SUMMARY: ZLXp-E3 PCI graphics adapter and disappearing cursor

From: Tim Mooney <mooney_at_dogbert.cc.ndsu.NoDak.edu>
Date: Mon, 23 Sep 1996 16:09:32 -0500 (CDT)

All-

I recently asked the list some questions about the ZLXp-E3 graphics adapter;
what might cause the pointer to disappear, how best to take advantage of the
adapter, etc. The original question follows my summary and sig, below.

I received replies from:

        Mike Iglesias <iglesias_at_draco.acs.uci.edu>
        Pat lampert_at_decatl.alf.dec.com
        Kurt Knochner <Kurt.Knochner_at_Physik.TU-Muenchen.DE>
        Hellebo Knut <Knut.Hellebo_at_nho.hydro.com>

Thanks to each of them!

Knut Hellebø and Mike Iglesias both asked if I had installed (a recent version
of) Open3D. The machine came preinstalled with Open3D, though we have a more
recent version from the July SPL. I've not installed or configured (if that's
necessary) Open3D under Digital Unix before, so I'll be printing the
installation guide and release notes for the latest Open3D tonight and doing
some reading.

Kurt Knocher indicated he had run into (and over) a similar problem --
upgrading the firmware fixed the problem for him. Since the machine is
currently running 3.2d, upgrading the firmware and then upgrading the
operating system to 3.2g would be trivial and may be a good idea anyway. I'll
probably discuss this option with the professor here on campus and if he's
willing do the upgrade soon.

Pat Lampert had the most to say about the ZLXp-E3, especially the disappearing
cursor problem I mentioned. Unfortunately for the professor here (who's
gotten very tired of hardware problems...) it appears that the disappearing
cursor may be a hardware problem with the board. Here's what Pat had to
say:

        As for your current problem. I hate to say this, but the zlxp-e3
        dissapearing cursor problem is a well known hardware defect. Some
        of the zlxp-e3 cards do this. To fix the problem you need to replace
        the zlxp-e3 card. Sometimes reseating the card helps. The problem
        seems to be heat related so if you power down the machine for a period
        of time and turn it back on, the cursor should appear and stay (at
        least until you need to reboot again).

        As for this card. It supports 24bit color in 1280x1024 res. Use
        /use/bin/X11/xdpyinfo to get more information on the visuals
        available with this card.

        Since you are a University and probably covered by warrenty you
        should be able to get direct support from 1-800-354-9000.

I'll be investigating the possibility of getting the ZLXp-E3 replaced.

Tim

-- 
Tim Mooney                              mooney_at_dogbert.cc.ndsu.NoDak.edu
Information Technology Services         (701) 231-1076 (Voice)
Room 242-J1, IACC Bldg.                 (701) 231-8541 (FAX)
North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105
All-
A professor here on campus has had many problems with his AlphaStation 200
4/233 (it and its first replacement appear to have been `lemons'), and to
make the situation right the machine has been replaced with another
AlphaStation 200 4/233, but the new machine has a couple different (better)
hardware options that we would like to take advantage of.  He received no
new documentation with this system and a search of the alpha-osf-managers
mailing list archives didn't turn up the information I'm looking for.
The new machine came with a video card that has the part # PBXGA/CA-CN on it,
which according to page two of the ZLXp-E1/E2/E3 PCI Graphics Options Owner's
Guide means that the card is a ZLXp-E3.  When the machine (which is running
3.2d-1) boots, vga0 is identified as having 32MB and a resolution of 1024x768.
According to the owner's guide the PBXGA-CA can do 24 + Z planes with 16Mb of 
memory -- no mention of what the maximum supported amount of memory is on the 
card.
Based on the chart on page six of the owner's guide, the graphics card came
with the dip switches set to setting six (which explains why vga0 is identified
as 1024x768).  Because the professor has a VRC21-HA monitor, I thought it might
be useful to switch the dip switches to switch setting 0 (same refresh rate
but higher pixel frequency and monitor resolution), so I tried switching 
to setting 0.
Upon reboot, vga0 was identified as 32Mb 1280x1024 (yay!) and the text
appeared to be smaller.  Once xdm started the color appeared to be slightly
different as well.  That's when we noticed the major problem -- the cursor
was no longer visible.  The cursor was still present (tracking the mouse and
clicking brought up menus and changed the focus as expected), it just wasn't
visible.  I've since switched the dip switches back to setting 6, but it would
be nice to know why the cursor disappeared but everything else was fine.
What do I need to do to successfully set up the card so that the professor can
take maximum advantage of the graphics capabilities?  What color level is
supported at 1280x1024?  Any X configuration changes necessary?  This is my
first experience on an AlphaStation with a graphics card better than the 
ZLXp-E1, so any tips are appreciated.  If all of this is documented in the man
pages and I've missed it, please let me know.

Received on Mon Sep 23 1996 - 23:33:59 NZST