Phantom output issues, usual solutions don't work [SOLVED]

[GJones]

Because of hardware issues with my Dell Precision workstation (and because I wanted a Tomoyo kernel), I compiled a custom 3.5 kernel for the machine. Unfortunately said machine has a nVidia GeForce FX series graphics card, and the nouveau driver is apparently broken for it on all 3.x kernels - dmesg shows

Code: Select all

[  304.053017] [drm] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: Load detected on output A
[  314.101016] [drm] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: Load detected on output A
[  324.149060] [drm] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: Load detected on output A
[  334.197014] [drm] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: Load detected on output A
[  344.245018] [drm] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: Load detected on output A
etc.

and my screen flickers every 15-30 seconds. I tried the method for dealing with phantom outputs indicated here:

http://en.gentoo-wiki.com:8088/wiki/Nouveau

and nothing whatsoever came of it - I still get constant flickering.

Furthermore:
- the nv driver is not an option because it gets a maximum of 800x600 res, as it can't get EDID information thanks to my KVM switch.
- The nvidia binary driver is not an option either for the same reason - only it's limited to 640x480 resolution.
- The vesa driver also nets me 640x480 res.

nouveau gets a tolerable 1024x768 resolution, which is why I'm using it (for now). That said, if anyone can come up with a way of getting nv or nvidia to work right, I'm game. Especially if I can get the 1280x1024 resolution that this monitor actually supports, without ditching the KVM switch!

[GJones]

Turned out it was all due to the glitchy KVM switch. When it comes to hardware, you evidently get what you pay for.