fglrx Problem or My Problem?

[Michael]

Michael would probably be the best person to comment on that (if he has that information and can share it).

Well, what I would advise is looking at: http://www.michaellarabel.com/index.php?k=blog&i=147

Well, if ATI/AMD does not introduce a fglrx driver capable of handling AIGLX to support Beryl and Compiz (without XGL!) by the end of this calendar year (December 31, 2007), I will switch all my personal machines from ATI Radeon graphics back over to the green side with NVIDIA. Or I may also switch over to using Intel graphics in my notebooks and desktops. At the end of this year it will be roughly 18 months (and 18 releases) where they could have added this support. So either by the 8.44.x display driver (well, the naming convention could change with the introduction of the new AMD Linux driver) or I am out of using ATI graphics in my personal systems.

Does that tell anything?

[Thund]

As a general note to those interested in buying a new video card to be used on a Linux box, make sure you have all the info before deciding on the brand & type:
- check the phoronix website and forum, If you can't find useful info ask on the forum
- check the vendors' websites and driver release notes to see if the card you are interested in is supported on Linux
- ask on the mailing lists and forums of the distro you are using if anyone else has any experience with the card you are interested in
- use google to see if there's more information out there. Then google again using different search terms. And again
- cut a deal with the shop where you are planning on buying the card that you can return the card for a full refund if it does not work (it should work because you did your homework, right...)

I snipped a bit of the quote for space sake...

I did check the ATI site before purchasing that X1950; I simply made the mistake of thinking a X1950 was in the X1900 family of cards.

Since I had similar driver problems a few years ago with the 9800PRO, I don't see a reason to continue to give ATI the benefit of the doubt. Its been ~ 3 years and they still produce nice hardware that is completely ignored by their driver team.

I won't be going 6-8 months "waiting and hoping" for a driver. One month is enough. Eight months (or more) after product release is asinine. Eight months to deliver a driver (not a stable or improved driver, mind you...but just a *working* driver) is a business plan that should bankrupt them.

[Michael]

The X1950 series should be working with fglrx drivers... it is here.

[lowlands]

Well, what I would advise is looking at: http://www.michaellarabel.com/index.php?k=blog&i=147

Does that tell anything?

Read the articles and it sure does I'm inclined to do the same if AMD/ATI does not come up with the goods soon. I'm a bit more impatient though. I'm aiming for the June release because F7 will probably be out by then. My desktop needs a new video card. As it stands right now it will get an nVidia card so I'll have AIXGL support and proper OpenGL speed on it. My laptop has an X1300 but I don't think I can replace it like a mini-pci WiFi module.

[Thund]

Interesting. I gave up about a month ago (so, Aug 2006 release of the hardware till March 2007) on getting it to work correctly with 3D.

Granted, I could get to the point of seeing a desktop. It took about a week of fiddling with it (ChipID added to the xorg.conf, altering the PCI table, etc) to get that far for 2D. But, when fglrxgears gives less than 1 FPS (or hard locks up the computer) when trying 3D I don't think its worth the time.

If you have it working under Debian or Ubuntu, I'd love to see your xorg.conf file.

Also, is your X1950 AGP or PCIe? I see a few posts from folks stating that "it just works" but the majority of the folks you see when you google that card all have issues...and I wonder if there is a stepping issue or something else going on.

[Michael]

PCI Express. If you are using AGP, this month's driver could be of use to you.

[Thund]

Well, I have an AGP one sitting here collecting dust if you want to compare the two.

[Michael]

Give it another shot when you get home from work or later today....

[Thund]

Bleh. $300 for a PS and more RAM to test an ATI driver....I'll pass for until I see/hear that it works. However, you are welcome to test it side-by-side with your PCIe version it ya want.