X-windows doesn't work with Radeon.

posix_memalign · 03-17-2009, 01:37 PM

I'm unable to use a higher resolution than 1024x768 with the "radeon" driver.

My system is an x86 with GNU/Linux Slackware 12.2, it has a Radeon Xpress 200 integrated graphics card.

If I attempt to use the "vesa" driver I get no usable screens.
If I attempt to use the proprietary ATI driver the entire system will crash -- the display turns black, and the computer freezes, I'm assuming this is due to a kernel panic. I've tried at least 5 different driver versions of the proprietary ATI driver, none work so far.

The computer works perfectly fine in every other regard.

When I try to force X to use 1280x1024 I get in the Xorg.log:

"(EE) RADEON(0): Using VGA default."

Attached here is my dmesg, Xorg.log and xorg.conf files:

dmesg: http://pastebin.com/m1b922c14
Xorg.log: http://pastebin.com/m5bef9669
xorg.conf: http://pastebin.com/m1e9a5d72

amani · 03-17-2009, 06:55 PM

use modelines and write better screen and monitor sections first

posix_memalign · 03-17-2009, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amani

use modelines and write better screen and monitor sections first

That's nonsense, since XFree86 >= 4.0 modelines are calculated automatically upon startup.
What else needs to be "better" in the screen and monitor section?

posix_memalign · 03-18-2009, 03:25 PM

I tried it even though it wouldn't make any sense -- guess what, it didn't.

amani · 03-20-2009, 11:11 AM

It is easy to stop the monitor from being auto-detected and modelines can be used.

man radeon

amani · 03-20-2009, 11:18 AM

By the way, I think you are wrong about modelines and Xorg... I never let it detect anything about the monitor (on a KVM switch) and use modelines without using the extra option: NoDDC

amani · 03-20-2009, 11:47 AM

See http://www.x.org/wiki/FAQVideoModes for example ... modelines still work. It is also possible to force X to see xorg.conf in more recent versions

posix_memalign · 03-21-2009, 01:33 PM

Alright gentlemen,
if you're saying that modelines is what I'm supposed to use to make this work -- then why does it work automatically by itself when I installed a PCI-E Nvidia Geforce 6600 GT card?
With this card I'm running perfectly fine in 1280x1024, no modelines.

Why won't you simply admit that the radeon and fglrx drivers are just completely fucked up for some cards -- i.a. the Xpress 200?

posix_memalign · 03-21-2009, 01:37 PM

My god, I really should just say this,

the Nvidia installer for GNU/Linux is just fantastic -- there are so many issues it can just solve on its own, on the fly, it is so intuitive and easy to use, and most important of all, it simply just _works_.
ATI on the other hand, well, I've tried nearly every version of that driver and none worked, all of them made X crash and/or the kernel panic.

amani · 03-21-2009, 06:09 PM

Xpress 200 = RS400/RS480 ...for these radeon should work. I had used RV5** and RV670 with radeon/fglrx too on Slamd64-12.1 with no problems. Yes I did use a few options for the driver.

The latest fglrx is known to cause problems/not work with some older cards.

You should use modelines and xorg.conf only when you have suboptimal performance.

Consider: (in section device)

Option "SubPixelOrder" "NONE"
Option "AccelDFS" "on"
Option "EnablePageFlip" "on"
Option "DRI" "on"
Option "DDCMode" "off"
Option "NoDDC" "on"
Option "ColorTiling" "on"
Option "AGPMode" "8"
# Option "BusType" "PCIE"
Option "DisplayPriority" "HIGH"
# Option "AccelMethod" "EXA"
# Option "DMAForXv" "off"

Play with

#Section "ServerLayout"
# "AutoAddDevices" "off"
#EndSection

modelines in monitor section should correspond to modes in screen section

Nouveau is also available for Nvidia cards