Help with and ATI video card in Linux

[Wiver]

Hi,

I am new to linux, and currently own an ATI Radeon 256MB, running on Suse Lnux 9.1 and I don't know which driver to download or how to configure the video card to work with the graphical interface and not load just the text mode.

I am about to install the Suse Linux 9.3 release o the next days, but I will like to know if I have to download a driver first or the 9.3 release already comes with support for that video card.

Thanks for your replies.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Suse 9.1 should have installed and configured the DRI drivers correctly unless the gpu was new at the time 9.1 was released. Suse 9.3 should install and configure the 2D-only (DRI) ATI drivers without any problems, but if you want the 3D-accelerated ATI drivers (fglrx) then all I will say is "good luck".

 

[Wiver]

Thanks for your reply...
But why do you say good luck? are those drivers still in development or in beta?

I read something about that some 3d drivers were not ready.. but I am not sure.. as you can notice I am a newbie on this Linux world.. but I guess if I don't install it I won't have any 3d acceleration under I use windows!!!

thanks

 

[bersl2]

ATI support for Linux is more or less in name only. fglrx can be a real biatch to get working. We would make our own open 3D drivers, but most companies dealing in graphics refuse to give us the info necessary to do that.

 

[Wiver]

ooooh I see!!

Thanks a lot for the information... then I guess I'll just work with the support that comes with the 9.3 release! I hope it works fine.

Ohh by the way, any good site or tutorial for learning well how to use linux from a novice standpoint?

Thanks so much!!! , and I hope I am not bothering!

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Originally posted by: Wiver
Thanks for your reply...
But why do you say good luck? are those drivers still in development or in beta?

I read something about that some 3d drivers were not ready.. but I am not sure.. as you can notice I am a newbie on this Linux world.. but I guess if I don't install it I won't have any 3d acceleration under I use windows!!!

thanks

As bersl2 stated, ATI's drivers are a "biatch" to install while nvidia's drivers are easier to install than even their own Windows drivers. According to Suse though, installing the fglrx drivers aren't so bad.

 

[kamper]

Originally posted by: Wiver
and I hope I am not bothering!

We're just happy you didn't come in here and ask "What version of Lunix should I use for my ATI video card?"

 

[Wiver]

jaajajajaja... well I am a newbie in Linux, so I might come someday with a surprise or a really stupid question ajajajajaja.

Thank you all for the replies!

 

[AmigaMan]

Yes, I know first hand that ATI graphics are a biatch to get working. My Dell Inspiron 9200 has an ATI Radeon 9700 that was very painful to get working with the fglrx drivers.
You can look here for some info:
http://www.rage3d.com/content/articles/atilinuxhowto/
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=3567&highlight=9700

 

[bersl2]

I'd just like to note in this thread that there's a new ATI Linux driver---now with a graphical installer!

 

[Megatomic]

Interesting. I have a Radeon Mobility chip in my laptop. I'd like to try this driver out!