Adjusting video memory in Mandrake 9.1

[Seegee]

I'm using Mandrake 9.1, and while it was installing I was asked how much of my system memory I wanted to use for my onboard video. I have decided, since I'm not playing games, that I want to lower the amount originally set.

Where do I go to change it?

I couldn't find anything in the KDE control center or the Mandrake Control Center that would allow me to change the video memory size.

Thanks

 

[apatterno]

First, exit your X session so that you are looking at the text console.

Then, backup your /etc/X11/XFree86Config file.

Now here's the fun part, you need to edit /etc/X11/XFree86Config to change your video memory. An editor like emacs will work fine. I don't remember the name of the option for video memory (I'm booted on Windows now) but if you search for your video memory, you can probably change it accordingly.

Example: If you initially had your memory at 32768K:

First exit the X server, then...

$ su
Password:
# cp /etc/X11/XFree86Config /etc/X11/XFree86Config.backup
# emacs /etc/X11/XFree86Config
------------------------------------------
C-s 32768 [RET]

* Replace that number with the new amount of desired video memory.

C-x C-s
C-x C-c
------------------------------------------
# exit
$ startx

NOTE: If you're using a display manager, you probably want to turn that off before you ever change your XFree86 configuration, unless you like living dangerously.


_{I REALLY hope that helps.}
Will

 

[Seegee]

I don't have a XFree86config in the X11 directory, I have a XF86Config and a XF86Config-4 in it though. And I changed the number in both of those to 8192 for 8 megs of RAM, and then started X, but when I type free in konsole, my total mem is still about the same. Originally I had set aside 32 megs for the video card. My total memory is 192 Megs(on the board).

Is there a command I can use to check the amount of memory available for the video?

btw...the C-x C-s stuff confused me...I figured it out though.

Thanks for your help

 

[apatterno]

When I said XFree86Config, I meant XF86Config. I was giving you instructions by memory, so I couldn't exactly remember the name of the file.

But I'm not sure why you are trying to shrink the available video memory. Video memory is separate from normal memory, in that the video adapter has its own RAM on the card. Therefore, you shouldn't worry about the video card taking away too much normal memory.

And about the C-x C-s stuff.. When emacs is run as an X Windows client, you get a nice menu where you can choose Save from the file menu. But under the text console, the mouse is sometimes unavailable, so I was giving you the keyboard shortcut for saving a file.

_{I REALLY hope that helps.}
Will