What is pvr2fb?

This is a driver for PowerVR 2 based graphics frame buffers, such as the one 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 with video=pvr2fb:option1,option2:value2,option3 (multiple options should be separated by comma, values are separated from options by :).

Accepted options:

font:X default font to use. All fonts are supported, including the SUN12x22 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 Dreamcast defaults to 640x480-16@60. At the time of writing the 24bpp and 32bpp modes function poorly. Work to fix that is ongoing

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

inverse invert colors on screen (for LCD displays)
nomtrr disables write combining on frame buffer. This slows down driver but there is reported minor incompatibility between GUS DMA and XFree under high loads if write combining is enabled (sound dropouts). MTRR is enabled by default on systems that have it configured and that support it.
cable:X cable type. This can be any of the following: vga, rgb, and composite. If none is specified, we guess.
output:X output type. This can be any of the following: pal, ntsc, and vga. If none is specified, we guess.

X11

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

Paul Mundt <lethal@linuxdc.org>

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