Getting ATi cards to work in Fedora

***Firewing1*** · #1 2006-10-19, 12:55 PM CDT

Note: This howto has been transferred to my blog here. (Instructions for Fedora 7+ can be found here)

First, I'd like to link to this article. The instructions below will make sure your system's normal libGL isn't replaced with the ATi ones, preventing problems.

Important Reminders

Reboot when you're done installing or updating a driver.
Don't worry if yum cannot find the xorg-x11-drv-fglrx-libs-32bit package, it will only be installed on x86_64 (64bit) machines. If you're looking for this package in the Fedora 7+ repositories, it has been obsoleted and no longer exists. Instead, please install the xorg-x11-drv-fglrx-libs.i386 package.
Please see the bottom of the page if you are troubles with DRI.
Currently the fglrx drivers aren't compatible with AIGLX. To use Beryl or Compiz, try setting up Xgl.
Don't worry about the kmod-fglrx-smp modules anymore if you use FC6 & up - All kernels for FC6 & up are now SMP-capable.
For a configuration tool that allows you to switch between various configurations including AIGLX and Xgl, please try livna-config-display:
Code:
```
yum install livna-config-display
```
It still is in beta, so if there's problems please report them to freeworld-graphics@livna.org. Thanks!

Radeon Driver
If your card is supported by this Open-Source DRI driver, it's preferred to use this one. All you have to do is edit your /etc/X11/xorg.conf and under the "Device" section, you'll find a line like this:

Code:

Driver     "drivername"

Just change it to:

Code:

Driver     "radeon"

Now restart your computer. If you can see a graphical interface, then you should be set to go. (Don't panic if you don't have a GUI now, just login as root and type the commands shown, it should work out.)

If you have previously followed this howto and wish to return to the Radeon driver, please remember to use livna-config-display (see Reminders for how to install) to switch back to the AIGLX configuration.

Rawhide (Fedora development)
Not officially supported, however it is very easy to build your own RPMs. Simply download the source RPMs for fglrx-kmod and xorg-x11-drv-fglrx here:
http://rpm.livna.org/fedora/development/SRPMS
and then see my RPM (re)building howto for how to rebuild these for the kernel version you have installed.

Fedora Core 6

Code:

su -
rpm -Uhv http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-6.rpm
yum install kmod-fglrx xorg-x11-drv-fglrx xorg-x11-drv-fglrx-libs-32bit
yum update kmod-fglrx xorg-x11-drv-fglrx xorg-x11-drv-fglrx-libs-32bit
service fglrx restart
fglrx-config-display enable

If you see errors like this:

Quote:

Transaction Check Error: package kernel-2.6.19-1.2911.6.5.fc6 is already installed
file /boot/System.map-2.6.19-1.2911.6.5.fc6 from install of kernel-2.6.19-1.2911.6.5.fc6 conflicts with file from package kernel-2.6.19-1.2911.6.5.fc6
file /boot/config-2.6.19-1.2911.6.5.fc6 from install of kernel-2.6.19-1.2911.6.5.fc6 conflicts with file from package kernel-2.6.19-1.2911.6.5.fc6
file /boot/symvers-2.6.19-1.2911.6.5.fc6.gz from install of kernel-2.6.19-1.2911.6.5.fc6 conflicts with file from package kernel-2.6.19-1.2911.6.5.fc6
file /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.19-1.2911.6.5.fc6 from install of kernel-2.6.19-1.2911.6.5.fc6 conflicts with file from package kernel-2.6.19-1.2911.6.5.fc6

Please see this post:
http://www.fedoraforum.org/forum/sho...d.php?t=134287
Fedora Core 5

Code:

su -
rpm -Uhv http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release5.rpm
yum install kmod-fglrx xorg-x11-drv-fglrx xorg-x11-drv-fglrx-libs-32bit
yum update kmod-fglrx xorg-x11-drv-fglrx xorg-x11-drv-fglrx-libs-32bit
service ati-fglrx restart
ati-fglrx-config-display enable
setsebool -P allow_execstack=1
setsebool -P allow_execmod=1

Please see the bottom of the page if you have troubles with DRI.
Fedora Core 4
** Please note FC4 is not longer supported at Livna

Code:

su -
rpm -Uhv http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release4.rpm
yum install kmod-fglrx xorg-x11-drv-fglrx kernel-module-fglrx
yum update kmod-fglrx xorg-x11-drv-fglrx kernel-module-fglrx
service ati-fglrx restart
ati-fglrx-config-display enable
setsebool -P allow_execstack=1
setsebool -P allow_execmod=1

If you're having problems with DRI...
Try using livna-config-display (see Reminders for how to install) and switch to None / Neither. This will disable AIGLX and therefore enable fglrx DRI, or try using Xgl if you have Xgl installed.

Also, I've heard this option in your Device section can help:

Code:

Option   "VideoOverlay" "On"

Firewing1

Janl · #2 2006-10-19, 09:12 PM CDT

By using the fglrx drivers in FC6 don't you give up being able to use AIGLX?

PeTzZz · #3 2006-10-19, 10:02 PM CDT

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firewing1

service fglrx restart

Isn't it ati-fglrx instead (in FC5)? It's what is in my service list in FC5 and there is no fglrx.

I installed ATI drivers from Livna too.

***Firewing1*** · #4 2006-10-20, 07:51 AM CDT

Oh, my mistake - Changeing it...
Yes, using fglrx gives up aiglx, but you can use Xgl then. fglrx is an alternative for those who can't get the open-source 'radeon' driver working.
Firewing1

Janl · #5 2006-10-20, 03:31 PM CDT

Yeah, that's what I thought. I much prefer the AIGLX method over the XGL method for doing the accelerated desktop. Hopefully ATI gets their act together and releases drivers which work with AIGLX. Otherwise I may just go with XGL so that I can try using the fglrx drivers.

yatt · #6 2006-10-20, 05:31 PM CDT

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janl

Yeah, that's what I thought. I much prefer the AIGLX method over the XGL method for doing the accelerated desktop. Hopefully ATI gets their act together and releases drivers which work with AIGLX. Otherwise I may just go with XGL so that I can try using the fglrx drivers.

If radeon works for you, don't bother with fglrx.

glussier · #7 2006-10-21, 07:34 PM CDT

the fglrx drivers are at least twice as fast as the radeon drivers, so it might be worth using fglrx even if they are closed source.

***Firewing1*** · #8 2006-10-22, 07:02 AM CDT

Yes, but:
radeon: Moderately fast, Open-Source, and support AIGLX.
fglrx: Fast.
Firewing1

glussier · #9 2006-10-22, 07:21 AM CDT

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firewing1

Yes, but:
radeon: Moderately fast, Open-Source, and support AIGLX.
fglrx: Fast.
Firewing1

True enough, but we can add xgl/compiz to the fglrx drivers.

Janl · #10 2006-10-22, 12:08 PM CDT

The open source drivers technically work I suppose, but even just the GL screensavers are EXTREMELY slow. According to GLXINFO, DRI is enabled, so not really sure what else to try at this point. I have a Radeon 9800, so from what I understand, support that that generation has just recently been added to the open drivers.

***Firewing1*** · #11 2006-10-22, 12:17 PM CDT

That, or it could be what you're displaying and your card's power, too. I had a 1024x768 screen at first, screensavers work fine on my nVidia 32MB card with nVidia's drivers. Bought a LCD, and now with newer drivers that should theoretically be faster, it's still slower because my resolution is now 1280x1024.
Firewing1

yatt · #12 2006-10-22, 11:20 PM CDT

Quote:

Originally Posted by glussier

True enough, but we can add xgl/compiz to the fglrx drivers.

When it breaks it breaks in bizarre and idiotic ways. It does this quite frequently too.

glussier · #13 2006-10-23, 04:39 AM CDT

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firewing1

That, or it could be what you're displaying and your card's power, too. I had a 1024x768 screen at first, screensavers work fine on my nVidia 32MB card with nVidia's drivers. Bought a LCD, and now with newer drivers that should theoretically be faster, it's still slower because my resolution is now 1280x1024.
Firewing1

You seem to be pushing the open source drivers for ATI cards, have you tried the Open source drivers on your nvidia card?

***Firewing1*** · #14 2006-10-23, 03:54 PM CDT

lol yeah, it's horribly slow...
Firewing1

Janl · #15 2006-10-23, 04:42 PM CDT

I'll try it out using a lower resolution and see how it goes. But right now as I said the screensaver basically starts and then doesn't even appear to be moving.