X Windows on the FT//ex using the standard Video Card

The standard video card in the FT//ex at the current time is the LA805i card, as marked just above the VESA edge connector. This replaces the earlier card which is the Acer LA805 92430-2, as marked next to the VGA connector.

To configure Open Server 3.0 / Open Desktop 3.0 to run in a satisfactory resolution the following should be done:

• Use the latest Advanced Graphics Adapter EFS. Our tests were carried out with release 3.4. IPB 3175 describes this supplement and how to obtain it.
  
  
• Use the mkdev graphics command and select the add option. Select the "S3 86C805" driver at a resolution of 1024x768 256 colours. Select one of the "Other" monitor types. Select quit and then save to configure.
  
  
• When selecting the resolution there are no refresh rate options as there are with many other drivers. This is because the S3 chip equipped card drivers assume that the refresh rate for graphics modes will be determined by the card. The card in the FT//ex will probably be strapped for interlaced, which will give an inferior display. Strap the card as follows:

	70Hz	60Hz	50Hz	56Hz
LA805	J9 = 1-2 J10 = 1-2	J9 = 2-3 J10 = 1-2	J9 = 1-2 J10 = 2-3	-	See note below.
LA805i	J1 = 2-3 J2 = 2-3	J1 = 2-3 J2 = 1-2	-	J1 = 2-3 J2 = 2-3	See note below.

Note

J9 & J10 on the LA805 card are at the outer edge of the card which is parallel to the side of the machine, in the centre. J1 & J2 on the LA805i card are at the outer edge of the card, at the opposite end to the VGA connector. There will probably be no need to remove the card to set these jumpers.

You will find that the X cursor, which becomes a hand when over the desktop in resolutions above 640x480, will corrupt and become a square of shimmering pixels if you switch to a text multiscreen with <Ctrl><Alt><Fn> and then back to X windows. To cure this problem edit the file /usr/lib/grafinfo/s3/86c805.xgi as follows to un-comment the S3HWCURSOR entry:

Within the "1024x768 256 colour section" edit S3HWCURSOR. This is the first occurrence within the file.

Use the command mkdev graphics again, as above, to re-configure X.

This IPB supersedes the version of IPB 3180 issued on 14 October 1994. Please destroy the previous version.

----------oOo----------