How to access the 3D Video Accelerator

Introduction

The OMAP3/DM3730 CPU contains a 3D Video accelerator (PowerVR-SGX530). The kernel driver is free and open (GPL) but the runtime (microkernel running on GPU) and the libraries are non-free. If you are not happy with this situation, please help this FSF project: http://powervr.gnu.org.ve/

Details

The system consists of 3 components:

1. Kernel driver
2. Runtime initialization
3. Libraries (OpenGLES)

Kernel driver

The kernel driver has been added to the sources of the hw-validation kernel:

http://git.goldelico.com/?p=gta04-kernel.git;a=tree;f=drivers/gpu/pvr

Configure (Device Drivers/Graphics Support) into the kernel through PowerVR SGX, Revision 1.2.5 - OMPA 3630. This is compatible with the DM3730 chip used in the GTA04.

You can check if the kernel driver is work by checking for

/dev/pvrsrvkm
/proc/pvr/*

Runtime and Libraries

Binaries

You need to locate and download the SDK from Texas Instruments (you may have to register yourself and accept license conditions):

old (2.6.32 kernel)

Go to http://software-dl.ti.com/dsps/dsps_public_sw/sdo_sb/targetcontent/dvsdk/DVSDK_3_00/latest/index_FDS.html and locate OMAP35x_Graphics_SDK_setuplinux_3_01_00_06.bin through 'Graphics SDK v3.01.00.06 Link'

new (3.7 kernel)

Go to http://software-dl.ti.com/dsps/dsps_public_sw/sdo_sb/targetcontent/gfxsdk/latest/index_FDS.html and locate Graphics_SDK_setuplinux_4_08_00_01.bin through 'Graphics_SDK_setuplinux_4_08_00_01.bin'.

This includes the kernel driver sources, but you don't need to compile/install them again.

Binary packages

Or you can install the packages from Ubuntu (not tested):

http://ports.ubuntu.com/pool/multiverse/o/opengles-sgx-omap3/

You must load the 3.01.00.07 packages without dbg to be compatible to the kernel driver.

Starting

Copy the libraries from the SDK to /usr/lib. The version gfx_rel_es5.x is compatible to the DM3730 (the others are rejected by the kernel driver).

Finally run for the 2.6.32 system

pvrsrvinit

or for the 3.7 system

pvrsrvctl --start --no-module

This sends the microkernel into the GPU.

After that you can and should run the tests available in the graphics package.