[gentoo-user] A question concerning graphics...

[gentoo-user] A question concerning graphics...

[Chris Walters]

Hello Everyone,

I have a couple of questions concerning what graphic drivers you use.  Does 
anyone use the proprietary ATI drivers, or have used them?  Would you recommend 
them?  I just recently started using the ati-drivers package, but I don't 
really notice a difference - yes it does say the frame rate is much higher, but 
I am not sure it is worth losing my framebuffer over them.

Technically, I lost my frame buffer because I am using an initramfs (initrd) 
because I have an encrypted root file system, and a separate non-encrypted usr 
partition.  I still have not been able to figure out how to get either uvesafb 
or vesafb working through the initramfs.  They will both load fine, before my 
initrd starts, then they seem to disappear.

In case you're wondering, before I changed to the proprietary ati drivers, I 
was using the kernel framebuffer for my video card(s).  Two Radeon HD 5000 
series cards.  I did have to insert the proper ucode into my kernel, but it worked.

Chris

Re: [gentoo-user] A question concerning graphics...

[Michael Hampicke]

Am 10.03.2013 09:54, schrieb Chris Walters:
> Hello Everyone,
> 
> I have a couple of questions concerning what graphic drivers you use. 
> Does anyone use the proprietary ATI drivers, or have used them?  Would
> you recommend them?  I just recently started using the ati-drivers
> package, but I don't really notice a difference - yes it does say the
> frame rate is much higher, but I am not sure it is worth losing my
> framebuffer over them.
> 
> Technically, I lost my frame buffer because I am using an initramfs
> (initrd) because I have an encrypted root file system, and a separate
> non-encrypted usr partition.  I still have not been able to figure out
> how to get either uvesafb or vesafb working through the initramfs.  They
> will both load fine, before my initrd starts, then they seem to disappear.
> 
> In case you're wondering, before I changed to the proprietary ati
> drivers, I was using the kernel framebuffer for my video card(s).  Two
> Radeon HD 5000 series cards.  I did have to insert the proper ucode into
> my kernel, but it worked.
> 
> Chris
> 

I use the ati-drivers package, and I'd say there are pretty solid now. I
first started using ati-drivers with my HD2600 card card - as the kernel
drivers did not support the power saving mechanisms of the card. No
power saving on the HD2600 meant just when idling: 60 degree C and a
power usage of over 30 watts more then when using the kernel driver. Not
to mention the noise of the fan. When I bought my new HD 7770 card last
year, it was not supported by the kernel, so I sticked with the
ati-drivers. Everythings works as it's supposed to. Dual screen setup
with different solutions, power saving when idling, 3D power when you
need it (steam games), opencl works fine too.

Re: [gentoo-user] A question concerning graphics...

[Alecks Gates]

On Sun, Mar 10, 2013 at 7:28 AM, Michael Hampicke <gentoo-user@hadt.biz> wrote:
[...]
> I use the ati-drivers package, and I'd say there are pretty solid now. I
> first started using ati-drivers with my HD2600 card card - as the kernel
> drivers did not support the power saving mechanisms of the card. No
> power saving on the HD2600 meant just when idling: 60 degree C and a
> power usage of over 30 watts more then when using the kernel driver. Not
> to mention the noise of the fan. When I bought my new HD 7770 card last
> year, it was not supported by the kernel, so I sticked with the
> ati-drivers. Everythings works as it's supposed to. Dual screen setup
> with different solutions, power saving when idling, 3D power when you
> need it (steam games), opencl works fine too.
>

I just bought a 7770 myself, and have been interested in getting a
dual monitor setup with ati-drivers. What steps do I have to take?

-- 
Alecks Gates

Re: [gentoo-user] A question concerning graphics...

[Michael Hampicke]

Am 10.03.2013 21:48, schrieb Alecks Gates:
> On Sun, Mar 10, 2013 at 7:28 AM, Michael Hampicke <gentoo-user@hadt.biz> wrote:
> [...]
>> I use the ati-drivers package, and I'd say there are pretty solid now. I
>> first started using ati-drivers with my HD2600 card card - as the kernel
>> drivers did not support the power saving mechanisms of the card. No
>> power saving on the HD2600 meant just when idling: 60 degree C and a
>> power usage of over 30 watts more then when using the kernel driver. Not
>> to mention the noise of the fan. When I bought my new HD 7770 card last
>> year, it was not supported by the kernel, so I sticked with the
>> ati-drivers. Everythings works as it's supposed to. Dual screen setup
>> with different solutions, power saving when idling, 3D power when you
>> need it (steam games), opencl works fine too.
>>
> 
> I just bought a 7770 myself, and have been interested in getting a
> dual monitor setup with ati-drivers. What steps do I have to take?
> 

Just fire up the AMD catalyst control center, configure to your liking,
that's it pretty much. I do run gnome 3.6 - but configuring dual
monitors only with gnome (via system settings) was not possible.

Re: [gentoo-user] A question concerning graphics...

[Alecks Gates]

On Sun, Mar 10, 2013 at 5:53 PM, Michael Hampicke <gentoo-user@hadt.biz> wrote:
> Am 10.03.2013 21:48, schrieb Alecks Gates:
>> On Sun, Mar 10, 2013 at 7:28 AM, Michael Hampicke <gentoo-user@hadt.biz> wrote:
>> [...]
>>> I use the ati-drivers package, and I'd say there are pretty solid now. I
>>> first started using ati-drivers with my HD2600 card card - as the kernel
>>> drivers did not support the power saving mechanisms of the card. No
>>> power saving on the HD2600 meant just when idling: 60 degree C and a
>>> power usage of over 30 watts more then when using the kernel driver. Not
>>> to mention the noise of the fan. When I bought my new HD 7770 card last
>>> year, it was not supported by the kernel, so I sticked with the
>>> ati-drivers. Everythings works as it's supposed to. Dual screen setup
>>> with different solutions, power saving when idling, 3D power when you
>>> need it (steam games), opencl works fine too.
>>>
>>
>> I just bought a 7770 myself, and have been interested in getting a
>> dual monitor setup with ati-drivers. What steps do I have to take?
>>
>
> Just fire up the AMD catalyst control center, configure to your liking,
> that's it pretty much. I do run gnome 3.6 - but configuring dual
> monitors only with gnome (via system settings) was not possible.
>

I noticed the same about Gnome.  I did try it in AMD Catalyst but was
unsuccessful.  Do I need xinerama support?

-- 
Alecks Gates

Re: [gentoo-user] A question concerning graphics...

[Michael Hampicke]

Am 11.03.2013 00:07, schrieb Alecks Gates:
> On Sun, Mar 10, 2013 at 5:53 PM, Michael Hampicke <gentoo-user@hadt.biz> wrote:
>> Am 10.03.2013 21:48, schrieb Alecks Gates:
>>> On Sun, Mar 10, 2013 at 7:28 AM, Michael Hampicke <gentoo-user@hadt.biz> wrote:
>>> [...]
>>>> I use the ati-drivers package, and I'd say there are pretty solid now. I
>>>> first started using ati-drivers with my HD2600 card card - as the kernel
>>>> drivers did not support the power saving mechanisms of the card. No
>>>> power saving on the HD2600 meant just when idling: 60 degree C and a
>>>> power usage of over 30 watts more then when using the kernel driver. Not
>>>> to mention the noise of the fan. When I bought my new HD 7770 card last
>>>> year, it was not supported by the kernel, so I sticked with the
>>>> ati-drivers. Everythings works as it's supposed to. Dual screen setup
>>>> with different solutions, power saving when idling, 3D power when you
>>>> need it (steam games), opencl works fine too.
>>>>
>>>
>>> I just bought a 7770 myself, and have been interested in getting a
>>> dual monitor setup with ati-drivers. What steps do I have to take?
>>>
>>
>> Just fire up the AMD catalyst control center, configure to your liking,
>> that's it pretty much. I do run gnome 3.6 - but configuring dual
>> monitors only with gnome (via system settings) was not possible.
>>
> 
> I noticed the same about Gnome.  I did try it in AMD Catalyst but was
> unsuccessful.  Do I need xinerama support?
> 

I don't have xinerama enabled on any of my packages.

Here is the xorg.conf which AMD CC generated, maybe it helps:

Section "ServerLayout"
	Identifier     "aticonfig Layout"
	Screen      0  "aticonfig-Screen[0]-0" 0 0
EndSection

Section "Module"
EndSection

Section "InputClass"
	Identifier      "evdev keyboard catchall"
	Driver          "evdev"
	MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
	MatchIsKeyboard "yes"
	Option	    "XkbLayout" "de"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier   "aticonfig-Monitor[0]-0"
	Option	    "VendorName" "ATI Proprietary Driver"
	Option	    "ModelName" "Generic Autodetecting Monitor"
	Option	    "DPMS" "true"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier   "0-DFP9"
	Option	    "VendorName" "ATI Proprietary Driver"
	Option	    "ModelName" "Generic Autodetecting Monitor"
	Option	    "DPMS" "true"
	Option	    "PreferredMode" "1920x1080"
	Option	    "TargetRefresh" "60"
	Option	    "Position" "0 0"
	Option	    "Rotate" "normal"
	Option	    "Disable" "false"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier   "0-CRT1"
	Option	    "VendorName" "ATI Proprietary Driver"
	Option	    "ModelName" "Generic Autodetecting Monitor"
	Option	    "DPMS" "true"
	Option	    "PreferredMode" "1280x1024"
	Option	    "TargetRefresh" "60"
	Option	    "Position" "1920 0"
	Option	    "Rotate" "normal"
	Option	    "Disable" "false"
EndSection

Section "Device"
	Identifier  "aticonfig-Device[0]-0"
	Driver      "fglrx"
	Option	    "Monitor-DFP9" "0-DFP9"
	Option	    "Monitor-CRT1" "0-CRT1"
	BusID       "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Device"
	Identifier  "amdcccle-Device[1]-1"
	Driver      "fglrx"
	Option	    "Monitor-CRT1" "0-CRT1"
	BusID       "PCI:1:0:0"
	Screen      1
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier "aticonfig-Screen[0]-0"
	Device     "aticonfig-Device[0]-0"
	DefaultDepth     24
	SubSection "Display"
		Viewport   0 0
		Virtual   3200 3200
		Depth     24
	EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier "amdcccle-Screen[1]-1"
	Device     "amdcccle-Device[1]-1"
	DefaultDepth     24
	SubSection "Display"
		Viewport   0 0
		Depth     24
	EndSubSection
EndSection

Re: [gentoo-user] A question concerning graphics...

[Volker Armin Hemmann]

Am 10.03.2013 09:54, schrieb Chris Walters:
> Hello Everyone,
>
> I have a couple of questions concerning what graphic drivers you use. 
> Does anyone use the proprietary ATI drivers, or have used them?  Would
> you recommend them?  I just recently started using the ati-drivers
> package, but I don't really notice a difference - yes it does say the
> frame rate is much higher, but I am not sure it is worth losing my
> framebuffer over them.
>
> Technically, I lost my frame buffer because I am using an initramfs
> (initrd) because I have an encrypted root file system, and a separate
> non-encrypted usr partition.  I still have not been able to figure out
> how to get either uvesafb or vesafb working through the initramfs. 
> They will both load fine, before my initrd starts, then they seem to
> disappear.
>
> In case you're wondering, before I changed to the proprietary ati
> drivers, I was using the kernel framebuffer for my video card(s).  Two
> Radeon HD 5000 series cards.  I did have to insert the proper ucode
> into my kernel, but it worked.
>
> Chris
>
> .
>

yes, it is worth using them. Because of proper power management alone.
You might not care about framerates, but the open source drivers use a
lot more energy - for nothing.

Re: [gentoo-user] A question concerning graphics...

[Mick]

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On Sunday 10 Mar 2013 12:48:07 Volker Armin Hemmann wrote:
> Am 10.03.2013 09:54, schrieb Chris Walters:
> > Hello Everyone,
> > 
> > I have a couple of questions concerning what graphic drivers you use.
> > Does anyone use the proprietary ATI drivers, or have used them?  Would
> > you recommend them?  I just recently started using the ati-drivers
> > package, but I don't really notice a difference - yes it does say the
> > frame rate is much higher, but I am not sure it is worth losing my
> > framebuffer over them.
> > 
> > Technically, I lost my frame buffer because I am using an initramfs
> > (initrd) because I have an encrypted root file system, and a separate
> > non-encrypted usr partition.  I still have not been able to figure out
> > how to get either uvesafb or vesafb working through the initramfs.
> > They will both load fine, before my initrd starts, then they seem to
> > disappear.
> > 
> > In case you're wondering, before I changed to the proprietary ati
> > drivers, I was using the kernel framebuffer for my video card(s).  Two
> > Radeon HD 5000 series cards.  I did have to insert the proper ucode
> > into my kernel, but it worked.
> > 
> > Chris
> > 
> > .
> 
> yes, it is worth using them. Because of proper power management alone.
> You might not care about framerates, but the open source drivers use a
> lot more energy - for nothing.

On the other hand the kernel has advanced enough now to offer power management 
for ATI cards.  I've set this up for my Mobility Radeon HD 4670:

cat /etc/local.d/set_radeon_power_profile.start
echo auto > /sys/class/drm/card0/device/power_profile

and it stopped the cooling fan from working all the time irrespective of the 
load.  This also makes the battery last longer.
-- 
Regards,
Mick

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