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#1 2009-09-05 08:56:12

Perry3D
Member
Registered: 2008-03-20
Posts: 213

HowTo: 3D acceleration for r6xx/r7xx chips and the open source drivers

Problems? Post the output of /var/log/Xorg.0.log (Xorg.1.log) and dmesg. Help the developers of this great driver to improve it and fill in a bug report: https://bugs.freedesktop.org/query.cgi

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Everything needed for 3d acceleration is in the the stable repos. KMS is disabled by default. That also means there is no dri2.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

KMS: (not tested)
For enabling KMS create a file in /etc/modprobe.d/ called radeon.conf with this content:

options radeon modeset=1

You need at least kernel 2.6.32.3 (in 2.6.32 there is a bug for r600+ cards). For working 3D-Acceleration with KMS you need libdrm with --enable-radeon-experimental-api and a new xf86-video-ati driver. I propose to install libdrm-git, mesa-full and xf86-vide-ati-git.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bleeding edge:
If you want to test some new features (for example: irq support = tear free opengl) you have to update some packages:

1) The kernel: install kernel26-git or kernel26-rc + kernel-headers +  kernel26-firmware(-git). Kernel 2.6.33 needs additional firmware files (for irq support) that don't ship with the kernel: install radeon_ucode.
Make sure you set CONFIG_DRM_RADEON=m in your kernel config. If you want KMS to be enabled by default set CONFIG_DRM_RADEON_KMS=y.
2) libdrm: remove libdrm (pacman -Rd libdrm). After that install libdrm-git.
3) glproto and dri2proto: remove them (pacman -Rd glproto dri2proto) and install glrptoto-git and dri2proto-git
4) mesa: Arch split this library in different packages: mesa, libgl and some dri packages (for example ati-dri). I propose to remove the stable packages (pacman -Rd mesa libgl glut ati-dri) and install mesa-full.
4) Install xf86-vide-ati-git (radeonhd is not recommended). Maybe you have to modify the PKGBUILD because of dependency problems (version checks).
5) Add your user to the video group.

To check your installation run glxinfo |grep -i opengl

Code:

OpenGL vendor string: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa DRI R600 (RV770 9442) 20090101  TCL DRI2
OpenGL version string: 2.0 Mesa 7.8-devel
OpenGL shading language version string: 1.10
OpenGL extensions:

There should be no string like this: OpenGL renderer string: Software Rasterizer
Tips:
- What features are supported by the driver: http://www.x.org/wiki/RadeonFeature
- To build ati-dri-git, libgl-git and mesa-git at once (faster), use this PKGBUILD: http://rapidshare.de/files/48572451/mes … ar.gz.html (or mesa-full from AUR).
- If you experience problems with some OpenGL-applications/games try disabling kms by appending nomodeset to your kernel parameters.
- Slow java programs? Install Sun's JRE/JDK instead of OpenJDK. At the moment OpenJDK has a problem with EXA-Acceleration.
- Update in the right order: libdrm, mesa, radeon(hd).
- Maybe you have to update these packages when xorg is updated.

There is a repo that provides the git packages (thanks Cdh):

Code:

[nightly]
Server = http://nightly.uhuc.de/i686

x86_64:

Code:

[nightly]
Server = http://nightly.uhuc.de/x86_64

Last edited by Perry3D (2010-02-03 07:54:45)

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#2 2009-09-05 10:04:10

apollokk
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From: Athens, Greece
Registered: 2009-03-23
Posts: 157
Website

Re: HowTo: 3D acceleration for r6xx/r7xx chips and the open source drivers

Thanks Perry3D for your how-to.

Take a look at my last comment (with the username gtklocker), here.


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#3 2009-09-05 13:30:00

Perry3D
Member
Registered: 2008-03-20
Posts: 213

Re: HowTo: 3D acceleration for r6xx/r7xx chips and the open source drivers

Hmm... your are missing a lot of header files.

Try installing klibc and xextproto.
Did you install the base group?

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#4 2009-09-05 15:52:35

xakh
Member
Registered: 2009-07-19
Posts: 39

Re: HowTo: 3D acceleration for r6xx/r7xx chips and the open source drivers

So, to clarify, I have a decent ATI card, it was top of the line in mid 2008, which one of those two git drivers do I use? the Radeond one, or the generic ATI one?
Edit: Okay, I can't get either of the radeonhd, or the generic ATI driver working, it says something about libgl. I'm going to include all of the text here, I really wish I could make it a scrolling box, since it's 1000 lines, because I forgot to make scrollback unlimited.
Edit again: I removed the terminal output, made some dumb mistakes.

Last edited by xakh (2009-09-05 16:49:10)

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#5 2009-09-05 15:54:58

AdrenalineJunky
Member
Registered: 2009-05-03
Posts: 149

Re: HowTo: 3D acceleration for r6xx/r7xx chips and the open source drivers

xakh wrote:

So, to clarify, I have a decent ATI card, it was top of the line in mid 2008, which one of those two git drivers do I use? the Radeond one, or the generic ATI one?

either really, they should both work more or less the same.

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#6 2009-09-05 16:30:18

xakh
Member
Registered: 2009-07-19
Posts: 39

Re: HowTo: 3D acceleration for r6xx/r7xx chips and the open source drivers

Sorry, I edited my post. I need a lot of help. I couldn't paste all 1000 lines of my terminal, but the stuff I cut was just me trying to install the drivers again.
Anyway, I got all the drivers to install, so do I just copy the xorg.conf that's on the page to make mine? or do I need to add anything to it?

ATI Technologies Inc RV635 Audio device [Radeon HD 3600 Series] is my video card, so can someone help me figure out how to make a xorg.conf that works for me?

Last edited by xakh (2009-09-05 17:20:56)

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#7 2009-09-05 17:08:21

apollokk
Member
From: Athens, Greece
Registered: 2009-03-23
Posts: 157
Website

Re: HowTo: 3D acceleration for r6xx/r7xx chips and the open source drivers

Perry3D wrote:

Hmm... your are missing a lot of header files.

Try installing klibc and xextproto.
Did you install the base group?

What's the base group?


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#8 2009-09-06 04:51:34

panosk
Member
From: Athens, Greece
Registered: 2008-10-29
Posts: 114

Re: HowTo: 3D acceleration for r6xx/r7xx chips and the open source drivers

Unfortunately, ati-dri-git cannot be compiled. I get this in the end:

Code:

radeon_screen.c: In function ‘radeonGetParam’:                                                        
radeon_screen.c:246: error: ‘RADEON_PARAM_NUM_Z_PIPES’ undeclared (first use in this function)
radeon_screen.c:246: error: (Each undeclared identifier is reported only once
radeon_screen.c:246: error: for each function it appears in.)
radeon_screen.c:247: error: ‘RADEON_INFO_NUM_Z_PIPES’ undeclared (first use in this function)
radeon_screen.c: In function ‘radeonCreateScreen’:
radeon_screen.c:1155: error: ‘RADEON_PARAM_NUM_Z_PIPES’ undeclared (first use in this function)
radeon_screen.c: In function ‘radeonCreateScreen2’:
radeon_screen.c:1361: error: ‘RADEON_PARAM_NUM_Z_PIPES’ undeclared (first use in this function)
make[5]: *** [radeon_screen.o] Error 1
make[5]: Leaving directory `/home/jim/packages/ati-dri-git/src/mesa-build/src/mesa/drivers/dri/radeon'
make[4]: *** [subdirs] Error 1
make[4]: Leaving directory `/home/jim/packages/ati-dri-git/src/mesa-build/src/mesa/drivers/dri'
make[3]: *** [default] Error 1
make[3]: Leaving directory `/home/jim/packages/ati-dri-git/src/mesa-build/src/mesa/drivers'
make[2]: *** [driver_subdirs] Error 2
make[2]: Leaving directory `/home/jim/packages/ati-dri-git/src/mesa-build/src/mesa'
make[1]: *** [subdirs] Error 1
make[1]: Leaving directory `/home/jim/packages/ati-dri-git/src/mesa-build/src'
make: *** [default] Error 1
==> ERROR: Build Failed.
    Aborting...

EDIT: All OK now, I had to replace libdrm with libdrm-git and everything got fixed. Now I will reboot and report the results.

Last edited by panosk (2009-09-06 05:24:23)

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#9 2009-09-06 05:00:48

flamelab
Member
From: Athens, Hellas (Greece)
Registered: 2007-12-26
Posts: 1065

Re: HowTo: 3D acceleration for r6xx/r7xx chips and the open source drivers

apollokk wrote:

Perry3D wrote:

Hmm... your are missing a lot of header files.

Try installing klibc and xextproto.
Did you install the base group?

What's the base group?

pacman -S base base-devel


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#10 2009-09-06 06:27:40

apollokk
Member
From: Athens, Greece
Registered: 2009-03-23
Posts: 157
Website

Re: HowTo: 3D acceleration for r6xx/r7xx chips and the open source drivers

flamelab wrote:

apollokk wrote:

Perry3D wrote:

Hmm... your are missing a lot of header files.

Try installing klibc and xextproto.
Did you install the base group?

What's the base group?

pacman -S base base-devel

These aren't the groups we see in the installation?


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#11 2009-09-06 06:39:04

flamelab
Member
From: Athens, Hellas (Greece)
Registered: 2007-12-26
Posts: 1065

Re: HowTo: 3D acceleration for r6xx/r7xx chips and the open source drivers

Yes.


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#12 2009-09-06 07:10:52

apollokk
Member
From: Athens, Greece
Registered: 2009-03-23
Posts: 157
Website

Re: HowTo: 3D acceleration for r6xx/r7xx chips and the open source drivers

Hmm, I have already installed these.

I'll try again.


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#13 2009-09-06 17:05:43

xakh
Member
Registered: 2009-07-19
Posts: 39

Re: HowTo: 3D acceleration for r6xx/r7xx chips and the open source drivers

Seriously, can someone help me with setting up a xorg.conf file? I've never set one up on my own, someone wrote one for me to use once, I tried that and it didn't work here. I have everything installed properly, but I still need a xorg.conf file, please help?

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#14 2009-09-06 17:17:24

flamelab
Member
From: Athens, Hellas (Greece)
Registered: 2007-12-26
Posts: 1065

Re: HowTo: 3D acceleration for r6xx/r7xx chips and the open source drivers

With radeonhd and radeon, you don't need an xorg.conf.


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#15 2009-09-06 18:20:28

apollokk
Member
From: Athens, Greece
Registered: 2009-03-23
Posts: 157
Website

Re: HowTo: 3D acceleration for r6xx/r7xx chips and the open source drivers

Right.


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#16 2009-09-06 19:35:14

xakh
Member
Registered: 2009-07-19
Posts: 39

Re: HowTo: 3D acceleration for r6xx/r7xx chips and the open source drivers

Well, I already have the radeonhd from pacman, will updating to the git version bring me any significant performance boosts in the way of 3D performance, and will it detect my monitor correctly? the current version of radeonhd sets my 1680x1050 22 inch monitor to 1280x1024, and my 3D goes at about three frames per second and messes up the color if it goes fullscreen. Will the new radeon driver fix this?
I updated, tried the new radeon driver. No. No it does not fix this. I would like to use the other driver, the one that supports 3D effects, the one that supports proper monitor resolution. How do I get that one?

Last edited by xakh (2009-09-06 19:45:08)

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#17 2009-09-06 19:45:52

flamelab
Member
From: Athens, Hellas (Greece)
Registered: 2007-12-26
Posts: 1065

Re: HowTo: 3D acceleration for r6xx/r7xx chips and the open source drivers

With a HD2xxx/3xxx/4xxx radeon you will have 3D with:

1) Current catalyst
2) With the instructions on the first post.

Only.


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#18 2009-09-06 19:49:48

xakh
Member
Registered: 2009-07-19
Posts: 39

Re: HowTo: 3D acceleration for r6xx/r7xx chips and the open source drivers

So, what if I use the other driver that needs a xorg.conf? do I get monitor performance, and 3D with higher speed? I followed the instructions to the letter and got the radeonhd one, so if I use the other one will my openGL games be playable?
If not, how do I get catalyst working? does that guy still have his repository up?

Last edited by xakh (2009-09-06 19:57:12)

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#19 2009-09-06 20:01:11

flamelab
Member
From: Athens, Hellas (Greece)
Registered: 2007-12-26
Posts: 1065

Re: HowTo: 3D acceleration for r6xx/r7xx chips and the open source drivers

First, forget about radeonhd, it's not a proper driver, and xf86-video-ati is the future, until both xf86-video-ati and radeonhd will disappear in the future.

Second, forget xorg.conf. It is barelly needed these days.


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#20 2009-09-06 20:11:32

xakh
Member
Registered: 2009-07-19
Posts: 39

Re: HowTo: 3D acceleration for r6xx/r7xx chips and the open source drivers

Okay. I rebooted with the video-ati one, and now my resolution is correct. Yay! However, whenever I start a 3D game, it just closes. If the game was going to be in fullscreen, the game just leaves my screen at whatever resolution the game wanted to be played at. If it was just a window, nothing happens, it opens for a second, and then closes. What would be causing this? does it have to do with using the libs from yaourt instead of from pacman, or vice versa on the stuff I installed from pacman?

Also, I know this is offtopic, but I can never seem to get my clock to stay on time. Got any suggestions? Like today it thought it was 3:42 PM when it's 8:14 PM here. Just wondering

Last edited by xakh (2009-09-06 20:14:26)

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#21 2009-09-06 20:27:36

flamelab
Member
From: Athens, Hellas (Greece)
Registered: 2007-12-26
Posts: 1065

Re: HowTo: 3D acceleration for r6xx/r7xx chips and the open source drivers

Make sure you have installed the proper packages mentioned on the first post and that r600 driver from mesa has been mentioned inside in PKGBUILD

Offtopic: For the clock, change the time from "localtime" to "local" in rc.conf.

Last edited by flamelab (2009-09-06 20:28:01)


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#22 2009-09-06 20:31:42

xakh
Member
Registered: 2009-07-19
Posts: 39

Re: HowTo: 3D acceleration for r6xx/r7xx chips and the open source drivers

I'm going to sound like such a noob, how do I modify PKBUILD?

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#23 2009-09-07 04:04:20

Perry3D
Member
Registered: 2008-03-20
Posts: 213

Re: HowTo: 3D acceleration for r6xx/r7xx chips and the open source drivers

PKGBUILD for the xf86-video-ati-git package? Go to the depends line and remove the version checks (=x.x) for some packages (libdrm, glproto, dri2proto, mesa, ati-dri...). That is not a fault from the xf86-video-ati-git PKGBUILD, but from the other packages. They have to correct the provides line.

You can run some OpenGL Applications (glxgears for example) if you don't have 3D-hardware acceleration. Then they are software rendered and very slow.
If you want to test if the hardware acceleration is active, run glxinfo | grep -i opengl
Currently i am at work: i will post the correct output this evening.

/edit: Most of the OpenGL games will not run correctly. This is still in development.

Last edited by Perry3D (2009-09-07 04:06:17)

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#24 2009-09-07 10:15:37

Mac Tzu
Member
From: Melbourne, Australia
Registered: 2009-03-26
Posts: 29
Website

Re: HowTo: 3D acceleration for r6xx/r7xx chips and the open source drivers

Hey Perry3d,

In the word on the Bard (Ali G) Big UPs to Ya, Selecta !

I wanted to thankyou for post your solution and saving my forum hour & Hours of forum hunting.

Works like a treat.

Note Dear Xakh

This is my xorg.conf

Code:

Section "ServerLayout"                  
        Identifier     "X.org Configured"
        Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0     
        InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
        InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection                                       

Section "Files"
        ModulePath   "/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
        FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/misc"
        FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi:unscaled"
        FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi:unscaled" 
        FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/TTF"            
        FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/Type1"          
EndSection                                             

Section "Module"
        Load  "dri2"
        Load  "dbe" 
        Load  "dri" 
        Load  "extmod"
        Load  "record"
        Load  "glx"   
EndSection            

Section "InputDevice"
        Identifier  "Keyboard0"
        Driver      "kbd"      
EndSection                     

Section "InputDevice"
        Identifier  "Mouse0"
        Driver      "mouse" 
        Option      "Protocol" "auto"
        Option      "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
        Option      "ZAxisMapping" "4 5 6 7"  
EndSection                                    

Section "Monitor"
        Identifier   "Monitor0"
        VendorName   "Monitor Vendor"
        ModelName    "Monitor Model" 
EndSection                           

Section "Device"
        ### Available Driver options are:-
        ### Values: <i>: integer, <f>: float, <bool>: "True"/"False",
        ### <string>: "String", <freq>: "<f> Hz/kHz/MHz"             
        ### [arg]: arg optional                                      
        #Option     "NoAccel"                   # [<bool>]           
        #Option     "AccelMethod"               # [<str>]            
        #Option     "offscreensize"             # [<str>]            
        #Option     "SWcursor"                  # [<bool>]           
        #Option     "ignoreconnector"           # [<str>]            
        #Option     "forcereduced"              # [<bool>]           
        #Option     "forcedpi"                  # <i>                
        #Option     "useconfiguredmonitor"      # [<bool>]           
        #Option     "HPD"                       # <str>              
        #Option     "NoRandr"                   # [<bool>]           
        #Option     "RROutputOrder"             # [<str>]            
        #Option     "DRI"                       # [<bool>]           
        #Option     "TVMode"                    # [<str>]            
        #Option     "ScaleType"                 # [<str>]            
        #Option     "UseAtomBIOS"               # [<bool>]           
        #Option     "AtomBIOS"                  # [<str>]            
        #Option     "UnverifiedFeatures"        # [<bool>]           
        #Option     "Audio"                     # [<bool>]           
        #Option     "HDMI"                      # [<str>]            
        #Option     "COHERENT"                  # [<str>]            
        #Option     "ForceLowPowerMode"         # [<bool>]
        #Option     "LowPowerModeEngineClock"   # <i>
        Identifier  "Card0"
        Driver      "radeonhd"
        VendorName  "ATI Technologies Inc"
        BoardName   "Unknown Board"
        BusID       "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
        Identifier "Screen0"
        Device     "Card0"
        Monitor    "Monitor0"
        SubSection "Display"
                Viewport   0 0
                Depth     1
        EndSubSection
        SubSection "Display"
                Viewport   0 0
                Depth     4
        EndSubSection
        SubSection "Display"
                Viewport   0 0
                Depth     8
        EndSubSection
        SubSection "Display"
                Viewport   0 0
                Depth     15
        EndSubSection
        SubSection "Display"
                Viewport   0 0
                Depth     16
        EndSubSection
        SubSection "Display"
                Viewport   0 0
                Depth     24
        EndSubSection
EndSection

I just set this up by useing Xorg -configure in console try it out or edit mine.

Mac


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If it is a Placebo You can Believe in it !!!

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#25 2009-09-07 12:31:21

Perry3D
Member
Registered: 2008-03-20
Posts: 213

Re: HowTo: 3D acceleration for r6xx/r7xx chips and the open source drivers

Hi Mac Tzu,

are you running compiz with the radeonhd driver? I prefer the xf86-video-ati-git and i am getting corruptions like these:

http://img2.immage.de/25085027terminalco.png.

Do you have the same problems?

/update: I added the output of gxinfo to the howto.

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