FFB(4) | Device Drivers Manual (sparc64) | FFB(4)

# NAME

`ffb` — Sun accelerated 24-bit color frame buffer

# SYNOPSIS

`ffb* at mainbus0 addr 0xff8de000: Creator3D, model SUNW,501-4790, dac 10` (UltraSPARC II horizontal)
`ffb* at mainbus0 addr 0xfeb80000: Creator3D, model SUNW,501-4788, dac 10` (UltraSPARC II vertical)
`ffb* at mainbus0: Elite3D, model SUNW,540-3623, dac 10` (UltraSPARC II vertical)
`ffb* at upa0: Creator3D, model SUNW,501-4788, dac 10` (UltraSPARC III vertical)
`ffb* at upa0: Elite3D, model SUNW,540-3623, dac 10` (UltraSPARC III vertical)

# DESCRIPTION

The `ffb` is a UPA based color frame buffer, found in some Sun SBus and PCI systems. The `ffb` driver supports both the Creator/Creator3D, and the Elite3D frame buffers.

There are several versions of the `ffb` board. The Sun part numbers and board types are:

501-2634
  Creator Series 1 (FFB)
  Ultra1, Ultra2
501-4127
  Creator Series 1 (FFB)
  Ultra1, Ultra2, Enterprisexx00
501-2633
  Creator 3D Series 1 (FFB)
  Ultra1, Ultra2
501-3129
  Creator 3D Series 1 (FFB)
  Ultra1, Ultra2, Enterprisexx00
501-4126
  Creator 3D Series 1 (FFB)
  Ultra1, Ultra2
501-4174
  Creator Series 2 (FFB2)
  Ultra 30, Ultra 60
501-4173
  Creator3D Series 2 (FFB2)
  Ultra1, Ultra2, Enterprisexx00
501-4172
  Creator3D Series 2 (FFB2)
  Ultra30, Ultra60
501-4789
  Creator Series 3 (FFB2+)
  Ultra10, Ultra30, Ultra60
501-4790
  Creator 3D Series 3 (FFB2+)
  Ultra2, Enterprisexx00
501-4788, 501-5690
  Creator 3D Series 3 (FFB2+)
  Ultra10, Ultra30, Ultra60, Blade1000, Blade2000
501-4860, 501-5268, 501-5201, 501-5484
  Elite3D-m3 Series 1 (AFB)
  Ultra10, Ultra30, Ultra60, Ultra80
540-3623, 540-3902
  Elite3D-m6 Series 1 (AFB)
  Ultra10, Ultra30, Ultra60, Ultra80
501-5574, 501-5575
  Elite3D-m3 Series 2 (AFB)
  Ultra10, Ultra30, Ultra60, Ultra80, Blade1000, Blade2000
540-4313
  Elite3D-m6 Series 2 (AFB)
  Ultra10, Ultra30, Ultra60, Ultra80, Blade1000, Blade2000
540-3058, 540-3979, 540-4335
  Elite3D-m6 (AFB)
  Ultra2, Ultra450, Enterprisexx00

The ‘Creator’ cards have 5MB of on-board memory, support a maximum graphics resolution of 1280x1024, and are single-buffered.

The ‘Creator3D’ cards have 15MB of on-board memory support a maximum resolution of 1280x1024 double-buffered, and 1920x1360 single-buffered.

The ‘Elite3D’ cards have 15MB of on-board memory, support a maximum resolution of 1280x1024, and are always double-buffered. The ‘Elite3D-m3’ cards have one hardware geometry engine, whereas the ‘Elite3D-m6’ cards have two.

The ‘Series 3’ cards are considerably faster than the ‘Series 1’ and ‘Series 2’ cards.

The `ffb` driver supports reading `EDID` data from connected monitors on ‘Series 2’ and ‘Series 3’ cards, and will automatically set a resolution that is supported by both the card and the monitor if the `EDID` data can be read. This can be overridden for the console frame buffer, by setting the `output-device` openprom variable. For example, the following openprom command will set the console resolution to 1280x1024 @ 60Hz, which will not be altered by the `ffb` driver.

    setenv output-device screen:r1280x1024x60

# SEE ALSO

eeprom(8)

# BUGS

It is necessary to blank the video output when reading `EDID` data.

The `ffb` driver does not support 3D acceleration.

Not all `13W3` to `VGA` converters connect `13W3` pin 2 to `VGA` pin 9. This pin supplies +5V DC to power the monitor `EEPROM`, even when the monitor is powered off, and is necessary in order to obtain `EDID` data on some monitors.

Adapters that are known to connect these pins are:

530-2917
  `13W3` cable
130-3034
  `VGA` cable

Adapters that are known not to connect these pins are:

530-2357
  `13W3` cable

April 1, 2011 | NetBSD 10.99