X.org config for ATI Radeon

jrdioko · 01-05-2006, 09:10 PM

According to lspci, I have the following video card on my laptop:

Code:

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Radeon R250 Lf [FireGL 9000] (rev 02)

Since starting out, I've had "vesa" selected as my driver in the config, but I've been poking around seeing if there's anything I can do to get better performance (since I'm only using a default driver now). According to X.org's site, cards above R250 are only supported (in a stable sense) by ATI's proprietary drivers, which I have no reason to use (I'm not using games or anything that requires a better driver, just looking around to see if there's something else I should be using).

If I use the "radeon" open-source driver (which apparently is only for R200 and below), will I get some increase over "vesa," or do I need something that matches with my exact card? If that is the way to go, does the change involve anything besides changing "vesa" to "radeon" in my xorg.config?

carl0ski · 01-06-2006, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrdioko

According to lspci, I have the following video card on my laptop:

Code:

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Radeon R250 Lf [FireGL 9000] (rev 02)

Since starting out, I've had "vesa" selected as my driver in the config, but I've been poking around seeing if there's anything I can do to get better performance (since I'm only using a default driver now). According to X.org's site, cards above R250 are only supported (in a stable sense) by ATI's proprietary drivers, which I have no reason to use (I'm not using games or anything that requires a better driver, just looking around to see if there's something else I should be using).

If I use the "radeon" open-source driver (which apparently is only for R200 and below), will I get some increase over "vesa," or do I need something that matches with my exact card? If that is the way to go, does the change involve anything besides changing "vesa" to "radeon" in my xorg.config?

My desktop mother board below has an integrated radeon equivilent to x300.

If i use the open source radeon drivers = fatal failure to boot at all (lilo in frame buffer crashes)

either use vesa or proprietory unless your daring.

stress_junkie · 01-06-2006, 08:31 AM

I've been using an ATI Radeon 8500 AIW card for years. This is also known as R200 BB. I tried the ATI drivers. They added OpenGL capability so I could run OpenGL games. Unfortunately those same drivers made the 2D display slow down so that video updates seemed sluggish. I have been using the generic "radeon" driver with no problems. I have another machine that is virtually identical except that it uses an old Nvidia card with Nvidia NForce2 motherboard chips. That machines runs great with the Nvidia OpenGL and acceleration drivers.

carl0ski · 01-06-2006, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stress_junkie

I've been using an ATI Radeon 8500 AIW card for years. This is also known as R200 BB. I tried the ATI drivers. They added OpenGL capability so I could run OpenGL games. Unfortunately those same drivers made the 2D display slow down so that video updates seemed sluggish. I have been using the generic "radeon" driver with no problems. I have another machine that is virtually identical except that it uses an old Nvidia card with Nvidia NForce2 motherboard chips. That machines runs great with the Nvidia OpenGL and acceleration drivers.

the difference being r200 is supported by the open drivers
250+ are unoffically supported and in some cases very unstable.

jrdioko · 01-06-2006, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carl0ski

the difference being r200 is supported by the open drivers
250+ are unoffically supported and in some cases very unstable.

I'd read that, but I thought the "radeon" driver was for R200 and below, and something else that doesn't come with X.org was for better cards. I was wondering if I can use the "radeon" stable pre-R200 card for my post-R200 card and get better performance than my current "vesa" driver (I know I wouldn't get the full capabilities of the card, just looking for any improvement).