Subject: An important notice for those with newer Intel on-board graphics controllers
To: None <port-i386@netbsd.org>
From: Blair Sadewitz <blair.sadewitz@gmail.com>
List: port-i386
Date: 11/03/2006 09:01:08
>Description:
Some [x86] systems have an integrated graphics controller which uses a
variable amount
 of system RAM for its operations.  With driver support, this
maximizes the amount of
available RAM; without it, graphics operations become a critical
reliability risk.  I use an
intel D945Gtp motherboard with this graphics controller:



000:02:0: Intel 82945G/P Integrated Graphics Device (VGA display, revision 0x02)



If I do not disable ``DVMT'' in the BIOS, anything above a nominal
load average will cause a hard lock within one hour--usually less.



This should perhaps be noted in the i386 and amd64 port FAQs, ``X11 on
NetBSD'' FAQ,
manpages, and other similar documentation.  Given the amount of
systems out there which
have Intel integrated graphics alone, it is critical that this be
documented, otherwise
potentially slews of [new] users will have the wrong impression
regarding NetBSD's reliability
 and/or hardware support.


--Blair




>How-To-Repeat:

Document Intel DVMT technology, its implications upon system operation
and reliability in
those systems without appropriate drivers, and how to disable it in the BIOS.

>Fix:

Go into BIOS setup and select "Video Configuration" (I will get the
name of the screen this is
 on if you wish).  Change the ``DVMT'' option to ``FIXED''.  On my
system, even though I only
 allocate 128MB to Video RAM, the aperture must be set to 256MB or
Xorg will hang the
system.


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