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README revision 1.1
      1 xf86-video-geode -- AMD Geode GX and LX graphics driver for X.org
      2 =================================================================
      3 README last updated: 2009-09-09
      4 
      5 GIT repository:
      6         git://anongit.freedesktop.org/git/xorg/driver/xf86-video-geode
      7 
      8 Gitweb browser:
      9         http://cgit.freedesktop.org/xorg/driver/xf86-video-geode
     10 
     11 Project homepage:
     12 	http://www.x.org/wiki/GeodeDriver
     13 
     14 = Introduction =
     15 
     16 This is the X graphics driver for the AMD Geode GX and LX processors.
     17 The GX driver features XAA and EXA support for graphics acceleration,
     18 and the LX driver supports EXA (including compositing).  Both drivers
     19 support dynamic rotation with XRandR, and Xv overlay support.
     20 
     21 = Roadmap =
     22 
     23 Support for X servers older than 1.4 is expected to be dropped in the
     24 near future.  If your distribution still hasn't upgraded, please urge 
     25 them to get around it soon.
     26 
     27 Support for old GX1 Geodes by Cyrix and NSC will be reintroduced soon,
     28 at which point xf86-video-cyrix and xf86-video-nsc will be retired.
     29 
     30 Until then, the current situation for Geode coverage is as follow:
     31  
     32 xf86-video-geode
     33  * Geode LX      (a.k.a. GX3) PCI ID 0x1022:0x2081
     34  * Geode GX      (a.k.a. GX2) PCI ID 0x100B:0x0030 (rebranded GX2)
     35 
     36 xf86-video-nsc
     37  * Geode GX2     (a.k.a. GX2) PCI ID 0x100B:0x0030 (a.k.a. "Red Cloud")
     38  * Geode SCx200  (a.k.a. GX1) PCI ID 0x100B:0x0504 
     39  * Geode SC1400  (a.k.a. GX1) PCI ID 0x100B:0x0104 
     40 
     41 xf86-video-cyrix
     42  * Geode MediaGX (a.k.a. GX1) PCI ID 0x1078:0x0104 
     43 
     44 Please note that both NSC and GEODE support GX2. This is indeed correct.
     45 However, only GEODE has up-to-date code, while NSC is deprecated. 
     46 
     47 = Dependencies =
     48 
     49 As of version 2.11.4, this driver depends upon X server 1.5 or newer,
     50 because the GX Randr code utilizes dixSetPrivate whose API was modified 
     51 in a non backward-compatible way.
     52 
     53   #ifdef'ing the changes from f1268f3ba8404129d358db3bb1e66f3841f7018a 
     54   and b28abde0276ddd7f687242f3886f98b0e49a7fc2 might make it possible
     55   to build this driver against older X servers. Patches are welcome.
     56 
     57 As of version 2.9.0, this driver depends on X server 1.3 or newer,
     58 because it utilizes the new common DDC probing libraries from X.Org.
     59 
     60   If necessary, it might be possible to create autoconf macros to make 
     61   this driver compile against older X servers, following this example:
     62 
     63   http://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/xorg-commit/2007-February/010341.html
     64 
     65   Patches accomplishing the same trick for the Geode driver are welcome.
     66 
     67 = FAQ =
     68 
     69 Q: Why doesn't this GEODE driver work at WXGA (wide screen) resolutions?
     70 
     71 A: Make sure that TFT Panel support is disabled in the BIOS settings, 
     72    otherwise resolutions will be restricted to traditional VGA modes. 
     73    The GEODE offers a choice between CRT-only, CRT+TFT, TFT-only for
     74    output device and selecting CRT-only removes the VGA restriction.
     75 
     76 Q: How do I produce useful information whenever submiting a bug report?
     77 
     78 A: See http://www.x.org/wiki/Development/Documentation/ServerDebugging
     79    and follow the instructions.
     80 
     81 Q: How do I test development snapshots from the upstream GIT repository?
     82 
     83 A: Run the following commands from a command line interpreter shell...
     84    1. git clone git://anongit.freedesktop.org/git/xorg/driver/xf86-video-geode 
     85    2. Debian/Ubuntu:  apt-get install autoconf automake libtool xutils-dev
     86                       apt-get install build-dep xserver-xorg-video-geode
     87      Fedora/Red Hat:  yum install autoconf automake libtool xorg-x11-util-macros
     88                       yum-builddep xorg-x11-drv-geode
     89    3. cd xf86-video-geode
     90    4. ./autogen.sh
     91    5. make distcheck
     92    ...then install the driver manually.
     93 
     94 Q: What is the preferred method for submitting patches to this driver?
     95 
     96 A: See http://www.x.org/wiki/Development/Documentation/SubmittingPatches
     97    and submit the patches as attachments to the Geode X.org mailing list
     98    or to the X.org Bugzilla against component "Driver/geode".
     99 
    100 = Configuration options =
    101 
    102 You can specify the Geode driver in the normal fashion:
    103 
    104 Section "Device"
    105 	Identifier "AMD Geode"
    106 	Driver "geode"
    107 	Option "blah" "blah"
    108 	...
    109 EndSection
    110 
    111 The following options may be added to the section:
    112 
    113 == GX ==
    114 
    115 SWCursor: Enable software cursors (essentially disabling HW cursor support)
    116 NoCompression: Disable video bandwidth compression
    117 NoAccel: Disable hardware assisted acceleration
    118 AccelMethod: "XAA" (default) or "EXA"
    119 Rotate: Select a orientation to start with - LEFT, INVERT, CCW
    120 NoPanel: Disable panel support
    121 OSMImageBuffers: Set the number of image buffers (XAA only)
    122 OSMColorExpBuffers: Set the number of color expansion buffers (XAA only)
    123 FBSize: Specify the size of the video space (in bytes)
    124 PanelGeometry: Specify the geometry of the attached panel ("<width>x<height>")
    125 
    126 == LX ==
    127 
    128 SWCursor: Enable software cursors (essentially disabling HW cursor support)
    129 NoCompression: Disable video bandwidth compression
    130 NoAccel: Disable hardware assisted acceleration
    131 Rotate: Select a orientation to start with - LEFT, INVERT, CCW
    132 NoPanel: Disable panel support
    133 ExaScratch: Specify the amount of extra EXA scratch buffer (in bytes)
    134 FBSize: Specify the size of the video space (in bytes)
    135 
    136 = EOF =
    137