SDB:Problems with the VIA On-Board Graphics Chipset

From openSUSE

Version: 9.1

Symptom

When you try to configure your graphical interface, the displayed resolution is wrong or insufficient.

Cause

Your system is equipped with a VIA on-board graphics chipset. To check your chips, use the command "sax2 -p". The output may be similar to:

Chip: 0  is -> VIA Technologies, Inc. VIA VT 320500:00:0 0x1106 0x3205 PCI via
Chip: 1  is -> VIA Technologies, Inc. VIA VT 720501:00:0 0x1106 0x7205 AGP via

The chip detected in the first place is not a graphics chip but the "CPU to PCI Bridge" chipset. However, the system tries to control the graphics by way of this chipset because there is a graphics chip manufactured by "Tseng Labs" with identical ID. Needless to say, this attempt fails.

Solution

Boot your system in the runlevel 3 either by entering the boot parameter "3" or by selecting "Failsafe".
Start SaX2 by executing the following command as root user:

                  sax2 -m 1=via -c 1

Then proceed to configure your graphical interface.

Hint

Some manufacturer drivers are available for download at the URL

         http://www.viaarena.com/?PageID=296

Note that the setup of these drivers exceeds the scope of the free-of-charge installation support.