ThinkWiki - User contributions [en]

Fglrx

2006-10-31T23:16:32Z

Boobytrapped: /* ThinkPads that may be supported */ add T60p V5200

{| width="100%"
|style="vertical-align:top;padding-right:20px;width:10px;white-space:nowrap;" | __TOC__
|style="vertical-align:top" |
== ATI fglrx driver ==
This is a proprietary binary-only driver for ATI graphic chips with support for 3D acceleration.

Also see [[R300|opensource driver]] with 3D support
|}

==Availability / Project Homepage==
Home page: https://support.ati.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=894&task=knowledge&folderID=356

== Packages ==
The ATI drivers have explicit permission for repackaging and redistribution of the Linux drivers. Many distributions are supported within the installer, and many more repackaged by external developers. Please visit the [http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/Category:Distributions Distribution Page at the Unofficial ATI driver Wiki]

*{{Debian}} packages: http://www.stanchina.net/~flavio/debian-official/fglrx-driver.html
** These packages have been added to Debian unstable as <tt>fglrx-driver</tt>, so you can now apt-get them and use module-assistant to install.
** If you are on stable sarge with backport's kernel 2.6.15, download ATI's installer, let it build Debian packages and proceed as usual. There's a [http://jroller.com/page/erAck?entry=lot_day_6_2_fglrx detailed description] available.
*{{SUSE}} packages: http://www.suse.de/~sndirsch/ati-installer-HOWTO.html
*{{Gentoo}} {{cmdroot|emerge x11-drivers/ati-drivers}}
*{{Fedora}} 4 packages: http://rpm.livna.org
** For stock Fedora kernels: {{cmdroot|yum install kernel-module-fglrx-$(uname -r) ati-fglrx }}
** For custom-compiled kernels: see [[How to build custom packages for fglrx]]
*{{Fedora}} 5 packages: http://rpm.livna.org
** For stock Fedora kernels: {{cmdroot|yum install xorg-x11-drv-fglrx}}
** For custom-compiled kernels: see [[How to build custom packages for fglrx]]
*{{Arch Linux}}
:{{cmdroot|pacman -S ati-fglrx}} (kernel module for 2.6.15-ARCH)
:{{cmdroot|pacman -S ati-fglrx-archck}} (kernel module for 2.6.15-archck)
:{{cmdroot|pacman -S ati-fglrx-utils}} (xorg7 stuff and tools)
*{{Ubuntu}}
**[http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/Ubuntu_Dapper_Installation_Guide Dapper Drake Howto]
**[http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/Ubuntu_Breezy_Installation_Guide Breezy Badger Howto]

== Building for Xorg 7.0==
To compile fglrx versions <= 8.24.8 for Xorg 7.0.0, fake Xorg 6.9.0 by
:{{cmdroot|1=export X_VERSION=x690; sh ati-driver-installer-8.24.8-x86.run}}
Next, move the various resulting libraries and modules from /usr/X11R6 to /usr/lib/xorg

In {{path|/usr/src/ATI}} additional sources are installed for fireglcontrol and fgl_glxgears

== Status ==
Current version: 8.29.6 (20th September 2006)

Major changes:
* 8.29.6: Linux 2.6.18 support, dropped support for Radeon 8500/9000/9100/9200/9250 (both, mobile and normal versions)
* 8.28.8: Display Switching Support for ThinkPads, ATI Pairmode support, Retaining display device state between restarts, Support for Radeon Xpress 1200, 1250, and 1300
* 8.27.10: X.org 7.1 support, Fedora Core package support
* 8.26.18: support for dynamically attached DFPs and Thermal Event Power Management (both via daemon), minor bug fixes
* 8.25.18: Xorg 7.0 support, FireGLâ„¢V5xxx/V7xxx support, Dynamic Display Management, fixed a lot of critical bugs.
* 8.24.8: support for X1300, X1400, X1600, X1800 (generic and mobility) and 3D accelerated video playback on Avivo
* 8.23.7: support for X850 and X800, OpenGL 2.0 Enhancement, FSAA for some chips
* 8.22.5: added kernel 2.6.15 support -- patch no longer required
* 8.21.7: initial OpenGL 2.0 support
* 8.20.8: fixed resume issues, fixed compile problems with kernels 2.6.13 and 2.6.14
* 8.19.10: has added suspend / resume and dynamic GPU power management support. Using vbetool no longer required.

== Known problems and solutions ==
See [[Problems with fglrx]].
== User experience ==
=== Speed ===
How much is the speed gain versus the opensource drivers?

Compared to the old drivers, approximately 40% speed gain have been noticed with fglrx. However, there are issues with freezing/garbage after suspend, garbage when resizing desktop (via {{key|ctrl}}{{key|alt}}{{key|plus}}, {{key|ctrl}}{{key|alt}}{{key|minus}}), and garbage while using VMware. The current 8.14.13 has shown 400% improvement over using the open source radeon driver: 1200 FPS for glxgears{{footnote|1}}!
However the situation seems to be changing today. With recent x11-drm-20060608 driver (gentoo) and thinkpad t42 (ati 9600) the speed is confirmed as 1900fps without any single crash so far.

{{NOTE|1=Video overlay acceleration may be disabled when 3D acceleration is enabled. The following comment from the xorg.conf file bundled with the fglrx driver indicates that:
# === OpenGL Overlay ===
# Note: When OpenGL Overlay is enabled, Video Overlay
# will be disabled automatically
Option "OpenGLOverlay" "1"
However, you can use either regular Xv video overlay or make the video an opengl texture and let the OpenGL engine scale your video. This has nothing to do with the acceleration of 2D drawing primitives. Further, your mileage on performance may vary depending on what card you have. The open source drivers don't support newer cards, while the ATI drivers don't support older cards.}}

=== Power saving ===
Power saving is much better than with the <tt>radeon</tt> driver, but doesn't work in dual-screen configuration (see [[How to make use of Graphics Chips Power Management features]]).

=== Display Switching (Dynamic Display Management) ===

Version 8.25.18 introduces a new feature: Dynamic Display Management. It allows display switching on-the-fly.

To list all connected and enabled monitors:
:{{cmdroot|1=aticonfig --query-monitor}}

To switch displays:
:{{cmdroot|1=aticonfig --enable-monitor=STRING,STRING}}, where STRING can be: none, lvds, crt1, crt2, tv, tdms1, tdms2

Only 2 displays can be enabled at the same time. Any displays that are not on the list will be disabled.

== Useful links ==
* [http://www.ati.com/products/catalyst/linux.html ATI Linux Driver FAQ]
* [http://www.rage3d.com/content/articles/atilinuxhowto/ ATI Radeon Linux How-To]
* [http://www.rage3d.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=61&daysprune=30&order=asc&sort=title Rage3D Linux Discussion Forum]
* [http://www.driverheaven.net/forumdisplay.php?f=103 Radeon Driver Forum at Driverheaven]
* [http://odin.prohosting.com/wedge01/gentoo-radeon-faq.html Gentoo ATI Radeon FAQ]
* [http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-374745-highlight-t42+ati+dri.html Gentoo T42 ATI. DRI + xorg driver]
* [http://ati.cchtml.com/ Unofficial community ATI bugzilla] - tracks bugs in the driver. Might be monitored by ATI ([http://www.rage3d.com/board/showpost.php?p=1333438751&postcount=386], [http://www.rage3d.com/board/showpost.php?p=1333439009&postcount=390]).

== ThinkPads that may be supported ==
Supported chips, as found in select IBM ThinkPads:
{{NOTE|fglrx version 8.29.6 discontinued support for Radeon 9200 and earlier.}}
* [[ATI Mobility FireGL 9000]]
** {{T40p}}
* [[ATI Mobility FireGL T2]]
** {{R50p}}
** {{T41p}}, {{T42p}}
* [[ATI Mobility FireGL V3200]]
** {{T43p}}
* [[ATI Mobility Radeon 9000]]
** {{R50}}, {{R51}}
** {{T40}}, {{T41}}, {{T42}}
* [[ATI Mobility Radeon 9600]]
** {{T42}}
* [[ATI Mobility Radeon X300]]
** {{R52}}
** {{T43}}
** {{Z60m}}
* [[ATI Mobility Radeon Xpress 200M]]
** {{R51e}}
* [[ATI Mobility Radeon X600]]
** {{Z60m}}
* [[ATI Mobility Radeon X1400]]
** {{T60}}, {{R60}}, {{Z61m}}
* [[ATI Mobility FireGL V5200]]
** {{T60p}}

== ThinkPads that are NOT supported by fglrx==
Unsupported chips, as found in select IBM ThinkPads:
* [[ATI Mobility Radeon 7500]]
** {{R40}}
** {{T30}}

{{footnotes|
#Note that glxgears isn't a benchmark tool, it's so simple that its FPS values is without any meaning... you can only compare glxgears using the same drivers/machine, if you change any of then you can have higher/lower values and in real life programs/games happen to have the opposite effects. Think in terms of a car engines rpms: higher rpms in the same car usually means a faster car, change anything and it's meaningless, ie: gears, truck, wheel size, etc. make it useless.
}}
[[Category:Drivers]]

Problems with fglrx

2005-12-06T04:17:12Z

Boobytrapped: /* Beta Testing */ email is okay i think.

This page discusses issues with the ATI proprietary [[fglrx]] display driver.

== Known Troubles and Solutions ==
=== No hardware acceleration ===
If the ATI driver works only without the hardware acceleration, take into consideration that {{path|fglrx_dri.so}} was linked against libstdc++.so.5 which may not be present if your system uses gcc-3.4.

To fix this, compile gcc-3.3.5 and copy <tt>libstdc++.so.5*</tt> to {{path|/usr/lib}} and update the dynamic linker cache via {{cmdroot|ldconfig}}.

Another possible cause for broken hardware acceleration (2D and 3D) is the radeonfb framebuffer: Switching to vesafb or vesafb-tng is reported to solve the problem on some systems. Also it has proven helpful to not perform {{cmdroot|modprobe fglrx}} after boot but to have the module loaded via {{path|/etc/modules.autoload/kernel2.x}} at boottime instead.

=== Softlink hell ===

The [[fglrx]] installer replaces the standard X.org OpenGL implementation (Mesa) with its own files, potentially causing collisions with the distribution's file and package management. It is best to install the driver via a package built for your distribution, which will typically include the necessary kludges to make things work. See the [[fglrx]] page for pointers.

====Discussion====

If you install the driver and type "fglrxinfo" which shows you are still using the mesa indirect software GL renderer, you likely have some misplaced softlinks. I find this *really* frustrating, and do not know why it occasionally occurs -> I think it has to do with an apt-get upgrade that sometimes replaces these links. Anyway, go to

: cd /usr/X11R6/lib

and list your GL libraries and links

: ls -la *GL*

You should see something like:

: libGL.so -> libGL.so.1.2

and
: libGL.so.1 -> libGL.so.1.2

If you see a link to a mesa library (something like ->libGL.mesa.1.2), then that's your problem! Restore the softlink with a command similar to:
: ln -s <actual file> <softlink name>

e.g.
: ln -s libGL.so.1.2 libGL.so.1

For some reason, this link might "break" later, giving you the software rendering once more. I renamed the mesa library to mesa.bkup, and the system still found it and linked to it despite the name change. If you have to do this a lot, you could write a restoreGL script...

=== Troubles using software suspend ===
When the computer resumes from suspend, X only displays a garbled image and the computer is frozen.
The problem is acknowledged in ATI's release notes and in knowledge base entry [https://support.ati.com/ics/support/KBResult.asp?searchFor=Search+Words&search.x=0&search.y=0&searchOption=id&questionID=737-218+&task=knowledge&searchTime=-1&productID=&folderID=-1&resultLimit=50 737-218]. Driver version 8.19.10 has "initial support for Suspend and Resume" but is working very nicely for most people (verified on T43, T43p and T42) without vbetool.

If you are using an older version of fglrx, using [http://www.srcf.ucam.org/~mjg59/vbetool/ vbetool] to save/restore the video card state before/after suspend worked for some people. If you use [[Software Suspend 2|Software Suspend 2 (suspend2)]] scripts, you can simply uncomment <tt>EnableVbetool yes</tt> in {{path|/etc/hibernate/hibernate.conf}}. Be aware though that it breaks suspend/resume for drivers beginning with version 8.19.10, so remember to disable it again when upgrading.

{| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" border="1"
|+ tested with the following configurations
!model!!distro||kernel!!fglrx!!PM!!success!!comments
|-
|{{T42}}||SUSE 9.3||2.6.11||8.14.13||swsusp||yes||
|-
|{{T41p}}||???||2.6.14||8.19.10||suspend2 2.2-rc9||yes||needs a small [http://mailman.linux-thinkpad.org/pipermail/linux-thinkpad/2005-November/030381.html patch]
|-
|{{T42p}}||Debian||2.6.10||Debian packaged||suspend2||yes||
|-
|{{T43}}||Debian sid||2.6.14.2||8.19.10||swsusp||yes||works perfectly with 8.19.10 (but not earlier versions!)
|-
|{{T43}}||Debian etch||2.6.14.2||8.19.10||swsusp||yes||works perfectly with 8.19.10 and without vbetool
|-
|{{T43}}||Ubuntu Breezy||2.6.12-10||8.19.10||swsusp||yes||Perfect. (Finally.)
|-
|{{T43}}||FC4||2.6.14.1||8.19.10||suspend2 2.2-rc9||yes||needs a small [http://mailman.linux-thinkpad.org/pipermail/linux-thinkpad/2005-November/030381.html patch], requires DRI disabled in {{path|xorg.conf}} (hence no 3D acceleration)
|-
|{{T43}}||FC4||2.6.14.2||8.19.10||suspend2 2.2-rc11||yes||requires DRI disabled in {{path|xorg.conf}} (hence no 3D acceleration)
|-
|{{T43}}||FC4||2.6.14.3||8.19.10||suspend2 2.2-rc13||no||DRI enabled
|-
|{{R50p}}||???||???||8.19.10||swsusp||yes||
|-
|{{T43p}}||Debian sid||2.6.14||8.19.10||Suspend to RAM||yes||without vbetool or UseDummyXServer, those two ''break'' the resume process here
|}

=== Troubles with large RAM ===
Version 8.14.13 (and probably earlier versions) of the driver does not seem to be able to cope with large amounts of RAM: with 512 MB it works, with 1.5 GB it crashes the machine as soon as X is started. The problem is present only if the <tt>fglrx</tt> kernel module is loaded, but independently of whether {{kernelconf|CONFIG_HIGHMEM||||||}} is enabled. A workaround is to limit RAM by adding the {{bootparm|mem|864m}} kernel parameter.

Version 8.16.20 fixes the problem.

===Display switching ===
The switching between internal and external display doesn't work, because the driver blocks messing around with the chipset via ACPI. If you want to use this feature (i.e. during presentations), you should use the VESA server instead (experienced with a R52, Kernel 2.6.11, xorg 6.8.2, fglrx 8.16.20).

===Composite Support===
ATI has not officially supported composite windowing (alpha channel) enabling hardware acclerated translucent windows (primarily for 'eye candy.') Enabling Composite in KDE and the fglrx driver results in a very pretty desktop but unacceptably slow performance on a T43p with ATI's FireGL T2. It is still unusable in its current state (as of driver 8.19.10).

ATI promises support in the future when composite is officially supported by Xorg. Discussion of current status of drivers can be found in the Rage3d forums' (rage3d.com/board) Linux area. Rumor has it that the Microsoft Vista will support composite, so hopefully we will see it before then...

== Patches ==
The following patches might be needed for certain versions of fglrx.

* [http://lkml.org/lkml/2005/9/22/183 for kernel >= 2.6.13 ] Missing verify_area bug

=== V 8.8.25 ===
* [http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?t=33798874 for kernels >= 2.6.10]
* [http://www.gehirn.org.uk/wiki/images/8.8.25-kernel-2.6.11+.patch For kernels >= 2.6.11-rc1]

== Beta Testing ==
The fglrx developers are looking for T Series users to take part in their beta program.

If interested, plese contact mtippett (at) ati.com.

2373-KYU

2005-11-23T17:54:38Z

Boobytrapped: Initial version

= IBM ThinkPad T42p 2373 Specifications =

== CPU and Memory ==
{|
|Processor Manufacturer || Intel
|-
|Processor Class || Pentium M
|-
|Processor Speed || 2.0 GHz
|-
|Cache Size || 2 MB
|-
|Front Side Bus || 400 MHz
|-
|Installed Memory || 1 GB
|-
|Maximum Memory || 2 GB
|-
|Memory Technology || DDR SDRAM
|-
|Installed Video Memory || 128 MB
|}
== Storage ==
{|
|Hard Drive Model || Hitachi HTS726060M9AT00
|-
|Hard Drive Capacity || 60 GB
|-
|Hard Drive Speed || 7200 RPM
|-
|Included Drives || HL-DT-STCD-RW/DVD DRIVE GCC-4242N, ATAPI CD/DVD-ROM drive
|-
|CD Write Speed || 24 X
|-
|CD-RW Speed || 24 X
|-
|CD Read Speed || 24 X
|-
|DVD-ROM Read Speed || 8 X
|}

== Display and Graphics ==
{|
|Display Size || 15.4 inch
|-
|Display Type || TFT active matrix / IPS
|-
|Graphics Processor || ATI MOBILITY FIRE GL T2
|-
|Included Video Card || Graphics card - AGP 4x
|-
|Resolution || 1600 x 1200 pixels / UXGA
|-
|Max. External Resolution || 2048 x 1536 pixels
|}

== Battery ==
{|
|Battery Model || 6 cell
|-
|Battery Life (nominal/actual) || 3.9h / n.nh
|-
|Charge Time (active/inactive) || 5h / 4.3h
|-
|Battery Type || Lithium ion
|}

== Communications and Networking ==
{|
|IRDA || serial, 115200baud
|-
|Bluetooth || builtin / via USB
|-
|Modem Type / Speed || Intel 82801DB AC97 / 56 Kbps
|-
|Network LAN || Intel Pro / 1000
|-
|Network WLAN || Intel Corp. PRO/Wireless 2200BG (rev 05)
|}

== Software ==
{|
|Available Operating System<br>Installation Instructions || [[Installing_Debian/Sid_on_a_Thinkpad_T42p | Debian Linux]]
|-
|Shipped Operating System || none
|}

== Connectors ==
{|
|Interface Provided ||Parallel Port, S-Video, VGA, Phone line, Headphone, Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T
|-
|Connectors ||2 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A, 1 x parallel - IEEE 1284 (EPP/ECP) - 25 pin D-Sub (DB-25), 1 x display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15), 1 x infrared - IrDA, 1 x modem - phone line - RJ-11, 1 x network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45, 1 x display / video - S-video output - 4 pin mini-DIN, 1 x docking / port replicator, 1 x microphone - input - mini-phone mono 3.5 mm , 1 x audio - line-out/headphones - mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
|}

== General Product Info ==
{|
|Input Devices || Keyboard, Touchpad, TrackPoint
|-
|Included Sound Card || Intel 82801DB (ICH4) rev.1
|-
|Weight || 2800g
|-
|Manufacturer Part No. || 2373KYU
|-
|Dimension || 31mm x 329mm x 268mm (HxWxD)
|}

[[Category:T42p]]

User:Boobytrapped

2005-11-23T17:49:56Z

Boobytrapped: Initial Edit

I own a T42p [[2373-KYU]].