AMD64 + Linux (FC3) + P750

[rjcarr]

Is there any driver support for 64-bit linux (I'm currently using x86_64 edition of fedora core 3) for the P750?

It is currently running VESA drivers that I can get to 16x12 so it is usable, but if there were drivers out there, I'd be very interested to know about it.

I've done a bit of searching but I figured this would be the best place to ask. I'm an old matrox user, an old frequenter of this site, and just getting back in with a P750. Thanks.

[KeiFront]

Currently there's no official or unofficial 64-bit support, there isn't even kernel 2.6 support (you can only get it working via patches submitted by Matrox own customers). The latest driver is almost one year old and isn't that good (lots of annoying bugs ), have you already checked the Matrox forum http://forum.matrox.com/mga/index.php it will give you an indication what works and what doesn't.

Just to sum it up: Matrox support for linux is almost non-existent , it just sucks. That's why I bought an Nvidia card.

Oh there's also a petition online: http://www.petitiononline.com/linparh/petition.html

[rjcarr]

Thanks for the response Kei. I don't assume anyone has had any success using the year old 32-bit RH9 drivers with fedora 64-bit. Would there even be a chance of that working? I'm not a driver writer so I'm not sure.

That is a sad situation about martrox drivers then. If they are obviously targeting the workstation market and not the gaming market, then what is the logic for not providing quality linux drivers? I don't get it. *shrugs*

Everything looks razor sharp on my 21" LCD in windows and I'm happy there ... too bad I boot into windows about 3% of the time.

Looks like I may live to regret my purchase.

[rjcarr]

So I just signed the petition ... thanks for the link. Here's what I said:

"Over the past 8 years I've owned 5 matrox cards, and with the exception of the millenium I & II I've been burned every time, and with my recent purchase of the P750 it looks like it is happenning again. Please release a capable driver for assorted *nix architectures (I'm on x86_64). It is acceptable to release drivers in stages (2D, 3D, single head, dual head, etc). Just give us something. Please."

I also tried to follow the forum link you posted and it was "unavailable". Oh the irony.

[KeiFront]

Be sure to check the matrox forum when it's back available. It contains the most information regarding Matrox's Linux support (or lack of support ).

[rjcarr]

Okay ... checked the forum, and found this in the FAQ section.

It appears to be info about a source distribution of a linux driver and how to compile it with X.

Has anyone tried this? Will it work with AMD64?

I don't need dual head or even 3D, I just need 2D support better than the VESA gives.

[albatorsk]

No, as you can see the guide instructs you to skip the steps involved in compiling the driver if you're using a P-series card. That's because Matrox doesn't provide the source to the Parhelia driver.

[rjcarr]

So is there any use of that FAQ applicable to P-series owners?

If not, why is it even mentioned?

[albatorsk]

It gives the illusion that Matrox supports Linux.

[KeiFront]

Just read the linux section rjcarr http://forum.matrox.com/mga/viewforum.php?f=2
This thread give a summary of some problems with the current driver http://forum.matrox.com/mga/viewtopic.php?t=10864

[albatorsk]

It sort of makes you wonder what ever happened to this driver: http://www.matrox.com/mga/media_cent...nux_matrox.cfm

Matrox continues to support the Linux community and is proud to release an open source driver for its flagship product Parhelia, providing a modularized driver to satisfy the varied requirements of the Linux community. Matrox's hybrid approach offers an open source module for basic single screen 2D support, and a closed source module offering extended support.

Where's the open source driver, matrox? It's been more than 2 years since that press release.

[K6-III]

It seems like XIG is developing a decent non-free driver for Parhelia for Linux i386 and AMD64, as well as Solaris.

[albatorsk]

Yes, if you don't mind paying once for purchasing the card, and then paying once again to be able to use it, then I suppose that's fine.

What I don't understand is why Matrox doesn't make a deal with XiG to provide a small stripped down Matrox-only version of Accelerated-X. That way, Matrox would get a professional quality driver, and they wouldn't have to employ any linux driver writers. And to top it off, customers would be happy.

Well, one can dream...

[Wombat]

Matrox has no interest in Linux. They stopped that once they realized that the rest of the world wasn't going to keep doing their work for them. They won't spend any money on it.

[spadnos]

Originally posted by Wombat
Matrox has no interest in Linux. They stopped that once they realized that the rest of the world wasn't going to keep doing their work for them. They won't spend any money on it.

Actually, the rest of the world DID do their work for them, when they released programming information. The G100-450 are among the best supported cards available (best accelerated 2D, 3D is lacking).

Since they haven't done that for the Parhelia, there isn't any open source driver.

If they have no money to spend, the best thing they can do is to release a developers manual for the chips / boards, and let the rest of the world do their work again.

- Steve