FreeBSD, XFree86, P650

[saxonww]

Is anyone using this combination?

I am building two workstations and am considering either this card or a g550. Obviously support for the P650 is not great now - any opinions on whether support will improve for this platform? It seems that the supplied X module should load but the kernel module is linux specific, so the card should work but in non-busmastering mode. I am not sure how bus mastering applies to the AGP bus, in practice does this make a huge difference?

Systems will be Opteron based running FreeBSD 5.1, as either 32 bit i386 or AMD64 mode when supported.

[bsdgeek]

First, I don't have a P650, but a Parhelia. It should be pretty much the same experience, however.

I tried it a while ago. Yes, it will work. It's very slow and support is very basic, but it does work.

Support will likely not improve, I doubt Matrox will even consider supporting FreeBSD. After a long time, the Linux drivers are still half-baked, with a very slow release schedule.

[saxonww]

Thanks for the info! I guess eventually there will be a project-developed driver for X but I think for this project the G550 should work. Not going to be doing any video editing or cad, just 'normal' 2d stuff.

Did you try the VESA server also? Is that any better?

[runderwo]

There will never be an XFree86-developed or -supported driver until Matrox publishes their hardware interface and provides it to interested programmers. This simple fact has been brought up numerous times on the Matrox forums, and the response is flames from people who think it is in Matrox' best interests to singlehandedly continue their non-support, rather than risk any information leaks to third parties. Never mind that ATI seems not to have a problem providing documentation to XFree86 folks. And ATI even has their own driver that actually works, unlike Matrox!