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From: joe@apache.dtcc.edu (Joe Brown)
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.help,comp.os.386bsd.questions,comp.windows.x.i386unix
Subject: Diamond.FAQ
Followup-To: comp.windows.x.i386unix
Date: 7 Sep 1993 15:25:40 -0400
Organization: Delaware Technical & Community College
Lines: 622
Distribution: world
Message-ID: <26in7kINNlov@apache.dtcc.edu>
NNTP-Posting-Host: apache.dtcc.edu
Summary: Info & help to get Diamond video cards to work
Keywords: FAQ Diamond XFree86 x windows xwindows info help
This FAQ pertains to the use of Diamond Computer's video card products
and XFree86 with the Linux Operating system. I haven't spoken with
many people from the BSD groups. If you find any of these utilities
of use, please let me know, so that the BSDs may be covered as well.
Please forward any comments, corrections, enhancements, flames,
suggestions, etc... to: joe@apache.dtcc.edu
S: ToC
* Warning, Please read this first!
* Introduction
* Writing Diamond
* Some Questions & answers about Diamond Video Cards
* Fixes (procedures some of us netters have used to get
our Xwindows systems up and running).
+ Joe's fix for Stealth 24 (ISA)
+ Johnson's fix for the Speedstar+
+ Vesku's fix for the Stealth VRAM v.2.32
+ Console fix
+ Cybard's fix Diamond SS24
* THE END & contributors list
To ease your quest, search for:
S: Major sections
Q: Questions
F: Fixes
C: preceeds & trails the Xconfigs
S: Warning
WARNING: THE USE OF THE SOFTWARE RECOMMENDED OR TECHNIQUES DESCRIBED
WITHIN THIS DOCUMENT:
* MAY * DAMAGE * YOUR * VIDEO * CARD * AND/OR * MONITOR *.
(Side note: It seems very few and far between that it happens, but it
has happened, or so I've heard. Please send any such problems to
joe@apache.dtcc.edu. You have been warned, so don't hold me
responsible!)
I believe this pertains to frequencies which may exceed your monitor's
capabilities, particularly if you have an older or lower-quality
monitor!
Frequencies which work great on one monitor may cause monitor and/or
video card damage when used on a different system or monitor.
It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to ensure that any setting you use meets the
safe operating parameters of your monitor.
NO WARRANTY
THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THIS DOCUMENT, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY
APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT
HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THE DOCUMENT "AS IS" WITHOUT
WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND
PERFORMANCE OF THE DOCUMENT IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE DOCUMENT PROVE
DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR
CORRECTION.
S: Introduction
David C. Niemi is responsible for initiating this FAQ, I
(joe@apache.dtcc.edu) have taken over it's maintenence.
Purpose: Diamond Computer Systems, Inc. the maker of the Diamond
{SpeedStar, Stealth, Viper, etc.} have a policy which hinders the
ability to write free software for several of their products.
It seems very strange that any company would hold a policy such as
this. My understanding is that it protects "trade secrets" they
own, and would like to protect.
Because of this, this FAQ exists and hopefully will cut down on the
bandwidth consumed by owners of Diamond Computer Systems, Inc. video
card product, in reguards to XFree86 Xwindows System.
The creators of this FAQ are not in any way affiliated with Diamond
Computer Systems, Inc. and do not advocate purchasing Diamond
products. This posting is not intended to encourage, nor discourage
people from buying Diamond video cards. For those of use who own
Diamond products, and wish to be able to use them with XFree86, this
FAQ *may* be of use.
S: Writing Diamond
It seems unlikely that Diamond Computer Systems, Inc. will change
their practice, especially if we barrage them with hostile letters
proclaiming dissatisfaction with them and/or their practice of
non-disclosure.
If you feel strongly enough to write them, use a cool calm voice.
State your position, and organizations with which you are involved and
your influence in future purchases. State weather you would recommend
their product in the future and why or why not.
Remember, you're trying to persuade. Anger is not persuasive. Give
yourself a cool down period, if needed. Leave the letter alone, and
come back to it tomorrow.
S: Questions
Q: What are the different video cards has Diamond Computer Systems
Inc. produced?
1. SpeedStar VGA: Tseng(ET4000) chipset and Music DAC
2. SpeedStar High Color: Tseng(ET4000) chipset and Sierra DAC
3. SpeedStar 24: Tseng(ET4000) chipset and Diamond(SS2410) DAC
4. SpeedStar 24X: Western Digital(WD90C31) chipset and Diamond(SS2410) DAC
5. Stealth Vram: S3(P86C911) chipset and Diamond(SS2410) DAC
6. SpeedStar Pro ISA: Cirrus Logic chipset
7. SpeedStar Pro VLB: Cirrus Logic chipset
8. Stealth 24 ISA: S3(P86C801) chipset and Diamond(SS2410) DAC
9. Stealth 24 VLB: S3(P86C805) chipset and Diamond(SS2410) DAC
10. Stealth Pro ISA: S3(P86C928) chipset and Diamond(SS2410) DAC
11. Stealth Pro VLB: S3(P86C928) chipset and Diamond(SS2410) DAC
12. Viper VLB 1/2 MB: Weitek(P9000) chipset and Bt(485KPJ110) DAC
Q: What makes the Diamond so special???
Several of their video cards use Diamond's custom clock generator
chip, which is not compatible with the clock from any other vendor.
Q: How can they claime "Compatibility" and still be excluded from
Xfree86?
Using BIOS level calls, most of the video modes, including SVGA
specific modes can be attained with the card. Most Unicices do not
work in the ``real'' mode of Intel platforms. This makes a BIOS level
call difficult, if not impossible.
The XFree86 team has much work. Adding a platform specific --
complicated feature such as bios calls is the least of their worries.
Q: What is the Diamond Viper?
It is based on the Weitek P9000, not an S3 chip, so it needs
completely different drivers from the Diamond Stealth series.
You can use the VGA add-on of the Viper with the Mono X-server, but
you will neither have color nor use the accelerated features of the
Viper.
The P9000 chipset (and so the Viper) is currently not supported and
will probably not be supported in the near future.
David Truckenmiller (trucken@cs.umn.edu), has documentation from
Diamond Computer Systems Inc. and is interested in working with
someone to develop a server for the Viper (P9000) chipset. The Viper
does not use the "trade secrets" of diamond, so this may be freely
developed and distributed. Please drop him a line, if you have the
ability, and some time.
Q: Can I use a Diamond products with XFree86?
Yes, at least under Linux. XFree86 will work out of the box with the
monochrome server (/usr/X386/bin/XF86_Mono) at 640x480.
For several of the SpeedStars's to get 640x480 colo<r use the XSVGA
Server. To get higher resolutions, you will need to specially set the
Diamond Clock on your card (please read the WARNING first).
For the Stealth 24's get 640x480 color, install XS3 and the fix
sections of this FAQ. To get higher resolutions, you will need to
specially set the Diamond Clock on your card (please read the WARINING
first).
For the Viper, see Question above "What is the Diamond Viper."
The clockchip for Diamond products will not be supported in the
further (future) XFree86 releases. Though you should be able to use
the freq, s3, or ds3 program to set the clocks from the server (as in
ClockProg option line in Xconfig).
XFree86-2.0 (this will replace XS3) will support more than 1 MB and
will allow higher resolutions. Most s3 chips, however, only work
accelerated at horizontal resolutions 640, 800, 1024 and 1280 (the
most recent chips also at 1152).
Q: I get funny black blocks and few if any text when I bring up
XS3-0.4.4 on my Diamond Stealth. I also see black and white
vertical lines before the normal X stipple background is
loaded. How do you fix this?
In /usr/X386/lib/X11/Xconfig, change the "Virtual 1024 1024" line to
be "Virtual 1024 768". XS3 uses the other 256KB of memory for a font
cache, whether it is in use or not; this is not a Diamond problem per
se.
Q: I have a Diamond Stealth 24 VLB card, and menus and popups don't
get erased under my window manager.
Add the following line to your Xconfig:
Vendor "nolinear"
This may make things a bit slower, but this card is fast enough you
probably won't notice, and at least it will work.
S:Q: How do I set the Diamond Clock?
xclk.gz Useful calculating ModeDB timings, based
on parameters passed to it.
(xclk.gz only contains a binary that works on
Linux. I don't know where the source code
can be found.)
vgaset.tpz Helps fine tune timing values in Xconfig. This
was included with the SLS 1.03 distribution of
Linux.
stealth-fix.tar.Z Contains ``s3'' program which sets up the
Diamond Stealth 24 Clocks, for 1024x768.
ds3.tgz ``ds3'' is a modified version of s3,
provides a friendlier and more capable
interface for setting the third clock.
speedstar-fix.tar.Z Contains ``freq'' program, for setting the
Diamond SpeedStar's clocks frequencies.
This also works with older Stealth cards
(stealth's based on ET4000 chipset).
diamond.taz Same as speedstar-fix.tar.Z
XS3-0.4.tar.gz BETA release of the XFree S3 server (0.4.4)
Developed by Amanico Hasty Jr.
xs3-928.gz The 928 chipset (as in stealth pro) will not
work with the standard XS3-0.4.4 get the xS3-928
instead.
Amanico Hasty:
XS3 is not based on XFree86 is however based on X11R5 and
Kevin Martin's IBM 8514/a X server. XS3 has never supported
the ibm8514/a cards (just a popular question I get all the time)
P.S.: Very important Jon Tombs out of the Linux group is the one
responsible for XS3 under Linux. He deserves also a lot of credit
for working on XS3 and continuing the S3 line work for his
server is going to be part of XFree86. I am not part of XFree86
because I rather hack pretty much on my own and wanted to release
the server much sooner than XFree86 team wanted.
S:Q: Where do I get the components I need?
These are just some locations. Check a mirror near you, for these
files.
Anonymous FTP The path to the program when
Server this FAQ was written The Program
------------- ---------------------------- -----------
sunsite.unc.edu /pub/Linux/X11/X-servers/s3 xclk.gz
sunsite.unc.edu /pub/Linux/X11/xutils vgaset.tpz
ted.cs.uidaho.edu /pub/linux/sources/usr.bin.X11 stealth-fix.tar.Z
sunsite.unc.edu /pub/Linux/X11/install ds3.tgz
sunsite.unc.edu /pub/Linux/X11/X-servers/s3 XS3-0.4.tar.gz
sunsite.unc.edu /pub/Linux/X11/X-servers/s3 xS3-928
sunsite.unc.edu /pub/Linux/X11/X-servers/s3 FAQ
Q: Will future releases of XFree86 support Diamond's Cards?
No.
XFree86 2.0 and greater, will replace XS3-0.4.4 and XS3-928 servers.
Also, the freq, (or s3, or ds3) program that you use to set your
clock, may be incorporated as part of your Xconfig, with the ClockProg
option.
HOWEVER, at the time this FAQ is being written, we are all on the
waiting list for XFree86 2.0.
Q: How do I get my card to work with XFree86, and Linux
Read warning at the top of this document before you attempting any of
these suggestions.
These fixes should work with either XFree86 versions 1.2 & 1.3.
There are a number of fixes, contained in this document. One may be
just what you were looking for. (for those with search capability,
search for ``F:'', to find the one for your card.)
F:--------------------Joe's Fix:
Hardware: Diamond Stealth 24 (ISA) v1.03
486/50 Contaq ISA motherboard
NEC MultiSync Plus Monitor
Linux 0.99 pl11 (SLS 1.03 release)
I don't know why xclk is under X-server/s3. It seems to me that it
should work find, reguardless of the server you use.
(This program is great!!! Helps computing ModeDB timings)
There's a vgaset which comes with Linux, I think this is the same.
(I used the one that came with Linux SLS 1.03.)
The s3 program in stealth-fix sets the stealth clocks (properly for
1024x768)... (I guess you have to run the dos stl/util/stlmode
program, to set the clocks, before you'll get any of this to work,
this is purely speculation though.)
With XS3-0.4.4 server linked to /usr/X386/bin/X, and the Clocks line
in Xconfig commented, it reported what the clocks were. I set the
Clocks line to these values.
I ran the xclk program, with the value of the third clock in the list
reported by startx.
xclk -h 74 1024 >> /usr/X386/lib/Xconfig
After this, I started x, and used vgaset, and found a magical
combination.
This worked for me, though, I do need to rerun vgaset. My Xterm had a
hard time syncing the last time I stated up.
I have to run s3 5 9 every time before startx now.
Addendum:
My monitor still has a hard time syncing with s3. I'm now using the
``ds3 65'', instead of the s3. It took a little more experimenting to
find the right frequency. Oddly enuogh no changes were necessary to my
Xconfig file, and it works perfectly.
This seems to be much a much better frequency for my monitor. I hate
to use this comparison... Now however, I'm getting an almost
identical resolution as in Windows, +plus the image is much sharper
than with plain old s3 5 9.
#C:--------------------Joe's Xconfig--------------------
# copyright etc... omitted, please see original distribution for
# reference. This Xconfig works with my NEC MultiSync Plus Monitor,
# and Diamond Stealth 24 (ISA) video card.
#[non-video related Xconfig omitted]
vga256
Virtual 1024 768
# vendor "nolinear"
Clocks 25.2 28.3 74.6 74.4 42.9 0 74.3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 74.5
Modes "1024x768" "640x480"
Videoram 1024
ModeDB
# clock horizontal timing vertical timing
"640x480" 25 640 672 768 800 480 490 492 525
28 640 672 768 800 480 490 492 525
# The following lines generated by by ``xclk -h 74 1024 >> Xclock''
# and tweaked slightly, based on values provided by ``vgaset'' and
# personal judgement. ( I think more tweaking is needed, last time
# I started X, I had trouble getting the monitor to achieve a sync.)
"1024x768" 74 1024 1024 1192 1368 768 768 779 806
# Refresh rate = 67.11Hz ; Horizontal Frequency = 54.09KHz
#C: EOJoe's Xconfig
----------- joe's xbench/xstones
xbench can be found at a mirror near you.
i486/50, w/Diamond Stealth 24 (ISA), Linux & XFree 1.3 w/XS3-0.4.4
server. IMHO these are excellent results.
xbench >joes.machine.out
awk -f xstones.awk < joes.machine.out
TOTAL 145502 lineStones
TOTAL 56537 fillStones
TOTAL 42860 blitStones
TOTAL 3773638 arcStones
TOTAL 143125 textStones
TOTAL 97320 complexStones
TOTAL 83315 xStones
/* end Joe's fix & misc. Trivia */
F:------------ Johnson's fix for the Speedstar+
I am using SLS 1.02, but I believe it'll work the same way on the 1.03
server. I found my timings by trial and error, setting just the third
clock. Once I got *something* on the screen, I could experiment.
I finally got the ``freq'' program to set the clock on my card. Xfree
doesn't support it, but it will do the job. It can be found at
tsx-11.mit.edu in /pub/linux/sources/usr.bin.X11 as
speedstar-fix.tar.Z. There is also a file which claims to fix the
Stealth (stealth-fix.tar.Z). BTW, the README was a little too vague
to really use, sorry to say.
Here's my setup:
#C:--------------------Johnson's Xconfig:
# This Xconfig, has been condensed for brevity, please see original
# XFree86 distribution files for CopyRight information.
#[non-video related Xconfig omitted]
vga256
Virtual 1024 768
ViewPort 0 0
Modes "1024x768"
#Clocks 25 28 63 72 78 58 50 63
#Clocks 25 27 28 28 25 27 28 28
Clocks 25 27 60 65 25 27 60 65
ModeDB
# clock horizontal timing vertical timing
"640x480" 25 640 672 768 800 480 490 492 525
28 640 672 768 800 480 490 492 525
"1024x768" 60 1024 1048 1248 1328 768 776 786 806
#C: EOJohnsons' Xconfig
Setting clock 1 at 28 did not work for me.
I have a Diamond Speedstar+ vers 5.0 and an AOC 14'' monitor, with 1
meg ram on the card.
I run freq as a part of loading X. In my .bashrc I have:
alias x='freq 66997 2 ; xinit'
When leaving X, I get triple images. Running nox fixes that:
alias nox='freq 41999 2'
By the way, the screen is sharper and has less flicker now than with
diamond doing the clocksetting in DOS.
Of course, your mileage may vary.
It *might* be possible to find alternate timings that also work,
perhaps some using the 28 setting on clock 1 that others have
reported. I donno.
By the way, in case it isn't obvious X is running at 1024x768 256
colors. Somewhat sharper than my rs6000 at the office.
Hope this helps someone.
David L. Johnson ID: dlj0@lehigh.edu
/* end Johnson's fix */
F:----------(Vesku's fix)---------- Vesa T|rm{nen <wet@Niksula.hut.fi>
Equipment: A 33Mhz 486 clone, Diamond Stealth VRAM v.2.32, MicroScan
4A/ADI- monitor, SLS v.?.??
This uses the XS3-0.4.4 server, linked to /usr/X386/bin/X
Here's what I did:
1) I got the diamond.taz and xclk.gz from sunsite.unc.edu.
2) I ran smode in VRAM/UTIL/SMODE (a DOS prog) and got the vertical
and horizontal frequencies for 1024x768 mode.
3) I ran xclk, trying to get the same horizontal and vertical
frequencies. (58.1 kHz and 72.0 Hz, respectively). xclk -h 80.88 1024
>> Xconfig gave me a stable screen.
4) I started X with 640x480 mode
5) I ran freq 80880 2, which set the Stealth clock 2 to 80.897 kHz,
the screen went blank.
6) I pressed Ctrl-Alt-KeypadPlus, and there it was 1024x768 with 72 Hz
refresh rate and not dancing samba (and the children clapped their
furry hands).
7) I centered the screen with vgaset and set the Xconfig accordingly.
How I start X:
1) First boot dos :-( and run the SMODE program, select CUSTOM, select
1024x768 with the right frequencies (this shows a screen with 1024x768
resolution). Then I exit SMODE and press C-A-del.
2) I boot Linux, start X with 640x480 mode, run freq and press C-A-+
and the mode is correct. It is possible to start in 1024x768 mode
straight away by making an alias like 'startx; freq xxxxx y', but this
hangs when exiting :(.
If someone has a better solution (less hassle), send it to me as well
as Joe.
/* end Vesku's fix */
F:---------------Console fix
Here's the console fix, from someone named "Juergen" but forwarded to
me by Julio C. Pereda (zeus@lyon.nscee.edu):
------------- cut -----------------
*** linux/boot/setup.S.orig Mon Feb 1 15:13:19 1993
--- linux/boot/setup.S Mon Feb 1 15:39:38 1993
***************
*** 87,92 ****
--- 87,101 ----
mov [4],bx ! bh = display page
mov [6],ax ! al = video mode, ah = window width
+ ! init diamond stealth clock
+ mov ax,#0x4f02
+ mov bx,#0x0205 ! 1024x768
+ int 0x10
+ !
+ mov ax,#0x4f02
+ mov bx,#0x03 !80x25
+ int 0x10
+
! Get hd0 data
mov ax,#0x0000
------------- cut -----------------
Copy the above patch to /usr/src and patch the kernel with
patch -p0 < [patchfilename]
Now, what does the patch do?
It is applied at an early boot phase at a time when the cpu is still
in 8086 mode. At that time the vga-BIOS is still avail. and so the
patch just enters the graphics mode and leaves it again. but the
clock-chip is now set up. The clocks I use in my xconfig are 25 28
65.
/* end Console fix */
F:--------------------The Cybard's fix <dudek@acsu.buffalo.edu>
I have a Diamond SS24 (not X) card and a TVM MediaScan 4A+ monitor.
I'm running Linux with Xfree 1.3 (also worked with Xfree 1.2). I get an
excellent 1152x950 resolution with the command 'freq 62000 2'. Here
is my Xconfig:
#C:-------------------------- cut here ----------------------------
# This Xconfig, has been condensed for brevity, please see original
# XFree86 distribution files for CopyRight information.
#[non-video related Xconfig omitted]
vga256
# NoSpeedUp
Virtual 1152 900
ViewPort 0 0
Modes "1152x900" "640x480" "800x600"
Clocks 25 28 36
ModeDB
# name clock horizontal timing vertical timing flags
"640x480" 25 640 672 768 800 480 490 492 525
28 640 656 752 792 480 490 492 519
"800x600" 36 800 800 912 968 600 600 602 614
"1152x900" 36 1152 1184 1288 1360 900 898 929 939 Interlace
#C:----------------------------------- cut here ----------------------------
/* end Cybard's Fix */
S: THE END
SpeedStar VGA, SpeedStar High Color, SpeedStar 24, SpeedStar 24X,
Stealth Vram, SpeedStar Pro ISA, SpeedStar Pro VLB, Stealth 24 ISA,
Stealth 24 VLB, Stealth Pro ISA, Stealth Pro VLB and Viper VLB are
registered trademarks (TM) of Diamond Computer Systems, Inc.
People I've corresponded with, have helped in one way or another,
and/or made major contributions:
David.Niemi@oasis.gtegsc.com
zeus@lyon.nscee.edu
wet@Niwet@niksula.cs.hut.fi
dudek@acsu.buffalo.edu
staceyc@sco.com
swift@world.std.com
brad@bradley.bradley.edu
dlj0@Lehigh.EDU
bar@bbma2.ma.bb.de
alan@curta.cc.columbia.edu
hasty@netcom.com
trucken@cs.umn.edu
geyer@polyhymnia.iwr.uni-heidelberg.de
ctj@fns.com
(gee I hope I remembered everyone)
With special thanks for kicking off this faq, and all his
contributions: David.Niemi@oasis.gtegsc.com
(BTW: I think that special thanks is kind of sarcastic, this has been
a lot of extra work ;-)
Best Wishes!
Please forward any comments, corrections, enhancements, flames,
suggestions, etc...
to: joe@apache.dtcc.edu
--
Religion: Yes, I believe there is a Church
Murphy's Paradox: doing it the hard way is always easier
(: Joe Brown :) joe@apache.dtcc.edu