Unable to start video backend

[crono141]

Hey all, I'm getting an "unable to start video backend" error on a freshly compiled dolphin install on Ubuntu 20.04. The version of dolphin in the repos work fine.

I'm running old hardware but they fit the minimum requirements for running at 1x internal resolution.

Ubuntu 20.04 x64
A10-7850 APU (gpu disabled)
GeForce 9800gt on 340 nvidia drivers
8gb of Ram.
Opengl (no vulkan support in my card)

Compiled through retropie x86 setup, which I believe pulls the latest code from git.

If this is just a matter of my card no longer being supported, then it is what it is. But if not I'd like to get to the bottom of this, as there are a number of nice features in the latest nightly that aren't in the 5.0 release in the repos.

Thanks in advance.

[themaster123]

That what it is the GeForce 9600gt is a direct x 10 card, dolphin need direct x 11. The igpu should support direct x 11 though. So maybe just use that. I don't know what kind of performance your get with that hardware though, I doubt it be ideal but it might be find for lighter games. Also i aware that Linux doesn't use direct x but I'm more aware of direct x support then open gl/ vulken support.

[crono141]

(09-12-2021, 07:11 AM)themaster123 Wrote: That what it is the GeForce 9600gt is a direct x 10 card, dolphin need direct x 11. The igpu should support direct x 11 though. So maybe just use that. I don't know what kind of performance your get with that hardware though, I doubt it be ideal but it might be find for lighter games.

Yeah, I'm using the 9800gt because it has native component video out.  I'm connecting to a CRT, so I'm never going to go above 1x internal resolution anyway.  I tried to make this work with HDMI to component converters, but linux+igpu+linux driver didn't play nice with the TV.

If it is indeed true that 9800gt is obsoleted, then the relevant "minimum system requirements" page needs to be updated.  It states that cards as old as a 7000 series NVIDIA will work.

[themaster123]

If you go to the faqs on the main web site page it has more updated specs info. https://dolphin-emu.org/docs/faq/#which-gpu-do-i-need. I never used component video out on pc so I wouldn't have any experience with adapters though. I doubt you would be limited by the igpu for 1x but since it doens't like hdmi to component this won't matter. The forums page faqs could be updated though since it is over 10 years old though and reference hardware that isn't really relevant in 2021 for current games or programs like dolphin but oh well. Maybe windows and it drivers will work better for hdmi to component. For amd\ati you better off with direct 11 over opengl anyways if vulkan isn't a option(I don't know if the apu support vulkan off hand). That said you might have linux on it for a reason.

[crono141]

(09-12-2021, 12:03 PM)themaster123 Wrote: If you go to the faqs on the main web site page it has more updated specs info. https://dolphin-emu.org/docs/faq/#which-gpu-do-i-need. I never used component video out on pc so I wouldn't have any experience with adapters though. I doubt you would be limited by the igpu for 1x but since it doens't like hdmi to component this won't matter. The forums page faqs could be updated though since it is over 10 years old though and reference hardware that isn't really relevant in 2021 for current games or programs like dolphin but oh well. Maybe windows and it drivers will work better for hdmi to component. For amd\ati you better off with direct 11 over opengl anyways if vulkan isn't a option(I don't know if the apu support vulkan off hand). That said you might have linux on it for a reason.

Thanks.  I see the opengl4.4 requirement there now.  9800gt maxes out at 3.2, I think.  I am curious when 4.4 became the minimum requirement, but I suppose it doesn't really matter.  Thanks for your help.

[themaster123]

If you motherboard connector had vga, you could try a vga to component cable, Since both are analog standards maybe it will work better then the hdmi to component since hdmi is a digital standard.

[crono141]

(09-14-2021, 05:22 PM)themaster123 Wrote: If you motherboard connector had vga, you could try a vga to component cable, Since both are analog standards maybe it will work better then the hdmi to component since hdmi is a digital standard.

Yeah, I just picked up a VGA to COMPONENT adapter on ebay, but it's going to take awhile to get here.  Provided that works I should be able to go DVI-I to VGA to Component directly.