HOWTO: ati softmod (opening pipelines) tip (9500->9700 & 9800se -> 9800)

neph04 · #1 27th February 2005, 10:24 AM

Short howto:
If you want to open pipelines on your ATI card, is very simple:

I tested with both version of driver:
fglrx64_6_8_0-8.10.19-1.x86_64.rpm
fglrx64_6_8_0-8.8.25-1.x86_64.rpm

Only you must do is add this line to /etc/X11/xorg.conf in your device section
and change device to 4e48 or 4e44 in BusID line
for ATI 9800se -> ATI 9800

Code:

#ADD
ChipID 0x4E48
#CHANGE
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"    # vendor=1002, device=4e48

for ATI 9500 -> ATI 9700

Code:

#ADD
ChipID 0x4E44
#CHANGE
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"    # vendor=1002, device=4e44

9800se -> 9800pro result? :-D

Code:

before softmod
[neph@localhost ~]$ glxgears 
17337 frames in 5.0 seconds = 3467.400 FPS <=window opened
17344 frames in 5.0 seconds = 3468.800 FPS 
17339 frames in 5.0 seconds = 3467.800 FPS 
21747 frames in 5.0 seconds = 4349.400 FPS <=window minimized
22420 frames in 5.0 seconds = 4484.000 FPS 
22417 frames in 5.0 seconds = 4483.400 FPS  

after softmod
[neph@localhost ~]$ glxgears 
22664 frames in 5.0 seconds = 4532.800 FPS <=window opened
22663 frames in 5.0 seconds = 4532.600 FPS 
22721 frames in 5.0 seconds = 4544.200 FPS 
40830 frames in 5.0 seconds = 8166.000 FPS <=window minimized
40829 frames in 5.0 seconds = 8165.800 FPS 
40828 frames in 5.0 seconds = 8165.600 FPS

WebX · #2 28th February 2005, 09:04 PM

I've got ATI 9700pro (all-in-wonder)
I've made everything as you said, I thought that It'll help with my problem( fgrlx writes me that I've got 9500pro).
But in fglrxinfo it also(as it was) write's me tish:
display: :0.0 screen: 0
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: RADEON 9500 Pro Generic
OpenGL version string: 1.3.4893 (X4.3.0-8.10.19)

neph04 · #3 28th February 2005, 09:50 PM

This edit of xorg.con will not overwrite string in fglrxinfo.
I have ATI 9800se All in Wonder... and after editing fglrxinfo still shows me "ATI 9800se renderer" but in fact my card is running as full 9800pro...

I think that strings in fglrxinfo must be generated while installing... and post edit of xorg.conf solve only performance of your card...

Try some FPS demo like fglxgears and compare it to another ATI 9700pro or ATI 9500... you will see. (I think is not important what is written in fglrxinfo, but real performance)

willhunter · #4 1st March 2005, 07:14 PM

Hey neph04,

I have ATI mobility radeon 9600, on my laptop. what can I do to upgrade it (using softmod).

I mean where can I get chipset id and other stuff??

neph04 · #5 2nd March 2005, 11:41 AM

I'm sorry.. but is not possible use softmod for your ATI9600..
Softmod is step when you turn on your deactivated pipelines.. so its go only with 9500 and 9800se and new X800 series card.