What is pvr2fb?

This is a driver for PowerVR 2 based graphics frame buffers, such as theone found in the Dreamcast.

Advantages:

  • It provides a nice large console (128 cols + 48 lines with 1024x768)without using tiny, unreadable fonts (NOT on the Dreamcast)
  • You can run XF86_FBDev on top of /dev/fb0
  • Most important: boot logo :-)

Disadvantages:

  • Driver is largely untested on non-Dreamcast systems.

Configuration

You can pass kernel command line options to pvr2fb withvideo=pvr2fb:option1,option2:value2,option3 (multiple options should beseparated by comma, values are separated from options by:).

Accepted options:

font:Xdefault font to use. All fonts are supported, including theSUN12x22 font which is very nice at high resolutions.
mode:X

default video mode with format [xres]x[yres]-<bpp>@<refresh rate>The following video modes are supported:640x640-16@60,640x480-24@60,640x480-32@60. The Dreamcastdefaults to640x480-16@60. At the time of writing the24bpp and 32bpp modes function poorly. Work to fix that isongoing

Note: the 640x240 mode is currently broken, and should not beused for any reason. It is only mentioned here as a reference.

inverseinvert colors on screen (for LCD displays)
nomtrrdisables write combining on frame buffer. This slows down driverbut there is reported minor incompatibility between GUS DMA andXFree under high loads if write combining is enabled (sounddropouts). MTRR is enabled by default on systems that have itconfigured and that support it.
cable:Xcable type. This can be any of the following: vga, rgb, andcomposite. If none is specified, we guess.
output:Xoutput type. This can be any of the following: pal, ntsc, andvga. If none is specified, we guess.

X11

XF86_FBDev has been shown to work on the Dreamcast in the past - though not yeton any 2.6 series kernel.

Paul Mundt <lethal@linuxdc.org>

Updated by Adrian McMenamin <adrian@mcmen.demon.co.uk>