Subject: Re: Update (was G3 PB video acceleration)
From: Jim Cole (greyleaf@yggdrasill.net)
Date: Sat Sep 11 1999 - 00:06:13 MDT
For anyone who cares...
The technique described below also worked fine on one of the new PowerBooks
(Bronze Keyboard). When X started, a message stated that acceleration was indeed
active. However, I did not find it all that impressive on my particular machine.
The font quality dropped noticeably in some cases. I lost 3-button emulation
altogether, though there is probably a fix for that. I didn't see much overall
improvement in performance and for the things I tend to do a lot of, like vi'ng
through source and such, the response was far worse with the Xpmac server; took
longer to start the cursor moving, couldn't scroll smoothly, etc.
But that is just me. The Xpmac server did work and it only takes a few minutes to
give it a test drive.
Jim
Aaron Levitt wrote:
> [snip]
> >Sounds like a wiener...could you specify exactly what you did to 'use
> >Xpmac'?
> >I have not been able to get Lyx to work other than on the console (i.e. not
> >from an X server).
> >
> >Thanks
> >Kit Baum
>
> This is the way I did it. I am on a G3/300 powerbook wallstreet II model.
> As far as I know this will work with all G3 powerbook series.
>
> <Disclaimer>
> YMMV (Your Model May Very), and all the other main disclaimers.
> </Disclaimer>
>
> 1. Get the latest XFree86-Xpmac rpm. I got it from a friend's linuxppc CD.
> I'm sure it's available on the linuxppc ftp site, or even on the yellow dog
> CD (I did an ftp install so I'm not sure). For demonstration purposes I
> used XFree86-Xpmac-3.3.3.1-49a.ppc.rpm since that is what I used.
>
> 2. At this point switch to root if arent root already and install the rpm.
> [root@yourhost]# rpm -ivh XFree86-Xpmac-3.3.3.1-49a.ppc.rpm
>
> 3. [root@yourhost]# cd /etc/X11
>
> 4. [root@yourhost /etc/X11]# ln -sf /usr/X11R6/bin/Xpmac X
>
> 5. you should double check to be sure you link is set properly (not really
> needed.. but I like to be sure I didn't fat-finger something).
> [root@yourhost /etc/X11]# ls -l X
> your output should look like this:
> lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root date time X -> /usr/X11R6/bin/Xpmac
>
> 6. That should do it. Now just start X. I was told to use 'startx --
> -mach64' by a friend.. I do. And it works. I'm not sure why.. but it
> does. I just created an alias in my /etc/bashrc file to alias
> startx="startx -- -mach64". If someone on the list knows why this works..
> perhaps they may want to shed some light on this as well as if there are
> any other variables that could go in place of the 'mach64' part.
>
> One side note... the first time I ran X after switching to Xpmac everything
> was REALLY slow. In fact, I thought netscape and crashed altogether. It
> was just really slow. I just exited X, and then started it back up the
> same way and it is awesome.
>
> I hope this helps. I know it fixed all my X related issues.
>
> -Aaron
> /^\ ASCII RIBBON CAMPAIGN - AGAINST HTML MAIL
> \ /
> X "We have solutions, just not for your computer"
> / \ --Microsoft Tech Support
This archive was generated by hypermail 2a24 : Fri Oct 01 1999 - 16:13:43 MDT