From: bryanw@rahul.net (Bryan Woodworth)
Subject: [ATI]  HOW TO RUN X WINDOWS ON ATI! answers..
Organization: a2i network
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 19:22:45 GMT

Okay, here's the long-awaited summary on responses I got about running X
on an ATI graphics ultra plus..

Keep in mind, this can be potentially dangerous to your hardware; please
read the disclaimer at the bottom of this document before proceeding.

I would like to say that I found all the assistance very helpful.
Thank you to everyone who sent email!  These are only a few of the
many responses I received.   

----cut---

wyvern@gnu.ai.mit.edu says the following:

I've been using X with an ATI Graphics Ultra for some time now, and I'm
very impressed with it. If you're interested in installing it, get the
latest XFree86 distribution, and the latest X8514 package (either
X8514new.tar.Z or X8514tcp.tar.Z) and set up the Xfree86 files and
directories. Important: when you get XFree86 installed, be sure to
do the following:

# cd /usr/X386/lib/X11/fonts/misc
# uncompress *.pcf.Z
# /usr/X386/bin/mkfontdir
# cd ../75dpi
# uncompress *.pcf.Z
# /usr/X386/bin/mkfontdir

Then untar the X8514 package, and move the Xconfig that comes with it
to /usr/X386/lib/X11/Xconfig, and move Xlinux.8514 to /usr/X386/bin.
Then do the following:

# ln -sf /usr/X386/bin/Xlinux.8514 /usr/X386/bin/X
# ln -sf /usr/X386/lib/X11 /usr/lib/X11
# ln -sf /usr/X386/bin /usr/bin/X11

Also make sure Xlinux.8514 is set-uid root, along with xterm and xinit.
Everything should then work ok. Good luck!

Matt Richmond (msr113@psuvm.psu.edu) says:

I have the ATI Ultra.  All I had to do was use the X8514 X server
(available on any linux site) instead of the normal X386 server.
This package comes with an XConfig file all setup for the Ultra.
Took me about 15 minutes to get it all setup.  My main problem
was forgetting that the mouse was on COM1 and not COM2  :)
good luck!

From: derry@beaufort.sfu.ca (Andrew Derry)

In the FAQ, you will find that the Xconfig for ATI is at :
ftp.cs.unc.edu in /pub/faith/linux/x386
 
----cut---

Okay, I also discovered that using the normal X386 server (the server
 that comes with the 
SLS distribution of Linux and X windows) you can use the ATI, but you
have to really tweak the sucker.   I tried the Xconfig at ftp.cs.unc.edu    
but the clocks didn't work.  Here are the clocks I have for my ATI Graphics   
Ultra Plus.  Note that only 800x600 mode works.

(Also note that these clocks are *really* for an ATI VGAwonder XL, or Plus,
something along those lines.  At ftp.cs.unc.edu, in the same subdir as the
Xconfig for ati, you'll find a test program (written in C) that you can
compile in Linux to see if your ATI is vgawonder-compatible.)

And now, the clocks..

# --------*  28 refers to 800x600 mode below       
Clocks 25 28 0 22 36 52 0 62

And here is my ModeDB for 800x600 mode, clock 28, the only one I could get
working:

ModeDB
# clock  horzontal timing      vertical timing
"800x600"  # 26     800  816  952 1056    600  608  610  633
             28     800  832  966  966    600  600  609  631

And here is the mode I have set in the "vga256" location:

 Modes         "800x600" 

I didn't feel like tweaking much, this basically worked the one time
I tried it, and I've not experienced any ill effects.  The X window display
is full and rich, in clear focus, and does a wonderful job of exploiting
the power of my monitor's display.

If you try the normal X server and can't get it working with your ATI,
I recommend getting the X8514 server per the instructions above. I have
to admit, I haven't tried it, but I am considering doing so since some
say it is quicker.  (One person said "up to 10x when scrolling." !)

I haven't really thought the X server is slow, in fact it is damn speedy
when compared to Windows 3.x.  But who knows, the extra speed could
be nice, ja?!  

Best of luck, and no one is RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE YOU MAY
INCUR TO YOUR HARDWARE EXCEPT YOURSELF!  REMEMBER THIS, AND BE VERY
CAREFUL.  I've not heard of anyone who has damaged their hardware,
but they say you can burn your monitor etc etc, so be very cautious.
 
good luck,

-- 
Bryan Woodworth <bryanw@rahul.net>
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux