Frank Cox wrote:
On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 10:43:37 +0000
Alan Cox <alan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Now I'm trying to install F8/x86_64 on it, and the installer is running
amazingly slowly. It took about ten minutes before the initial graphical
Probably wrong memory caching in the BIOS. That's a common cause of those
symptoms. If so boot with mem=2G or be patient and once you've got it
installed take a look at /proc/mtrr and that will show which memory the
system marked as cached. If its wrong then you can tweak the settings
and/or beat up the BIOS vendor
You have definitely hit the nail on the head.
Booting with mem=2G makes this computer perform like it should.
This is an Intel DG33FB motherboard and I downloaded the latest bios, version
0372 dated January 29. Unfortunately, that didn't solve the problem. Booting
"normally" runs at the snail's pace that I previously mentioned.
Booting with mem=2G works fine, as I said.
The contents of /proc/mtrr when this machine is booted with mem=2G are as
follows:
reg00: base=0x00000000 ( 0MB), size=2048MB: write-back, count=1
reg01: base=0x80000000 (2048MB), size=1024MB: write-back, count=1
reg02: base=0xc0000000 (3072MB), size= 256MB: write-back, count=1
reg03: base=0xcf800000 (3320MB), size= 8MB: uncachable, count=1
reg04: base=0xcf400000 (3316MB), size= 4MB: uncachable, count=1
reg05: base=0x100000000 (4096MB), size= 512MB: write-back, count=1
reg06: base=0x120000000 (4608MB), size= 128MB: write-back, count=1
reg07: base=0xd0000000 (3328MB), size= 256MB: write-combining, count=1
I looked in the bios setup and didn't see anything that obviously appeared to
be a method for telling the machine how to handle memory caching. On the other
hand, I have no idea what I'm looking for so that setting may be staring me
right in the face and I'm not recognizing it.
So.... what should my next step be?
Post use the /proc/mtrr again (so we have it in one message) and the
output of "demsg | grep BIOS-e"
If you don't get output in 54 bit mode, just grep for BIOS and we'll
ignore the cruft. I think your BIOS is lying to the kernel, this will tell.
--
Bill Davidsen <davidsen@xxxxxxx>
"We have more to fear from the bungling of the incompetent than from
the machinations of the wicked." - from Slashdot
