G550 and TV out

[Vladimir Stojkovic]

I've managed to play movie on tv using dfbmga video output, but I'm not quite
satisfied with it because I can not use X while playing movie on tv. I've red
here http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Configuring_TV_out#MATROX_cards that
it is possible to achieve that using vidix output. However, I haven't managed
to do that. Is there someone who knows how to make this work? Or, is there
some alternative way to have your X functional while you play movie on your
tv?

regards

[Attila Kinali]

Moin,

On Sun, 6 Nov 2005 00:49:03 +0100

Post by Vladimir Stojkovic
I've managed to play movie on tv using dfbmga video output, but I'm not quite
satisfied with it because I can not use X while playing movie on tv. I've red
here http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Configuring_TV_out#MATROX_cards that
it is possible to achieve that using vidix output. However, I haven't managed
to do that. Is there someone who knows how to make this work? Or, is there
some alternative way to have your X functional while you play movie on your
tv?

I do not see how this should work with vidix, especialy as the kernel
patch is totaly unrelated to how vidix works. Vidix accesses the graphics
card directly, the same way as mga_vid does (actualy it's a port of
mga_vid to the vidix interface).

IIRC there is a whole section in the MPlayer documentation on how
to get TV-Out with matrox cards, did you had a look at that?
(No, i've never tried it myself as i do not own a TV)
Also the Mailinglist archives on gmane might help.

Attila Kinali

[Vladimir Stojkovic]

Post by Attila Kinali
Moin,
On Sun, 6 Nov 2005 00:49:03 +0100

Post by Vladimir Stojkovic
I've managed to play movie on tv using dfbmga video output, but I'm not
quite satisfied with it because I can not use X while playing movie on
tv. I've red here
http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Configuring_TV_out#MATROX_cards that
it is possible to achieve that using vidix output. However, I haven't
managed to do that. Is there someone who knows how to make this work? Or,
is there some alternative way to have your X functional while you play
movie on your tv?

I do not see how this should work with vidix, especialy as the kernel
patch is totaly unrelated to how vidix works. Vidix accesses the graphics
card directly, the same way as mga_vid does (actualy it's a port of
mga_vid to the vidix interface).

I have mga_crtc2_vid.so in /usr/lib/mplayer/vidix directory, so I've assumed
that it is related to second head and can be used for tv out. However, you
said that mga vidix libraries are nothing else but mga_vid ported for vidix
interface. On the other side, I've found in the documentation that porting
crtc2 code (from dfbmga) to mga_vid has been planned for years, but haven't
found anything about the progress. So, I can conclude that still there is no
way to have functional X during video playback on tv. Am I right?

Post by Attila Kinali
IIRC there is a whole section in the MPlayer documentation on how
to get TV-Out with matrox cards, did you had a look at that?
(No, i've never tried it myself as i do not own a TV)
Also the Mailinglist archives on gmane might help.

Believe me, I've searched Internet twice, red mplayer documentation a couple
of times, red gmane mailinglist and haven't found what I'm searching for. It
is written in the documentation that use of framebuffer is the only way to
get tv out for Matrox G450/G550. However, that howto is last updated in
September 2003.

regards

[Attila Kinali]

On Sun, 6 Nov 2005 17:07:44 +0100

Post by Vladimir Stojkovic

Post by Attila Kinali
I do not see how this should work with vidix, especialy as the kernel
patch is totaly unrelated to how vidix works. Vidix accesses the graphics
card directly, the same way as mga_vid does (actualy it's a port of
mga_vid to the vidix interface).

I have mga_crtc2_vid.so in /usr/lib/mplayer/vidix directory, so I've assumed
that it is related to second head and can be used for tv out. However, you
said that mga vidix libraries are nothing else but mga_vid ported for vidix
interface.

Oh, i was not aware that they had still the crt2 code in there.
I removed the crt2 code from mga_vid when i ported it to linux 2.6
as it was never really working according to Arpi who developed it.
I must admit that i haven't had a look at the vidix code for
a very long time.

Post by Vladimir Stojkovic
On the other side, I've found in the documentation that porting
crtc2 code (from dfbmga) to mga_vid has been planned for years, but haven't
found anything about the progress.

Uh.. i neither had the time to look at dfbmga. Yes, shame on me.

Post by Vladimir Stojkovic
So, I can conclude that still there is no
way to have functional X during video playback on tv. Am I right?

No idea. As i said, i do not own a TV, thus i never really
cared about TV-out.

Post by Vladimir Stojkovic

Post by Attila Kinali
IIRC there is a whole section in the MPlayer documentation on how
to get TV-Out with matrox cards, did you had a look at that?
(No, i've never tried it myself as i do not own a TV)
Also the Mailinglist archives on gmane might help.

Believe me, I've searched Internet twice, red mplayer documentation a couple
of times, red gmane mailinglist and haven't found what I'm searching for. It
is written in the documentation that use of framebuffer is the only way to
get tv out for Matrox G450/G550. However, that howto is last updated in
September 2003.

Believe me, the mga code didnt change in the last 3 years much.
It didnt even change at all in the last 2 years, so you can safely
assume that the howto is still valid.

The more i deal with mga_vid and its problems, i get to the
conclusion that a truly openly documented graphics card is
a must have for the OSS community as otherwise we will run
out of graphics output devices is in the near future.
I hope, that the open graphics project will be a success.


Attila Kinali

[Peter Magnusson]

Post by Attila Kinali
The more i deal with mga_vid and its problems, i get to the
conclusion that a truly openly documented graphics card is
a must have for the OSS community as otherwise we will run
out of graphics output devices is in the near future.
I hope, that the open graphics project will be a success.

What kind of project is that? I havent heard anything about it.

[Attila Kinali]

On Tue, 8 Nov 2005 16:17:15 +0100 (CET)

Post by Peter Magnusson

Post by Attila Kinali
I hope, that the open graphics project will be a success.

What kind of project is that? I havent heard anything about it.

www.opengraphics.org
It's a project to build a graphics card from scratch.
Although the initial aim was to have only the interface
and register set fully documented, it changed over time
to a "everything disclosed" project. Ie even the HDL
files for the graphics chip itself will be in a GPL+Comercial
dual license.

BTW: If you are familiar with PCI Interface designs
and have some free time your help would be greately appreciated.

Attila Kinali

[Vladimir Stojkovic]

Post by Attila Kinali
On Sun, 6 Nov 2005 17:07:44 +0100

Post by Vladimir Stojkovic

Post by Attila Kinali
I do not see how this should work with vidix, especialy as the kernel
patch is totaly unrelated to how vidix works. Vidix accesses the
graphics card directly, the same way as mga_vid does (actualy it's a
port of mga_vid to the vidix interface).

I have mga_crtc2_vid.so in /usr/lib/mplayer/vidix directory, so I've
assumed that it is related to second head and can be used for tv out.
However, you said that mga vidix libraries are nothing else but mga_vid
ported for vidix interface.

Oh, i was not aware that they had still the crt2 code in there.
I removed the crt2 code from mga_vid when i ported it to linux 2.6
as it was never really working according to Arpi who developed it.
I must admit that i haven't had a look at the vidix code for
a very long time.

Ok. Now everything make sense.

Post by Attila Kinali

Post by Vladimir Stojkovic
On the other side, I've found in the documentation that porting
crtc2 code (from dfbmga) to mga_vid has been planned for years, but
haven't found anything about the progress.

Uh.. i neither had the time to look at dfbmga. Yes, shame on me.

I really appreciate your work, so I wouldn't say that it is shame on you. And
who knows, maybe one day we will have DVD Max feature for G-Series just
out-of-the-box! ;)

Post by Attila Kinali

Post by Vladimir Stojkovic
So, I can conclude that still there is no
way to have functional X during video playback on tv. Am I right?

No idea. As i said, i do not own a TV, thus i never really
cared about TV-out.

Maybe you should try to watch some move on a big (72cm or bigger) screen! I
think that after that experience you would care. I haven't cared about tv,
the same as you, for very long time but when I saw a movie on it I've changed
my mind.

Post by Attila Kinali

Post by Vladimir Stojkovic

Post by Attila Kinali
IIRC there is a whole section in the MPlayer documentation on how
to get TV-Out with matrox cards, did you had a look at that?
(No, i've never tried it myself as i do not own a TV)
Also the Mailinglist archives on gmane might help.

Believe me, I've searched Internet twice, red mplayer documentation a
couple of times, red gmane mailinglist and haven't found what I'm
searching for. It is written in the documentation that use of framebuffer
is the only way to get tv out for Matrox G450/G550. However, that howto
is last updated in September 2003.

Believe me, the mga code didnt change in the last 3 years much.
It didnt even change at all in the last 2 years, so you can safely
assume that the howto is still valid.

Thanks for the information. I really appreciate it.

Post by Attila Kinali
The more i deal with mga_vid and its problems, i get to the
conclusion that a truly openly documented graphics card is
a must have for the OSS community as otherwise we will run
out of graphics output devices is in the near future.
I hope, that the open graphics project will be a success.

Mga_vid is working for me for about 2 years like charm. Until now there
wasn't a single problem! :)
The reason why I bought Matrox is the myth that it is best supported graphics
card for linux (especially G series). However, for me it is just a myth
because from time to time I have problems with my dvi connection, and well
known maven encoder specs were never released in to the public. But, when I
hear the stories about other companies graphics cards I consider myself
lucky. ;)
Ones more. Thanks for the information!

regards