New linux drivers for nVidia and ATI GPUs

Just thought I'd bring this to everyones attention as I am currently looking for a core duo notebook to run linux, and had been frightened off by ATI's non-support for X1000 series GPUs.

The new 8.24.8 drivers finally add support for the latest ATI mobile chips! More news can be found here.

Coincidentally, nVidia released their new linux drivers earlier in the week which also brings support for the latest mobile chips... full story can be found here.

Life is good.

 

Life is VERY good. Virtually all dual-core laptops come with an ATI graphics chip (that or the Intel excuse for a graphics chip, the 950) and now, these laptops can run Linux.

 

will be installing on my acer 8204 today, ive been waiting for over 2 months. Hopefully its been worth the wait.

 

Let us know how it goes, Shiggs.

 

It went pretty well...

I installed Debian (network install), again this is for an acer TM8204 (core duo, x1600)

you need to boot with

Code:

libata.atapi_enabled=1

option to find the cd-rom

ftp.debian.org went down during the install, so i had to change targets and do some extra work. I just installed the standard system.

The latest kernel (2.6.16-smp) fixes acpi issues and show no errors. You just need to modprobe and set the governors (ondemand, preformance, etc) to get dynamic cpu freq control

Right now the ati driver is working with KDE, so that big hurdle is down. Getting around 1200 fps in fgl_glxgears -fbo

I have not installed XGL/Compiz (because once you do, your stuck with it) to test 3D desktop. Nor have I installed any games. But as I said above fgl_glxgears runs, as does some of the open gl screensavers bundled with KDE.

The last driver I "need" to get working is WiFi and unfortuneately there doesn't seem to be a working one. The problem has to do with the "software switch" that powers the card. Until that works, its really not useable - for me anyway.

I am hoping development will start to pick up now that the video card has some support.

 

The Acer has an Intel 3945ABG wireless card, I believe. Check out http://ipw3945.sourceforge.net/ for a driver which may work for your card. I don't have a laptop yet but was planning on getting one with the 3945ABG card. Let me know if you get yours to work with this driver.

 

That's good that ATI is starting to get their act together for linux drivers. However, I still think the next laptop I buy will have an NVidia gpu simply because they offered better linux support first. I had to wait for so long before I got 3D working on my laptop. I was really miffed. Still am, I guess.

 

I totally agree.
Its great that ATI is FINALLY gettings their a-s-s in gear. However I to will make sure my next laptop will have nVidia graphics, since not only have they come out with drivers first, but they also have less issues with their drivers.

I know this because Im a part of Kororaa Linux. We seem to have a lot more issues with ATI and XGL then with nVidia and XGL.

However just to note, that our XGL release didnt have these pre-mentioned ATI drivers.

 

The problem is that almost all dual-core laptops come with ATI graphics chips. ATI is doing their marketing correctly at least, if not their drivers(*).

For example, try looking for a dual-core 2.0+ Ghz mobile CPU with WSXGA resolution and a 15.4" screen running nVidia GeForce graphics chips. I haven't been able to find EVEN ONE available in Canada, though Dell makes some with nVidia quadro chips.

Now, there are certainly plenty of laptops which come close. There're a few with 17" screens, I believe. And plenty with single-core Pentium-M or AMD Turion. But none that are dual-core, WSXGA 15.4". It's very very sad.


(*) ATI's Linux support has been below pitiful. However, there's significant evidence that ATI's Linux support is improving. I'd like nothing better than ATI's Linux support to be on par with nVidia's but it is still too early to tell and ATI has been... misleading... in the past.

 

Nice!! I ordered my Inspiron 6400 with an Ati X1300 and I plan to install XGL/Compiz as soon as it comes!

 

i tried that (and the official intel driver)

there is a problem because power to the card is done through a "software switch", so basically no power, no card recognized

there is a kernel option CONFIG_INPUT_WISTRON_BTNS http://kernel.xc.net/html/linux-2.6.16/i386/INPUT_WISTRON_BTNS - but i have not tried it yet