This release note provides information on the latest posting of AMD's Proprietary Linux driver. This particular driver updates the software version to 8.493.
The AMD Linux release notes provides information on the following:
- Web Content
- ATI Workstation Product Support
- ATI Mobility™ and Integrated Product Family Support
- ATI Desktop and Integrated Product Family Support
- Operating Systems Distributions Supported
- System Requirements
- New Features
- Resolved Issues
- Known Issues
- Installing the AMD Proprietary Linux Software Driver
- Driver Update Notification
- AMD Customer Care
- Linux Feedback Program
- ATI Workstation Product Support
Web Content
The ATI Catalyst™ Linux Graphics Driver software suite is available through an Installer executable.
Note:
Refer to the minimum system requirements listed below to ensure you have downloaded the correct driver package for your system.
ATI Workstation Product Support
The ATI Catalyst™ Linux software suite is designed to support the following ATI Workstation products:
ATI Mobility™ and Integrated Product Family Support
The ATI Catalyst™ Linux software suite is designed to support the following ATI Mobility™ products:
ATI Desktop and Integrated Product Family Support
The ATI Catalyst™ Linux software suite is designed to support the following ATI desktop products:
Note:
The ATI Radeon™ HD 3870x2 series of product is currently not supported by the ATI Catalyst™ Linux software suite
Note:
All-In-Wonder™ variants based on the above are also supported. Video capture however is not supported.
Note:
Software driver support for ATI FireGL™, Integrated, Mobility™ and Desktop products prior to the Radeon™ 9500 is available from ati.com
Operating Systems Distributions Supported
The latest version of the ATI Catalyst™ Linux software suite is designed to support the following Linux distributions:
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux suite
- Novell/SuSE product suite
Note: The ATI Catalyst™ Linux software suite may install on a number of other Linux distributions. Refer to the Package Generation installation instructions for more information.
Note: AMD has accepted contributed packaging scripts to allows creation of other packages, but does not necessarily test, verify or warrant the reliability. Currently Red Hat Enterprise Linux suite and Novell/SuSE product suite are supported Linux distributions
System Requirements
Before attempting to install the ATI Catalyst™ Linux software suite, the following software must be installed:
- XOrg 6.8, 6.9, 7.0, 7.1, 7.2 or 7.3
- Linux Kernel 2.6 and above
- glibc version 2.2 or 2.3
- POSIX Shared Memory (/dev/shm) support is required for 3D applications
The ATI Catalyst™ Linux software suite no longer provides precompiled Kernel Modules; all installations require GCC compiler and kernel-headers or kernel-source in order to enable 2D and 3D acceleration.
For best performance and ease of use, AMD recommends the following:
- Kernel module build environment - should include the following:
- The rpm utility should be installed and configured correctly on your system, if you intend to install via RPM packages
The following packages must be installed in order for the ATI Catalyst™ Linux driver to install and work properly:
New Features
This release of the Catalyst™ Linux software driver introduces Mipmap Detail, Catalyst A.I., and AA Filters in the 3D ORCA page of the Catalyst™ Control Center Linux Edition.
Resolved Issues
The following section provide a brief description of resolved issues with the latest version of the ATI Catalyst™ Linux software suite. These include:
- Support for video playback on the second head in dual head mode is now available. Further details can be found in topic number 737-26985
- Unresolved symbols in Xorg log under RHEL 4u6 32 and 64 bit no longer occur. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34284
- The desktop background color is no longer displayed incorrectly when using xcommgr. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34285
- Change VT no longer fails when kernel module is not loaded. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34286
- Switching to the virtual terminal multiple times no longer results in X displaying corruption. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34287
- Catalyst Control Center: The Preference page is now localized for all supported languages. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34275
- The Linux kernel module is no longer installed to wrong location if the Linux kernel is updated. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34288
- Random system hangs no longer occur when calls to the ATI driver are made from Ring3. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34289
- X window no longer fails to respond when GoogleEarth is maximized. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34290
- A segmentation fault no longer occurs when running SPECViewperf on systems containing an ATI FireGL V5100 series product and running SUSE 10.3 x86. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34276
- Enabling Composite extension no longer displays 8x AA for graphic cards that do not support 8x AA under the Ubuntu 7.10 operating system. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34291
- Display corruption is no longer noticed at logon when compiz is enabled. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34292
- Launching the glxgears application no longer results in segmentation faults. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34293
- GoogleEarth: Launching the application in horizontal mode on a system running X no longer results in corruption being noticed. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34293
- Specviewperf 8.1 64 bit version: Segmentation faults no longer occurs on IGP systems. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34294
- Maya 2008: Moving the render window no longer results in the operating system failing. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34295
- Glxgears corruption is no longer noticed in big desktop mode. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34296
Known Issues
The following section provides a brief description of known issues associated with the latest version of ATI Catalyst™ Linux software suite. These issues include:
- Desktop corruption may be noticed when dragging the overlay/video when using dual-display mode. Further details can be found in topic number 737-29578
- Bandwidth corruption may be noticed when setting the desktop resolution to 2048x1536 on systems containing an ATI Radeon HD 3200 series of product. Further details can be found in topic number 737-33499
- SECAM, NTSC or PAL signal changes when using aticonfig or Catalyst Control Center but does not apply to the TV display output. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34297
- Running X server without a window manager may result in the X server flashing green for a moment, going black, and the computer becoming unresponsive. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34299
- Desktop corruption may be noticed when dragging the overlay/video when using dual-display mode. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34298
- Connecting a CRT display device to a system containing an ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 product may result in the display device flashing multiple times or failing to display an image when attempting to launch the Catalyst Control Center. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34300
- Corruption may be noticed when connecting a DFP display device to a system running X after setting the TV mode to 1080i. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34301
- Quake 3 Arena (demo): Segmentation faults may occur when attempting to play the game. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34302
- Specviewperf: Launching the application may result in the Linux operating system failing to respond. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34282
- Opening a terminal and running semi-automated DPPT tests via lnxtest.sh may result in the operating system failing to respond. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34283
- A segmentation fault may occur when running SPECViewperf on systems containing an ATI FireGL V5100 series product and running SUSE 10.3 x86. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34319
- FGL_GLXGEARS or GLXGEARS: X may fail to respond when launching either of the applications. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34316
- Maya 2008: Various comparison failures may be noticed. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34277
- The X Server may fail to reset clearly when AIGLX is enabled. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34317
- DiscoveryStudio1.7: The print preview and save as functions may fail to work properly. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34278
- SPEC Viewperf 8.1: A performance drop may be noticed when running the application under Linux. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34279
- Maya2008: The hardware render buffer may fail to render/display the image. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34280
- May2008: The hardware render Perl script may display an error message when rendering. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34281
For further information and general help on driver or software installation, game issues, and more, visit the ATI FAQ website.
Installing the AMD Proprietary Linux Software Driver
Installation information can be found at: ati.amd.com/install
Driver Update Notification
To receive driver notifications, add the following RSS feed to your RSS reader: http://www.ati.com/online/rss/atilinuxdriver.rss
Note:
In order to receive notifications you will need to have an RSS reader installed.
AMD Customer Care
The AMD Customer Care website provides a high level of technical support and easy of navigation. The AMD Customer Care website provides accurate and up-to-date product support for optimum usability and performance. Technical issues are categorized and personalized to enhance user experience. The AMD Customer Care Website can be found at: support.ati.com
To view a known or resolved issue, do the following:
- Go to: support.ati.com. The AMD Customer Care web page is displayed.
- In the top left hand pane, click Advanced Search. The Advanced Search pane is displayed.
- Under Search Type: Select the By: ID option.
- Enter the Topic number.
- Click Go.
Linux Feedback Program
The ATI Catalyst™ Linux software suite releases may incorporate suggestions received through the Linux feedback program.
Please refer to http://apps.ati.com/linuxDfeedback/ to provide us with feedback.