ATI and Slackware64 -Current

Erik_FL · 03-18-2011, 02:51 PM

I've had a few more problems with ATI drivers than nVidia on Linux, but they are about the same. You really need to look at individual chips or cards and then research the comments from Linux users. I recently upgraded my graphics card and switched from a Sapphire ATI based board to an nVidia based board. Other than being able to run World Of Warcraft on Linux, there really wasn't much difference in functionality.

You are more likely to run into problems with Intel integrated graphics, since they often omit features in the hardware and then include those features in the drivers. That causes a problem with some software that expects graphics features reported as "hardware supported" to actually be done in hardware. Generally the issue is one of performance rather than compatibility, but sometimes the faked hardware support has incompatibilities.

If you are interested in gaming on Linux (using Wine or emulation) then I recommend sticking with nVidia. For general Linux desktop use, including 3D desktop effects, either ATI or nVidia should be fine.

The two other places where I've had a lot of Linux compatibility issues are HDA audio and soft-modems. The audio generally works, but sometimes has missing or incorrectly assigned features and channels. Soft-modems seldom work well, and I've found that spending $50 for a true hardware modem USB dongle is a good investment. You only need one, since you usually don't need dial-up on more than one computer at a location at any one time. Just make sure to get a hardware modem that looks like a USB serial port.

gauchao · 03-19-2011, 09:05 AM

Although, IMHO, ATI has better hardware than nvidia, its driver support for linux isn't satisfactory yet. I have a Radeon Xpress 200M in my laptop and it works fine with Slack. In one of my desktops, ATI RADEON 3870x2 (RV670), which is intended for the MS "OS" (they like to call it so...

), only one of the two GPUs is in use with the open source driver because the crossfire bridge is not yet supported. However, it is pretty satisfactory - no 3D acceleration at all, but 2D works very nice and glxgears gives me 4200.900 FPS, DRI enabled.

glxinfo

Code:

name of display: :0.0
IRQ's not enabled, falling back to busy waits: 2 0
display: :0  screen: 0
direct rendering: Yes
server glx vendor string: SGI
server glx version string: 1.2
server glx extensions:
    GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_import_context, GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap, 
    GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_MESA_copy_sub_buffer, 
    GLX_OML_swap_method, GLX_SGI_make_current_read, GLX_SGIS_multisample, 
    GLX_SGIX_fbconfig, GLX_SGIX_pbuffer, GLX_SGIX_visual_select_group
client glx vendor string: Mesa Project and SGI
client glx version string: 1.4
client glx extensions:
    GLX_ARB_get_proc_address, GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_import_context, 
    GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_MESA_allocate_memory, 
    GLX_MESA_copy_sub_buffer, GLX_MESA_swap_control, 
    GLX_MESA_swap_frame_usage, GLX_OML_swap_method, GLX_OML_sync_control, 
    GLX_SGI_make_current_read, GLX_SGI_swap_control, GLX_SGI_video_sync, 
    GLX_SGIS_multisample, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig, GLX_SGIX_pbuffer, 
    GLX_SGIX_visual_select_group, GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap, 
    GLX_INTEL_swap_event
GLX version: 1.2
GLX extensions:
    GLX_ARB_get_proc_address, GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_import_context, 
    GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_MESA_copy_sub_buffer, 
    GLX_MESA_swap_frame_usage, GLX_OML_swap_method, GLX_SGI_make_current_read, 
    GLX_SGIS_multisample, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig, GLX_SGIX_pbuffer, 
    GLX_SGIX_visual_select_group
OpenGL vendor string: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa DRI R600 (RV670 950F) 20090101  TCL
OpenGL version string: 2.0 Mesa 7.8.1
OpenGL shading language version string: 1.10
OpenGL extensions:
    GL_ARB_depth_texture, GL_ARB_depth_clamp, GL_ARB_draw_buffers, 
    GL_ARB_fragment_program, GL_ARB_fragment_program_shadow, 
    GL_ARB_fragment_shader, GL_ARB_imaging, GL_ARB_multisample, 
    GL_ARB_multitexture, GL_ARB_occlusion_query, GL_ARB_pixel_buffer_object, 
    GL_ARB_point_parameters, GL_ARB_point_sprite, GL_ARB_provoking_vertex, 
    GL_ARB_shader_objects, GL_ARB_shading_language_100, GL_ARB_shadow, 
    GL_ARB_shadow_ambient, GL_ARB_texture_border_clamp, 
    GL_ARB_texture_compression, GL_ARB_texture_cube_map, 
    GL_ARB_texture_env_add, GL_ARB_texture_env_combine, 
    GL_ARB_texture_env_crossbar, GL_ARB_texture_env_dot3, 
    GL_MESAX_texture_float, GL_ARB_texture_mirrored_repeat, 
    GL_ARB_texture_non_power_of_two, GL_ARB_texture_rectangle, 
    GL_ARB_transpose_matrix, GL_ARB_vertex_array_bgra, 
    GL_ARB_vertex_buffer_object, GL_ARB_vertex_program, GL_ARB_vertex_shader, 
    GL_ARB_window_pos, GL_EXT_abgr, GL_EXT_bgra, GL_EXT_blend_color, 
    GL_EXT_blend_equation_separate, GL_EXT_blend_func_separate, 
    GL_EXT_blend_logic_op, GL_EXT_blend_minmax, GL_EXT_blend_subtract, 
    GL_EXT_compiled_vertex_array, GL_EXT_convolution, GL_EXT_copy_texture, 
    GL_EXT_draw_range_elements, GL_EXT_fog_coord, 
    GL_EXT_gpu_program_parameters, GL_EXT_histogram, GL_EXT_multi_draw_arrays, 
    GL_EXT_packed_depth_stencil, GL_EXT_packed_pixels, 
    GL_EXT_pixel_buffer_object, GL_EXT_point_parameters, 
    GL_EXT_polygon_offset, GL_EXT_provoking_vertex, GL_EXT_rescale_normal, 
    GL_EXT_secondary_color, GL_EXT_separate_specular_color, 
    GL_EXT_shadow_funcs, GL_EXT_stencil_two_side, GL_EXT_stencil_wrap, 
    GL_EXT_subtexture, GL_EXT_texture, GL_EXT_texture3D, 
    GL_EXT_texture_cube_map, GL_EXT_texture_edge_clamp, 
    GL_EXT_texture_env_add, GL_EXT_texture_env_combine, 
    GL_EXT_texture_env_dot3, GL_EXT_texture_filter_anisotropic, 
    GL_EXT_texture_lod_bias, GL_EXT_texture_mirror_clamp, 
    GL_EXT_texture_object, GL_EXT_texture_rectangle, GL_EXT_texture_sRGB, 
    GL_EXT_vertex_array, GL_EXT_vertex_array_bgra, GL_APPLE_packed_pixels, 
    GL_ATI_blend_equation_separate, GL_ATI_texture_env_combine3, 
    GL_ATI_texture_mirror_once, GL_ATI_separate_stencil, 
    GL_IBM_multimode_draw_arrays, GL_IBM_rasterpos_clip, 
    GL_IBM_texture_mirrored_repeat, GL_INGR_blend_func_separate, 
    GL_MESA_pack_invert, GL_MESA_ycbcr_texture, GL_MESA_window_pos, 
    GL_NV_blend_square, GL_NV_depth_clamp, GL_NV_light_max_exponent, 
    GL_NV_packed_depth_stencil, GL_NV_texture_rectangle, 
    GL_NV_texgen_reflection, GL_NV_vertex_program, GL_OES_read_format, 
    GL_SGI_color_matrix, GL_SGI_color_table, GL_SGIS_generate_mipmap, 
    GL_SGIS_texture_border_clamp, GL_SGIS_texture_edge_clamp, 
    GL_SGIS_texture_lod, GL_SUN_multi_draw_arrays

8 GLX Visuals
   visual  x  bf lv rg d st colorbuffer ax dp st accumbuffer  ms  cav
 id dep cl sp sz l  ci b ro  r  g  b  a bf th cl  r  g  b  a ns b eat
----------------------------------------------------------------------
0x21 24 tc  0 32  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  8  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x22 24 dc  0 32  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  8  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x6f 24 tc  0 32  0 r  .  .  8  8  8  8  0 24  8 16 16 16 16  0 0 Slow
0x70 24 tc  0 32  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  8  0 24  8 16 16 16 16  0 0 Slow
0x71 24 dc  0 32  0 r  .  .  8  8  8  8  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x72 24 dc  0 32  0 r  .  .  8  8  8  8  0 24  8 16 16 16 16  0 0 Slow
0x73 24 dc  0 32  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  8  0 24  8 16 16 16 16  0 0 Slow
0x66 32 tc  0 32  0 r  .  .  8  8  8  8  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 Ncon

8 GLXFBConfigs:
   visual  x  bf lv rg d st colorbuffer ax dp st accumbuffer  ms  cav
 id dep cl sp sz l  ci b ro  r  g  b  a bf th cl  r  g  b  a ns b eat
----------------------------------------------------------------------
0x67  0 tc  0 32  0 r  .  .  8  8  8  8  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x68  0 tc  0 32  0 r  .  .  8  8  8  8  0 24  8 16 16 16 16  0 0 Slow
0x69  0 tc  0 32  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  8  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x6a  0 tc  0 32  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  8  0 24  8 16 16 16 16  0 0 Slow
0x6b  0 dc  0 32  0 r  .  .  8  8  8  8  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x6c  0 dc  0 32  0 r  .  .  8  8  8  8  0 24  8 16 16 16 16  0 0 Slow
0x6d  0 dc  0 32  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  8  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x6e  0 dc  0 32  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  8  0 24  8 16 16 16 16  0 0 Slow

trademark91 · 03-19-2011, 11:10 AM

i have an ati mobility radeon 4650 in my laptop running -current multilib. the first thing i install in a new installation is fglrx. works like a charm here. i have had nothing but good experiences with my card and linux, regardless of distro.

i do a lot of gaming, too, its never failed me.

Loslobo · 03-19-2011, 01:38 PM

I concur with tdos20. Success with using ATI's gflrx driver depends on your video card and versions of various linux packages. Newest version of the Kernel will likely give you trouble and require patching. Major revisions in Xorg can cause similar problems.

Generally older chip sets work. In my case the older HD3000 integrated motherboard series with slackware 13.1 and version 11.2 of the catalyst driver.

However newer ATI chipsets and exotic versions (those lovely MS only offered by certain desktop makers) of integrated/laptop video chips may not. Overall, the Linux ATI catalyst drivers have gotten better and allows you to generate a slack package. But they're not updated as frequently as Nvidia's. And it's a bit of a dice toss when using newer versions of chipsets or linux packages.

There's a phoronix thread that mentions Ubuntu problems with AMD E-350 Zacates and kernel 2.6.38

http://phoronix.com/forums/showthrea...D-Zacate-E-350

interndan · 03-19-2011, 03:25 PM

I have systems with ATI and Nvidia both. I've found ATI to be no harder/easier that Nvidia. As pointed out it depends on the chipset. If youyr not gaming or doing high end graphics the defaults usually work fine. Just my 2 cents.

Cepoon · 03-19-2011, 06:05 PM

Quote:

i have an ati mobility radeon 4650 in my laptop running -current multilib

Maybe newer cards are not problematic now. My old card, mobility radeon X1350 always sucks in linux. The latest kernel with working fglrx was 2.6.27, and latest "not lagging" in 3D games was 2.6.22 (aka Slackware 12.0). FPS worked fine, but drawing shades, colors and quality of view was horrible. Now with opensource drivers this old card works fine on current, but is not for gaming (only on low details). I think opensource drivers in current are more better than ATI propietary drivers from year 2007-2008. And I am talking about some years ago. Not too many. For me - ati no more, this was very bad experiences and no support from ATI Company side.