Arch Linux

arch_newcomer

Member

Registered: 2016-12-11

Posts: 2

radeon vs xf86-video-ati

Hello,

I have a fresh Arch installation on my machine. When Arch boots it loads the "radeon" kernel module. I think it's called a "kernel module," I apologize for being a complete novice. Anyway the Xorg wiki page says to install the appropriate video driver for your card after installing the xorg-server package. Based on my card I should install the xf86-video-ati package. So my question is what is the difference between radeon and xf86-video-ati? Do I need xf86-video-ati?

I am trying to resolve a problem with xorg failing to start and this question came up for me.

Thank you!

dviktor

Member

From: Moscow

Registered: 2015-10-18

Posts: 162

Re: radeon vs xf86-video-ati

Hi. What is the GPU are you using? For modern ATI GPUs you should use xf86-video-amdgpu driver
As for your question: there is no problem. Radeon kernel module is in xf86-video-ati package:

[viktor ~]$ pacman -Ql xf86-video-ati | grep radeon
xf86-video-ati /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/radeon_drv.so

Last edited by dviktor (2017-01-29 06:42:42)

Pyntux

Member

From: Serbia

Registered: 2008-12-21

Posts: 415

Re: radeon vs xf86-video-ati

I apologize if I change the subject, but how do I know if my card supports this new amdgpu driver?

This is my graphic card:

[punky@desktop ~]$ lspci | grep -i --color 'vga\|3d\|2d'
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Oland XT [Radeon HD 8670 / R7 250/350]

or

lshw -class display
  *-display                 
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: Oland XT [Radeon HD 8670 / R7 250/350]
       vendor: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
       version: 00
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm pciexpress msi vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
       configuration: driver=radeon latency=0
       resources: irq:25 memory:c0000000-cfffffff memory:fea00000-fea3ffff ioport:e000(size=256) memory:c0000-dffff

Does this card support amdgpu driver?

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I do not speak English, but I understand...

HiImTye

Member

From: Halifax, NS, Canada

Registered: 2012-05-09

Posts: 1,072

Re: radeon vs xf86-video-ati

this chart says that your card (a GCN 1 card) is supported by the radeon or the catalyst (proprietary) drivers only, however, it also says that my card (a GCN 2 card) is only supported by those drivers, while AMDGPU works just fine on my card. if you want to play it safe, just use the radeon/catalyst drivers, or if you want to spend a bit of time trying it out, install the AMDGPU driver, and see if it loads properly. worst case, you'd just have install the radeon/catalyst driver instead

Xabre

Member

From: Serbia

Registered: 2009-03-19

Posts: 757

Re: radeon vs xf86-video-ati

@arch_newcomer
The 'radeon' one is the kernel driver, it is a part of the linux kernel. The 'xf86-video-ati' (or any xf86-*) is an Xorg driver. So, basically, you need the latter one if you intend to use X (for Wayland, it's not needed). Ofcourse, will it be xf86-video-ati or xf86-video-amdgpu depends on which GPU you have.

arch_newcomer

Member

Registered: 2016-12-11

Posts: 2

Re: radeon vs xf86-video-ati

Hi. What is the GPU are you using? For modern ATI GPUs you should use xf86-video-amdgpu driver
As for your question: there is no problem. Radeon kernel module is in xf86-video-ati package:

[viktor ~]$ pacman -Ql xf86-video-ati | grep radeon
xf86-video-ati /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/radeon_drv.so

The 'radeon' one is the kernel driver, it is a part of the linux kernel. The 'xf86-video-ati' (or any xf86-*) is an Xorg driver. So, basically, you need the latter one if you intend to use X (for Wayland, it's not needed). Ofcourse, will it be xf86-video-ati or xf86-video-amdgpu depends on which GPU you have.

Thanks! My card:

[....~]$ lspci | grep -e VGA -e 3D
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Caicos XT [Radeon HD 7470/8470 / R5 235/310 OEM]

When I try to run Xorg it starts and immediately stops. I would post the log but I'm not sure how (I am accessing the forums through a separate, Windows computer). It seems to be a common enough problem that I will be able to figure it out after some research. I was just a bit confused when I looked at Xorg.0.log and it loads "ati" then "radeon" then "modesetting" then "fbdev" (FAILS to load) then "vesa" (FAILS to load).

So sorry, I know I am butchering forum etiquette. Is there a way for me to post the log without having Xorg or graphical browser on Arch? Thanks for your help guys.

WFV

Member

From: ☭USSA⛧⭒⭒⭒⭒

Registered: 2013-04-23

Posts: 290

Re: radeon vs xf86-video-ati

Have you installed xf86-video-fbdev and xf86-video-vesa packages? I don't know if Xorg would look for them if they're not installed if not you can install them and perhaps xf86-video-dummy to get a graphic desktop to troubleshoot from so to not have to switch to other pc's - and can try xf86-video-amdgpu as others mentioned. Might have to blacklist radeon in the kernel if both ati and amdgpu are installed or vs vsa, or set the correct module in mkinitcpio.conf. The ati driver worked well for my previous R7-240 card but I had to set "radeon.dpm=1" in grub.cfg.

Is there a way for me to post the log without having Xorg or graphical browser on Arch?

Yes if the internet is active.

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∞ hard times make the strong, the strong make good times, good times make the weak, the weak make hard times ∞

HalosGhost

Forum Fellow

From: Twin Cities, MN

Registered: 2012-06-22

Posts: 2,097

Website

Re: radeon vs xf86-video-ati

Please do not necrobump

Closing.

All the best,

-HG

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