ATI driver 8.36.5 released. Kernel 2.6.20 finally supported.

[nightflier]

Just tested this driver. It installed and performed well with a Radeon 9500 Pro.

[easuter]

Thanks nightflier, thats good news!

Its about time ATI got around to supporting 2.6.20

[soren]

Hi guys,

I have a ati radeon 9800 pro, and VL 5.8 SOHO RC3. This is the first time I try an ati card with linux, so I'm not sure what to expect.

Here's what I did:

-I downloaded ati-driver-installer-8.36.5-x86.x86_64.run from the website, and ran it as root.
-I ran aticonfig --initial, to create a new /etc/X11/xorg.conf.
-I restarted X, and tried glxgears, just to see if there was any sign of improved performance. 150 fps? Not quite what I expected...

Code:

soren:$ glxinfo
name of display: :0.0
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_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating,
    GLX_EXT_import_context, GLX_OML_swap_method, GLX_SGI_make_current_read,
    GLX_SGIS_multisample, GLX_SGIX_hyperpipe, GLX_SGIX_swap_barrier,
    GLX_SGIX_fbconfig
client glx vendor string: ATI
client glx version string: 1.3
client glx extensions:
    GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_EXT_import_context,
    GLX_ARB_get_proc_address, GLX_SGI_video_sync, GLX_ARB_multisample,
    GLX_ATI_pixel_format_float, GLX_ATI_render_texture
GLX extensions:
    GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_EXT_import_context,
    GLX_ARB_multisample
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: RADEON 9800 PRO
OpenGL version string: 2.0.6458 (8.36.5)
...

I can't for the life of me figure out what I did wrong... Any hints?

[rbistolfi]

-I downloaded ati-driver-installer-8.36.5-x86.x86_64.run from the website, and ran it as root.

You downloaded the 64 bit version instead the 32 bits one, the name of the file should be ati-driver-installer-8.36.5-x86.x86_32.run
Remember Vector is a 32bit system, and you need a 32bit driver even if yo have a 64bit cpu.

cheers, Rodrigo

[GrannyGeek]

No, that is the correct driver file. It's the current one posted on ATI's site. I assume it detects whether you're installing on a 32-bit or 64-bit system when it sets itself up.

I'm using the same driver on my 32-bit VL 5.8 Standard and I get over 1000 fps with it. I'm not a gamer, however, so I don't know how well it works in practice.
--GrannyGeek

[GrannyGeek]

-I restarted X, and tried glxgears, just to see if there was any sign of improved performance. 150 fps? Not quite what I expected...

Are you running glxgears in a window or full screen? I'm using the proprietary ATI driver on a system with a Radeon Xpress 200 and I get over 1000 fps when glxgears runs in a window. Full screen, I get 100-something.

Let glxgears run for a while. Mine starts out with fewer fps and speeds up after several seconds and then maintains the speed.

Beyond that, I have no advice as I know very little about this. Also, I'm not a gamer and don't need DRI, so I'd be fine with the Xorg ati driver. I installed the proprietary driver just out of curiosity.
--GrannyGeek

[nightflier]

Did you try a 3D app, like ppracer or Google Earth?

After installing this driver, I did not get any improvement in glxgears, but performance greatly improved when running these programs.

[rbistolfi]

-I restarted X, and tried glxgears, just to see if there was any sign of improved performance. 150 fps? Not quite what I expected...

Are you running glxgears in a window or full screen? I'm using the proprietary ATI driver on a system with a Radeon Xpress 200 and I get over 1000 fps when glxgears runs in a window. Full screen, I get 100-something.

Let glxgears run for a while. Mine starts out with fewer fps and speeds up after several seconds and then maintains the speed.

Beyond that, I have no advice as I know very little about this. Also, I'm not a gamer and don't need DRI, so I'd be fine with the Xorg ati driver. I installed the proprietary driver just out of curiosity.
--GrannyGeek

Oops! Sorry, nvidia users like me should stay away from this kind of topics 

[soren]

Like GG I mostly installed the driver out of curiosity, and I hadn't tried any 3D games. I just slapt-got ppracer, and you were right, nightflier! It runs smoothly, and looks very nice. Definitely not software rendering...

I guess glxgears isn't ati-friendly, or perhaps it needs a recompile.

Thank you all for your feedback!

[Joe1962]

The ATI drivers come with their own fglrxgears.

[GrannyGeek]

The ATI drivers come with their own fglrxgears.

I saw that, but I was afraid to try it.<g> I'll give it a spin tomorrow.
--GrannyGeek