Fast writes won't enable in Linux. :(

[spazntwich1]

I changed the vars in whatever that file is in the nvidia drivers, so it would compile in support for side band addressing and fast writes. I installed the new driver, and when I rebooted, SBA was working, but fast writes just... weren't.

when I cat /proc/nv/card0, it tells me SBA is supported and enabled, and FW are supported, but disabled.

Does anyone know of an easy way to fix this? It doesn't mean a WHOLE lot, because I'm already getting performance = to windows in Q3, but it'd be nice to get those extra few frames/sec.

 

[spazntwich1]

Bump. It's still not working. 🙁

 

[LNXman]

what does cat /proc/nv/card0 say?

Does it say whethere FW is enabled? supported? unsupported?

You did edit the os-registry.c file like you were supposed to, right? (just checking 😉 ). . .

Also try different depths when loading X. A small color depth probably does not make use of the Fast Writes, since the driver does not see the use for it.
To find out the depth X is running, type:

xdpyinfo | grep "depth of root"

at the console.

GL

 

[spazntwich1]

<< what does cat /proc/nv/card0 say?

Does it say whethere FW is enabled? supported? unsupported? >>



Say's it's supported, but disabled.



<< You did edit the os-registry.c file like you were supposed to, right? (just checking 😉 ). . . >>



Yup



<< Also try different depths when loading X. A small color depth probably does not make use of the Fast Writes, since the driver does not see the use for it.
To find out the depth X is running, type:

xdpyinfo | grep "depth of root"

at the console.

GL >>



I'm running 24bit color, and the grep command says 24 planes too. If I try and run at 32bit, I get errors saying the driver doesn't support color depths that high.

 

[LNXman]

O.K. from the info you have given me, it seems that the driver cannot enable the Fast Writes on your card's BIOS when it loads. I have read archives with many people having that same problem.
The only solutions I found wrt Fast Writes were:

- Edit the os-registry.c file under the kernel's NVdriver home directory before compiling, and re-install (but you -- and I -- have done that)
- Search for a Nvidia BIOS tool that will enable Fast Writes by default on the BIOS. (have not found one for LINUX, yet! -- But maybe you can use one for Windows -- if you use Windows)
- Email Nvidia support, and hope they will get back to you. (I have tried it a few times, but they seem to ignore emails) 🙁

Nonetheless, I continue to search once in a while for new drivers/tools for Nvidia cards in LINUX, and If I come across a solution in the next couple of weeks, I will let you know. . .

Sorry I could not be of more assistance. . .

 

[spazntwich1]

No no no, don't be sorry. You've provided me with the information on WHY things don't work, and that's all I can ask. Thanks for the info man!