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    #1

    Which ATI video driver should I install?

    I want to install the driver for my ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870, but the first time I tried it I lost desktop effects, couldn't restore it to default and had to reinstall. I really like the look of 13.10, and want to keep it. I know it's classed as a "testing" version, and that I should really just dump it and install 12.04, that would be the sensible thing to do, but I guess it has awoken the curiosity in me again and I would really like to see this version running in all it's glory.

    When I run the "Additional Drivers" tool, it shows 2 drivers that I can choose from but the description is exactly the same for both. Here is a screenshot -



    I chose the first one originally and it installed (I think!), but it later reported that it was a "FireGL"! Needless to say it didn't work.

    So I'm scared to try the second one in case it messes everything up again.

    Or should I try installing the driver directly from ATI? I'm guessing that isn't going to be a simple thing and I'll need to do extra stuff to get it working?
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    #2
    There are two options...

    You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes...

    There is the open source Radeon driver.
    There is the proprietary AMD driver.

    Ubuntu Community Docs:

    BinaryDriverHowto: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto
    BinaryDriverHowto/ATI: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/ATI
    A good place to start: Topic: Top 20 Kubuntu FAQs & Answers
    Searching FAQ's: Google Search 'FAQ from Kubuntuforums'
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      #3
      At here #1

      Before

      lspci -vvnn | grep VGA

      01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Barts PRO [Radeon HD 6850] [1002:6739] (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
      :~$ glxinfo
      name of display: :0
      display: :0 screen: 0
      direct rendering: Yes
      server glx vendor string: SGI
      server glx version string: 1.4
      ...
      OpenGL vendor string: X.Org
      OpenGL renderer string: Gallium 0.4 on AMD BARTS
      OpenGL core profile version string: 3.1 (Core Profile) Mesa 9.2.1
      ...
      OpenGL version string: 3.0 Mesa 9.2.1
      OpenGL shading language version string: 1.30

      Fglrx - from the Ubuntu repositories:

      Code:
      sudo apt-get install fglrx-updates fglrx-amdcccle-updates
      The diff between the fglrx and the fglrx-updates: The 'updates' package will get updates if the AMD is releasing updates.

      Code:
      sudo amdconfig --initial
      Reboot...

      :~$ fglrxinfo
      display: :0 screen: 0
      OpenGL vendor string: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
      OpenGL renderer string: AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series
      OpenGL version string: 4.2.12337 Compatibility Profile Context 13.101



      Back to Mesa

      Purging fglrx-updates fglrx-amdcccle-updates
      Removing the /etc/X11/xorg.conf
      Reboot...
      A good place to start: Topic: Top 20 Kubuntu FAQs & Answers
      Searching FAQ's: Google Search 'FAQ from Kubuntuforums'
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        #4
        The latest & greatest (craziest ?)

        http://support.amd.com/en-us/download





        Picking the Beta version...

        Wrapping it to the deb:
        Code:
        sudo sh amd-catalyst-13.11-beta6-linux-x86.x86_64.run --buildpkg Ubuntu/saucy
        There is now 3 debs:
        fglrx_13.250-0ubuntu1_amd64.deb
        fglrx-amdcccle_13.250-0ubuntu1_amd64.deb
        fglrx-dev_13.250-0ubuntu1_amd64.deb


        Installing 2:
        Code:
        sudo dpkg -i fglrx_13.250-0ubuntu1_amd64.deb fglrx-amdcccle_13.250-0ubuntu1_amd64.deb
        Selecting previously unselected package fglrx.
        (Reading database ... 149759 files and directories currently installed.)
        Unpacking fglrx (from fglrx_13.250-0ubuntu1_amd64.deb) ...
        Selecting previously unselected package fglrx-amdcccle.
        Unpacking fglrx-amdcccle (from fglrx-amdcccle_13.250-0ubuntu1_amd64.deb) ...
        Setting up fglrx (2:13.250-0ubuntu1) ...
        update-alternatives: using /usr/lib/fglrx/ld.so.conf to provide /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_GL.conf (x86_64-linux-gnu_gl_conf) in auto mode
        update-alternatives: using /usr/lib/fglrx/alt_ld.so.conf to provide /etc/ld.so.conf.d/i386-linux-gnu_GL.conf (i386-linux-gnu_gl_conf) in auto mode
        update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
        Loading new fglrx-13.250 DKMS files...
        First Installation: checking all kernels...
        Building only for 3.11.0-13-generic
        Building for architecture x86_64
        Building initial module for 3.11.0-13-generic
        Done.

        fglrx:
        Running module version sanity check.
        - Original module
        - No original module exists within this kernel
        - Installation
        - Installing to /lib/modules/3.11.0-13-generic/updates/dkms/

        depmod........

        DKMS: install completed.
        update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
        Processing triggers for ureadahead ...
        ureadahead will be reprofiled on next reboot
        Setting up fglrx-amdcccle (2:13.250-0ubuntu1) ...
        Processing triggers for initramfs-tools ...
        update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-3.11.0-13-generic
        Processing triggers for libc-bin ...
        Making the xorg.conf:
        Code:
        sudo amdconfig --initial
        Reboot....

        :~$ fglrxinfo
        display: :0 screen: 0
        OpenGL vendor string: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
        OpenGL renderer string: AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series
        OpenGL version string: 4.3.12614 Compatibility Profile Context 13.25.18



        The opensource Radeon, Ubuntu AMD and the AMD beta 6 seems to work at here.
        A good place to start: Topic: Top 20 Kubuntu FAQs & Answers
        Searching FAQ's: Google Search 'FAQ from Kubuntuforums'
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          #5
          For the ATI video drivers, I found Kubuntu to install the best ATI driver needed. You really do not need "proprietary drivers".

          Check; System > KinfoCenter > Graphical Information > OpenGL; to see what is loaded.

          Also Check: System Settings > Desktop Effects > Advanced; Compositing Type: OpenGL(1.2, 2.0. or 3.1 depending on the age of the video card/chip).

          If KinfoCenter says that OpenGl is in use, and Compositing Type says XRender, then change it to(start with) OpenGL 2.0.

          AMD's proprietary driver is is only good for the latest and greatest video card/chip sets.
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            #6
            OK thanks. I used Rog 132's first suggestion and installed the repo drivers and it's working good so far.

            The main reason for installing the proprietary drivers is that the original driver (opensource I guess) runs my fan continuously. It annoys the snot out of me and puts an unwanted strain on the fan, and in a laptop they're not cheap to replace!
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              #7
              Please Help me for Ati Radeon HD 8670 M switchable graphics driver.I am using kubuntu 13.10 x64
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                #8
                You need to tell a bit more - what is the problem ?

                About the latest AMD driver release:

                Phononix: Thread: AMD Catalyst 13.12 GPU Driver For Linux Released - http://phoronix.com/forums/showthrea...Linux-Released

                --> the reply #46 has a link to the Ubuntu binaries: http://phoronix.com/forums/showthrea...324#post382324

                --> the reply #63 has user test information of the driver with the Ubuntu - 'HD6670 on desktop platform and HD8400 + HD8550M on Kabini based notebook.' : http://phoronix.com/forums/showthrea...076#post383076


                Last edited by Rog132; Dec 25, 2013, 03:32 PM.
                A good place to start: Topic: Top 20 Kubuntu FAQs & Answers
                Searching FAQ's: Google Search 'FAQ from Kubuntuforums'
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