ATI MOBILITY Radeon HD 3450 on Fedora
 

I've been spending the last few days setting up my computer with Fedora 11. When I try to enable Desktop Effects, I get an error message telling me simply that I cannot enable desktop effects. I recall having a similar issue when I tried out Ubuntu, and, though I can't remember what I did, I enabled the use of my graphics card, and it worked.

However I don't think Fedora recognizes my ATI MOBILITY Radeon HD 3450. Or maybe it does, and this is just a different issue?

The other reason why I think something is screwy with my graphics card is that when using the Rhythmbox music player, I'll try to set the visualization to full screen, and the player will just disappear completely without so much as an error message.

I looked up this issue on Google and found other people with the same graphics card having similar issues, but none resolved as far as I could tell.

Anyone here know what to do?

Got the drivers installed? Fedora's open-source drivers won't cut it.

Getting most Linux distros and ATI cards to play nice is a hassle; also, fullscreen visualization in most media players depend on direct rendering.

http://www.firewing1.com/v1/content/view/31/33/

The info at that link is a bit old but still relevant.

Thanks for the link, but it didn't seem to help me. I couldn't find the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file it wanted me to modify, and I couldn't install the fglrx driver.

That gear test thing worked I think, at least when I typed in that command I saw a graphic of a few 3-D moving gears.

Does that mean my card is working?

It does, but it will do that with the FOSS drivers as well. Apologies as I forgot the new (current) Xorg doesn't create an xorg.conf by default which would explain why you didn't find it (it's normally in /etc/X11).

http://www.fedoraguide.info/index.ph...=Main_Page#ATI

This is specific to 11, and it's pretty in-depth for a lot of other stuff besides video. However, a quick glance at the AMD/ATI site...

http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx

...shows that Mobility Radeon 3450 isn't in the supported list ATM anyway. Have you looked into Compiz instead of the "built-in" 3D effects? That can even use indirect rendering if necessary.

Sorry I can't be of more help, I've stayed away from ATI once I started using *nix for this very reason. Obviously if you're using a lappy it's not that simple of course but ATI has given Linux users fits for at least a few years now.

I guess compiz is the way to go. I know that when I took Ubuntu for a spin, I did something that had to do with compiz, and got my desktop effects working. I'll look into it and let you know how it goes.

You can force in a /etc/X11/xorg.conf always
For the 'radeon' driver consider
(apart from other sections)

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
Boardname "Radeon HD"
Busid "PCI:1:0:0"
Driver "radeon"
Option "SubPixelOrder" "NONE"
Option "AccelDFS" "on"
Option "EnablePageFlip" "on"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Group 0
Mode 0666
EndSection


Section "Extensions"
Option "Composite" "Enable"
EndSection

Excuse my lack of knowledge on this subject, but I'm not quite sure what you are suggesting I do. Are those options that I should select?

Also, I tried following this: http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showpo...29&postcount=2

To install compiz fusion, but when I tried to run the fusion-icon thing my screen went completely white, aside from my cursor.

I am asking you to write a custom xorg.conf file

#man xorg.conf

#man radeon

________________
AND/OR

add rpm-fusion to your yum repositories (go to rpmfusion.org and follow instructions)

You can then try the fglrx driver

__________________

AND/OR

in kde try enabling desktop effects

Also you may need to tweak compiz manager

Oh alright. So what I need to do is create this xorg.conf file, then put in what you suggested? I'm not sure what you meant by:

#man xorg.conf

#man radeon

Once again I'm really sorry, but I am incredibly new to this.

From what I understand, I should generate this xorg.conf file, place it in /etc/X11, then restart my computer. Am I on the right track? If so, how do I make this file?

Thanks for your patience.
(BTW I'm using gnome)

...are the commands to access the man pages for those; the man pages are a built-in manual for things in linux.

will create an xorg.conf file and open it for you to edit. Then,
copy/paste what Amani showed you:

into that file. Save it and close it.

IIRC you're most of the way there; the white-screen deal is a common issue with Compiz in certain situations. If this xorg.conf doesn't hammer that out, do
and post back the results.