dev_priv->current_page = 0;
        dev_priv->sarea_priv->pf_current_page = dev_priv->current_page;
 
-       /* We are using separate values as placeholders for mechanisms for
-        * private backbuffer/depthbuffer usage.
-        */
-       dev_priv->use_mi_batchbuffer_start = 0;
-       if (IS_I965G(dev)) /* 965 doesn't support older method */
-               dev_priv->use_mi_batchbuffer_start = 1;
-
        /* Allow hardware batchbuffers unless told otherwise.
         */
        dev_priv->allow_batchbuffer = 1;
                                return ret;
                }
 
-               if (dev_priv->use_mi_batchbuffer_start) {
+               if (!IS_I830(dev) && !IS_845G(dev)) {
                        BEGIN_LP_RING(2);
                        if (IS_I965G(dev)) {
                                OUT_RING(MI_BATCH_BUFFER_START | (2 << 6) | MI_BATCH_NON_SECURE_I965);
 
        switch (param->param) {
        case I915_SETPARAM_USE_MI_BATCHBUFFER_START:
-               if (!IS_I965G(dev))
-                       dev_priv->use_mi_batchbuffer_start = param->value;
                break;
        case I915_SETPARAM_TEX_LRU_LOG_GRANULARITY:
                dev_priv->tex_lru_log_granularity = param->value;