Arch Linux

lucke

Member

From: Poland

Registered: 2004-11-30

Posts: 4,018

Does ATI still suck under Linux?

I'm thinking of getting Radeon HD3850/3870. What's my chance of getting a troublefree ride?

zenlord

Member

From: Belgium

Registered: 2006-05-24

Posts: 1,221

Website

Re: Does ATI still suck under Linux?

Both the fglrx-driver as the open-source variants xorg-video-ati and xorg-video-radeonhd are under heavy development and are accomplishing successes. Phoronix is a godd website to follow up on news regarding graphics drivers.

In short:
- fglrx is released on a monthly basis and while the passed 3-4 months showed very little progression, this months release resolved the video playback-issues and the presence of a new file hints some major changes in the near future.
- xorg-video-ati has accomplished 3D-support for the R500-core since yesterday. Gaming has even proven successful in some cases!
- xorg-video-radeonhd: don't know where it's at, but IIRC, I have seen this driver in combination with screenshots of Compiz, so I guess there is at least *some* 3D-support...

Conclusion: every month, Ati is getting better and better. Around the forums I have heard some complaints about the nVidia-drivers (today a new driver was released, and I didn't read up on that yet) and Intel isn't quite delivering what they promised (tho I have to admit that this is based on their lack of windows-DX10-support which they have been promising for a long time now).

_Marco_

Member

Registered: 2008-04-21

Posts: 242

Re: Does ATI still suck under Linux?

a little...
I still can't get (well I didn't tried in the last few weeks but..) compiz work with the latest xorg.. (and worked with the xorg-server 1.2)
and AFAIK catalyst performance are worse than the windows version..
anyway it works quite well with my card.. ati mobility radeon x1400

nirvanix

Member

From: Saskatoon

Registered: 2005-01-31

Posts: 193

Re: Does ATI still suck under Linux?

I've been using flgrx for 6 years with really very little trouble. I know that might piss some whiners off, but I've had 2D/3D on linux with an ATI card for 6 years (first card was an 8500, then a 9600 pro, now a 1650XT). Compiz does not run well on fglrx, but I believe the open souce ATI drivers work with Compiz very well, but you lose some 3D performance.

Last edited by nirvanix (2008-05-31 21:38:57)

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I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts...

lang2

Member

Registered: 2006-02-10

Posts: 386

Re: Does ATI still suck under Linux?

If you want less trouble, stay with nvidia. I do hope this change in the near future.

wantilles

Member

From: Athens - Greece

Registered: 2007-03-29

Posts: 327

Re: Does ATI still suck under Linux?

Stay with nVidia.

ATi may be ready for Linux, in a couple of years - but not sooner.

SpookyET

Member

Registered: 2008-01-27

Posts: 410

Re: Does ATI still suck under Linux?

One word: YES.

Zerathidune

Member

Registered: 2007-02-25

Posts: 102

Re: Does ATI still suck under Linux?

I have a 3870. the free drivers work pretty well, but they don't support acceleration yet. catalyst works reasonably when running native 3D apps, but for some reason NOTHING that requires 3D works in wine, even stuff that I know for a fact works perfectly in theory (i.e. HL2). also I am having this yet unresolved issue where every time I log out of KDE (when not doing a shutdown reboot - just a logout) my entire machine locks up. blank screen, can't ssh in, nothing.

I hear some of the older/lower end cards work well with no issues. if you need performance, best to stick with nvidia it would seem.

nirvanix

Member

From: Saskatoon

Registered: 2005-01-31

Posts: 193

Re: Does ATI still suck under Linux?

Yes, I knew that would bring out the nvidia fanboys. As I've said, I haven't had any problems using ATI on linux for 6 years, and I haven't experienced the problems that these guys (hear-say) exist. The two issues that I've heard about in the past that were stoppers to some where not having TV out and Compiz not working well under Catalyst (fglrx). Get the card that has the specs you want. I find the 2D performance of ATI cards superior, and that's what decided for me. I've never regretted it.  The most recent catalyst drivers also give me better 3D on linux than on Windoze.
As for the near future, ATI has pretty much open-sourced their specifications, so the new round of drivers that the community is working on are quickly catching up to and will surpass any proprietary drivers from nvidia or ati.

Last edited by nirvanix (2008-06-01 14:53:23)

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I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts...

lang2

Member

Registered: 2006-02-10

Posts: 386

Re: Does ATI still suck under Linux?

ahhh. The fanboys. Actually this is nothing to do with that word. If anything, I'm a ATI fanboy, starting from my purchase of 8500AIW when it was still $600 cheap. I know there are ppl who're nothing but happy with ATI on Linux and I know with a bit effort, it might be possible. But the sad fact is: the nvidia nonfree drivre is still the best driver in terms of easy-to-use, stability, performance for any graphics card. There is no point denying that.

Last edited by lang2 (2008-06-01 15:25:32)

queltos

Member

Registered: 2008-02-15

Posts: 17

Re: Does ATI still suck under Linux?

I've got a Radeon 9600 mobility (Notebook), my experience:
- AMD Control Center is ok. Not perfect (especially when trying to only use an external monitor instead of the notebook screen), but ok.
- Performance is very good imho. ET:QW performs better under Linux than under Windows. I've got to restart the Game after about six maps though because there seems to be some stupid memory leak somewhere.
- Savage 2 has some ati-card-bug, so I can't play it (well I can, but I don's see most of the models )
- in wine some games work pretty well (e.g. WarCraft III), some games don't (e.g. Eve Online)
- native games mostly work without a problem (Quake 4, Doom 3, UT 2004, W:ET, Q3-Engine-thingies..)
- openness of specs is great

For me ati drivers work pretty ok now and they are improving. Hopefully they come close to perfect in the next few years (or better months)

Last edited by queltos (2008-06-01 16:50:39)

dabski

Member

Registered: 2008-02-07

Posts: 101

Website

Re: Does ATI still suck under Linux?

IMHO stick with nvidia for now, even though their drivers are closed source they are still considerably better than ATI's. If your thinking about going ATI and don't care about their bad treatment on Linux users in the past I would still wait another couple of years for the open source drivers to mature before even considering them.

Also I'm not sure if this is true anymore but in the past nvidia was better at openGL than ATI and ATI was better at directX. Thats in the past though now with the 8000/9000 series nvidia are top in both!

Last edited by dabski (2008-06-03 00:44:42)

Redroar

Member

Registered: 2008-03-17

Posts: 200

Re: Does ATI still suck under Linux?

I spread the love between ATI and Nvidia, I have them both, just in different machines. Though I have to say that between fglrx and the nvidia closed-source drivers, there is no comparison whatsoever. Nvidia just blows them away. As far as the xf86* drivers, I'd say the ati/radeonhd ones are creeping ahead of the nv drivers. I imagine in a year or two the ati/radeonhd drivers will be quite competitive with the nvidia closed-source drivers and probably much better than fglrx.

But right now, if I was going to put money down on a new card, and I was going to use it with Linux....Nvidia, no question. It's just less hassle.

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Shadowmeph

Member

From: West Coast Canada

Registered: 2008-05-19

Posts: 208

Re: Does ATI still suck under Linux?

I am running the ATI 3870 no real problems not like before when it was hard to get drivers working now its very easy

_Marco_

Member

Registered: 2008-04-21

Posts: 242

Re: Does ATI still suck under Linux?

The two issues that I've heard about in the past that were stoppers to some where not having TV out and Compiz not working well under Catalyst (fglrx). Get the card that has the specs you want.

well.. I bought my video card... it doesn't seem (to me at least) that they with a benefaction act gave me the card as a gift.
moreover I got it not by my voluntarily choice, but well packed in a laptop (so I HAVE to keep it..)
(yes I didn't thought to install linux at that time.. but I want a product that works (well) with every possible system. )
useless to say what will be the brand of my next video card.