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pearKhan

Member

Registered: 2017-04-11

Posts: 11

vdpauinfo on mesa-vdpau gives strange results

I have an R9 280 which should be supported according to this:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Ha … celeration
I have the latest mesa (non git version) and mesa-vdpau, and am getting this output from vdpauinfo:
https://paste.pound-python.org/show/j5h … KjiOvkmKT/

I just wanted to ask whether this was normal, since to my knowledge, most of those where it says --- not supported --- shouldn't be like that.

olive

Member

From: Belgium

Registered: 2008-06-22

Posts: 1,490

Re: vdpauinfo on mesa-vdpau gives strange results

I would say that since you have a few supported flags, the driver supports what is supposed to support. But I agree that this is strange since I have more supported things (MP4, H264) with an old HD6570 graphic card. What driver are you using? Especially what kernel module are you using? To my knowledge, there are three kernel modules that possibly support AMD cards:

1) The catalyst one (to be used with the Xorg catalyst driver): not updated anymore and requires downgrading Xorg and the kernel. May not even work for newer cards; don't use it unless all other options are ruled out.

2) The radeon kernel modules to be used with xf86-video-ati and the modesetting xorg driver. The driver of choice for older graphic cards.

3) The amdgpu module to be used with the amdgpu driver (and possibly amdgpu-pro). Newer driver for new graphic cards.

There is also Wayland that can use the radeon module; maybe amdgpu.

I suggest you experiment with 2) and 3). Maybe your card is too new. Typically, GNU/Linux drivers tend to support older card better; because the developers had more time to develop/debug the driver.

pearKhan

Member

Registered: 2017-04-11

Posts: 11

Re: vdpauinfo on mesa-vdpau gives strange results

I am using the amdgpu module with mesa drivers (I believe that the driver is called radeonsi which as far as I know is gallium 0.4). This driver naming really isn't clear to me, as there are too many names which are seemingly used randomly.

Xorg log:

[    14.120] (II) AMDGPU(0): [DRI2]   DRI driver: radeonsi
[    14.120] (II) AMDGPU(0): [DRI2]   VDPAU driver: radeonsi
[    14.519] (II) AIGLX: Loaded and initialized radeonsi

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=a … dpau&num=1

Here, I believe that H.264 video is being decoded with Gallium, and a R9 270X is shown, which is actually a newer card than mine.

Last edited by pearKhan (2017-04-14 08:57:43)

olive

Member

From: Belgium

Registered: 2008-06-22

Posts: 1,490

Re: vdpauinfo on mesa-vdpau gives strange results

I am using the amdgpu module with mesa drivers (I believe that the driver is called radeonsi which as far as I know is gallium 0.4). This driver naming really isn't clear to me, as there are too many names which are seemingly used randomly.

The mesa driver chooses itself what specific code it needs to use. I don't things this is selectable, so this is not very relevant for end users. I don't know the list of supported cards, but I would suggest to try the radeon module with xf86-video-ati (this is the driver referenced by the Phoronix article you pointed to AFAIK). Maybe also the amdgpu-pro driver (although, I think it is not compatible with the latest kernel and Xorg).

Note that I do not have said that newer cards don't necessarily have more supported things that older cards. I just say that is generally the case that 5 years old (for example) cards are better supported. Just because the release date of another card is later doesn't necessary mean that it will be less supported.

Last edited by olive (2017-04-14 09:13:53)

pearKhan

Member

Registered: 2017-04-11

Posts: 11

Re: vdpauinfo on mesa-vdpau gives strange results

Update:
It seems that after switching from the amdgpu module to the radeon module, suddenly I had more options available with the same driver -- mpeg4, vc1 and h264 were all enabled.
However I still do not know whether this is an error on my behalf, or this functionallity is not yet enabled with the amdgpu module.

Xabre

Member

From: Serbia

Registered: 2009-03-19

Posts: 757

Re: vdpauinfo on mesa-vdpau gives strange results

AMDGPU is still a work in progress, simple as that. If your card works fine with radeonsi driver, it will offer more features, and you should use it.

olive

Member

From: Belgium

Registered: 2008-06-22

Posts: 1,490

Re: vdpauinfo on mesa-vdpau gives strange results

Update:
It seems that after switching from the amdgpu module to the radeon module, suddenly I had more options available with the same driver -- mpeg4, vc1 and h264 were all enabled.
However I still do not know whether this is an error on my behalf, or this functionallity is not yet enabled with the amdgpu module.

Take in mind that the kernel module is an important part of the driver too. If you switch modules you are not using the same driver. You are most probably not doing anything wrong with amdgpu. You had vdpau enabled (otherwise nothing at all would be supported). Probably stick with radeon unless you need the other driver for specific reason.