Why will Linux not run with an ATI 3870 Vidoe Card ?

Tuvoc · 19 Nov 2011 at 16:24

On one of my machines for the last couple of years, I have been constantly frustrated, and eventually gave up, on installing any modern Linux Distro. In all cases the install would either never begin, just freeze, go blank, or give garbage graphics at the initial welcome screen. The only distro I did succed with was an old Ubuntu 8.04 or something and an old Debian. The old Ubuntu was fine until you upgraded, then it would no longer boot.

So anyway - I have recently removed the 3870 and put a 5450 in there. I thought, why not try Linux again - lo and behold, Live CD of Ubuntu runs perfectly :eek:

The 3870 went into another machine, and.... impossible to install Linux on it, exactly the same problems I had with the other box when it had that graphics card. So - moved the graphics card, the problem moved with it. :eek:

At least now I know the problem, it was always a complete mystery. But surely to god Linux *should* play ball with the 3870 ? Why the problem ? No version of Windows has ever had a problem with it. I may just have to ditch the card, but that would be a crap thing to have to do. Any suggestions ?

Tuvoc · 19 Nov 2011 at 16:38

Hades said:
The card itself might be faulty.

Why, when it works fine under Windows ?? Linux is the thing that is faulty.

I've googled the last few mins, and it seems it is a common problem with the 3870, e.g.
http://ubuntuforums.org//showthread.php?t=1028284

Same issue I had - Ubuntu 8.10 was fine. Upgrade from that, and your machine won't boot into the GUI. Same with a new install of a leter version.

Tuvoc · 26 Nov 2011 at 16:03

Hairybudda said:
The problem here is your inability to use linux, i've got a linux box with a 3870 that's been running flawlessly for years!

If I was content to run Ubuntu 8.10 or earlier, all would be fine. But all (or at least very many) modern distributions fail to even run the LiveCD. And when I upgraded the earlier versions it ceased to work. I'm not sure how that is my fault or inability to use Linux. Pop the LiveCD in, it should work. It doesn't. Nothing I've done wrong.

Tuvoc · 26 Nov 2011 at 19:20

Mattus said:
It's not unreasonable to expect a modern operating system to have basic support out of the box for a modern graphics card! I take your point that a 700MB live CD can't have built-in drivers for everything - but surely it would be possible to do what Windows does and start the graphical interface using a generic driver until the proper driver is installed?

Right on the button. If Linux fans - and I count myself in that group - ever expect it to grow on the desktop, basic issues like this have to be sorted out. If the 3870 was a cutting edge, just released piece of hardware, I'd sort of understand it. But it is 3 yrs old, no excuses for any operating system not to support it out of the box. And at least it should boot up in a default sort of VGA mode.

To be fair all of my other machines have run whatever LiveCD I've thrown at them. Just the one with the 3870 videcard has been problematic. And when I moved that card, the problem moved with it to the other machine. All the same symptoms. Of course though all of this, Windows Vista and Windows 7 are absolutely fine with the card.

Anyway, the 3870 now sits in a box as a spare, so at least my problems with it have been solved one way or another. It may find it's way back into one of my machines that is windows only, where it will be very happy.

Tuvoc · 26 Nov 2011 at 20:14

OK, perhaps not linux itself, but
- the card works perfectly under Windows
- the card doesn't work with newer versions of Fedora, Ubuntu, Mint, OpenSuSe etc. Can't recall what else I've tried

So something in those distributions - and it seems to be any kernel version after a certain point - won't allow the livecds to run. An older version of Debian was fine, as was Ubuntu 8.10 and prior. These were all x64 versions I might add. I could/should have just stuck with Ubuntu 8.04 LTS or 8.10

Tuvoc · 26 Nov 2011 at 20:29

It doesn't get as far as being able to start the install process. Under Ubuntu, you get the initial splash screen, then just a blank screen with flashing cursor.

Tuvoc · 28 Nov 2011 at 07:54

I'm sure I tried the alternate install disks. I'm sure a Linux expert on-site would have been able to find out what was happening and find a solution, but I don't know any.

I recall at one point Linux server would happily install and give me a command prompt, so in that sense Linux was OK. But as soon as a GUI was involved, no-go.

Anyway, the 3870 has been replaced by a 6850 and that runs fine, so problem solved.

You're right ATI should share the blame. But odd that I can pull out my Ubuntu 8.04 CD and it will install and run perfectly, but versions 9.x and later will not. And ditto other newer distros.

Tuvoc · 28 Nov 2011 at 10:55

I gave up on it in the end, dozens of hours wasted trying all sorts of distros and all sorts of suggestions, life is too short.

And under Windows, I'm eyeing up a couple of new games where the 3870 would not do them justice, so time to upgrade anyway

Tuvoc · 28 Nov 2011 at 19:45

Basic desktop support is all I need, so as long as the GUI runs it is fine. The 6850 is fine as is the 5450 in another box. Just some odd compatibility issue with the 3870. Never mind. I'll drop it into another Windows-only box that I have.