*BSD News Article 25412


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Newsgroups: comp.os.386bsd.misc
Path: sserve!newshost.anu.edu.au!munnari.oz.au!spool.mu.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!usenet.ucs.indiana.edu!mimosa.astro.indiana.edu!pitts
From: pitts@mimosa.astro.indiana.edu (Jim Pitts)
Subject: Re: FreeBSD 1.0R, XFree-86 2.0, and Diamond Speedstar
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References: <2fq7f6$gaj@ulowell.uml.edu> <2fqcdg$isp@ulowell.uml.edu> <1993Dec29.041309.17997@pool.info.sunyit.edu>
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1993 16:06:48 GMT
Lines: 56

In article <1993Dec29.041309.17997@pool.info.sunyit.edu>,
David D. Colbey <uddc@pool.info.sunyit.edu> wrote:
>Brian 'Doc' O'Neill (oneill@cs.uml.edu) wrote:
>: In article <2fq7f6$gaj@ulowell.uml.edu> oneill@cs.uml.edu (Brian 'Doc' O'Neill) writes:
>: >I am having trouble with getting XFree-86 2.0 running on my FreeBSD 1.0R
>: >system. I have a Diamond Speedstar ET4000 card. No Plus, no II, no 24, just
>: >Speedstar. The monitor is a ADI MicroScan 3E
>
>: Whoops...correction...it IS a Speedstar Plus...
>
>Diamond video cards suck!  I have a SpeedStar 24X and I had the same problem
>as you.  My workaround is to use a program written for Linux called "freq".
>After a little hacking, I was able to get it compiled.  Unfortunately it does
>not always work.  It occasionally gives a "bus error" and core dumps. When
>this happens, I have to boot DOS and run something that uses the Hi-Res video
>mode, then reboot FreeBSD.  I sure wish Diamond didn't have such big "trade
>secrets" to hide.  
>

Diamond video cards do not suck.  They just don't support the software you
want the way you want it supported.  As far as video cards go they are
actually very nice.  Your problem is with a lack of free support for the
product, not a technical problem with the card itself.

Of course I refer to XFree86 when I mean software.  I first questioned the
teams policy of no support for these products.  I now understand why
this is the case and support their stand on the issue.

Of course as an owner of Diamond products I am hurt by this messy situation,
but those are the breaks.  I chose to buy Diamond.  I hope that in the
future Diamond will see that guarding the programming of their clock chips
is not necessary.  When this happens I also hope the XFree86 team will be
willing to admit when they have won a battle.  I am not holding my breath.

I use my Diamond card with XFree86-2.0 with -0- problems.  It works great, I get
good performance, and am very happy with it.  It is a very nice card.

FYI I hacked 'freq' as well for FreeBSD with little problems.  It works well
for me.  I have no problems with "bus errors".

Finally, I would like to note for general record that Diamond sent me the
information needed to modify 'freq' (how to program the clock).  They
sent it to me through my FAX machine minutes after a nice conversation with 
their support people.  They were very polite and -did not- ask me to sign 
anything about non-disclosure.  I am not saying they did not do this to others
in the past.  I am just saying that I have never experienced any resistance 
from them on the subject.  These are things that one would generally consider 
to be 'good' support from a company.

Just my .02, and seldom worth that much.

-- 
- pitts@mimosa.astro.indiana.edu             ^       | James J. Pitts        -
- Most people are sheep.                    /@\      | IU Physics Dept       -
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