So rather than continue to fight to get Flash to work with my on board nvidia 8200 I picked up a cheap ATI Radeon HD 3450. Hah, I thought, the end to my troubles.

Not so much.

I've installed Catalyst 9.1. I have 2 issues

a) I can't get a full-screen display. When I set my resolution, I can;t "display" more than 1776x1000... ie. at 1776x1000 I see both top and bottom panels, and the display is centered on my LCD, with a 1" black border around it. When I switch up to 1920x1080 the border remains, but now the right side and bottom side are "missing".. ie, they are there, but not visible (but I still have a border all the way around).

b) I am running alsa 1.0.19. I have sound working from all soures over HDMI audio (on the 3450) EXCEPT from Flash.. ah the irony. I have alsa picked in all the volume preference and get sound from amarok, vlc, soingbird, speaker-test.. evertying I know of .. but not Flash.

why does linux hate me so? (In this case, Ubuntu 8.10)

Edit: I've tried both the HDMI and DVI output for the video issue.

Edit 2: under Vista I also saw the same thing, BUT CCC 3.x under Vista has an overscan adjustment.. I have CCC 2.3 under linux and see no such adjustment.

I've been reading on the nv news linux forums about this flash problem. I need to checkout my 8200 based hdmi motherboard when I get home tonight.

I notice zero screen desktop lag, since installing the newer drivers, but I need to check out flash video.

I'll post back when I get home after doing some tests.

Dude consider a 9300 or 9400 based card or mobo. They work.

Linux can be a difficult friend, but it doesn't hate.

More like a friend that can only come out to play on Tuesdays... if its not raining.. and if it remembered to take its meds :)

So find me a 9300/9400 card that

a) has HDMI (since I have no other digital audio out)
b) works with a 220W P-S
c) is low-profile
d) fits in the space of a single slot (cooling apparatus cannot extend beyond a single slot, b/c that is the end of the case)
e) doesn't give any profit to nvidia :) (if they can't support the 8200 properly, I am not going to reward them by giving them MORE money, since they already wasted the $$ I did give them for the 8200)

So anyway, I was able to find the nice command line arguments for this (def fails the grandma test)

sudo aticonfig --set-dispattrib=tmds2,sizeX:1920
sudo aticonfig --set-dispattrib=tmds2,sizeY:1080
sudo aticonfig --set-dispattrib=tmds2,positionX:+0
sudo aticonfig --set-dispattrib=tmds2,positionY:+0

why these aren't the DEFAULT for a digital display is beyond me, and why the ATI control panel has no control for these poorly chosen defaults, is again, beyond me.

So now its down to figuring out why I can get 0 sound from Flash... all my other sound works (amarok, vlc, songbird, speaker-test, etc... everything else I've tried worked as expected) ??

I've been reading on the nv news linux forums about this flash problem. I need to checkout my 8200 based hdmi motherboard when I get home tonight.

I notice zero screen desktop lag, since installing the newer drivers, but I need to check out flash video.

I'll post back when I get home after doing some tests.

Keep in mind to really test you need to try something in full screen from

hulu.com/hd
thedailyshow.com

Youtube full-screen isn't so much of an issue

nvidia has the bug report, says they "think they know what the problem is", but that's the last I've heard from them (3 weeks ago via email, last week in the forum). For now I thought a $25 ATI card would get me by.. but as I said linux seems determined to stick a finger in my eye at every opportunity.

So now its down to figuring out why I can get 0 sound from Flash... all my other sound works (amarok, vlc, songbird, speaker-test, etc... everything else I've tried worked as expected) ??

Some ALSA/Flash info here, dated but perhaps still relevant-

http://www.pvv.org/~alexanro/2006/11/01/how-to-make-flash-9-beta-work-on-ubuntu/
http://linux.derkeiler.com/Mailing-Lists/Ubuntu/2007-12/msg01002.html
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=364121

Have you disabled pulseaudio?

killall pulseaudio

re: your issues

That Acer 8200 machine you've been trying to make work here has boxed you into a corner- too proprietary, only low profile cards, power supply underpowered, no SPDIF out on the motherboard, etc.

It's not Linux's job to work perfectly out of the box with *every* vendors proprietary motherboard/box. Given the basically *infinite* amount of video cards, motherboards, and sound chips that *do* work fine in Linux, why torture yourself?

It doesn't matter that it may work fine with XP/Vista, you've found that it doesn't work for you with the Linux you've tried. Have you tried other Linux distros like Fedora, openSuse, PCLinuxOS, CentOS?

All the issues you've had relate to Nvidia drivers or Adobe Flash, not Linux per se (hey, Vista fanboi's used the same excuse for the poor Vista performance/buggy issues ;) )

Sell that Acer on Craigslist or other means and build a nice mATX box with good, known working components per the Ubuntu HTPC components thread started a few days ago.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1115037

Some ALSA/Flash info here, dated but perhaps still relevant-

http://www.pvv.org/~alexanro/2006/11/01/how-to-make-flash-9-beta-work-on-ubuntu/
http://linux.derkeiler.com/Mailing-Lists/Ubuntu/2007-12/msg01002.html
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=364121

Have you disabled pulseaudio?

killall pulseaudio

Alas, this I can't debug from work (I can ssh but not hear sound :) ).

I've found several threads of ideas to try (mostly un-install, re-install items)... but keep in mind, the audio _was_ working via my nvidia hdmi with my current setup. And via the 3450 HDMI all audio _except_ flash is working. The threads I've found about pointing Firefox audio all are from ~2006, which make me wonder if they are still relevant (ie. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=255422&highlight=sound+flash) scarily they seem to have a lot of info about using pulse, and while I have not yet decoded the mishmash of audio options on the linux side, I have the distinct impression I want to avoid pulse at all costs. I do know that follwing the ubuntu thread on "fixing" pulse completely killed my alsa audio on nvidia hdmi, so I am quite wary of following that path.

As for being boxed in, we can debate that in a different thread. I'd prefer to keep this focused on the technical issues, else we tend to spiral off on philosophy, after which I am still no closer to having a working solution.

Going to try some stuff when I get home tonite.

OK, so you like your low-profile case. You don't mention what mobo size it is, but what you need is video on IGP. The 9300/9400 needs at leat a 300W (which I have), but if your PS is not a nonstandard shape you should be able to get a bigger one.

Although I'd understood you've found definitively that the problem is Flash? Adobe. That there's no way to get solid full-screen or audio until Adobe fixes it, which is not surprising.

Wow you guys can't stop blaming Adobe can you?

I've plainly stated and (I think proven) that the full-screen Flash bug is with the nvidia drivers for the 8200. They've admitted it and are working (at unknown speed) on it.

In the meantime I wanted an ATI card to tide me over (no sense in rewarding nvidia bad programming by giving them more $$). At least in this situ I *did* have a PCI slot for expansion. Frankly I'd just as soon have an even smaller PC (Mac Mini or Dell Studio hybrid size) that didn't have room for any expansion. I have no need for the size, the power, nor the heat, nor the cooling noise of a larger box with higher-end GPU. I just need something that works (at even half the performance of either mainstream OS)

OK, I misremembered that you found the problem was with the nVidia driver and not Adobe. I'm sorry that I'm getting old.

Flash must've really sucked (even more?) before recently. At least since I came to this party, I've seen good (or at least acceptable) flash performance (once I can get past the borked graphics drivers.. which has only been a mixed result so far, balancing older drivers without audio support, vs. newer ones that trade that for video performance)

ah the joy continues.. I rebooted tonite, the 1st time after the aticonfig commands that got my 1920x1080 working... now I just see the Ubuntu splash screen and then nothing.. 1920x1080 of blackness...

EDIT: had to add new lines to xorg to work around the problem.. what a lovely stable OS this is :)
Still no sound from Flash.

ah the joy continues.. I rebooted tonite, the 1st time after the aticonfig commands that got my 1920x1080 working... now I just see the Ubuntu splash screen and then nothing.. 1920x1080 of blackness...

EDIT: had to add new lines to xorg to work around the problem.. what a lovely stable OS this is :)
Still no sound from Flash.

Dude, you seemed bent on saying how bad Linux suxs and if I've experienced the problems you've had - I'd be in Windows hog heaven or OSx groupie. Give it up! Let's see how Windows works out for you - please post your experience here. I can't wait! :rolleyes:
This thread is starting to remind me of that SNL skit where the one dude says "I drove a nail in my head and it really hurts!" and the other dude says "yeah, I know what you mean, I hate when I do that!" :D

Dude, you seemed bent on saying how bad Linux suxs and if I've experienced the problems you've had - I'd be in Windows hog heaven or OSx groupie. Give it up! Let's see how Windows works out for you - please post your experience here. I can't wait! :rolleyes:

Well let's get the order correct.. I came here wanting to use Linux.. had the problems I've had, and had my skepticism grow based upon that. I did not come here seeking to trash unix, only give it an honest (and frankly at this point more than any OS deserves) attempt at use. "Grandma" couldn't have done 10% of what I've tried in a concerted effort to get it to work, and here I am spending hour after hour after tens of hours hunting down solutions to problems with awfully basic functions. In the process I found a real bug with nvidia drivers that none of the folks here ever fathomed could exist (rose-colored glasses exist on all sides of the fences, yes even on this one).

I'm the guy you should EASILY be able to convert (20 years of command line experience and despise Windows and would be happy to be free of Apple.. but I do insist that the replacement works). My requirement that seems to be different from the guru's here is wanting the smallest box possible, which seems to imply an IGP (not the full GPUs everyone insists on using b/c they "just work") and going for an IGP would seem just about rules out good support under Linux other perhaps than the newest nvidia (since I can rule out the 8200, seen bad reports on the X3100 and GMA500 or we can time warp back to the GMA945) altho every time my HW doesn't work, it gets blamed for being too new, so using even newer HW seems imprudent.

EDIT: given the issues I've run into, what part of my disillusionment is unjustified?

I don't understand why you can't go with a different low-profile case and a mobo like mine. Would be happy to see part numbers.

EDIT: If I do build anything at this point, I'll probably want to pick parts likely to support all *3* OSes (as much as they can).. but I don't think they like folks talking about that.
Why strike out trying to reinvent the wheel? I had no such intention.. I thought a box such as the X1200, pre-assembled, seemingly much more cost-efficient than doing it on my own. Even has a PCI slot so I could could use something other than mobo IGP if needed (not that that has worked out so well :( )
What's wrong with the newest nVidias?Well I know you guys think I don't listen :D, but let's examine a sample of what I was told in other threads I usually expect 12-18 months lag for Linux support to be enabled for random hardwareIf you pick quality hardware that's not bleeding edge, most linux distros seem to install pretty easily,Personally, I never planned to use an 8xxx series GPUs or higher until late this year, just based on past experience and judgement on the development timing of Linux video drivers.

I'm not trying to quote out of context.. simply saying that there seemed to be a common message that my 8200 was already too "new", and if that's new, well, then the 9300 is even newer.
It is a fact that nVidia has THE best Linux support. Start there and be happy. Let's review what got me in to this problem.. the bug-ridden nVidia 8200 :) If it wasn't for that, time warp me back to early December and I'm now a linux fanboi.

I got a good, mildly cathartic, chuckle.. while searching for more info on why I can't get the Radeon to pass audio from Flash, and trying to understand the jumble that is Linux audio (alsa, pulse, etc), I found this post from folks discussing how to clean things up http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=6154421&postcount=15 ..

EDIT: given the issues I've run into, what part of my disillusionment is unjustified?

Ask NOT what Linux can do for YOU, ask what YOU can do for Linux ;)

You've contributed a lot via your Nvidia 8200 testing and reports to Nvidia and Adobe.

That's all Linux asks of you- your contribution. It owes you nothing in return other than what you can make it do for you.

You may have found an issue/interaction on the 8200 (Nvidia+ fullscreen Flash) that no one else had noticed/tried/reported. Congrats- you added something to the Linux knowledge base.

Yes, HDMI audio has issues. HDMI audio output is still new to *any* OS- it can take 18 months to 2 years to fully iron out from introduction, and I would count the start date for HDMI audio out on HTPC's as 1Q 2008 or so. Crimony, HDMI is *JUST NOW* settling down on closed consumer electronics devices (i.e. HDMI 1.3a and HDCP incompatibilities, xvColor, etc), and now DisplayPort is appearing on motherboards, which I wouldn't touch for 1.5-2 years from today, either.

Rather than go to an ATI HDMI card, use an SPDIF USB sound card like the Turtle Beach Audio Advantage and low profile FX5xxx, 6xxx, 7xxx, or 8xxx Nvidia video card instead.

Move on.

Another option for a mATX board with good IGP-

http://www.outletpc.com/c3981.html

No VDPAU, but not an issue if you slap in a $68 X2 5400BE and run it at 3.0-3.2Ghz-

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103289

Rather than go to an ATI HDMI card, use an SPDIF USB sound card like the Turtle Beach Audio Advantage and low profile FX5xxx, 6xxx, 7xxx, or 8xxx Nvidia video card instead.

I didn't consider that a solution b/c then I am either

a) stuck with downrev nvidia driver (173) using the 8200
b) using the newer driver with great USB sound, but crappy video

So I needed a new video card .. and as I've outlined, with a slim case (and narrow PCI slot) and weak p-s, options are limited (given the design of the "low-profile" bracket that came with my 3450, I wonder that most PCI slots aren't reversed in position.. I had to cut my bracket in half to make it work.. it assumed the companion slot to be on the same side as the "front" of the card.. for me that is the edge of the case.. no next slot. And my TV does not have optical in (receiver is currently under warranty repair)... so, well, hdmi audio is where its at for me. I'm not ignoring all the advice just to be stubborn, there are actual reasons for it.

Is it worth trying the open source ATI drivers? I think I see they support HDMI audio ?!?

Still baffled how Flash audio is the only audio I can't get to work (with the ATI card).

And Gigabyte's GA-E7AUM-DS2H (9400). I'm sure there are others, although I'd only trust Asus, Gigabyte, or MSI. Gigabyte had a bad rep for a long time, but seem to have redeemed themselves, and MSI may be currently developing a bad rep.

The GA-E7AUM-DS2H is coming recommended as being "multiple-OS friendly", altho I think that's the same one that was getting some overheating reports? (but who knows, maybe that is all from over-clocking zealots)

ah the joy continues.. I rebooted tonite, the 1st time after the aticonfig commands that got my 1920x1080 working... now I just see the Ubuntu splash screen and then nothing.. 1920x1080 of blackness...

EDIT: had to add new lines to xorg to work around the problem.. what a lovely stable OS this is :)
Still no sound from Flash.

I have a similar problem. My monitor doesn't like all the changes during bootup (even tho it's supposedly stays at 1600x1200@60Hz throughout the boot) and loses sync. Which forces me to cycle power on the monitor to regain the sync.

I worked around it by turning off the splash screen stuff in GRUB. So now I'm back to the old style boot log text messages during bootup. But it always maintains sync even when it finally pops up the logon screen at 1600X1200.

Is it worth trying the open source ATI drivers? I think I see they support HDMI audio ?!?

Still baffled how Flash audio is the only audio I can't get to work (with the ATI card).

Try the FOSS ATI driver and report your results.

re: Flash audio

Try the VOlume Control Panel - double click the speaker icon in the systray.

Edit->Preferences-> Check all boxes ->Close

That probably added a tab or two to the control panel. If it added a "Switches" tab, go there and turn on each switch one by one to see if the Flash sound works. Probable switches are IEC958, Mix, Capture, Digital, etc. Check for muted sliders too.

changing my .asoundrc to defaults.pcm.device 3 (WORKS) somehow made everything happy. (vs.pcm.!default {
type hw
card 0
device 3
} (FAILS)

so easy even $GRANDMA could do it :D

EDIT: env vars FLASH_AUDIODEBUG and FLASH_FORCE_ALSA were also in the mix.