Old Onboard Graphics and Linux Lite

[mdiemer]

Hi, been away for awhile, now have need for some help again.

My 8400GS card went bad recently. As a result, I am using for now the original onboard graphics for this 10 yr old Gateway GT5656 desktop. The "card" is GeForce 6150SE nForce 430. I have been experimenting with 32 bit linux systems, trying to find one that will work with this old system.

Originally, the computer was Vista 32 bit. It is 64bit capable, and I did have it 64 bit until the add-in card died. My logic is that since the computer was kind of designed for 32 bit, if I use the onboard graphics, 32 bit may work better.

On two other Linux systems (Zorin Lite and LXLE), I occasionally have display freezes, necessitating a reboot. I tried to install the NVIDIA drivers 304.xxx, but could not, on those systems. I figure they are too "new." So I installed Linux Lite 3.0, thinking an older system might allow me to install the drivers. It did, I have the 304 driver working now on Lite 3.0.

So, if I try Lite 4.0, would I run the risk of the Nvidia drivers not working, because the system/kernel is too new? (Why not just get a new add-in card? I'm trying to avoid putting money into this old beast, if possible). Also, what is your opinion re: Nouveau vs. Nvidia drivers, in a situation like this? Which are likely to work better?

Thanks,

Mike

[TheDead]

I had the same problems with the same onboard card.

I even tried to install an older nVidia driver in manual mode.
Which is a pain since you have to "close" the DE (XFCE) and do it in command line mode.
But, unfortunately, the driver can't install even like this, though, it offers to install itself anyways... but that does not work, of course.

I finally installed a Windows 10 32 bits (yes, it still exists) but had to "force" an old driver to install.
I was glad just to get the thing working and play youtube... I don't know about acceleration or 3D.
(Note : I did use 32 bits because the CPU itself was only 32bits... yeah, that old , a Core Duo (not 2) T2500, Wowza!

[DeepThought]

[member=7363]mdiemer[/member]  If your intention is to stick with 32 bit then you can use lite-upgrade to upgrade to Linux Lite 3.8, but the Linux Lite 4.x series is 64 bit only.

[trinidad]

Are you sure the machine was Vista 32bit originally? Just because the OEM graphics card control interface was 32bit does not mean the OS was 32bit. I'm sure you could get the video driver and card interface to work on Debian 9 64bit as I know others who have, which means: there must be an Ubuntu resource somewhere that explains how to do it on Ubuntu.

Perhaps this one: Hint: use the manual method.

https://linuxconfig.org/how-to-install-t...aver-linux

And/or the Debian method may help you understand the process better.

https://www.linuxbabe.com/debian/install...-9-stretch

If your hardware is the one showing in your profile it would be a shame to install a 32bit OS.

TC

     

[mdiemer]

I had the same problems with the same onboard card.

I even tried to install an older nVidia driver in manual mode.
Which is a pain since you have to "close" the DE (XFCE) and do it in command line mode.
But, unfortunately, the driver can't install even like this, though, it offers to install itself anyways... but that does not work, of course.

I finally installed a Windows 10 32 bits (yes, it still exists) but had to "force" an old driver to install.
I was glad just to get the thing working and play youtube... I don't know about acceleration or 3D.
(Note : I did use 32 bits because the CPU itself was only 32bits... yeah, that old , a Core Duo (not 2) T2500, Wowza!

Hi, thanks for the reply. I have Windows 7 on one of the drives, and it found the 304 driver by itself and it works fine. But this drive is just an archive at this point.

I did succeed in installing the 304 driver in Lite 3.0 32 bits and got it working in Driver Manager. Yesterday I updated, a massive one, but still left me with 3.0, same kernel I think. but then I got a display freeze. Also, typing on Vivaldi browser was very iffy. This did not happen before the update. That's what I was afraid of. With these old graphics, they may be fine with initial install, but then have problems after updates. I have turned off everything I can think of in Vivaldi settings, and that seems to have helped. We'll see how it goes from here.

[mdiemer]

[member=7363]mdiemer[/member]  If your intention is to stick with 32 bit then you can use lite-upgrade to upgrade to Linux Lite 3.8, but the Linux Lite 4.x series is 64 bit only.

Thanks. I know 3.x is supported for about 15 months, that's why I chose it. I did not know that 4.x was 64 bit only. doesn't mean I can't use it, perhaps I will figure out how to make this work with 64 bit. Actually, I don't know for a fact that it won't; I'm just assuming 32 bit is safer. but that may not be true. This is all by way of experimenting anyway.

[mdiemer]

Are you sure the machine was Vista 32bit originally? Just because the OEM graphics card control interface was 32bit does not mean the OS was 32bit. I'm sure you could get the video driver and card interface to work on Debian 9 64bit as I know others who have, which means: there must be an Ubuntu resource somewhere that explains how to do it on Ubuntu.

Perhaps this one: Hint: use the manual method.

https://linuxconfig.org/how-to-install-t...aver-linux

And/or the Debian method may help you understand the process better.

https://www.linuxbabe.com/debian/install...-9-stretch

If your hardware is the one showing in your profile it would be a shame to install a 32bit OS.

TC

   

I checked out the threads you posted. I tried them on Zorin and LXLE. The auto method did not work, got the same message (dependencies, held broken packages). Looking at the manual install, I may give that a try. However, currently I'm thinking about your last remark, about it being a shame to use 32 bit on a 64 nit system. So I'm going to put those last 2 GB of ram back in (8 GB is the max for this mobo), and try a 64 bit install. (Keep in mind that I do have the nvidia 304 driver up and running in Lite 3.0 32-bit, hopefully I can get it working in Lite 64-bit. On the other hand, maybe 64-bit system with Nouveau drivers will be fine).

Another issue in play here is the browser. I like Vivaldi, it's fast and easily customizable, highly intuitive. IMO the best browser on the planet. I have as I said turned off everything that may affect performance. That seems to have helped.

One of the display crashes on LL 3.0 32-bit was while using the terminal. Maybe that would not happen with 64 bit. I'll keep you posted.

[Valtam]

https://www.linuxliteos.com/manual/hardw...l#graphics

which leads to:

https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/drivers/unix/legacy-gpu/

Ctrl+F 6150SE

Table says:  The 304.xx driver supports the following set of GPUs:

[mdiemer]

Well, the latest on this: I was playing around with different combinations of memory sticks, and the latest thing I tried is 6-GB (2 X 2-GB + 2 X 1-GB). and suddenly things are working better. I have Lite 3.0 64 bit up and running, no display freezes yet. Also have Zorin 15 Lite 64 bits going, same thing. So I'm wondering if I had a bad memory stick If so, it was one of the 2-GB ones, and it's not in the computer now. (All that turning of the on/off switch in back of the computer wore it out, however, so I had to put in the original 300W power supply. Which is OK as this rig is pretty basic now, no add-in cards and just two drives hooked up).

[mdiemer]

Update: Just had a display freeze, but on Zorin 15, not LL 3. Zorin has Nouveau drivers, where LL has Nvidia. Guess I'll have to try to install the Nvidias on Zorin. If it works on Zorin, I will try LL 4.0 and see if I can get them working there as well. Zorin and Linux Lite are my two favorites distros, by the way. Both are keepers. If I fail. I'll either have to resign myself to using distros based on 16.04, where I can install Nvidia 304, or use 32 bit system. Or break down and get a new video card.