Ubuntu and latest ATI driver issue

GWillow · 1 Nov 2007 at 13:24

Hi all,

I'm a complete novice at this Linux game so please bear with me.

I've just installed Gutsy Gibbon onto my PC (as a dual boot with XP) and have been struggling to get the latest ATI drivers to install/work properly (I have an AGP x1950 pro card).

After many reformats and installs and various methods (from various sites) to install the drivers I am now at a position, having used envy, where it's "almost, but not quite".

I have the following

Code:

guy@Goofy:~$ fglrxinfo
display: :0.0  screen: 0
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: Radeon X1950 Series
OpenGL version string: 2.0.6958 Releaseand

Code:

guy@Goofy:~$ glxinfo | grep direct
direct rendering: Yes

Great I thought, first time I've got this far. The problem is that whenever I try to see a screensaver I just see a black screen.

Also, running glxgears I get

Code:

22695 frames in 5.0 seconds = 4538.836 FPS
22428 frames in 5.0 seconds = 4451.661 FPS
19138 frames in 5.0 seconds = 3827.580 FPS
20269 frames in 5.0 seconds = 4053.721 FPS
20112 frames in 5.0 seconds = 4022.258 FPS
19618 frames in 5.0 seconds = 3923.564 FPS
20115 frames in 5.0 seconds = 4022.967 FPS

BUT, the glxgears window is blank with no spinning gears.

Here's xorg.conf for good measure.

Code:

# xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
#   sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Generic Keyboard"
	Driver		"kbd"
	Option		"CoreKeyboard"
	Option		"XkbRules"	"xorg"
	Option		"XkbModel"	"pc105"
	Option		"XkbLayout"	"gb"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Configured Mouse"
	Driver		"mouse"
	Option		"CorePointer"
	Option		"Device"		"/dev/input/mice"
	Option		"Protocol"		"ImPS/2"
	Option		"ZAxisMapping"		"4 5"
	Option		"Emulate3Buttons"	"true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Driver		"wacom"
	Identifier	"stylus"
	Option		"Device"	"/dev/input/wacom"
	Option		"Type"		"stylus"
	Option		"ForceDevice"	"ISDV4"		# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Driver		"wacom"
	Identifier	"eraser"
	Option		"Device"	"/dev/input/wacom"
	Option		"Type"		"eraser"
	Option		"ForceDevice"	"ISDV4"		# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Driver		"wacom"
	Identifier	"cursor"
	Option		"Device"	"/dev/input/wacom"
	Option		"Type"		"cursor"
	Option		"ForceDevice"	"ISDV4"		# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Device"
	Identifier	"Generic Video Card"
	Driver	"fglrx"
	Option	"VideoOverlay" "on"
	Option	"OpenGLOverlay" "off"
	BusID		"PCI:3:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"SyncMaster"
	Option		"DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"Default Screen"
	Device		"Generic Video Card"
	Monitor		"SyncMaster"
	DefaultDepth	24
	SubSection "Display"
		Modes		"1680x1680" "1680x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
	Identifier	"Default Layout"
	Screen		"Default Screen"
	InputDevice	"Generic Keyboard"
	InputDevice	"Configured Mouse"

# Uncomment if you have a wacom tablet
#	InputDevice     "stylus"	"SendCoreEvents"
#	InputDevice     "cursor"	"SendCoreEvents"
#	InputDevice     "eraser"	"SendCoreEvents"
EndSection



Section "Extensions"
	Option "Composite" "Disable"
EndSection

The 'restricted drivers' option is unticked.

Every time I try something advised in a forum, it breaks and I have to start again from square one (reformat) as I have no idea what AIGLX or Xgl or x-server (amongst many others) and don't know how to install/remove or whatever needs doing with them.

I can't get visual effects to work and VLC won't work either. Both crash the desktop back to the login screen.

Any ideas anyone, please.

JBod · 4 Nov 2007 at 10:15

You should be able to install Gutsy from scratch, simply tick the box for using the restricted drivers then reboot.

To get Compiz to work I had to sudo apt-get install xserver-xgl, and change "Composite" "Disable" to enable.

marc2003 · 4 Nov 2007 at 12:22

as JBod says, it's dead simple. install drivers, reboot, install xserver-xgl, job done. i didn't have to tinker with any files at all.

i have an agp x1950pro myself and it works perfectly.

tripitaka · 6 Nov 2007 at 09:01

Actually, before installing the restricted drivers I had to enable all of the repositories in the package manger.

Rich43 · 6 Nov 2007 at 16:34

New open source ATI drivers are in development, should be released sometime in 2008 I think. Hopefully they should be good enough to rival nvidia's closed source drivers!