update graphics driver and google earth

[heylookitsmewow]

I have an acer aspire 5610 with feisty. I installed google earth and when I first started it up i got a message that suggested I update my graphics driver because google earth will probably run very slow the way it is. Google earth isn't really working at all, the globe comes up and keeps refreshing over and over a couple times a second and eventually stops. If I move my pointer over the globe or click on anything anywhere on the program the globe refreshes a few times but does nothing else.

from what I have read in googles help section most problems are from graphics drivers that need to be updated. How do i do that on feisty?

[arochester]

Re: update graphics driver and google earth

I think Google Earth works with graphics acceleration. What happens when you input into a terminal:

glxgears

?

Your graphics seem to be Intel GMA 950? If this is correct then there is a Linux driver available. See e.g. "Intel GMA 950 driver for Linux" at http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum...fm/498235.html

[heylookitsmewow]

Re: update graphics driver and google earth

When I input glxgears I get a box with 3 spinning gears and in the konsole and endless supply of the following lines:

3670 frames in 5.1 seconds = 721.419 FPS
3733 frames in 5.0 seconds = 743.262 FPS
3848 frames in 5.1 seconds = 758.545 FPS
3871 frames in 5.1 seconds = 756.442 FPS
3885 frames in 5.1 seconds = 759.432 FPS
3749 frames in 5.1 seconds = 736.022 FPS

I am not sure what my graphics are. That is what I am trying to find out or find out how to find out.

[dibl]

Re: update graphics driver and google earth

750 fps is insufficient to run GoogleEarth.

Your Intel graphics chip should be capable of better performance than that. I recently set up a new e-machines PC for a family member, with that Intel chip, and got great results with the new intel driver which should be listed in your packages in the Adept manager -- the name of it is "xserver-xorg-video-intel".

[heylookitsmewow]

Re: update graphics driver and google earth

I just installed xserver-xorg-video-intel" but no change.

[dibl]

Re: update graphics driver and google earth

Did you restart your xserver, (Ctrl-Alt-Backspace)?

[heylookitsmewow]

Re: update graphics driver and google earth

I didn't know about Ctrl-Alt-Backspace but I did restart the whole computer. I just did Ctrl-Alt-Backspace with no change but now it is good to know about that quick way to restart.

[dibl]

Re: update graphics driver and google earth

I don't know anything about the Acer Aspire -- what is the CPU and speed? Is it capable of running GoogleEarth under Windows?

Also, take a look at the package named "915resolution" in the repository. It looks like it might be helpful for your graphics chip -- I haven't personally tried it.

[heylookitsmewow]

Re: update graphics driver and google earth

It runs nicely on windows on this same machine.

Intel core duo processor t2050 (1.6ghz, 533 mhz fsb 2 mb L2 cache)

And when I looked that up I found:

Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950

I don't know if that is useful information or not.

When I first installed Kubuntu I installed 915resolution to get the resolution right.

[heylookitsmewow]

Re: update graphics driver and google earth

How many fps should I be shooting for?

[dibl]

Re: update graphics driver and google earth

Search this forum and also Ubuntu forum on "GMA 950", to find out how other folks have got the most out of that chip.

Also, did you open /etc/X11/xorg.conf with your text editor (in Super User mode) and change the driver under the "Device" section to "Intel", after you installed xserver-xorg-video-intel?

You probably are not going to be happy with GoogleEarth at anything under about 3,000 fps, I would guess. Partly it depends on your screen resolution, and what else you are pushing your graphics chip to do. I run Beryl, and my screen at 1600x1200, so at 12000 fps GoogleEarth on this screen kind of hesitates a little when I spin it. But if I shut off Beryl my GeF 7900 GS jumps to 16000 fps and the Earth just spins around.

[heylookitsmewow]

Re: update graphics driver and google earth

I think Google Earth works with graphics acceleration. What happens when you input into a terminal:

glxgears

?

Your graphics seem to be Intel GMA 950? If this is correct then there is a Linux driver available. See e.g. "Intel GMA 950 driver for Linux" at http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum...fm/498235.html

I downloaded that driver and I am looking at the readme file and the instructions to install. can anyone interpret the install instructions to newbie english or suggest a simple way to install?

http://downloadmirror.intel.com/9722/ENG/readme.txt

[dibl]

Re: update graphics driver and google earth

I downloaded that driver

That's too hard -- it is in the repositories -- just run Adept or Synaptic, and mark the xserver-xorg-video-intel package for installation. After it is done, there are two things you need to do:

1. In a konsole window,

kdesu kate

and open the file /etc/xorg.conf, and in the "Device" stanza change the driver name to "intel" and

2. Restart your x server with Ctrl-Alt-Backspace.

If necessary, you can then open Kmenu>System Settings>Monitor & Display to adjust your screen resolution.

[heylookitsmewow]

Re: update graphics driver and google earth

I installed xserver-xorg-video-intel

When I enter kdesu kate I get a response similar to the following response:

X Error: BadDevice, invalid or uninitialized input device 169
Major opcode: 145
Minor opcode: 3
Resource id: 0x0
Failed to open device
X Error: BadDevice, invalid or uninitialized input device 169
Major opcode: 145
Minor opcode: 3
Resource id: 0x0
Failed to open device

It still opened kate but I do not see /etc/xorg.conf.
I do see a /etc/X11/xorg.conf and /etc/share/xresprobe/xorg.conf

Is one of those it?

[heylookitsmewow]

Re: update graphics driver and google earth

I downloaded that driver

That's too hard -- it is in the repositories -- just run Adept or Synaptic, and mark the xserver-xorg-video-intel package for installation. After it is done, there are two things you need to do:

1. In a konsole window,

kdesu kate

and open the file /etc/xorg.conf, and in the "Device" stanza change the driver name to "intel" and

2. Restart your x server with Ctrl-Alt-Backspace.

If necessary, you can then open Kmenu>System Settings>Monitor & Display to adjust your screen resolution.

I still haven't found /etc/xorg.conf. I explained a little more in my last post. Ever since I installed xserver-xorg-video-intel I now get a bunch of text scrolling on the screen when I shut the computer down. I am not sure if it is from installing xserver-xorg-video-intel or coincidence.