Linux Lite Forums
Hardware - Support => Video Cards => Topic started by: bitsnpcs on August 02, 2014, 01:29:20 PM
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Hello,
I installed this PCI graphics card Geforce 8400GS Rev.3 recently as it is 512MB, the previous one was 64MB (Nvidia Geforce MX400).
I also made an error in update choice that altered the splash, Valtam pointed me in the direction of the solution :-) I followed that thread and had help from members, this resolved that.
There still appeared errors relating to "X.Org Desktop is missing", around a window the edge to left and right, including such as the text box I am entering this in, had wiggly moving lines.
I followed the help manual and changed the driver to "X.Org Nouveau", the wiggly lines on window panes have now stopped.
Playing video would then crash the OS and send error reports X4 or sometimes X5 to Ubuntu on reboot.
I looked through this forum and found this thread - https://www.linuxliteos.com/forums/index.php?topic=84.0 (https://www.linuxliteos.com/forums/index.php?topic=84.0)
Valtam wrote - "I take it you have already tried to load a driver? If so you'll need to remove it.
Press: Ctrl+Alt+F1 this will drop you to a tty screen, if you need to, login. Then type in: sudo service lightdm stop
Now do: sudo apt-get remove --purge nvidia-* then sudo rm /etc/X11/xorg.conf
Then do: sudo apt-get install nvidia-current then sudo reboot"
Although the problem I have may be different, I realized I also needed to remove the Nvidia driver and application correctly, the driver I had installed was the tested Nvidia Driver, I also tried the legacy driver.
I followed Valtams instructions above this far -
"Press: Ctrl+Alt+F1 this will drop you to a tty screen, if you need to, login.
Then type in: sudo service lightdm stop
Now do: sudo apt-get remove --purge nvidia-*"
(I missed out the following steps as I was unsure if they were for my instance).
I then followed the instructions "sudo reboot"
This has solved the problem of the crash when trying to playback video and it has also solved the problem of error reports asking to be sent to Ubuntu, in addition to the cause by its removing the Nvidia driver and application.
Although video playback doesn't crash it is blocky with artefacts and stops/starts.
The problem I need help with is twofold, and may well be related, I am asking for help ontopic for this forum #1 below -
1/ I need help/advice with a driver that will allow video playback with this graphics card.
For reference in case this helps
2/ A black screen appears on shutdown this states -
"Stopping ClamAV
Starting lightdm [OK]
Plymouth is up [OK]"
#2 does not seem to be problematic at this time, I mention as it is not a usual shutdown screen and didn't appear until I made errors. I do not know yet if solving the driver problem will solve this too, similar to removing Nvidia and changing driver solved the Ubuntu splash.
Sorry it is long winded, I am trying to give as much information as I have, and state what I have done/tried so far, to hopefully save time of members who may be able to help.
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Can you open Install Drivers and post a screenshot please, make sure the window is wide enough that we can see all the information.
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Hello Valtam,
here is the Install Drivers screenshot.
(http://i58.tinypic.com/30ucxzt.jpg)
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Try the legacy driver, the bottom option, you won't be able to use any of the other drivers as they are for newer cards. Your card is classed as a legacy card. BTW, theres no guarantee this will work, more often than not, the open source driver, the one you are currently using, is the better choice for legacy cards.
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Valtam I don't think it's a legacy card.
Wikipedia:
"During mid-2009 NVidia released another revision of the GeForce 8400 GS based on the GT218 chip.[6] It has a larger amount of RAM, is capable of DirectX 10.1, OpenGL 3.3 and Shader 4.1. This card is also known as "GeForce 8400 GS Rev. 3"."
GT218 is the same chip as in GeForce gt 205 and 210 cards.
And Nvidia's latest driver 340.24 is supporting 8 series
GeForce 8 Series:
GeForce 8800 Ultra, GeForce 8800 GTX, GeForce 8800 GTS 512, GeForce 8800 GTS, GeForce 8800 GT, GeForce 8800 GS, GeForce 8600 GTS, GeForce 8600 GT, GeForce 8600 GS, GeForce 8500 GT, GeForce 8400 GS, GeForce 8400 SE, GeForce 8400, GeForce 8300 GS, GeForce 8300, GeForce 8200, GeForce 8100 /nForce 720a
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Try the legacy driver, the bottom option, you won't be able to use any of the other drivers as they are for newer cards. Your card is classed as a legacy card. BTW, theres no guarantee this will work, more often than not, the open source driver, the one you are currently using, is the better choice for legacy cards.
I have change to this driver, bottom option now.
The Ubunutu 14.04 splash screens have now returned on shutdown, and on boot.
Quite a lot of text is appearing on them, I have tried using the Pause/Break key it has no effect so I am unable to read it fast enough to supply the text here.
Video playback, video goes blocky and then swirls the colours on the video and freezes. It did not crash VLC or the OS but I only gave it 15 seconds after it froze.
I will change it back to the open source driver for now.
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Hello,
I followed a guide but am still having difficulty installing the driver
wget us.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86/340.24/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-340.24.run
sudo chmod +x NVIDIA-Linux-*-340.24.run
sudo /etc/init.d/lightdm stop
sudo ./NVIDIA-Linux-*-340.24.run
sudo /etc/init.d/lightdm start
In the terminal I got to lightdm stop and get a black/blank screen and so was unable to continue to enter the remainder of the commands, and used reset/power button on the tower.
I then tried CTRL+ALT+F1 beginning from line 2 of the code.
I get an error message saying Nouveau is in use and is not compatible with Nvidia, I agreed to allow Nvidia to add mod files and followed the instructions to reboot and try again.
After reboot on trying again I get the same error message plus, Nvidia is unable to instal, the mod files are unable to close Nouveau.
Prior to this I tried Synaptic and Ubuntu Software Centre to see if I could locate the driver.
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Bad things can happen when you install the drivers that way. If you wanted 340.24 you should have installed drivers from xorg-edgers ppa.
https://launchpad.net/~xorg-edgers/+archive/ubuntu/ppa (https://launchpad.net/~xorg-edgers/+archive/ubuntu/ppa)
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:xorg-edgers/ppa && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install nvidia-340 && sudo apt-get upgrade
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This is getting quite messy, I would either start with a fresh install and stick with the open source drivers or try misko_2083's approach. I'm using the open source drivers on Steam and playing Counterstrike and they work very well.
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Hello misko_2083,
thank you for your help on the correct way for installing the 340.24 driver , the process went well without any problems :-)
The driver didn't resolve video playback issues for me as I had hoped it would.
Hello Valtam,
it seems I will need to do a fresh install.
Do I need to data wipe/overwrite the hdd first, or just use the install disc ?
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Hello Valtam,
it seems I will need to do a fresh install.
Do I need to data wipe/overwrite the hdd first, or just use the install disc?
Hi bitsnpcs,
Just use the install disc, you will get the option to wipe during the installation wizard.
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Hello Valtam,
thank you for you help.
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Hello misko_2083,
thank you for your help on the correct way for installing the 340.24 driver , the process went well without any problems :-)
The driver didn't resolve video playback issues for me as I had hoped it would.
Hi bitsnpcs,
It's not the correct way, but it works. :)
Are video playback issues gone now?
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Hello misko_2083,
I still have video playback issues.
I will do a clean install of Linux Lite tomorrow.
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Hello,
I have done a clean install now, done the updates and avoided the Ubuntu lightdm one. Added java and restricted extras from the install additional software.
Changed keyboard to English UK.
I have made no other changes at all not even the wallpaper and installed no software, below line one of the text in this text box various parts of the menu such as half the height of the smileys appears when I type the next line.
I have not changed any drivers, I played a video in VLC, it crashed the player to a black screen with no video at all displayed and music that stutters on the same words, I had to use the reboot button on tower to stop that as only the black screen was visible.
On reboot I checked the driver being used it is X.Org X Server Nouveau open source.
Is there anything else that might work to enable video ?
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If linux were as big as MS, we would have tremendous driver support, as it is we have to make do with what we are offered. The situation is what it is. The fact is that as linux matures, support for older hardware wanes. If you had a newer machine with more power chances are you would be trouble free on the hardware front and be enjoying a much better linux experience. Please don't think I'm saying to go buy a new machine, because I am not. I'm explaining the 'state of linux' at the moment as it is in the desktop world. Linux works on 1000's on different computer configurations, our own hardware list https://www.linuxliteos.com/hwdb.html has nearly 800 machines listed, and is growing.
MS has a monopoly on desktops, and until that changes our driver support from hardware vendors will not be on par.
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More power - would more RAM be likely to help solve video for me or not ?
Currently it has a P4 2Ghz processor, 512mb RAM on graphics card , and 1GB RAM (x2 of 512MB)(system) , the board can take up to 3GB of RAM. So if it is likely that more RAM would solve it then I can get x3 of 1GB RAM.(removing the current 1GB as only 3 slots).
Or would the video still not work due to the driver for graphics card ?
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Ram is not the issue, the focus as stated is the video card.
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Okay thank you.
It seems even though I don't want to I have no choice but to put windows on that computer :-(
It is a real pain and frustrating that the manufacturers are so uncooperative.
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bitsnpcs, right now, at this moment you are at a turning point. If you are willing to get x3 of 1GB RAM, would that not be better spent on a compatible video card? These days, people do whats easier instead of whats right. Join the free software community and make a stand. You turned to linux for a reason, trust that instinct.
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Hi bitsnpcs,
Is this the problem with vlc only? How about other media players?
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Hello Valtam,
I have only just bought this graphics card.
The RAM would be free for me (as would part of the cost of a graphics card if they sold it, but they don't) as I do an "error finding contest" on Chinese website, they have run it for 3 months and I have won it each of those 3 months, I get $40usd prize each month as I find the most errors, it has to be spent that month you cannot save it up.
What are the compatible graphics card for PCI slot (it's not PCIexpress) with 512MB please ?
I will look at the prices and get one as soon as is possible.
Hello misko_2083,
I haven't tried any other media players, I am unsure which other ones there are, or how to find them or install them.
In the first install I followed a guide to install the Ubuntu Software Centre so I could browse for software that I didn't know the names of by subject area.
I read today on the forum its not a good idea to install this.
It was a future question I would have needed to ask, how to locate /browse for software and install it.
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bitsnpcs, you can install them in several ways, with synaptic package manager, aptitude etc...
Here are some of them Banshee, umplayer, SMPlayer, QMPlay2, gnome media player, Miro... I can't remember right now but there are more media players.
Some of these are just frontends to mplayer.
You can install them with terminal with sudo apt-get install or sudo aptitude install.
Banshee
sudo apt-get install bansheeumplayer
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:noobslab/apps && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install umplayer SMPlayer (with Smtube)
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:rvm/smplayer && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install smplayer smtube smplayer-themes smplayer-skins QMPlay2
sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:samrog131/ppa && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install qmplay2GNOME media player
sudo apt-get install gnome-media-playerMiro
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/ppa && sudo apt-add-repository ppa:jon-severinsson/ffmpeg && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install miroKaffeine
sudo apt-get install kaffeineTotem
sudo apt-get install totem
You can search for software package names in Synaptic or install them with synaptic.
sudo synaptic
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Hello misko_2083,
thank you very much for your help :)
There are so many to choose from, we really are spoilt with choices on Linux. 8)
I will install them and work my way through and let you know how I get along once completed.
How the players work on this computer -
Banshee - x1 crash of player when first installed and video played, menus of LL went very odd/mosaic. After reboot video plays but sort of stutters/lags, audio remains in synch, audio quality is excellent. I think it also installs another program called Brasero ? I haven't tried this but it looks to be a burning software with a good function set.
I didn't really like the layout of Banshee, just my own preferences, if it would have solved my issues I would have came to like it in time.
Umplayer - Video plays perfectly and excellent quality (equal to the best of the players I tried), Audio is 3 seconds out of sync/ahead of the video.
Player handles the file very well no crashes at all.
It is a nice looking player and has a wide choice of language interfaces, it would be good to use on a better machine.
SMPlayer - Video plays perfectly and excellent quality, Audio is 20 seconds ahead of the video ? Crashed player x1 out of 5 plays of video.
A lovely looking player and would be nice to use on a better machine.
QMPlay2 ;D - Plays video without any error, plays audio of the video without any error, works perfectly, audio perfectly in sync. Video quality slightly not as good as others, but is very close to it.
I have played the video in regular small size, full screen, and by altering the interface panels also played at a medium size, all sizes played perfectly.
I managed to crash the player by removing panels and dragging/resizing panels whilst playing a video. I managed to crash the player again by pausing the video, and again by dragging the player on the desktop. I can easily live with that by adjusting my usage and not messing with the interface whilst playing a video.
It also has internet radio stations, 3 of which I have been listening to and enjoy, and will spend time exploring others. The audio on the radio and mp3 files is also very good indeed.
I had to tear myself away from the player to write the update and begin the following trials.
GNOME media player - on this computer will not play or even try to play any video, it shuts down the program when a video is loaded on autoselect and each of its engine options. It doesn't freeze/lock up, or affect Linux Lite at all, it just closes.
It looks a nice player.
Miro - video doesn't play black screen, audio plays correctly. Player did not crash or lock up.
A nice looking player and could be good on another computer.
Kaffeine - video plays>then green screen>then video plays. On this computer the player locked up, and the system tray icons to their right were duplicated, the window names used || for P and F characters, the main LL menu text disappeared and the icons went mosaic, slide bar background, open program background, Terminal window and Synaptic had ||||| for their names and red,white,black and blue shapes of varying sizes from dots to cubes and upside down L shapes, LL did not lock up (it's like a rock), it was possible to reboot using menu although these had no text and most of the button outlines at this stage. I was very impressed at how LL still managed to perform exceptionally well under my experiments, even though Synaptic and the Terminal were dodgy looking they were not dodgy in use they and the OS were rock solid.
On another computer it would be a nice player.
Totem - video appeared very well, audio stops after 18 seconds for the entire video, when using seek, it always begins to play audio again, and always just for 18 seconds.
Once the entire video has played a similar process occurs, the change is the audio plays for 25 seconds each time.
The player did not lock up or freeze.
On another computer this may be a nice player, it is straight forward to use.
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I must have pulled umplayer from another source
apt-cache policy umplayer ....from noobslab :) I'll fix the code.
for miro first do this:
sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:pcf/miro-releasesI'll fix that one too
It looks like QMPlay2 is the best choice for that PC. You can lock widgets it will prevent then from moving. If you want to add YouTube video from browser copy the address from the browser and use Ctrl+U and then change from direct address to YouTube and paste the address/URL.
SMPlayer is great. Too bad you have issues with that player.
Check my previous post again.
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I must have pulled umplayer from another source
apt-cache policy umplayer ....from noobslab :) I'll fix the code.
for miro first do this:
sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:pcf/miro-releasesI'll fix that one too
It looks like QMPlay2 is the best choice for that PC. You can lock widgets it will prevent then from moving. If you want to add YouTube video from browser copy the address from the browser and use Ctrl+U and then change from direct address to YouTube and paste the address/URL.
SMPlayer is great. Too bad you have issues with that player.
Check my previous post again.
Hello misko_2083,
Thank You for editing the code, I have added this code and checked your previous post, I changed the info about Miro in my previous post.
Thank you for explaining the YouTube function it's really good as QMPlay2 remembers the url when closed and reopened. It's good to watch them using the url but to not have to watch the adverts.
umplayer had a different error I have now added this in the previous post.
I have been uninstalling using Synaptic, and then using the Terminal this way -
sudo apt-get autoremoveIs this okay, or do I need to add additional commands in the Terminal?
Thank You, you have solved it with QMPlay2 :)
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Hi bitsnpcs,
You can remove those PPA's you don't need from the repository
sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/ppa
sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:jon-severinsson/ffmpeg
sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:rvm/smplayer
sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:noobslab/apps
then run this command:
sudo apt-get update
That with steam, might be a temporary error at the server. If you still have problems with that post it here.
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Hello misko_2083,
Thank you for your help.
You were correct the Steam error was a temporary one and I have d/l and tried umplayer, I have edited the post above to show the results on this computer.
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I'm late to this topic,
but I've ran across this before,
my video card was not powered enough, make sure you have a good power cable to the video card
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Hello galen,
thank you for your reply.
How do I check if the video card is powered enough and if I have a good power cable to to the video card please ?
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I think the first step would be to see if you have adequate voltage. In a six pin connector, you should be able to measure 12 v. on the left pair, 12 v. on the right pair. Good article here:
http://www.overclock.net/a/gpu-and-cpu-power-connections
You can plug your system into this and see if your power supply is adequate for your hardware:
http://images10.newegg.com/BizIntell/tool/psucalc/index.html
Chris
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Bitsanpcs said it's a PCI Graphics card. Not PCI express.
I doubt the card do much with 266Mbits per second.
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Bitsanpcs said it's a PCI Graphics card. Not PCI express.
I doubt the card do much with 266Mbits per second.
You are correct Misko it was identified as PCI, but I thought all the Ge Force 8400s were PCI (which I learned is not accurate): http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-8400-gs/features (http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-8400-gs/features)
Apparently it is one of the initial 8400s which were indeed PCI (with rev 2 and 3 going to PCIe).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeForce_8_series (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeForce_8_series)
My bad. :(
- Chris
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No big deal Cris :)
I wish his PC suports PCIe or AGP cards. He (probably) wouldn't have this kind of issues.
At the end, he can play videos with QMPlay2.
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Bitsnpcs said it's a PCI Graphics card. Not PCI express.
I doubt the card do much with 266Mbits per second.
You are correct misko it is PCI Graphics card. Not PCI express.
It can play video with QMPlay2 ;)
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Hello!
I'm interested in this, also, as every video card I've ever installed was powered by the AGP/PCI/PCIe bus on the motherboard...
73 DE N4RPS
Rob
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Hello!
I'm interested in this, also, as every video card I've ever installed was powered by the AGP/PCI/PCIe bus on the motherboard...
73 DE N4RPS
Rob
N4RPS - not sure what you are asking or interested in. If it's the auxiliary power (or whatever they call it) there are some PCIe cards that require an additional 6 pin power plug connection. This is the spec sheet for mine: http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-9600-gt/specifications (http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-9600-gt/specifications)
If you look down near the bottom on the specs it shows "supplemental pwer connection: 6 pin"
Many of the power supplies have this coming right off the supply, otherwise there are adapters to get the power elsewhere. I have heard that some people have run this card (GeForce 9600 GT without a supplement connection plugged in and everything seemed to work but performance was not great. Not sure if this was your question?
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Hello!
I didn't take into account that some of these newer video cards are now so powerful, and have so much onboard RAM, that the PCIe bus itself is inadequate to completely power them!
73 DE N4RPS
Rob