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ati on linux...

Started by FreJa Nov 4, 2004 at 10:00 AM 10 replies 900+ views

Original Post

Nov 4, 2004 at 10:00 AM

Hi, I have a Sony Vaio notebook with a Mobile ATI 9700, running SuSe Linux 9.1. When I go, in the monitor settings to the 3d acceleration, it says it is not supported by my card, plus it only runs at a maximum of 24 bits (resolution). Now, its obvious that an ati 9700 supports both 3d acceleration and 32 bit color (!) . I haven't installed any drivers, and SuSe detected my card as a RV350 right out of the box... but I guess I need some ati drivers for it to run right... right? Well, when I go to the mobile drivers on ati.com it sends me to the manufacturer of the notebook (sony). And sony DOESN'T HAVE ANY DRIVERS FOR LINUX (at least I didn't see them)!!! So... I have a problem... Any help? Huge thanks

Rixter

151

Rixter

Nov 4, 2004 at 10:06 AM

I have SuSE 9.1 as well on my desktop with a Radeon 9700 Pro, same problem. I've heard that there is a way to get the ati linux drivers to work, but even going through all the instructions and help on ATI's website didn't work. I think it's more of an ATI problem than Sony, but I could be wrong.

Saruman

294

Saruman

Nov 4, 2004 at 10:06 AM

ATI and Linux?

There is no 3D acceleration in Linux for Radeon 9xxx series. The Linux drivers that ATI puts out are about the equivelent of their Windows drivers 8 years ago.

Basically your 9700 turns into a 128MB S3 Virge under Linux :) And I wouldn't hold your breathe for working drivers, it took over 10 years to get where they are today in Windows drivers.

_the_phantom_

496

_the_phantom_

Nov 4, 2004 at 10:19 AM

try and find the 'firegl' drivers, they should let you have hardware acceleration on a 9xxx series card for 3d and 2d

sorry that I dont have a link...

benryves

526

benryves

Nov 4, 2004 at 10:36 AM

Quote:
Original post by FreJa
... Mobile ATI 9700 ...

ATi don't even issue drivers for their mobile chips under Windows, you have to use alternatives (such as Omega). Good luck, mate.

Miserable

Nov 4, 2004 at 11:05 AM

Quote:
Original post by Saruman
ATI and Linux?

There is no 3D acceleration in Linux for Radeon 9xxx series. The Linux drivers that ATI puts out are about the equivelent of their Windows drivers 8 years ago.

Basically your 9700 turns into a 128MB S3 Virge under Linux :) And I wouldn't hold your breathe for working drivers, it took over 10 years to get where they are today in Windows drivers.

There is 3D acceleration in Linux for the Radeon 9xxx series. You can find drivers here—they may not be the best of drivers, but they certainly do exist, and they do provide hardware OpenGL acceleration.

Sadly, ATI's Linux drivers are behind, and there is currently no 64-bit driver (so if you have an amd64, you're SOL); they have promised to commit themselves to improving the quality of the driver (and provide a 64-bit driver before the year is out); from what I understand, this will actually be based on the Windows driver (so to assume that we will be ten years behind may be unnecessarily pessimistic). We shall see what happens.

Saruman

294

Saruman

Nov 4, 2004 at 11:06 AM

Quote:
Original post by Miserable
There is 3D acceleration in Linux for the Radeon 9xxx series. You can find drivers here—they may not be the best of drivers, but they certainly do exist, and they do provide hardware OpenGL acceleration.

If you don't mind crashing more than a Windows 95 box than by all means you can say 'they may not be the best'. I would actually say they are utterly horrid and you are better off not even using 3D acceleration.

Ravuya

296

Ravuya

Nov 4, 2004 at 11:08 AM

Anyone running Linux would do extremely poorly to support ATI until they make their drivers non-crap.

Miserable

Nov 4, 2004 at 8:46 PM

Quote:
Original post by Saruman
Quote:
Original post by Miserable
There is 3D acceleration in Linux for the Radeon 9xxx series. You can find drivers here—they may not be the best of drivers, but they certainly do exist, and they do provide hardware OpenGL acceleration.

If you don't mind crashing more than a Windows 95 box than by all means you can say 'they may not be the best'. I would actually say they are utterly horrid and you are better off not even using 3D acceleration.

I was using the proprietary drivers with my old Radeon 8500, and while they were not the best (speed-wise), the total number of crashes I had relating to the 3D drivers over the six months or so that I used them numbered exactly zero. YMMV—obviously—but neither I, nor any of the two people I know here who have used the driver, had any such problems.

temp_ie_cant_thinkof_name

Nov 4, 2004 at 8:53 PM

Install Windows?

C-Junkie

139

C-Junkie

Nov 4, 2004 at 9:02 PM

Do you have SUSE's fglrx and km_fglrx packages installed?

CGameProgrammer

179

CGameProgrammer

Nov 4, 2004 at 9:34 PM

I eventually managed to get my ATI card (9600) working under Linux, and I too have a laptop. It was a pain but I did it by consulting a couple of message boards on www.linuxquestions.org and a message board specific to my distro. It turned out to involve quite a bit more than just downloading and installing the drivers.

Remember that ATI's OpenGL drivers are shitty even in Windows, so of course the Linux ones are no better.

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