Configuring: Difference between revisions

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Since version 8.18.6 the fglrx driver includes the '''aticonfig''' tool which simplifies ''xorg.conf'' editing. Here are some useful commands this tool offers (for a complete list see [http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/aticonfighelp ''aticonfig --help'']).
Since version 8.18.6 the fglrx driver includes the '''aticonfig''' tool which simplifies ''xorg.conf'' editing. Here are some useful commands this tool offers (for a complete list see [http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/aticonfighelp ''aticonfig --help'']).


You forgot one thing: AMD drops sproupt for cards just some 3 years after they were released. Compare that with NVidia, which still sproupts the GeForce 8 series in my more than five year old desktop PC. Oh, and when there's a new X server, my favourite IT news site usually contains a sentence like  An update for the NVidia proprietary driver is available at , while for the fglrx driver, no update has been released so far . Similar for new OpenGL versions.However, I wonder why you even had to deal with their config tools? I used an ATI card for two years, and never ever launched a single ATI specific tool. xrandr did all I wanted (and fglrx sproupts xrandr for some years already, unlike the NVidia driver).When you are using a Notebook though, the missing Optimus sproupt means that you can't use the NVidia card *at all*, which is still far worse than anything ATI forced me to do so far. I am using Bumblebee now, which is an awesome project, but the performance hit is something like 50%  On the other hand, having the NVidia card running on this 2nd X server only means that I can have both KMS (on the Intel card) and he proprietary NVidia driver, which is pretty awesome
=== Changes taking effect on startup ===
''Changes will change the config file!''
 
;Initial setup (creates device section using fglrx):
:<pre>sudo aticonfig --initial</pre>
 
;Enable Video acceleration (Xv Overlay):
:<pre>sudo aticonfig --overlay-type=Xv</pre>
 
;Force fglrx to use kernel's AGP driver instead of own implementation (only use when internal agpgart doesn't work):
:<pre>sudo aticonfig --internal-agp=off</pre>
*Note: Newer fglrx driver versions do not include an internal AGPGART so the kernel agpgart is used no matter what.
 
;Use extended desktop with two monitors (dual-head and big desktop):
 
Assuming you successfully completed the 'Ubuntu Gutsy Installation Guide' with two monitors connected:
 
:<pre>sudo aticonfig --initial=dual-head --screen-layout=right</pre>
                     
This command will generate a dual head configuration file with the second screen located to the right of the first screen.
 
:<pre>sudo aticonfig --dtop=horizontal --overlay-on=1</pre>
 
This command will set up big desktop to horizontal and set overlay on the secondary display.
 
:<pre>sudo aticonfig --set-pcs-val=MCIL,DigitalHDTVDefaultUnderscan,0</pre>
 
This command will disable underscan and saves the option until next driver update. Needed to remove black borders on some LCD displays by default.
 
If black borders doesn't remove try this :
<pre>
aticonfig --query-monitor # to see monitors
aticonfig --query-dispattrib=tmds2 #to see supported values
aticonfig --set-dispattrib=tmds2,sizeX:1920 # to set X resolution
aticonfig --set-dispattrib=tmds2,sizey:1080 # to set Y resolution
aticonfig --set-dispattrib=tmds2,positionX:0 # to set X position to 0
aticonfig --set-dispattrib=tmds2,positionY:0 # to set Y position to 0
</pre>
 
If you receive and error in regards to tmds2 not being valid, please see this post on the possible alternative display types.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1409508&p=8842310#post8842310
 
Now, black borders is really gone.


=== Changes taking effect immediately ===
=== Changes taking effect immediately ===
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* Note: This only works for big desktop setup. This will swap the contents on the two monitors.
* Note: This only works for big desktop setup. This will swap the contents on the two monitors.


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=== Troubleshooting ===
 
Still not working? Go to the [[Troubleshooting]] page.


== Graphical Configuration ==
== Graphical Configuration ==

Revision as of 18:42, 5 July 2013

Distribution Neutral Steps

Verifying | Configuring | Troubleshooting

aticonfig

Since version 8.18.6 the fglrx driver includes the aticonfig tool which simplifies xorg.conf editing. Here are some useful commands this tool offers (for a complete list see aticonfig --help).

Changes taking effect on startup

Changes will change the config file!

Initial setup (creates device section using fglrx)
sudo aticonfig --initial
Enable Video acceleration (Xv Overlay)
sudo aticonfig --overlay-type=Xv
Force fglrx to use kernel's AGP driver instead of own implementation (only use when internal agpgart doesn't work)
sudo aticonfig --internal-agp=off
  • Note: Newer fglrx driver versions do not include an internal AGPGART so the kernel agpgart is used no matter what.
Use extended desktop with two monitors (dual-head and big desktop)

Assuming you successfully completed the 'Ubuntu Gutsy Installation Guide' with two monitors connected:

sudo aticonfig --initial=dual-head --screen-layout=right

This command will generate a dual head configuration file with the second screen located to the right of the first screen.

sudo aticonfig --dtop=horizontal --overlay-on=1

This command will set up big desktop to horizontal and set overlay on the secondary display.

sudo aticonfig --set-pcs-val=MCIL,DigitalHDTVDefaultUnderscan,0

This command will disable underscan and saves the option until next driver update. Needed to remove black borders on some LCD displays by default.

If black borders doesn't remove try this :

aticonfig --query-monitor # to see monitors
aticonfig --query-dispattrib=tmds2 #to see supported values
aticonfig --set-dispattrib=tmds2,sizeX:1920 # to set X resolution
aticonfig --set-dispattrib=tmds2,sizey:1080 # to set Y resolution 
aticonfig --set-dispattrib=tmds2,positionX:0 # to set X position to 0
aticonfig --set-dispattrib=tmds2,positionY:0 # to set Y position to 0

If you receive and error in regards to tmds2 not being valid, please see this post on the possible alternative display types. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1409508&p=8842310#post8842310

Now, black borders is really gone.

Changes taking effect immediately

Changes will not change the config file.

Print information about power states.
aticonfig --list-powerstates

Or, for us lazy folk, the shorter version is aticonfig --lsp


Set a power state to the lowest (battery friendly)
aticonfig --set-powerstate=1
  • Note: check out available power states using aticonfig --list-powerstates
  • Note: this option does not work when an external monitor is connected


Print information about connected and enabled monitors
aticonfig --query-monitor
deprecated by RandR


Examples how to enable two monitors on the fly
  • Assume you have two monitors already setup correctly (Dual monitor support at Ubuntuforums)
  • This example enable laptop internal monitor (lvds) and external monitor (crt1)
aticonfig --enable-monitor=lvds,crt1 --effective=now
  • Note: aticonfig --enable-monitor=STRING,STRING where STRING can be one of the following set, separated by commas: none,crt1,crt2,lvds,tv,tmds1,tmds2,auto.

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

  • Note: check out connected and enabled monitors using aticonfig --query-monitor


Turn off the second monitor on the fly and start to use only laptop internal monitor (lvds)
aticonfig --enable-monitor=lvds --effective=now


Swap monitors on the fly when using big desktop mode
aticonfig --swap-monitor --effective=now
  • Note: This only works for big desktop setup. This will swap the contents on the two monitors.

Troubleshooting

Still not working? Go to the Troubleshooting page.

Graphical Configuration

When instaling the propietary Ati linux driver, it also can install the Ati Catalyst Control Center. With this tool you can configure Ati's driver more easily.

Distribution Neutral Steps

Verifying | Configuring | Troubleshooting