s3switch - manage the output devices on an S3 Savage chip

s3switch [-q] [crt] [lcd] [tv] [both] [ntscj|ntsc|pal]

The S3 Savage chips have the ability to send their output to a variety of different devices. The Savage3D can display to a standard CRT or to a TV. The Savage4 and Savage2000 can display to a standard CRT or through a digital interface to an LCD panel. The Savage/MX and Savage/IX can ship to any two of those three.

The s3switch utility is used to select the devices to be used, and the format of the TV signal. When invoked with no parameters, s3switch displays the devices currently attached, and which of those devices are currently active. Supplying one or more of the words crt, lcd, or tv makes those devices the active devices. The word both is a shortcut for the combination of crt and lcd.

To change the format of the TV signal, specify either ntscj, ntsc or pal. These words will be silently ignored on systems where a TV is not attached or not possible.

The case of the keywords is unimportant; LCD and lcd are equivalent.

S3switch always displays the current state of things just before it exits, unless the -q option is given, in which case, it operates quietly. Note that only the Savage4 and Savage2000 are able to detect the presence or absence of the various devices; the rest just assume everything is attached. S3switch must be run as root.

S3switch will not allow you to activate devices which are not connected, on those chips that are able to detect this.

Tim Roberts (timr@probo.com)

X(1), Xserver(1)