Cannot configure fglrx on Sony Vaio PCVSE190

jmite · 12-08-2011, 12:09 PM

So I'm trying to set up the proprietary graphics for the ATI card on my new Sony laptop.

When I do aticonfig --initial, I get the following error:

Code:

    $ sudo aticonfig --initial
    Found fglrx primary device section
    PowerXpress error: Cannot stat '/usr/lib64/fglrx': No such file or directory
    Failed to initialize libglx for discrete GPU
    Using /etc/X11/xorg.conf
    Saving back-up to /etc/X11/xorg.conf.fglrx-3

Does anybody know what might be causing this? I get an identical error whether I use the driver version from the "Restricted Drivers" program or from the ATI website.

This is what my graphics cards look like in lspci -v

Code:

    00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
    Subsystem: Sony Corporation Device 907b
    Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 47
    Memory at c0000000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4M]
    Memory at b0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
    I/O ports at 8000 [size=64]
    Expansion ROM at <unassigned> [disabled]
    Capabilities: [90] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
    Capabilities: [d0] Power Management version 2
    Capabilities: [a4] PCI Advanced Features
    Kernel driver in use: i915
    Kernel modules: i915



    01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc NI Whistler [AMD Radeon HD 6600M Series] (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
    Subsystem: Sony Corporation Device 907b
    Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
    Memory at a0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
    Memory at c8400000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=128K]
    I/O ports at 7000 [size=256]
    Expansion ROM at c8420000 [disabled] [size=128K]
    Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 3
    Capabilities: [58] Express Legacy Endpoint, MSI 00
    Capabilities: [a0] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
    Capabilities: [100] Vendor Specific Information: ID=0001 Rev=1 Len=010 <?>
    Capabilities: [150] Advanced Error Reporting
    Kernel driver in use: fglrx_pci
    Kernel modules: fglrx_updates, radeon

TobiSGD · 12-08-2011, 12:16 PM

The problem here is, I would think, that you have a laptop with switchable graphics. AFAIK switchable graphics with AMD on Linux is currently only supported by the open source drivers, but I don't know if they support your graphics card in the current version of Ubuntu.

jmite · 12-08-2011, 12:26 PM

No, AMD Switchable graphics is definitely supported under linux: see http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?pag...item&px=OTI3Mg.
The ati website says a similar thing. It's not dynamic switching, but you can manually switch between cards (you need to restart X)
Also, that's what powerXpress is in the error output. It's what's failing here, but it's clearly trying to deal with the dual graphics if it's outputting messages about powerXpress.
Also if if you do aticonfig --help, there are options for switching between integrated and discrete graphics.

If all else fails, I will use the open source driver. My only worry is that it will keep consuming power from the discrete card even when it's not being used.

l0o0 · 03-19-2012, 06:48 AM

hi ,i have the same problem, i think is powerXpress that causes the crack. from the here
Intel/ATI Hybrids

Use of Catalyst on older systems (those with a mux) is no longer supported. I have one report of switching success with Catalyst 11-6, but ATI has now disabled switching in Catalyst, even if it worked fine with older Catalyst versions. X will refuse to start and you will find this message in your Xorg log:

(WW) PowerXpress feature is not supported on A+I Mux platform. Please uninstall fglrx driver.
(EE) No devices detected.

Using open-source drivers and the vgaswitcheroo script may work better in this case.
i dont know what dist you use