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Features

2013-09-10T20:59:16Z

204.187.63.106: /* VDPAU -> VA-API/XvBA / VDPAU -> OpenGL Wrapper (RadeonHD >= 4000 using Catalyst) */

= Open Source Drivers =
NOTE: The features listed are based off of the development repository at the time of this writing (2011-01-17). This does not mean that every Linux distribution will have the same capabilities. More than likely, major distributions will have an older, better-tested version of the graphics stack as a default and offer bleeding-edge versions of the driver in a repository. For a concise chart of features supported by the open source radeon drivers, see: http://www.x.org/wiki/RadeonFeature
Here are the highlights:
* Kernel Mode-Setting (KMS)
* 2D Acceleration (EXA)
* DRI2
* OpenGL 2.x and GLSL 1.2
* Textured Video Acceleration (Xv)
* Power Management
* HDMI Audio (RadeonHD 4000-series requires booting with radeon.audio=1 and RadeonHD 5000-series requires kernel >= 3.3)
* XRandR 1.3
* AIGLX (desktop effects)
The developers also have a frequently updated list of 3D applications which they use to mark their progress: http://www.x.org/wiki/RadeonProgram

= AMD Catalyst/fglrx =
AMD also offers a proprietary driver for RadeonHD chips based off of their Windows code (a legacy proprietary driver is offered for older cards, but it will not run on modern kernels/X servers)
* OpenGL 3.3/4.1 and GLSL(dependent on the latest version your card supports)
* XvBA video decode acceleration (through VA-API and only for RadeonHD 4x00 cards and later): {{404}}http://www.splitted-desktop.com/~gbeauchesne/
* Direct2D acceleration
* Catalyst Control Center
* amdconfig CLI tool
* OverDrive (power management, overclocking)
* HDMI Audio
* XRandR 1.3
* AIGLX (desktop effects)

= Switchable Graphic Chips Status=

Some laptops (and other systems) are now being sold with both an integrated, low power GPU, and a discrete, high performance GPU [http://www.amd.com/us/products/technologies/switchable-graphics/Pages/switchable-graphics.aspx AMD Switchable Graphics Technology]. There are two basic types of hybrid designs. Older hybrid systems use a multiplexor (MUX) to switch between GPU's. Newer systems (those with PowerXpress >= 4.0) are MUX-less. As far as I can tell, PowerXpress 4.0 started with RadeonHD 6000-series GPU's, and systems with older ATI GPU's have a MUX, but don't quote that.

== Switchable Graphic Chips Warning==
{| WIDTH="650" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 style="background-color: red; border: solid 1px #666666; color: #ffffff; text-align: center;"
| style="background-color: #666666; border: solid 1px #666666; border-bottom: 1px solid #888;" | '''WARNING'''
|-
| 
Carefully research before purchasing a laptop, or you may not be able to fully use the hardware you pay for. 
|}

== MUXed Systems ==

Open source drivers support switching from integrated to discrete graphics cards using [http://linux-hybrid-graphics.blogspot.com/2010/02/howto-install-vgaswitcheroo-for-linux.html vga_switcheroo] on MUXed systems. However, the performance of the chips with the switchable open source drivers may not be optimized. For example, with the open source driver on the HP DV7-4045ea you can switch between the 4200 and 5650; the 4200 works okay, but although the 5650 does work, it does not perform well.
Catalyst supposedly supports switching using the following commands, but reports of success are scarce:
amdconfig --pxl # List current activated GPU
amdconfig --px-dgpu # Activate discrete GPU (High-Performance mode), must re-start X to take effect
amdconfig --px-igpu # Activate integrated GPU (Power-Saving mode), must re-start X to take effect

== MUX-less Systems ==

On MUX-less systems, the discrete card is used solely for rendering, not display. At the moment, the X server does not support rendering and display from different cards so the discrete card can not be used with MUX-less systems at the moment. Most new laptops (2011+) are MUX-less.
There is a bug raised against the inability to switch between integrated and discrete graphics cards [http://ati.cchtml.com/show_bug.cgi?id=16 Official AMD Bug]

There is a [http://phoronix.com/forums/showthread.php?70128-Really-AMD-does-not-provide-any-support-for-the-switchable-graphics&s=ef268e08353e7bff6ffe69ea4f9139b4&p=257729#post257729 report] of switchable graphics working on an HP laptop using the proprietary driver

= Video Decode Acceleration Status =

== VDPAU -> VA-API/XvBA / VDPAU -> OpenGL Wrapper (RadeonHD >= 4000 using Catalyst)==

Applications which support VDPAU can use Intel cards (VA-API), AMD cards (XvBA with [http://cgit.freedesktop.org/vaapi/xvba-driver/ xvba-va]), or any card (OpenGL).

[https://github.com/i-rinat/libvdpau-va-gl GIT project]

== VA-API/XvBA Wrapper (RadeonHD >= 4000 using Catalyst)==

Video acceleration can be achieved through drivers supplied at [http://www.splitted-desktop.com/~gbeauchesne/ gbeauchesne] Modern distros should have this installable from their repo (Debian/Ubuntu does).
Note that this wrapper is no longer maintained/developed and should be considered a dead-end.

== Using XvBA in XBMC (with Catalyst >= 11-11) ==

The XBMC project has implemented acceleration in their media player using AMD's libxvba library. This is a fairly new/experimental feature at the time of this writing, but XBMC claims positive feedback. [http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?t=116996 Install Instructions]

== Gallium3D VDPAU (open-source driver) ==

The open-source 3D mesa driver now implements acceleration through a VDPAU/VA-API wrapper that uses the 3D engine. This is a fairly new/experimental feature at the time of this writing, so it may require rebuilding mesa. AMD is interested in using the UVD hardware directly, but this is currently held up for legal reasons.

The open-source 3D mesa driver implements video acceleration that is better and more stable than fglrx one.

[http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=amd_opensource_uvd&num=1]

= EyeFinity =
Catalyst supports more than two simultaneous outputs on RadeonHD5xxx cards having more than two physical independent out. Default settings starts every monitors in a cloned stage, but you can switch to a multiple display desktop via the Catalyst Control Center. Be aware that the AMD Catalyst Control Center does not let you fix arbitrary position settings : it only lets you approximately place your monitors on a virtual desktop. It's often best to adjust screen alignment using the "Position +x +y" option in xorg.conf.'''

Open source drivers also support Eyefinity.

Features

2013-09-10T20:57:04Z

204.187.63.106: added information in regards to new VA-GL vdpau driver

= Open Source Drivers =
NOTE: The features listed are based off of the development repository at the time of this writing (2011-01-17). This does not mean that every Linux distribution will have the same capabilities. More than likely, major distributions will have an older, better-tested version of the graphics stack as a default and offer bleeding-edge versions of the driver in a repository. For a concise chart of features supported by the open source radeon drivers, see: http://www.x.org/wiki/RadeonFeature
Here are the highlights:
* Kernel Mode-Setting (KMS)
* 2D Acceleration (EXA)
* DRI2
* OpenGL 2.x and GLSL 1.2
* Textured Video Acceleration (Xv)
* Power Management
* HDMI Audio (RadeonHD 4000-series requires booting with radeon.audio=1 and RadeonHD 5000-series requires kernel >= 3.3)
* XRandR 1.3
* AIGLX (desktop effects)
The developers also have a frequently updated list of 3D applications which they use to mark their progress: http://www.x.org/wiki/RadeonProgram

= AMD Catalyst/fglrx =
AMD also offers a proprietary driver for RadeonHD chips based off of their Windows code (a legacy proprietary driver is offered for older cards, but it will not run on modern kernels/X servers)
* OpenGL 3.3/4.1 and GLSL(dependent on the latest version your card supports)
* XvBA video decode acceleration (through VA-API and only for RadeonHD 4x00 cards and later): {{404}}http://www.splitted-desktop.com/~gbeauchesne/
* Direct2D acceleration
* Catalyst Control Center
* amdconfig CLI tool
* OverDrive (power management, overclocking)
* HDMI Audio
* XRandR 1.3
* AIGLX (desktop effects)

= Switchable Graphic Chips Status=

Some laptops (and other systems) are now being sold with both an integrated, low power GPU, and a discrete, high performance GPU [http://www.amd.com/us/products/technologies/switchable-graphics/Pages/switchable-graphics.aspx AMD Switchable Graphics Technology]. There are two basic types of hybrid designs. Older hybrid systems use a multiplexor (MUX) to switch between GPU's. Newer systems (those with PowerXpress >= 4.0) are MUX-less. As far as I can tell, PowerXpress 4.0 started with RadeonHD 6000-series GPU's, and systems with older ATI GPU's have a MUX, but don't quote that.

== Switchable Graphic Chips Warning==
{| WIDTH="650" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 style="background-color: red; border: solid 1px #666666; color: #ffffff; text-align: center;"
| style="background-color: #666666; border: solid 1px #666666; border-bottom: 1px solid #888;" | '''WARNING'''
|-
| 
Carefully research before purchasing a laptop, or you may not be able to fully use the hardware you pay for. 
|}

== MUXed Systems ==

Open source drivers support switching from integrated to discrete graphics cards using [http://linux-hybrid-graphics.blogspot.com/2010/02/howto-install-vgaswitcheroo-for-linux.html vga_switcheroo] on MUXed systems. However, the performance of the chips with the switchable open source drivers may not be optimized. For example, with the open source driver on the HP DV7-4045ea you can switch between the 4200 and 5650; the 4200 works okay, but although the 5650 does work, it does not perform well.
Catalyst supposedly supports switching using the following commands, but reports of success are scarce:
amdconfig --pxl # List current activated GPU
amdconfig --px-dgpu # Activate discrete GPU (High-Performance mode), must re-start X to take effect
amdconfig --px-igpu # Activate integrated GPU (Power-Saving mode), must re-start X to take effect

== MUX-less Systems ==

On MUX-less systems, the discrete card is used solely for rendering, not display. At the moment, the X server does not support rendering and display from different cards so the discrete card can not be used with MUX-less systems at the moment. Most new laptops (2011+) are MUX-less.
There is a bug raised against the inability to switch between integrated and discrete graphics cards [http://ati.cchtml.com/show_bug.cgi?id=16 Official AMD Bug]

There is a [http://phoronix.com/forums/showthread.php?70128-Really-AMD-does-not-provide-any-support-for-the-switchable-graphics&s=ef268e08353e7bff6ffe69ea4f9139b4&p=257729#post257729 report] of switchable graphics working on an HP laptop using the proprietary driver

= Video Decode Acceleration Status =

== VDPAU -> VA-API/XvBA / VDPAU -> OpenGL Wrapper (RadeonHD >= 4000 using Catalyst)==

Applications which support VDPAU can use Intel cards (VA-API), potentially AMD cards (XvBA with another middleman), or any card (OpenGL).

[https://github.com/i-rinat/libvdpau-va-gl GIT project]

== VA-API/XvBA Wrapper (RadeonHD >= 4000 using Catalyst)==

Video acceleration can be achieved through drivers supplied at [http://www.splitted-desktop.com/~gbeauchesne/ gbeauchesne] Modern distros should have this installable from their repo (Debian/Ubuntu does).
Note that this wrapper is no longer maintained/developed and should be considered a dead-end.

== Using XvBA in XBMC (with Catalyst >= 11-11) ==

The XBMC project has implemented acceleration in their media player using AMD's libxvba library. This is a fairly new/experimental feature at the time of this writing, but XBMC claims positive feedback. [http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?t=116996 Install Instructions]

== Gallium3D VDPAU (open-source driver) ==

The open-source 3D mesa driver now implements acceleration through a VDPAU/VA-API wrapper that uses the 3D engine. This is a fairly new/experimental feature at the time of this writing, so it may require rebuilding mesa. AMD is interested in using the UVD hardware directly, but this is currently held up for legal reasons.

The open-source 3D mesa driver implements video acceleration that is better and more stable than fglrx one.

[http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=amd_opensource_uvd&num=1]

= EyeFinity =
Catalyst supports more than two simultaneous outputs on RadeonHD5xxx cards having more than two physical independent out. Default settings starts every monitors in a cloned stage, but you can switch to a multiple display desktop via the Catalyst Control Center. Be aware that the AMD Catalyst Control Center does not let you fix arbitrary position settings : it only lets you approximately place your monitors on a virtual desktop. It's often best to adjust screen alignment using the "Position +x +y" option in xorg.conf.'''

Open source drivers also support Eyefinity.

Configuring

2013-06-06T20:16:56Z

204.187.63.106: added information in regards to alternative display types, tmds2 depends on the type of monitor attached.

{{VCT-on-top}}
== 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 [http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/aticonfighelp ''aticonfig --help'']).

=== 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 will not change the config file.''

;Print information about power states.
:<pre>aticonfig --list-powerstates</pre>
Or, for us lazy folk, the shorter version is ''aticonfig --lsp''

;Set a power state to the lowest (battery friendly):
:<pre>aticonfig --set-powerstate=1</pre>
*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:
:<pre>aticonfig --query-monitor</pre>
;deprecated by RandR

;Examples how to enable two monitors on the fly:
* Assume you have two monitors already setup correctly ([http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=301941 Dual monitor support] at Ubuntuforums)
* This example enable laptop internal monitor (lvds) and external monitor (crt1)
:<pre>aticonfig --enable-monitor=lvds,crt1 --effective=now</pre>
*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)
:<pre>aticonfig --enable-monitor=lvds --effective=now</pre>

;Swap monitors on the fly when using big desktop mode
* Assume you have two monitors already setup correctly ([http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=301941 Dual monitor support] at Ubuntuforums)
:<pre>aticonfig --swap-monitor --effective=now</pre>
* 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.

[[Category:NeedsUpdating]]
{{VCT}}

Features

2013-05-09T16:47:34Z

204.187.63.106: /* MUX-less Systems */

= Open Source Drivers =
NOTE: The features listed are based off of the development repository at the time of this writing (2011-01-17). This does not mean that every Linux distribution will have the same capabilities. More than likely, major distributions will have an older, better-tested version of the graphics stack as a default and offer bleeding-edge versions of the driver in a repository. For a concise chart of features supported by the open source radeon drivers, see: http://www.x.org/wiki/RadeonFeature
Here are the highlights:
* Kernel Mode-Setting (KMS)
* 2D Acceleration (EXA)
* DRI2
* OpenGL 2.x and GLSL 1.2
* Textured Video Acceleration (Xv)
* Power Management
* HDMI Audio (RadeonHD 4000-series requires booting with radeon.audio=1 and RadeonHD 5000-series requires kernel >= 3.3)
* XRandR 1.3
* AIGLX (desktop effects)
The developers also have a frequently updated list of 3D applications which they use to mark their progress: http://www.x.org/wiki/RadeonProgram

= AMD Catalyst/fglrx =
AMD also offers a proprietary driver for RadeonHD chips based off of their Windows code (a legacy proprietary driver is offered for older cards, but it will not run on modern kernels/X servers)
* OpenGL 3.3/4.1 and GLSL(dependent on the latest version your card supports)
* XvBA video decode acceleration (through VA-API and only for RadeonHD 4x00 cards and later): {{404}}http://www.splitted-desktop.com/~gbeauchesne/
* Direct2D acceleration
* Catalyst Control Center
* amdconfig CLI tool
* OverDrive (power management, overclocking)
* HDMI Audio
* XRandR 1.3
* AIGLX (desktop effects)

= Switchable Graphic Chips Status=

Some laptops (and other systems) are now being sold with both an integrated, low power GPU, and a discrete, high performance GPU [http://www.amd.com/us/products/technologies/switchable-graphics/Pages/switchable-graphics.aspx AMD Switchable Graphics Technology]. There are two basic types of hybrid designs. Older hybrid systems use a multiplexor (MUX) to switch between GPU's. Newer systems (those with PowerXpress >= 4.0) are MUX-less. As far as I can tell, PowerXpress 4.0 started with RadeonHD 6000-series GPU's, and systems with older ATI GPU's have a MUX, but don't quote that.

== Switchable Graphic Chips Warning==
{| WIDTH="650" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 style="background-color: red; border: solid 1px #666666; color: #ffffff; text-align: center;"
| style="background-color: #666666; border: solid 1px #666666; border-bottom: 1px solid #888;" | '''WARNING'''
|-
| 
Carefully research before purchasing a laptop, or you may not be able to fully use the hardware you pay for. 
|}

== MUXed Systems ==

Open source drivers support switching from integrated to discrete graphics cards using [http://linux-hybrid-graphics.blogspot.com/2010/02/howto-install-vgaswitcheroo-for-linux.html vga_switcheroo] on MUXed systems. However, the performance of the chips with the switchable open source drivers may not be optimized. For example, with the open source driver on the HP DV7-4045ea you can switch between the 4200 and 5650; the 4200 works okay, but although the 5650 does work, it does not perform well.
Catalyst supposedly supports switching using the following commands, but reports of success are scarce:
amdconfig --pxl # List current activated GPU
amdconfig --px-dgpu # Activate discrete GPU (High-Performance mode), must re-start X to take effect
amdconfig --px-igpu # Activate integrated GPU (Power-Saving mode), must re-start X to take effect

== MUX-less Systems ==

On MUX-less systems, the discrete card is used solely for rendering, not display. At the moment, the X server does not support rendering and display from different cards so the discrete card can not be used with MUX-less systems at the moment. Most new laptops (2011+) are MUX-less.
There is a bug raised against the inability to switch between integrated and discrete graphics cards [http://ati.cchtml.com/show_bug.cgi?id=16 Official AMD Bug]

There is a [http://phoronix.com/forums/showthread.php?70128-Really-AMD-does-not-provide-any-support-for-the-switchable-graphics&s=ef268e08353e7bff6ffe69ea4f9139b4&p=257729#post257729 report] of switchable graphics working on an HP laptop using the proprietary driver

= Video Decode Acceleration Status =

== VA-API/XvBA Wrapper (RadeonHD >= 4000 using Catalyst)==

Video acceleration can be achieved through drivers supplied at [http://www.splitted-desktop.com/~gbeauchesne/ gbeauchesne] Modern distros should have this installable from their repo (Debian/Ubuntu does).
Note that this wrapper is no longer maintained/developed and should be considered a dead-end.

== Using XvBA in XBMC (with Catalyst >= 11-11) ==

The XBMC project has implemented acceleration in their media player using AMD's libxvba library. This is a fairly new/experimental feature at the time of this writing, but XBMC claims positive feedback. [http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?t=116996 Install Instructions]

== Gallium3D VDPAU (open-source driver) ==

The open-source 3D mesa driver now implements acceleration through a VDPAU/VA-API wrapper that uses the 3D engine. This is a fairly new/experimental feature at the time of this writing, so it may require rebuilding mesa. AMD is interested in using the UVD hardware directly, but this is currently held up for legal reasons.

The open-source 3D mesa driver implements video acceleration that is better and more stable than fglrx one.

= EyeFinity =
Catalyst supports more than two simultaneous outputs on RadeonHD5xxx cards having more than two physical independent out. Default settings starts every monitors in a cloned stage, but you can switch to a multiple display desktop via the Catalyst Control Center. Be aware that the AMD Catalyst Control Center does not let you fix arbitrary position settings : it only lets you approximately place your monitors on a virtual desktop. It's often best to adjust screen alignment using the "Position +x +y" option in xorg.conf.'''

Open source drivers also support Eyefinity.