SUSE LINUX on Dell Inspiron 8600

Setting up the nVidia driver

Good news first: with the NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-5336-pkg1.run installer you can set up the nVidia driver and use the 3D acceleration without any problems. If you don't want to use the nVidia driver, you will probably have to use the framebuffer driver (I used it at 1400 x 1050).

Downloading the driver

First of all you have to download the nVidia Linux driver from the nVidia homepage. I'm using version 5336. I recommend you to save the file to the /tmp directory, but actually you can save it where you want:-)

Installing the kernel sources

In another step, you have to install the kernel sources. The most confortable way to do this is to use YaST (kernel-source package). Be sure, that the version of your kernel and the version of the kernel source package is the same!

Turning off the graphical mode

It's not recommended to install the driver, during using the graphical interface, so first of all let's switch to runlevel 3:

linux:~# init 3

As you can see from the prompt, you have to launch this command as root. The best way to do this is to switch e.g. to the second console:

Ctrl + Alt + F2

Then log in as root and launch the command above.

Installing the driver

Now we can install the driver. Change to the directory, where you downloaded the NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-5336-pkg1.run file...

linux:~# cd /tmp

...and launch the installer with this command

linux:/tmp# ./NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-5336-pkg1.run

After these rows...

Verifying archive integrity... OK
Uncompressing NVIDIA Accelerated Graphics Driver for Linux-x86 1.0-5336......
.............................................................................
.............................................................................
.............

...the installer window will appear (just say Yes always:-)

Setting up the display with SaX2

IMPORTANT: You don't need to enable 3D within SaX (you can't do it).
The nVidia driver enables 3D acceleration automatically!

After the nVidia installer has finished, launch SaX2 to set up the display. To tell SaX2 to use the nvidia driver, use the following command to start the program:

linux:/tmp# sax2 -m 0=nvidia

After the nVidia logo (!) SaX2 will start and in the first screen you can choose to accept the settings. I recommend you NOT to accept the settings, but to click on the "Change settings" button. Actually the only thing we have to set up is the resolution. This setting depends on your model. My Inspiron has a WSXGA+ display (1680x1050). If you click on "Change settings" the SaX2 main screen will appeare, and SaX2 will complain about monitor 0. You can just ignore this, the 1680 x 1050 LCD is not in the database, not yet...

The SaX2 main screen

For the resolution click on the "Color and Resolution" link, then choose "Properties". In the new window klick on the "Expert" tab. Here add the 1680x1050 resolution, then click on "Add this resolution".

Now switch to the "Colors" tab and choose the 24 bit colorscheme. Finally click on the "Resolutions for..." tab, and here you shold now be able to choose the added 1680 x 1050 resolution. To finish click on OK, Finish and Finalize, then run the Test. Yeah, this resolution is just great!!

Have fun with SUSE LINUX 9.0 on Dell Inspiron 8600!

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