3D support in 4MLinux 20.0 and later.

zk1234 · 09-29-2016, 03:06 PM

This post describes how to customize advanced X.Org Server settings in 4MLinux 20.0 and later.

zk1234 · 09-29-2016, 03:22 PM

Open Menu->Settings->Desktop->Advanced and set everything to "no"

Code:

# Enable GPU framebuffer during the boot time ?
GPU=no

# Kill other framebuffers (e.g. VESA) ?
KILL=no

# Enable 3D support in X Window System ?
X=no

# Replace EXA with GLAMOR for 3D drivers ?
GLAM=no

# Replace EXA with SNA for 3D drivers ?
SNA=no

# Use MODESETTING for 3D acceleration ?
MODE=no

# Enable compiz-like Desktop effects ?
COMP=no

This configuration tells 4MLinux to use vesa (old xorg 2D driver).

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zk1234 · 09-29-2016, 03:33 PM

Lets start with making only one modification:

Code:

# Enable GPU framebuffer during the boot time ?
GPU=yes

# Kill other framebuffers (e.g. VESA) ?
KILL=no

# Enable 3D support in X Window System ?
X=no

# Replace EXA with GLAMOR for 3D drivers ?
GLAM=no

# Replace EXA with SNA for 3D drivers ?
SNA=no

# Use MODESETTING for 3D acceleration ?
MODE=no

# Enable compiz-like Desktop effects ?
COMP=no

4MLinux will now try to enable the GPU framebuffer(*), which will result in loading modesetting (modern xorg 2D driver).

(*) GPU = your Graphics Processing Unit

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zk1234 · 09-29-2016, 03:45 PM

Can you see the penguin logo during the boot? If so, the VESA framebuffer is enabled, meaning that fbdev (old 2D xorg driver) will be used. If you want to have 3D, you must tell 4MLinux to "kill" the VESA framebuffer (by replacing it with the GPU framebuffer):

Code:

# Enable GPU framebuffer during the boot time ?
GPU=yes

# Kill other framebuffers (e.g. VESA) ?
KILL=yes

# Enable 3D support in X Window System ?
X=no

# Replace EXA with GLAMOR for 3D drivers ?
GLAM=no

# Replace EXA with SNA for 3D drivers ?
SNA=no

# Use MODESETTING for 3D acceleration ?
MODE=no

# Enable compiz-like Desktop effects ?
COMP=no

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zk1234 · 09-29-2016, 03:53 PM

Time to tell 4MLinux to enable 3D support.

Code:

# Enable GPU framebuffer during the boot time ?
GPU=yes

# Kill other framebuffers (e.g. VESA) ?
KILL=yes

# Enable 3D support in X Window System ?
X=yes

# Replace EXA with GLAMOR for 3D drivers ?
GLAM=no

# Replace EXA with SNA for 3D drivers ?
SNA=no

# Use MODESETTING for 3D acceleration ?
MODE=no

# Enable compiz-like Desktop effects ?
COMP=no

4MLinux will now try to load one of dedicated 3D org drivers (amdgpu, intel, radeon, or nouveau).

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zk1234 · 09-29-2016, 04:00 PM

Xorg uses the EXA acceleration method by default. Some modern video cards (especially AMD) may work much better when EXA is replaced with Glamor. Does it work for your video card? Check it yourself by making the following change:

Code:

# Enable GPU framebuffer during the boot time ?
GPU=yes

# Kill other framebuffers (e.g. VESA) ?
KILL=yes

# Enable 3D support in X Window System ?
X=yes

# Replace EXA with GLAMOR for 3D drivers ?
GLAM=yes

# Replace EXA with SNA for 3D drivers ?
SNA=no

# Use MODESETTING for 3D acceleration ?
MODE=no

# Enable compiz-like Desktop effects ?
COMP=no

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zk1234 · 09-29-2016, 04:08 PM

Xorg uses the EXA acceleration method by default. Some older video cards (especially Intel) work much better when EXA is replaced with SNA. Does it work for your card? Check it yourself by making the following change:

Code:

# Enable GPU framebuffer during the boot time ?
GPU=yes

# Kill other framebuffers (e.g. VESA) ?
KILL=yes

# Enable 3D support in X Window System ?
X=yes

# Replace EXA with GLAMOR for 3D drivers ?
GLAM=no

# Replace EXA with SNA for 3D drivers ?
SNA=yes

# Use MODESETTING for 3D acceleration ?
MODE=no

# Enable compiz-like Desktop effects ?
COMP=no

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zk1234 · 09-29-2016, 04:21 PM

There is a new trend in the development of xorg drivers. Dedicated 3D drivers are not used at all. Xorg server loads the modesetting driver, which "cooperates" with mesa and glamor to produce 3D acceleration. Does it work for your card? Once again: try it yourself by using the following configuration:

Code:

# Enable GPU framebuffer during the boot time ?
GPU=yes

# Kill other framebuffers (e.g. VESA) ?
KILL=yes

# Enable 3D support in X Window System ?
X=yes

# Replace EXA with GLAMOR for 3D drivers ?
GLAM=no

# Replace EXA with SNA for 3D drivers ?
SNA=no

# Use MODESETTING for 3D acceleration ?
MODE=yes

# Enable compiz-like Desktop effects ?
COMP=no

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zk1234 · 09-29-2016, 04:49 PM

The last option tells the xcomposite tool to enable compiz-like special Desktop effects (such as windows fading). This should work for both 2D and 3D drivers.

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zk1234 · 09-29-2016, 05:25 PM

1) You must reboot your machine to apply new framebuffer settings.
2) Restart X to apply all other (than framebuffer-related) changes.
3) If you are unable to start X, use Midnight Commander for editing:

Code:

mcedit /etc/gpu/gpu.config

The /etc/gpu/gpu.config file is the one described in this thread.

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