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Graphics drivers configuration: Difference between revisions
Graphics drivers configuration (view source)
Revision as of 11:23, 26 November 2014
, 26 November 2014Added Intel graphics download link, note about multiple video cards, some fixes
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{{Troubleshooting}} | {{Troubleshooting}} | ||
This page will guide you into installing or updating the drivers for your graphics card, so that they can provide OpenGL support for FlightGear and be fully exploited. Currently FlightGear ''requires'' OpenGL 1.2, but more likely 2.0, and recommends 2.1 or above. | |||
The absence of OpenGL support (by the card or the drivers) is often the cause of pathologically low framerate (i.e. less than 1-2 FPS.) | The absence of OpenGL support (by the card or the drivers) is often the cause of pathologically low framerate (i.e. less than 1-2 FPS.) | ||
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== Microsoft Windows == | == Microsoft Windows == | ||
The following procedure, albeit being a bit long, avoids possible problems arising from the driver installation itself. If installed properly, the video driver itself can be ruled out as a culprit for visual anomalies in FlightGear on Windows. This general procedure applies for | The following procedure, albeit being a bit long, avoids possible problems arising from the driver installation itself. If installed properly, the video driver itself can be ruled out as a culprit for visual anomalies in FlightGear on Windows. This general procedure applies for all video cards. | ||
{{Note|Some laptops have more than one graphic card; in that case, you should repeat each item listed below for each video card.}} | |||
=== Windows Vista/7/8 === | === Windows Vista/7/8 === | ||
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* Download a suitable driver for your video card. Use the "Find Driver" or "Autodetect" or manual search tools on the homepages to find a driver compatible with your operating system and video card. | * Download a suitable driver for your video card. Use the "Find Driver" or "Autodetect" or manual search tools on the homepages to find a driver compatible with your operating system and video card. | ||
** ATI: http://support.amd.com/us/Pages/AMDSupportHub.aspx | ** ATI: http://support.amd.com/us/Pages/AMDSupportHub.aspx | ||
** | ** nVidia: http://www.geforce.com/drivers | ||
* Close all running programs | ** Intel: https://downloadcenter.intel.com | ||
* Close all running programs. | |||
* Make sure that you've got sufficient administrative rights by disabling User Account Control or opening system-related controls with administrative privileges | * Make sure that you've got sufficient administrative rights by disabling User Account Control or opening system-related controls with administrative privileges | ||
* Download [http://www.guru3d.com/files_get/guru3d_driver_sweeper_(no_installer),7.html Driver Sweeper (freeware)] or a tool with similar functionality. This one is optional of course, so apply at your own risk. | * Download [http://www.guru3d.com/files_get/guru3d_driver_sweeper_(no_installer),7.html Driver Sweeper (freeware)] or a tool with similar functionality. This one is optional of course, so apply at your own risk. | ||
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The procedure: | The procedure: | ||
# Uninstall your current drivers | # Uninstall your current drivers | ||
#* | #* Open the Control Panel, click on '''Programs and Features''', select the entry for your driver and click '''Uninstall'''. | ||
#* | #* If there isn't such an entry, open the Control Panel, click on '''System'''->'''Device Manager''', open the '''Display Adapters''' section, right-click the entries for your video cards and click '''Uninstall'''. In the confirmation window, check '''Delete driver software''' and click '''OK'''. | ||
# Reboot (you should be asked to do this anyway) | # Reboot (you should be asked to do this anyway). | ||
# Windows will automatically revert to its default drivers. Let the installation proceed. | # Windows will automatically revert to its default drivers. Let the installation proceed. | ||
# Reboot (Windows should ask you to) | # Reboot (Windows should ask you to). | ||
# Run Driver Sweeper (with administrative privileges) | # Run Driver Sweeper (with administrative privileges) | ||
#* Check your driver provider (ATI or NVidia+PhysX), click | #* Check your driver provider (ATI or NVidia+PhysX), click '''Analyze''' | ||
#* Driver Sweeper should list a lot of files not covered by the driver's uninstaller | #* Driver Sweeper should list a lot of files not covered by the driver's uninstaller | ||
#* Click | #* Click '''Clean''' | ||
#* Wait for Driver Sweeper to finish | #* Wait for Driver Sweeper to finish | ||
# Reboot (Driver Sweeper will ask you to) | # Reboot (Driver Sweeper will ask you to) | ||
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=== Windows 2000/XP === | === Windows 2000/XP === | ||
# Uninstall your current drivers | # Uninstall your current drivers | ||
#* | #* Open the Control Panel, click on '''Software''', select the entry for your driver and click '''Uninstall'''. | ||
# Reboot into '''Safe Mode''' ( | # Reboot into '''Safe Mode''' (hit F8 when Windows starts loading and select '''Safe Mode''') | ||
#* Chances are that your screen resolution will be very low! You can try increasing it by | #* Chances are that your screen resolution will be very low! You can try increasing it by right-clicking on your desktop, selecting '''Properties''', dragging the '''Screen resolution''' slider and clicking '''Apply'''. | ||
# See step 5 above (you won't need any privileges though) | # See step 5 above (you won't need any privileges though) | ||
# Reboot into Windows normally | # Reboot into Windows normally | ||
#* Again, screen resolution may be very low, | #* Again, screen resolution may be very low, increase it if necessary | ||
# See steps 7 to 10 above | # See steps 7 to 10 above | ||
=== Legacy procedure for old | === Legacy procedure for old nVidia cards === | ||
You'll find information suitable for very old (10 years) cards at this [http://forum.flightgear.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=712&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=15#p7232 forum post]. | You'll find information suitable for very old (10 years) cards at this [http://forum.flightgear.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=712&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=15#p7232 forum post]. | ||
== Linux and other *nix systems == | == Linux and other *nix systems == | ||
nVidia and ATI cards are all pretty well supported by *nix systems. Depending on your video card, your distribution, and your sys-admin experience, getting accelerated drivers running can be more or less of a challenge. However, most recent distributions have even proprietary drivers in their repositories, even Debian, so it should not be much of a problem. (It was a lot different before Xorg...) | |||
=== A note on free drivers === | === A note on free drivers === | ||