Installing Mandrake 8.0 Linux on a Dell Inspiron 8000

by John W Clark

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This document is not as complete as it could be, but I've posted it now because there seems to be a lot of people trying to get X working at full speed and full resolution with the nvidia geforce2 go video subsystem, and I'm happy to report that I've got it working well.

My Dell 8000 configuration

A pretty slick machine for it's time....

Linux Mandrake 8 automatically detected...

...a lot of stuff, including:

XFree86 Setup

I've managed to get XFree86 4.0.3 working correctly at full 1400x1050 resolution (16bpp, but 24bpp works fine too). It's looks smooooooth ;-)

After installation of Mandrake....

...I found that the X had decided to run my machine in 1400x1050 using the generic SVGA X server, which was helpful, but damn slow. What's more, it was using XFree86 3.6, not 4.x.

So, to get things rocking at full speed, follow the steps below....

...BUT FIRST, to make life easier, stop X from starting at boot (ie. make linux start with a text console). You can access this setting  from the Boot section in the Mandrake Control Center.

Installing the NVIDIA Build 1512 drivers...

The Build 1512 drivers were released in Sep 2001 and claim to have improved support for the GeForce2 Go. I've found the new drivers are, in fact, a lot better (so far). OpenGL apps actually work now, and are FAST! On the whole, everything is more stable. You can download the drivers from here, from NVIDIA's website.

I already has the Build 1251 nvidia drivers installed, but the following procedure should be the same even for first-timers.... Here's what I did:

1. I downloaded the NVIDIA_GLX-1.0-1512.i386.rpm and NVIDIA_kernel-1.0-1512.src.rpm. I'm using the source RPM because I have upgraded the kernel since installing Mandrake 8.0, so the precompiled nvidia kernel binary would not be suitable.
2. I installed the nvidia kernel source RPM first, using (as root):

rpm -vv --rebuild NVIDIA_kernel-1.0-1512.src.rpm
rpm -Uvh /usr/src/RPM/RPMS/i686/NVIDIA_kernel-1.0-1512.i686.rpm

After this you should see a response "NVdriver installed successfully"

3. I Installed the GLX binary RPM next, using
rpm -e NVIDIA_GLX  (to uninstall the previous GLX rpm, as documented by NVIDIA)
rpm -ivh NVIDIA_GLX-1.0-1512.i386.rpm   (to install the new GLX rpm)

You may receive some warnings that some MESA library files are being renamed - this is OK and desirable.
Those upgrading from Build 1251 NVIDIA drivers note: NV_reg_mobile=1 option is no longer required in etc/modules.conf

Those who haven't got a nvidia-friendly XF86Config-4 configuration file installed yet should keep reading, cos you're not done yet. My existing XF86Config-4 file (that I used with the Build 1251 nvidia drivers) worked fine on the new build.

Note: Build 1541 of the NVIDIA drivers has recently come out. It doesn't appear to offer any improvements for GeForce2 Go users, but the install procedure is the same (except for file names, duh) and it works fine for me.

The XF86Config-4 file....

Getting the XF86Config-4 file correct was a little tougher than I'd hoped, but I've pulled one together which seems to work well, fully accelerated, in 1400x1050. It was built using the XF86Config-4 file automatically generated by the Mandrake 8.0 installer, changed to reflect the relevant parts of the sample XF86Config-4 file provided by NVIDIA and the sample XF86Config-4 file provided by Dell (but this was for an Inspiron 8000 using an ATI graphics module).

I got stuck for a while in 1280x968 (I or something like that) mode because I'd taken other people's recommendation and put a ModeLine entry in the monitor section. But I since found out that no ModeLine is needed at all. It's actually kinda hard to tell at first that it was running in 1280x960, cos the nvidia card stretches (and anti-aliases) the display - I wonder how many people haven't picked up on it ;-)     Run xdpyinfo to prove it to yourself one way or the other.

Download my XF86Config-4 file here

NOTE: The new build 1512 nvidia drivers have many more features, including dual-monitor support and svideo output support. I haven't had time to test/add all these features as yet. I got the Twinview dual monitor feature up and running though - you'll see the Twinview sections in the XF86Config-4 file. To use the Twinview features just comment-out the line

Screen "screen1"  (that is, put a # in front of the line)
and uncomment the line
Screen "screen2"
If anyone wants to submit me any improvements or additions to the XF86Config-4 file, I'll update this page accordingly.

Getting XFree86 to think "4"....

This section will probably only be useful to those having trouble getting their X system to try a version 4 configuration first.

My problem was that X didn't seem to even try to work using a version 4.0 server. My reasoning is that I renamed the XF86Config file, leaving the XF86Config-4 file, but startx would fail, complaining that it couldn't find the XF86Config file (why didn't it try the XF86Config-4 file??).

Anyhow, to get around this I reinstated the XF86Config file, started X, and ran XFdrake (you can do this through the Hardware/Display section of Mandrake Control Center if you like). Using this tool I specified a NVIDIA GeForce DDR (generic) as my video card (I think you could equally choose any of the NVIDIA GeForce card options ending in "generic"). Go through the motions and choose anything you like for resolution, color depth etc. Don't bother trying to test the configuration - it won't work properly (but that's not our concern at the moment). This caused the install of the NVIDIA XFree86 4 server from the Mandrake install CD, as well as create a somewhat-correct XF86Config-4 file in etc/X11. From this partially-correct file I built my now-working XF86Config file.

The side effect out of this step is that my XFree86 system now seemed to look for 4.0 stuff rather than 3.6 stuff. This set me up for the next step....

LCD Anti-Aliasing....

LCD anti-aliasing looks great (even better than standard antialiasing). Checkout how to set this up in my general Linux help page.

More general issues....

Some quick tips

Yet to configure

Yet to add to this document

  • Modem setup (the Lucent ltmodem drivers are working well for me, just no time to document it yet)

    • Can you help me?

    I've spent the time to write this document.... so can anyone help me in return with a few questions?
    1. Can anyone give me the procedure for getting FireWire going on my laptop? I've got a Sony PCR-DC110E digital video camera and I'd like to muck about with it under Linux. It may be a no-brainer.... I haven't looked deeply into it yet.
    I can be contacted at jwclark@lpgmt.com  (change the 'at' to '@' - spam control)

    I've also got other tidbits of information (including some more general linux- and mandrake-specific installation and configuration help) available thru my HOME PAGE.

    Enjoy! Linux is superb!
    John W Clark
    Computer Systems Engineer
    Melbourne, Australia