#updated 4-19-2004
#Suse now has working instructions for the current driver 3.7.6 go to their website
here
#follow the readme and you should be set.
#This works if you simply want to update your current version of the driver as well.
#You can still refer to my tutorial if you wish to use the older drivers (before 3.7) but I recommend
#the newer ones. You guys have all been great to work with. I hope that the XT issues have been
#resolved!!
This should solve your 3D accel problems with SuSE 9.0/8.* and Radeon 9700/9800 and possibly more.
1. You must have the kernel-sources package installed on your system. This should come on your CD's if you have the Pro version, or you can get it from one of SuSE's ftp server.
You can check to see if you do by running
rpm -qa | grep kernel
This should output something like : kernel-sources-2.4.*** depending on your kernel.
If you have this package installed you need to download the fglrx.rpm and km_fglrx.rpm from SuSE's ftp server here:
Needed RPMS
read SuSE's README, but follow my directions, note that SuSE explicity states that:
-3D accleration is not selectable in sax2 using this method
-only 24-bit color depth is supported
2. Install these rpms and follow MY instructions, for SuSE has missed a small point
Go to a console, i.e. get out of xserver (better yet boot into init 3 if you know how to do this) by typing ctrl+alt+F1
This will bring you to a console login. Login as root. Now run
init 3
This will bring you to the needed runlevel.
Now cd to where the fglrx.rpm and km_fglrx.rpm are.
run these commmands in this order:
rpm -Uhv fglrx.rpm
rpm -Uhv km_fglrx.rpm
cd /usr/src/linux (or better to do: cd /usr/src/linux-2.4.**** if you have that option)
make cloneconfig
make dep
cd /usr/src/kernel-modules/fglrx
make -f Makefile.module
make -f Makefile.module install
sax2 -r -m 0=fglrx -b /usr/X11R6/lib/sax/profile/firegl
(the above 0=fglrx is a zero, not an o)
in sax2 just accept the settings, in my experience sax sux and you can edit it later. (If you are comfortable using sax, go ahead and adjust mouse, monitor etc, but leave videocard info alone!!!)
now use an editor to add
Load "dri"
to /etc/X11/XF86Config
(optional: add Load "GLcore")
under the section "Modules"
Now a lot of you have seen these previous steps before, but not in this order. You have to add the kernel module (km_fglrx) to the system before the kernel configuration (make cloneconfig make dep). This resolves the drm module error that I have seen all over the place.
ITS NOT OVER YET!
4. Go into X and type
lsmod
you should see that fglrx is running and is used by 0 if it is NOT working and some number if it IS working. Also check to see if agpgart is running. If these are both running and have processes that are using them, you may be lucky and have it working already, if not read on)
5. You need to use external agpgart module for this to work. If you compiled your kernel and have done it correctly, you can use the internal agpgart module. I will focus on the external method as it is the easiest to implement.
enter the following into a command line:
cd /etc/X11
fglrxconfig
Read the directions carefully and select your choices based on your system. If in doubt, just hit enter to select the default.
The important one to look out for is:
Do you want to use external AGPGart module? [y/n] [n]
This is defaulted to n, and you need to choose y.
6. Now
cd /etc/init.d
now edit the boot.local file by adding the following line:
/sbin/insmod agpgart
7. REBOOT! I know, I know, this is linux, but I think this is necesarry for this process. (Please correct me if I am wrong and you know a way to simply restart the Xserver)
When the system reloads it will load the agpgart module right away, and this needs to be loaded before the fglrx module. Now you can run glxgears and see that you have 2000-4000 fps if it is working. If you get 300 or so, something is wrong. Also you can type fglrxinfo and it should read something like this:
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: Radeon 9800 (AIB) Athlon (3DNow!)
OpenGL version string: 1.3 (X4.3.0-3.2.8)
I found that you know it is working if in lsmod you see that fglrx and agpgart both have processes running.
This can be a frustrating process, and very testing, but trust me it works. If you find that you did not get it to work, I recommend undoing everything that you have done and starting over. A fresh install works best, and cleans up garbage that you have left behind.
My system information if you need it:
Nforce 2 mobo (all the same
)
Radeon 9800 Pro
kernel: k_athlon-2.4.21-144
I hope that this helps!