X does not start, XFX R7 240 adapter

Robert Kopp

Robert Kopp

I am resuming the use of FreeBSD (x64). I installed a GeForce GT 610 display adapter on my HP XW4400 workstation, and attempted to install both Linux and FreeBSD. Linux would not install, but FreeBSD did, and configured X successfully.
I wanted to have both OS. I installed an XFX R7 240 adapter that worked with Linux, and also with FreeBSD using the same xorg.conf, but only in VESA mode (obviously). I wanted better performance, so I attempted to configure X for the new card, and X would not come up. (Fortunately, I saved the original xorg.conf). It says that with the new file, the number of screens does not match the number of devices. I tried commenting out the lines corresponding to the vesa driver, but to no avail. Anyhow, here it is. Any advice would be appreciated.

Code: 
Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "X.org Configured"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
    Screen      1  "Screen1" RightOf "Screen0"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "Files"
    ModulePath   "/usr/local/lib/xorg/modules"
    FontPath     "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/misc/"
    FontPath     "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/TTF/"
    FontPath     "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/OTF/"
    FontPath     "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/Type1/"
    FontPath     "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/"
    FontPath     "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/"
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load  "glx"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier  "Keyboard0"
    Driver      "kbd"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier  "Mouse0"
    Driver      "mouse"
    Option       "Protocol" "auto"
    Option       "Device" "/dev/sysmouse"
    Option       "ZAxisMapping" "4 5 6 7"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier   "Monitor0"
    VendorName   "Monitor Vendor"
    ModelName    "Monitor Model"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier   "Monitor1"
    VendorName   "Monitor Vendor"
    ModelName    "Monitor Model"
EndSection

Section "Device"
        ### Available Driver options are:-
        ### Values: <i>: integer, <f>: float, <bool>: "True"/"False",
        ### <string>: "String", <freq>: "<f> Hz/kHz/MHz",
        ### <percent>: "<f>%"
        ### [arg]: arg optional
        #Option     "Accel"                 # [<bool>]
        #Option     "SWcursor"               # [<bool>]
        #Option     "EnablePageFlip"         # [<bool>]
        #Option     "ColorTiling"           # [<bool>]
        #Option     "ColorTiling2D"         # [<bool>]
        #Option     "RenderAccel"           # [<bool>]
        #Option     "SubPixelOrder"         # [<str>]
        #Option     "EXAVSync"               # [<bool>]
        #Option     "EXAPixmaps"             # [<bool>]
        #Option     "ZaphodHeads"           # <str>
        #Option     "EnablePageFlip"         # [<bool>]
        #Option     "SwapbuffersWait"       # [<bool>]
    Identifier  "Card0"
    Driver      "radeon"
    BusID       "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Device"
        ### Available Driver options are:-
        ### Values: <i>: integer, <f>: float, <bool>: "True"/"False",
        ### <string>: "String", <freq>: "<f> Hz/kHz/MHz",
        ### <percent>: "<f>%"
        ### [arg]: arg optional
        #Option     "ShadowFB"               # [<bool>]
        #Option     "DefaultRefresh"         # [<bool>]
        #Option     "ModeSetClearScreen"     # [<bool>]
    Identifier  "Card1"
    Driver      "vesa"
    BusID       "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "Screen0"
    Device     "Card0"
    Monitor    "Monitor0"
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     1
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     4
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     8
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     15
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     16
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "Screen1"
    Device     "Card1"
    Monitor    "Monitor1"
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     1
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     4
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     8
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     15
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     16
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     24
    EndSubSection
EndSection
 
Since AMD's change in card numbering, I can't really tell what that card is. The radeon driver in FreeBSD does not support all of the 7000-series yet, and none of the 8000-series as far as I know.

For a test, rename xorg.conf and let X start without it. If it can't use the radeon driver, it will fall back to vesa.
 
X won't start without xorg.conf. Since Radeons supposedly use open-source drivers, I'm rather puzzled by the lack of support, but perhaps this card will be supported by "radeon" eventually. Meanwhile, it would be a good idea for anyone purchasing a display adapter to check the list on Xorg.
 
Robert Kopp said:
X won't start without xorg.conf. Since Radeons supposedly use open-source drivers, I'm rather puzzled by the lack of support, but perhaps this card will be supported by "radeon" eventually. Meanwhile, it would be a good idea for anyone purchasing a display adapter to check the list on Xorg.
Click to expand...

The FreeBSD driver is not fully up to date with Linux radeon. You have to wait using VESA probably until FreeBSD 11
 
Ah, that's because X tries to add the vesa driver, and then there are two video card sections in the automatic configuration.

I suggest creating an xorg.conf (which really should be in /usr/local/etc/X11/, see hier(7)) with only a single video card section for vesa:
Code: 
Section "Device"
        Identifier "Card0"
        Driver "vesa"
EndSection

That's the entire file. If anything else is necessary, it would be monitor sections, but I think it will work as-is.
 
It works. Someone with an unsupported card could get X started by doing this. I'm inclined to see if 11-CURRENT supports the card, although it's not really stable. Otherwise, I'd be interested in advice on what kind of display adapter to get, so that I don't end up with a carload of them.
 
Robert Kopp said:
It works. Someone with an unsupported card could get X started by doing this. I'm inclined to see if 11-CURRENT supports the card, although it's not really stable. Otherwise, I'd be interested in advice on what kind of display adapter to get, so that I don't end up with a carload of them.
Click to expand...

But are you using vesa or radeon driver ? If you are using radeon, and your r7-240 works, try to report it.
 
Robert Kopp said:
I'd be interested in advice on what kind of display adapter to get, so that I don't end up with a carload of them.
Click to expand...
I've used various 4000-series. The HD4650 is nice, not too slow but reasonably low-power. Currently, I have an HD5750, which is much faster. The 5450 takes less power, but is slower than the 4650.

Some of the APUs with 6000-series GPUs work. I've tested the A8-3850.

There is a list of cards at https://wiki.freebsd.org/Graphics.
 
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