NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT driver & display setting issues

[Fla_Panther]

Hi all,

Noob here. I took an intro to Unix/Linux class in college a few years ago and forgot everything I knew (which probably wasn't much all things considered). I am in the IT field (Network Engineer by trade, CCNA) so not a complete tool. I finally had the time & money to build myself a box from used parts so I could have a *nix box to play with & learn on. After reading a few articles I decided to go with PC-BSD as my first *nix OS, so here I am.

I've installed an NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT but can't get the display settings to go higher than 1024x768. I've tried all four of the drivers that come with PC-BSD, and I also have tried downloading and installing the latest driver from NVIDIA's website. When I try to install the most recent driver it errors out.

I verified the 8600 is supported using the link in this thread:

http://forums.pcbsd.org/showthread.php?t=9182

The driver I downloaded from NVIDIA is nvidia-freebsd-x86-195.36.24

I unpacked the archive into a temporary folder, then used the File Manager to navigate to that folder, then used the Tools menu to open a terminal in that folder. Following the directions in the README file that came with the driver, I simply typed "make install". The error I got says "error: #error This driver does not support FreeBSD 8.x/- CURRENT!"

I found a list of archived NVIDIA drivers in this thread:

http://forums.pcbsd.org/showthread.php?t=7825

...before I go spending hours of my time reinventing the wheel .... does anyone know which is the most up-to-date NVIDIA driver that works with PC-BSD 8.x?

Thanks :)

[Fatmice]

Hi all,

Noob here. I took an intro to Unix/Linux class in college a few years ago and forgot everything I knew (which probably wasn't much all things considered). I am in the IT field (Network Engineer by trade, CCNA) so not a complete tool. I finally had the time & money to build myself a box from used parts so I could have a *nix box to play with & learn on. After reading a few articles I decided to go with PC-BSD as my first *nix OS, so here I am.

I've installed an NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT but can't get the display settings to go higher than 1024x768. I've tried all four of the drivers that come with PC-BSD, and I also have tried downloading and installing the latest driver from NVIDIA's website. When I try to install the most recent driver it errors out.


PCBSD 8.0 comes with

- Nvidia Driver 195.22
- Nvidia Driver 173.14.20
- Nvidia Driver 96.43.13

Which one are you using?



The driver I downloaded from NVIDIA is nvidia-freebsd-x86-195.36.24

I unpacked the archive into a temporary folder, then used the File Manager to navigate to that folder, then used the Tools menu to open a terminal in that folder. Following the directions in the README file that came with the driver, I simply typed "make install". The error I got says "error: #error This driver does not support FreeBSD 8.x/- CURRENT!"


That error is odd since PCBSD 8.0 is not current. You can confirm this by uname -a. You did something wrong.



...before I go spending hours of my time reinventing the wheel .... does anyone know which is the most up-to-date NVIDIA driver that works with PC-BSD 8.x?

Thanks :)

The ones presented in the display setup should work just fine. You can try and manually edit the xorg.conf in /etc/X11 to the resolution that you want or is supported by your display.

All of the freebsd drivers are here
ftp://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/

[Fla_Panther]

I must've started with 195.22, as that's no longer an option. Once I got to the desktop I updated whatever could be updated, and I'm now running 195.36.15

When I run uname -a I get:

FreeBSD pcbsd-1756 8.0-RELEASE-p2 FreeBSD 8.0-RELEASE-p2 #4: Thu Jan 7 09:20:42 PST 2010 root@build8x32.pcbsd.org:/usr/obj/usr/pcbsd-build80/fbsd-source/8.0-src/sys/PCBSD i386


I also tried editing the xorg.conf file but it didn't work out. But I may have not done it correctly. When I did some searching I found an example or two that led me to believe that what I would need to do is go to the bottom of the file and add this:

SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1680x1050" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1680x1050" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection


.... where "1680x1050" is the display setting I'd like to use. Did I do this incorrectly?

[Fatmice]

I must've started with 195.22, as that's no longer an option. Once I got to the desktop I updated whatever could be updated, and I'm now running 195.36.15

When I run uname -a I get:




I also tried editing the xorg.conf file but it didn't work out. But I may have not done it correctly. When I did some searching I found an example or two that led me to believe that what I would need to do is go to the bottom of the file and add this:




.... where "1680x1050" is the display setting I'd like to use. Did I do this incorrectly?

You should have said I need Widescreen.

Please refer to this

http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/x-config.html

[Fla_Panther]

Sorry, didn't know I needed to specify.

Anyway, no luck. The lines the guide as me to look for aren't there. Here's what I have in my log file instead:

(**) NVIDIA(0): Depth 24, (--) framebuffer bpp 32
(==) NVIDIA(0): RGB weight 888
(==) NVIDIA(0): Default visual is TrueColor
(==) NVIDIA(0): Using gamma correction (1.0, 1.0, 1.0)
(**) NVIDIA(0): Option "NoLogo" "True"
(**) Jun 07 23:46:24 NVIDIA(0): Enabling RENDER acceleration
(II) Jun 07 23:46:24 NVIDIA(0): Support for GLX with the Damage and Composite X extensions is
(II) Jun 07 23:46:24 NVIDIA(0): enabled.
(WW) Jun 07 23:46:25 NVIDIA(GPU-0): Unable to read EDID for display device CRT-1
(II) Jun 07 23:46:25 NVIDIA(0): NVIDIA GPU GeForce 8600 GT (G84) at PCI:2:0:0 (GPU-0)
(--) Jun 07 23:46:25 NVIDIA(0): Memory: 524288 kBytes
(--) Jun 07 23:46:25 NVIDIA(0): VideoBIOS: 60.84.6b.00.14
(II) Jun 07 23:46:25 NVIDIA(0): Detected PCI Express Link width: 16X
(--) Jun 07 23:46:25 NVIDIA(0): Interlaced video modes are supported on this GPU
(--) Jun 07 23:46:25 NVIDIA(0): Connected display device(s) on GeForce 8600 GT at PCI:2:0:0:
(--) Jun 07 23:46:25 NVIDIA(0): CRT-1
(--) Jun 07 23:46:25 NVIDIA(0): CRT-1: 400.0 MHz maximum pixel clock
(II) Jun 07 23:46:25 NVIDIA(0): Assigned Display Device: CRT-1
(WW) Jun 07 23:46:25 NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1680x1050"; removing.
(WW) Jun 07 23:46:25 NVIDIA(0):
(WW) Jun 07 23:46:25 NVIDIA(0): Unable to validate any modes; falling back to the default mode
(WW) Jun 07 23:46:25 NVIDIA(0): "nvidia-auto-select".
(WW) Jun 07 23:46:25 NVIDIA(0):
(II) Jun 07 23:46:25 NVIDIA(0): Validated modes:
(II) Jun 07 23:46:25 NVIDIA(0): "nvidia-auto-select"
(II) Jun 07 23:46:25 NVIDIA(0): Virtual screen size determined to be 1024 x 768
(WW) Jun 07 23:46:25 NVIDIA(0): Unable to get display device CRT-1's EDID; cannot compute DPI
(WW) Jun 07 23:46:25 NVIDIA(0): from CRT-1's EDID.
(==) Jun 07 23:46:25 NVIDIA(0): DPI set to (75, 75); computed from built-in default
(==) Jun 07 23:46:25 NVIDIA(0): Enabling 32-bit ARGB GLX visuals.

[Fla_Panther]

FYI, I went to Acer's website and found the manual for my monitor (no drivers listed). It showed the clock rate as 146.25 so I decided to try modifying the Xorg file as described at the bottom of that page of the handbook, but no luck. It didn't show up as a possible resolution setting either within the monitor settings section, nor when I rebooted and went into X. After completing the reboot I went back and looked at the Xorg file again and the OS had reverted the Monitor0 section back to its default settings.

The one thing I did different is that I labeled it as Monitor0 in the Xorg file and the handbook said to call it Monitor1 ... but assuming that it starts counting at 0 and I only have the one monitor, I thought it should be Monitor0, no? Hmm. I guess I can go try to add it as Monitor1 below the Monitor0 section.

Meh ... it's late and I've got to be up in 5 hours. I'll leave it as is and see what you think. I'll check back tomorrow. Thanks again for the help.

[Fatmice]

Is that the xorg.0.log? It is too short.

[Fla_Panther]

No, I just copied the pertinent part.

[Fatmice]

I need the whole thing.

[Fla_Panther]

Ok, here's the whole log:

EDIT: says I can only post 10,000 characters, so I'll break it into 2 parts. Here's the first part:


X.Org X Server 1.6.5
Release Date: 2009-10-11
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Build Operating System: FreeBSD 8.0-RC3 i386
Current Operating System: FreeBSD pcbsd-1756 8.0-RELEASE-p2 FreeBSD 8.0-RELEASE-p2 #4: Thu Jan 7 09:20:42 PST 2010 root@build8x32.pcbsd.org:/usr/obj/usr/pcbsd-build80/fbsd-source/8.0-src/sys/PCBSD i386
Build Date: 08 February 2010 06:12:23PM

Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
to make sure that you have the latest version.
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Wed Jun 9 02:57:11 2010
(==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"
(==) ServerLayout "XFree86 Configured"
(**) |-->Screen "Screen0" (0)
(**) | |-->Monitor "Monitor0"
(**) | |-->Device "Card0"
(**) |-->Input Device "Mouse0"
(**) |-->Input Device "Keyboard0"
(**) Option "AllowEmptyInput" "Off"
(**) Option "AutoAddDevices" "False"
(**) Not automatically adding devices
(==) Automatically enabling devices
(WW) `fonts.dir' not found (or not valid) in "/Programs/fonts/".
Entry deleted from font path.
(Run 'mkfontdir' on "/Programs/fonts/").
(WW) The directory "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/webfonts/" does not exist.
Entry deleted from font path.
(WW) The directory "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/CID/" does not exist.
Entry deleted from font path.
(WW) `fonts.dir' not found (or not valid) in "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/dejavu/".
Entry deleted from font path.
(Run 'mkfontdir' on "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/dejavu/").
(WW) `fonts.dir' not found (or not valid) in "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/local/".
Entry deleted from font path.
(Run 'mkfontdir' on "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/local/").
(**) FontPath set to:
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/TrueType/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/misc/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/TTF/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/Type1/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/misc/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/TTF/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/OTF,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/Type1/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/
(**) ModulePath set to "/usr/local/lib/xorg/modules"
(**) Extension "Composite" is enabled
(II) Loader magic: 0x7a0
(II) Module ABI versions:
X.Org ANSI C Emulation: 0.4
X.Org Video Driver: 5.0
X.Org XInput driver : 4.0
X.Org Server Extension : 2.0
(II) Loader running on freebsd
(--) Using syscons driver with X support (version 2.0)
(--) using VT number 9

(--) PCI:*(0:2:0:0) 10de:0401:1462:0882 nVidia Corporation G84 [GeForce 8600GT] rev 161, Mem @ 0xfa000000/16777216, 0xc0000000/268435456, 0xf8000000/33554432, I/O @ 0x0000bc00/128, BIOS @ 0x????????/65536
(II) System resource ranges:
[0] -1 0 0x000f0000 - 0x000fffff (0x10000) MX[B]
[1] -1 0 0x000c0000 - 0x000effff (0x30000) MX[B]
[2] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0x0009ffff (0xa0000) MX[B]
[3] -1 0 0x0000ffff - 0x0000ffff (0x1) IX[B]
[4] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0x000000ff (0x100) IX[B]
(II) "extmod" will be loaded. This was enabled by default and also specified in the config file.
(II) "dbe" will be loaded. This was enabled by default and also specified in the config file.
(II) "glx" will be loaded. This was enabled by default and also specified in the config file.
(II) "record" will be loaded by default.
(II) "dri" will be loaded by default.
(II) "dri2" will be loaded by default.
(II) LoadModule: "ddc"
(II) Module "ddc" already built-in
(II) LoadModule: "dbe"
(II) Loading /usr/local/lib/xorg/modules/extensions//libdbe.so
(II) Module dbe: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.6.5, module version = 1.0.0
Module class: X.Org Server Extension
ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 2.0
(II) Loading extension DOUBLE-BUFFER
(II) LoadModule: "extmod"
(II) Loading /usr/local/lib/xorg/modules/extensions//libextmod.so
(II) Module extmod: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.6.5, module version = 1.0.0
Module class: X.Org Server Extension
ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 2.0
(II) Loading extension MIT-SCREEN-SAVER
(II) Loading extension XFree86-VidModeExtension
(II) Loading extension XFree86-DGA
(II) Loading extension DPMS
(II) Loading extension XVideo
(II) Loading extension XVideo-MotionCompensation
(II) Loading extension X-Resource
(II) LoadModule: "glx"
(II) Loading /usr/local/lib/xorg/modules/extensions//libglx.so
(II) Module glx: vendor="NVIDIA Corporation"
compiled for 4.0.2, module version = 1.0.0
Module class: X.Org Server Extension
(II) NVIDIA GLX Module 195.36.15 Fri Mar 12 09:19:51 posix/SystemV/PST 2010
(II) Loading extension GLX
(II) LoadModule: "record"
(II) Loading /usr/local/lib/xorg/modules/extensions//librecord.so
(II) Module record: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.6.5, module version = 1.13.0
Module class: X.Org Server Extension
ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 2.0
(II) Loading extension RECORD
(II) LoadModule: "dri"
(II) Loading /usr/local/lib/xorg/modules/extensions//libdri.so
(II) Module dri: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.6.5, module version = 1.0.0
ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 2.0
(II) Loading extension XFree86-DRI
(II) LoadModule: "dri2"
(II) Loading /usr/local/lib/xorg/modules/extensions//libdri2.so
(II) Module dri2: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.6.5, module version = 1.1.0
ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 2.0
(II) Loading extension DRI2
(II) LoadModule: "nvidia"
(II) Loading /usr/local/lib/xorg/modules/drivers//nvidia_drv.so
(II) Module nvidia: vendor="NVIDIA Corporation"
compiled for 4.0.2, module version = 1.0.0
Module class: X.Org Video Driver
(II) LoadModule: "mouse"
(II) Loading /usr/local/lib/xorg/modules/input//mouse_drv.so
(II) Module mouse: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.6.5, module version = 1.4.0
Module class: X.Org XInput Driver
ABI class: X.Org XInput driver, version 4.0
(II) LoadModule: "kbd"
(II) Loading /usr/local/lib/xorg/modules/input//kbd_drv.so
(II) Module kbd: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.6.5, module version = 1.3.2
Module class: X.Org XInput Driver
ABI class: X.Org XInput driver, version 4.0
(II) NVIDIA dlloader X Driver 195.36.15 Fri Mar 12 09:22:53 posix/SystemV/PST 2010
(II) NVIDIA Unified Driver for all Supported NVIDIA GPUs
(II) Primary Device is: PCI 02@00:00:0
(II) Loading sub module "fb"
(II) LoadModule: "fb"
(II) Loading /usr/local/lib/xorg/modules//libfb.so
(II) Module fb: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.6.5, module version = 1.0.0
ABI class: X.Org ANSI C Emulation, version 0.4
(II) Loading sub module "wfb"
(II) LoadModule: "wfb"
(II) Loading /usr/local/lib/xorg/modules//libwfb.so
(II) Module wfb: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.6.5, module version = 1.0.0
ABI class: X.Org ANSI C Emulation, version 0.4
(II) Loading sub module "ramdac"
(II) LoadModule: "ramdac"
(II) Module "ramdac" already built-in
(II) resource ranges after probing:
[0] -1 0 0x000f0000 - 0x000fffff (0x10000) MX[B]
[1] -1 0 0x000c0000 - 0x000effff (0x30000) MX[B]
[2] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0x0009ffff (0xa0000) MX[B]
[3] -1 0 0x0000ffff - 0x0000ffff (0x1) IX[B]
[4] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0x000000ff (0x100) IX[B]
(**) NVIDIA(0): Depth 24, (--) framebuffer bpp 32
(==) NVIDIA(0): RGB weight 888
(==) NVIDIA(0): Default visual is TrueColor
(==) NVIDIA(0): Using gamma correction (1.0, 1.0, 1.0)
(**) NVIDIA(0): Option "NoLogo" "True"
(**) Jun 09 02:57:11 NVIDIA(0): Enabling RENDER acceleration
(II) Jun 09 02:57:11 NVIDIA(0): Support for GLX with the Damage and Composite X extensions is
(II) Jun 09 02:57:11 NVIDIA(0): enabled.
(WW) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(GPU-0): Unable to read EDID for display device CRT-1
(II) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): NVIDIA GPU GeForce 8600 GT (G84) at PCI:2:0:0 (GPU-0)
(--) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): Memory: 524288 kBytes
(--) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): VideoBIOS: 60.84.6b.00.14
(II) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): Detected PCI Express Link width: 16X
(--) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): Interlaced video modes are supported on this GPU
(--) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): Connected display device(s) on GeForce 8600 GT at PCI:2:0:0:
(--) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): CRT-1
(--) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): CRT-1: 400.0 MHz maximum pixel clock
(II) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): Assigned Display Device: CRT-1
(WW) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1680x1050"; removing.
(WW) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0):
(WW) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): Unable to validate any modes; falling back to the default mode
(WW) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): "nvidia-auto-select".
(WW) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0):
(II) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): Validated modes:
(II) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): "nvidia-auto-select"
(II) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): Virtual screen size determined to be 1024 x 768
(WW) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): Unable to get display device CRT-1's EDID; cannot compute DPI
(WW) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): from CRT-1's EDID.
(==) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): DPI set to (75, 75); computed from built-in default
(==) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): Enabling 32-bit ARGB GLX visuals.
(--) Depth 24 pixmap format is 32 bpp

[Fla_Panther]

And the second:


(II) do I need RAC? No, I don't.
(II) resource ranges after preInit:
[0] -1 0 0x000f0000 - 0x000fffff (0x10000) MX[B]
[1] -1 0 0x000c0000 - 0x000effff (0x30000) MX[B]
[2] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0x0009ffff (0xa0000) MX[B]
[3] -1 0 0x0000ffff - 0x0000ffff (0x1) IX[B]
[4] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0x000000ff (0x100) IX[B]
(II) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA: Reserving 768.00 MB of virtual memory for indirect framebuffer
(II) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA: access.
(II) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): Initialized GPU GART.
(II) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): Setting mode "nvidia-auto-select"
(II) Loading extension NV-GLX
(II) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): Initialized OpenGL Acceleration
(==) NVIDIA(0): Disabling shared memory pixmaps
(II) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): Initialized X Rendering Acceleration
(==) NVIDIA(0): Backing store disabled
(==) NVIDIA(0): Silken mouse enabled
(II) NVIDIA(0): DPMS enabled
(II) Loading extension NV-CONTROL
(II) Loading extension XINERAMA
(==) RandR enabled
(II) Initializing built-in extension Generic Event Extension
(II) Initializing built-in extension SHAPE
(II) Initializing built-in extension MIT-SHM
(II) Initializing built-in extension XInputExtension
(II) Initializing built-in extension XTEST
(II) Initializing built-in extension BIG-REQUESTS
(II) Initializing built-in extension SYNC
(II) Initializing built-in extension XKEYBOARD
(II) Initializing built-in extension XC-MISC
(II) Initializing built-in extension XINERAMA
(II) Initializing built-in extension XFIXES
(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 extension GLX
(**) Option "Protocol" "auto"
(**) Mouse0: Device: "/dev/sysmouse"
(**) Mouse0: Protocol: "auto"
(**) Option "CorePointer"
(**) Mouse0: always reports core events
(**) Option "Device" "/dev/sysmouse"
(**) Option "Buttons" "6"
(**) Option "Emulate3Buttons"
(**) Mouse0: Emulate3Buttons, Emulate3Timeout: 50
(**) Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
(**) Mouse0: ZAxisMapping: buttons 4 and 5
(**) Mouse0: Buttons: 10
(**) Mouse0: Sensitivity: 1
(II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "Mouse0" (type: MOUSE)
(**) Mouse0: (accel) keeping acceleration scheme 1
(**) Mouse0: (accel) filter chain progression: 2.00
(**) Mouse0: (accel) filter stage 0: 20.00 ms
(**) Mouse0: (accel) set acceleration profile 0
(II) Mouse0: SetupAuto: hw.iftype is 4, hw.model is 0
(II) Mouse0: SetupAuto: protocol is SysMouse
(**) Option "CoreKeyboard"
(**) Keyboard0: always reports core events
(**) Option "Protocol" "standard"
(**) Keyboard0: Protocol: standard
(**) Option "AutoRepeat" "500 30"
(**) Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
(**) Keyboard0: XkbRules: "xorg"
(**) Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
(**) Keyboard0: XkbModel: "pc105"
(**) Option "XkbLayout" "us"
(**) Keyboard0: XkbLayout: "us"
(WW) Option "XkbVariant" requires an string value
(**) Option "CustomKeycodes" "off"
(**) Keyboard0: CustomKeycodes disabled
(II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "Keyboard0" (type: KEYBOARD)
(II) config/hal: Adding input device AT Keyboard
(EE) config/hal: NewInputDeviceRequest failed (8)
(II) config/hal: Adding input device PS/2 Mouse
(EE) config/hal: NewInputDeviceRequest failed (8)

[Fatmice]

(WW) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(GPU-0): Unable to read EDID for display device CRT-1
(II) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): NVIDIA GPU GeForce 8600 GT (G84) at PCI:2:0:0 (GPU-0)
(--) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): Memory: 524288 kBytes
(--) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): VideoBIOS: 60.84.6b.00.14
(II) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): Detected PCI Express Link width: 16X
(--) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): Interlaced video modes are supported on this GPU
(--) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): Connected display device(s) on GeForce 8600 GT at PCI:2:0:0:
(--) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): CRT-1
(--) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): CRT-1: 400.0 MHz maximum pixel clock
(II) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): Assigned Display Device: CRT-1
(WW) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1680x1050"; removing.
(WW) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0):
(WW) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): Unable to validate any modes; falling back to the default mode
(WW) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): "nvidia-auto-select".
(WW) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0):
(II) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): Validated modes:
(II) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): "nvidia-auto-select"
(II) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): Virtual screen size determined to be 1024 x 768
(WW) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): Unable to get display device CRT-1's EDID; cannot compute DPI
(WW) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): from CRT-1's EDID.
(==) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): DPI set to (75, 75); computed from built-in default
(==) Jun 09 02:57:12 NVIDIA(0): Enabling 32-bit ARGB GLX visuals.
(--) Depth 24 pixmap format is 32 bpp


Clearly, EDID was not successfully retreived.

Invoke xrandr --verbose and see if it can manually extract the EDID

Also, how many inputs does the display have? If it has multiple have you try switching the input?

[Fla_Panther]

No such luck:

[steve@pcbsd-1756]/(13)% xrandr --verbose
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 240, current 1024 x 768, maximum 1024 x 768
default connected 1024x768+0+0 (0x15d) normal (normal) 0mm x 0mm
Identifier: 0x15c
Timestamp: 67906
Subpixel: unknown
Clones:
CRTC: 0
CRTCs: 0
Transform: 1.000000 0.000000 0.000000
0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
filter:
1024x768 (0x15d) 39.3MHz *current
h: width 1024 start 0 end 0 total 1024 skew 0 clock 38.4KHz
v: height 768 start 0 end 0 total 768 clock 50.0Hz
800x600 (0x15e) 24.5MHz
h: width 800 start 0 end 0 total 800 skew 0 clock 30.6KHz
v: height 600 start 0 end 0 total 600 clock 51.0Hz
800x600 (0x15f) 25.0MHz
h: width 800 start 0 end 0 total 800 skew 0 clock 31.2KHz
v: height 600 start 0 end 0 total 600 clock 52.0Hz
800x600 (0x160) 25.4MHz
h: width 800 start 0 end 0 total 800 skew 0 clock 31.8KHz
v: height 600 start 0 end 0 total 600 clock 53.0Hz
640x480 (0x161) 16.6MHz
h: width 640 start 0 end 0 total 640 skew 0 clock 25.9KHz
v: height 480 start 0 end 0 total 480 clock 54.0Hz
512x384 (0x162) 10.8MHz
h: width 512 start 0 end 0 total 512 skew 0 clock 21.1KHz
v: height 384 start 0 end 0 total 384 clock 55.0Hz
400x300 (0x163) 6.7MHz
h: width 400 start 0 end 0 total 400 skew 0 clock 16.8KHz
v: height 300 start 0 end 0 total 300 clock 56.0Hz
320x240 (0x164) 4.4MHz
h: width 320 start 0 end 0 total 320 skew 0 clock 13.7KHz
v: height 240 start 0 end 0 total 240 clock 57.0Hz

There is another type of connector on the back, I'll have to see if I have another cable in my work area.

[Fla_Panther]

Well, good news. I figured out the problem. I forgot to mention that I use a KVM switch so I can use 1 keyboard, mouse, and monitor for 2 PCs. It seems that PC-BSD isn't able to read the monitor's true settings through the KVM switch, even if I have the switch flipped such that the PC-BSD computer is the one that's actively using the mouse/kb/monitor. I do have the digital cable to connect the monitor, but decided before I try it to remove the KVM from the equation and run straight from the monitor to the PC, and viola!

Unfortunately if it can't work with the KVM I'll have to settle for it running at the lower resolution because I need to use the KVM. The other PC is my main box and my aunt takes care of some of my Ebay business using that box. Since my eventual goal is to use this PC-BSD box for a RAID-5 NAS I suppose the resolution isn't important. Oh well.

Thanks for your help Fatmice. If nothing else, this thread will exist as informational in case anyone searches this forum for keywords relating to KVM switches and they might learn something.

[Fatmice]

There's still something you can do. Instead of nvidia probing for EDID all the time, you can dump that information and tell nvidia to use a file instead.

You will need the nvidia-settings tool which is under /usr/ports/x11/nvidia-settings.

Get that port install then launch the program and extract the EDID to a file. Once you get that done, I'll think of something.

[Fla_Panther]

Sorry for the delay, I went out of town to go see my son graduate. Just now getting back to this.

I navigated to the folder you specified and there are three files and a folder. The three files are distinfo, Makefile, and pkg-descr, and the folder is called 'files', with a file inside it called called patch-Makefile.

I've heard that one wrong move with anything Unix or Linux related can hose the box, and this being my first build I'm being extra cautious ... so please explain what you'd like me to do here before I start clicking on things I shouldn't be clicking. What do you mean by 'get that port installed then launch the program'? I assume the Makefile file is a program, indicated by the gears on it ... but not sure what you mean by getting the port installed ...

Thanks

[Fatmice]

You will need to compile the program. The Makefile is a script that tells the machine how to compile the program.

Do this as root so su

1/go to /usr/ports/x11/nvidia-settings
2/make fetch
3/make build install

That's all there is to it. Pay attention to the end of the installation, there should be message that say where it is installed to and what the executable is.

[Fla_Panther]

Ok, I did as you asked and I've attached a .txt file with the output. Based on what it says at the end of the install I'm not sure if it took, but I'm going to try to adjust the settings again and also reboot if needed. In particular, I'm referring to where it says this:

===> Installing for nvidia-settings-195.30_1
===> nvidia-settings-195.30_1 depends on file: /usr/local/libdata/pkgconfig/xv.pc - found
===> nvidia-settings-195.30_1 depends on executable: pkg-config - found
===> nvidia-settings-195.30_1 depends on file: /usr/local/lib/gio/modules/libgiofam.so - found
===> Generating temporary packing list
===> Checking if x11/nvidia-settings already installed
===> An older version of x11/nvidia-settings is already installed (nvidia-settings-195.22)
You may wish to ``make deinstall'' and install this port again
by ``make reinstall'' to upgrade it properly.
If you really wish to overwrite the old port of x11/nvidia-settings
without deleting it first, set the variable "FORCE_PKG_REGISTER"
in your environment or the "make install" command line.
*** Error code 1

[Fla_Panther]

Yeah, same as before. I can see my preferred resolution (1680x1050) in the display settings menu that you can get to during the boot process (think it's just called X) ... but once inside the OS the best it'll give me is 1024x768.

Incidentally, even when I'm in X, when I select 1680x1050 it prompts me telling me it's going to apply the settings, but when it refreshes it doesn't look like it's changed to 1680x1050. I don't know if that's because it hasn't or if it's just because the menu boxes on the screen resize to compensate for the new display settings. Either way though, it doesn't stick when I get to the desktop. From the message in my previous post I guess I'll need to deinstall the previous driver and reinstall the newest one. If so, I wonder if I'll need to deinstall all 3 of the NVIDIA drivers that are on it before it'll really accept the most up to date version.

[Fatmice]

Sorry for late reply,

The message during the port install is just to inform you that you already have nvidia-settings installed.

You need to run it to extract the EDID. The problem is X is scanning your display device before it will execute your settings. It looks for the EDID which incidentally is not getting passed due to the KVM switch. If you have the EDID dumped to a binary file, you can tell X to forgo the step and look where you tell it to look. There is an option in nvidia-settings to "Aquire EDID". Click it and save the file to say, your home folder.

Add to your Screen section
Option "CustomEDID" "DFP-0:/wherever/you/put/it/myedid.bin"

See if that work better.

If that doesn't, there's one more straw. Remove the above and add to your device section
Option "UseEDID" "FALSE"
Option "ModeValidation" "AllowNon60HzDFPModes, NoEdidModes, NoEdidDFPMaxSizeCheck, NoVertRefreshCheck, NoHorizSyncCheck, NoMaxSizeCheck, NoDFPNativeResolutionCheck"

This essentially tells X to shove it and do what you said.

[Fatmice]

Yeah, same as before. I can see my preferred resolution (1680x1050) in the display settings menu that you can get to during the boot process (think it's just called X) ... but once inside the OS the best it'll give me is 1024x768.

Incidentally, even when I'm in X, when I select 1680x1050 it prompts me telling me it's going to apply the settings, but when it refreshes it doesn't look like it's changed to 1680x1050. I don't know if that's because it hasn't or if it's just because the menu boxes on the screen resize to compensate for the new display settings. Either way though, it doesn't stick when I get to the desktop. From the message in my previous post I guess I'll need to deinstall the previous driver and reinstall the newest one. If so, I wonder if I'll need to deinstall all 3 of the NVIDIA drivers that are on it before it'll really accept the most up to date version.

My advise is to try the easiest way first...messing with the drivers can easily push you back to vesa.

[Fla_Panther]

No worries about any delay, this isn't a production PC for me, just something to learn the OS with. I'm just glad you've been willing to walk me through this much, as my previous experience with the Unix/Linux community has not been as customer friendly. But I'm sure you hear that constantly. Anyway, back to the task at hand...

You mention that I can get the EDID dumped to a binary file even though the KVM switch isn't passing the info. I'm guessing you mean I should disconnect the KVM, do something to capture the EDID, and then I can reconnect the KVM and use the captured EDID data at that point. Scratch that, I see what you mean now. I went to /usr/ports/x11/nvidia-settings/work/nvidia-settings-1.0 and there's a program there called nvidia-settings. I ran the program but unfortunately I couldn't find anything that made any reference to capturing the EDID. Maybe you were thinking of some command-line method to get that program to pull that data?

If you can point me in the right direction I'd like to pursue that avenue a little further before I take the "tell X to shove it" approach, only *because* this is a more involved method, and the whole point of me installing this OS is to learn it. I'll learn more about this by doing it the long/hard way.

[Fatmice]

The option should be there. Have a look at this image.

http://mymediasystem.net/wp/2009/03/aquire-edid.png

Also, if you've install nvidia-settings properly, you can call it from anywhere. You do not need to dig it out of the /usr/ports/..../....

If all else fails, remove the KVM switch and hook the screen directly using the digital input if you can and restart X...which in your case you'll need to log off, go to another tty say Alt+F2 and invoke as root "init 1" to return to single user mode, type enter to accept default shell, type exit to leave single user mode and go back to multi user mode. Of course, you could just reset the machine =)...but that long winded way should get X to restart since I'm assuming that you can't kill X with Ctrl+Alt+Backspace because you didn't enable that option in the Xorg.conf....Of course acquiring the EDID using the GUI is more preferable if it can be done.

nvidia-xconfig --extract-edids-from-file=/var/log/Xorg.0.log --extract-edids-output-file=~/blasted_screen_edid.bin

Edit:I forgot you can try "kdeinit4_shutdown" and get kde to restart....however, I don't know if that will restart X....if it does, then the time stamp in /var/log/Xorg.0.log will be different.

[Fla_Panther]

Ok, I removed the KVM and connected directly. This time the NVIDIA settings program gave me additional options, and I was able to save the EDID. I added the line you gave me to the xorg.conf file and saved it, then shut down and reinstalled the KVM, rebooted and went into X. I got the same response as before and it reverted me back to the lower resolution. I finished booting and went to the xorg.conf file and the line I'd added was gone. I added it again, saved, and re-opened the file to make sure it had saved. Here's what I have:

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Card0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1680x1050"
EndSubSection
Option "CustomEDID" "DFP-0:/home/steve/myedid.bin"
EndSection


I guess if that's all how it should be I won't have any other option but to tell X to shove it...

[Fatmice]

Looks right. The /etc/xorg.conf shouldn't get replaced...