Xorg: xserver using _a lot_ memory

[Thorsten Leemhuis]

On 18.01.2009 14:04, Christoph Höger wrote:
> Am Sonntag, den 18.01.2009, 13:14 +0100 schrieb Olivier Galibert:
>> On Sun, Jan 18, 2009 at 12:42:48PM +0100, Christoph Höger wrote:
>>>> How much of that is pci ranges mmaps?
>>> I think thats it:
>>>
>>> Taken from xorg's smaps:
>>> (That is alot, isn't it?)
>>>
>>> a7cbc000-b7cbc000 rw-s e0000000 00:00
>>> 5297       /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.0/resource2
>>> Size:             262144 kB
>>> Rss:              262144 kB
>> Do you have 256M of ram in your video card perchance?
> 
> I don't think so, it's an:
> 
> 00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile GM965/GL960
> Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 0c)

The boards BIOS normally steals 8 MByte RAM (can be changed in some 
BIOSes) from the systems memory as video RAM for the graphics core in 
modern intel chipsets. But the kernel and the drivers for X and windows 
later can request more later (up to 384 iirc; some BIOSes offer options 
to change the maximum amount and the technique to request that memory), 
as you actually need more for 3D apps.

That's what your kernel and X-Server likely did for you. The X servers 
log should tell. On my GM965 is says in one area:

> (II) intel(0): Fixed memory allocation layout:
> (II) intel(0): 0x00000000-0x00000fff: power context (4 kB)
> (II) intel(0): 0x0077f000:            end of stolen memory
> (II) intel(0): 0x0077f000-0x0e6affff: DRI memory manager (228548 kB)
                                                             ^^^^^^^^^
> (II) intel(0): 0x0e6b0000-0x0fffffff: exa offscreen (25920 kB)
                                                        ^^^^^^^^
> (II) intel(0): 0x10000000:            end of aperture
> (II) intel(0): BO memory allocation layout:
> (II) intel(0): 0x0077f000:            start of memory manager
> (II) intel(0): 0x0079f000-0x0100efff: depth buffer (8640 kB) Y tiled
> (II) intel(0): 0x0179f000-0x0200efff: back buffer (8640 kB) X tiled
> (II) intel(0): 0x02800000-0x0306ffff: front buffer (8640 kB) X tiled
> (II) intel(0): 0x0279f000-0x0279ffff: overlay registers (4 kB)
> (II) intel(0): 0x027a0000-0x027b5fff: exa G965 state buffer (88 kB)
> (II) intel(0): 0x027c0000-0x027c7fff: logical 3D context (32 kB)
> (II) intel(0): 0x027c8000-0x027d1fff: HW cursors (40 kB)
> (II) intel(0): 0x0e6b0000:            end of memory manager

HTH

CU
knurd