Re: Problems installing Mandrake on a G4 mac

From: C Lund (clund_at_notam02SPAMBLOCK.no)
Date: 12/10/04 

Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2004 10:15:51 +0100

In article <Xns95BB6F953BF75emteedee@130.133.1.4>,
 Mike Dee <emteedee@optushome.com.au> wrote:

> You may need to pass some video arguments to Yaboot:
> <http://wijnand.rietman.biz/linux/mac/index.html?main>

> **/
> How to get video working.

> Many Linux PPC users have troubles getting video to work. If the
> standard install doesn’t work well, you likely need to pass in some
> kernel arguments specific to your machine. These arguments can be
> passed to the kernel through yaboot, using the following syntax:

> video=xxxxx:vmode:vv,cmode:cc

> The xxxx should specify the frame buffer of your video card. Locate
> your video card in the list below in order to find the appropriate
> frame buffer:

> Video card Frame Buffer
> ----------------------------------
> ATI Mach64 atyfb
> ATI Rage II atyfb
> ATI Rage IIc atyfb
> ATI 3D Rage II atyfb
> ATI Rage Pro atyfb
> ATI Rage Pro Turbo atyfb
> ATI Rage LT Pro atyfb
> ATI Rage Mobility atyfb
> ATI Rage 128 aty128fb
> ATI Rage 128 VR aty128fb
> ATI Rage 128 Pro aty128fb
> ixMicro TwinTurbo imsttfb

No nVidia options? I have a GF2mx in my mac.

> The vv and cc should be replaced with a vmode and cmode, respectively,
> that are supported by your monitor. The vmode refers to both the screen
> size in pixels (horizontal x vertical) and the refresh rate (in Hz).
> The cmode refers to the bit depth and will be either 8, 16, 24, or 32.
> The bit depth can be converted into the number of colors with the
> formula "number of colors = 2^(bit depth)". So an 8-bit display will
> have 2^8 or 256 colors, while a 24-bit display will have 2^24 or
> 16,777,216 colors (millions of colors).
>
> vmode size (pixels) refresh notes
> ----- ------------- ------- -----
> 1 512 x 384 60 Hz Interlaced NTSC
> 2 512 x 384 60 Hz
> 3 640 x 480 50 Hz Interlaced PAL
> 4 640 x 480 60 Hz Interlaced NTSC
> 5 640 x 480 60 Hz
> 6 640 x 480 67 Hz
> 7 640 x 870 75 Hz Portrait
> 8 768 x 576 50 Hz Interlaced PAL
> 9 800 x 600 56 Hz
> 10 800 x 600 60 Hz
> 11 800 x 600 72 Hz
> 12 800 x 600 75 Hz
> 13 832 x 624 75 Hz
> 14 1024 x 768 60 Hz
> 15 1024 x 768 72 Hz
> 16 1024 x 768 75 Hz
> 17 1024 x 768 75 Hz
> 18 1152 x 870 75 Hz
> 19 1280 x 960 75 Hz
> 20 1280 x 1024 75 Hz
>
> If none of these parameters are suitable for your system, you can tell
> the kernel not to use a video driver by passing the "video=ofonly"
> parameter.
> /**

> Likey they will be unsuitable [at least at the given frame buffer
> level] for your newer Mac. - The vmode and cmode settings would still
> be relevant. I included these as a direction indicator only.

What happens if I send "video=ofonly"? Also, I'm on an LCD, so my
refresh rate is "na". What would video=xxxxx:vmode:vv,cmode:cc look
like in my case?

> I need to pass the "video=xxxxx:vmode:vv,cmode:cc" argument to BootX
> at boot time [I have an 'old world' Mac only so can't use Yaboot], but
> it looks like you *may* require this with Yaboot also.
>
> Post your help questions into <comp.os.linux.ppc> or Xpost to it if you
> have to, as it can be a helpful NG, with many well seasoned PPC Linux
> experts lurking about [COLP may not seem to get a lot of traffic but
> it's still gets read, and sensible requests are usually dealt with
> fairly quickly].

I've changed the x-posting to comp.os.linux.powerpc. (couldn't find
comp.os.linux.ppc but I assume it's the same) 

-- 
C Lund, www.notam02.no/~clund