readable fonts, fragmented picture, color errors Download the latest xmodules-4.1.0-85.i386.rpm. You can install this package manually with rpm -Uvh package_name.
ATI Radeon QD 0x1002 0x5144 4.1.0

Radeon QD cannot be installed on a mainboard with an AMD Irongate chipset. The cause is still unknown.

The problem might be solved by updating to XFree 4.2.0. The update instructions are available at XFree Update.

XFree86 4.2.0
ATI Mobility M6 0x1002 0x4c59 4.1.0 Unsupported chipset Setting up Unsupported Graphics Cards with the Framebuffer Device
ATI Radeon 7500 / 8500 0x1002 0x5157 4.1.0

The following solution is based on a Radeon 7500 DualHead with the following Vendor and Device ID:

  7500 8500
Vendor ID: 1002 1002
Device ID: 5157 514c
Subvendor ID: 1002 1002
Subdevice ID: 013a 013a

This information can be listed with the command lspci -nv. At any case, verify that your data match the data above. We cannot guarantee that this solution will work on other Radeon 7500 models. The following steps must be executed in order to address your chipset with Sax2:

echo "Device->[X]->Raw\
->0->ChipID=0x5159" >\
/tmp/radeon

Finally start Sax2 with:

sax2 -m 0=radeon -b /tmp/radeon
radeon module
Matrox G400 - G550 0x102b - 4.1.0
  • These chipsets do not support the VESA framebuffer. Problems may arise at the end of the installation or when switching to a text console.

  • X background is black or the image is displayed incorrectly.
NVIDIA GeForce 2 Go 0x10de 0x0112 4.1.0

The drivers for NVIDIA graphics cards can be found at NVIDIA.

The nv module provides support for the GeForce 2 Go, too. However, you should start Sax2 with sax2 -m 0=fbdev and change the driver to nv in the graphics card settings. Make sure that /etc/lilo.conf contains the entry vga=791.

From NVIDIA 1.0-1541 or XFree 4.2.0 on
PowerVR Kyro 0x104a 0x0010 4.1.0

For Kyro graphics cards, refer to the SDB article Support for Graphics Cards with Kyro Chipsets

Setting up Unsupported Graphics Cards with the Framebuffer Device
S3 SuperSavage / IXC 0x5333 0x8c2e 4.1.0 Unsupported chipset Setting up Unsupported Graphics Cards with the Framebuffer Device
SiS SiS 630 0x1039 0x6300 4.1.0

According to the received feedback, SiS 630 can be configured with the latest XFree86 version, 4.2.0, and a 2D driver (sis module). Instructions for an XFree86 update are available at:

XFree Update

Please note that the X update exceeds the scope of the free-of-charge installation support.

Setting up Unsupported Graphics Cards with the Framebuffer Device
Trident e.g. CyberBlade 0x1023 - 4.1.0 See also: Configuration Problems With a Trident Graphic Chip Set xmodules-4.0.3-40.i386.rpm
Trident CyberbladeXP
CyberBlade / Ai1
CyberBlade / DSTN / Ai1
CyberBlade / e4
BladeXP
0x1023 - 4.1.0 Support for the mentioned chipsets is already available from XFree 4.2.0 on. Source 4.2.0

SuSE Linux 7.2

Vendor Chipset
type
Vendor ID Device ID XFree/driver
version
Problem Solution
ATI Radeon 0x1002 0x5159 4.0.3 Unsupported chipset XFree86 4.1.0
ATI XPERT 2000 PRO 0x1002 0x5446 4.0.3 Chipset cannot be configured Update to XFree86 4.1.0 or refer to Installing Ati Rage128-Based Graphic Cards (SuSE 7.2)
ATI RAGE 128 SM 0x1002 0x534d 4.0.3 Unsupported chipset XFree 4.1.0
Matrox G400 - G550 0x102b - 4.0.3

These chipsets do not support the VESA framebuffer. Problems may arise at the end of the installation or when switching to a text console

Change vga=xxx to vga=normal in /etc/lilo.conf and reinstall lilo.

See also: Problems with Matrox G450

NVIDIA GeForce 2 Go 0x10de 0x0112 4.0.3 Unsupported chipset

From NVIDIA 1.0-1541 or XFree 4.2.0 on

The drivers for NVIDIA graphics cards can be found at NVIDIA.

The nv module provides support for the GeForce 2 Go, too. However, you should start Sax2 with sax2 -m 0=fbdev and change the driver to nv in the graphics card settings. Make sure that /etc/lilo.conf contains the entry vga=791.

NVIDIA GeForce 3 0x10de 0x0201 4.0.3 - See Configuration of GeForce3-chipset-based Graphics Cards
PowerVR Kyro 0x104a 0x0010 4.0.3 There is currently no driver support available. Kyro chipsets are used in Hercules Prophet 4500 TX or 4000 TX graphics cards, among others. For further information refer to the SDB article Support for Graphics Cards with Kyro Chipsets Setting up Unsupported Graphics Cards with the Framebuffer Device
SiS SiS 630 0x1039 0x6300 4.0.3

According to the received feedback, SiS 630 can be configured with the latest XFree86 version, 4.2.0, and a 2D driver (sis module). Instructions for an XFree86 update are available at:

XFree Update

Please note that the X update exceeds the scope of the free-of-charge installation support.

Setting up Unsupported Graphics Cards with the Framebuffer Device

Keywords: PROBLEMATIC, CHIPSET, CHIPSETS, ATI, NVIDIA, MATROX, CONFIGURE, SIS, TRIDENT, SILICON_MOTION, SM, KYRO, VOODOO, 3DFX, 4000, 4500, POWERVR, GEFORCE2GTS, GEFORCE2MX, G200, G400, G400, G450, G550, CYBERBLADE, 3DPROPHET, 630, GEFORCEDDR, RADEON, 7500, 8500

Feedback welcome: Send Mail to swessels@suse.de (Please give the following subject: SDB-wessels_problematic_chipsets)
SDB-wessels_problematic_chipsets, Copyright SuSE Linux AG, Nürnberg, Germany - Version: 15. Jun 2001
SuSE Linux AG - Last generated: 16. Jun 2003 by wessels (sdb_gen 1.40.0)