zomg open source radeon drivers ROCK

[Cool Chulainn]

So, I was so scared to install the open-source radeon drivers because I've read so much FUD about them all over the internets. However, I got so fed up trying to build a package for the updated fglrx-legacy driver that I thought "if I re-install Ubuntu and build it before I do ANYTHING ELSE maybe it will work." Well, it DID work (as in, I was able to finally build the package). However, it turns out that the latest fglrx-legacy does NOT support Mobility Radeon HD 4200 series, so it screwed my system up (I've re-installed Ubuntu like 4 times today; but having used it since Warty, I know what I'm doing (though I realize many of you will say "if you had to reinstall it 4 times today you obviously DON'T know what you're doing" while you sip on your champagne and ride your elitist fixed gear bicycles)).

Long story short (too late), I decided "the hell with it" and went with the open-source radeon drivers. I CAN FINALLY PLAY CS:S AND TF2. I was terrified I wouldn't be able to play ANY source game until I got a new computer, but now I know when L4D2 finally comes out, I'll have no problems. On top of that, all my games run great (in some cases even better than with fglrx)!

So if anybody is considering dropping fglrx and going for open source radeon, here is one case where it worked out well.

[-ARF-]

Yep, they've come a LONG way in the last couple years. I use them for my Radeon HD5670 now and the performance is actually pretty good. The only reason I'd use fglrx is if I had a brand spankin' new video card.

[arc| Gps]

The older the hardware, the more chance of succes with the opensource drivers.

I do not understand the fud about the opensource drivers. There is nothing wrong with them.
That said, on newer hardware the catalyst performs better, but that does not make the opensource driver bad. ( they are playing catch up)

Congratz on getting it to work :)

[Letalis Sonus]

I really like the free radeon driver, after all it is really one of the most advanced free driver there is - while the intel driver might have a whole horde of developers that may push it ahead faster, they just keep on breaking old things while the radeon driver just keeps on improving with hardly any regression. I've been using it for ages!

However, using the cutting edge Xorg-Edgers PPA with Ubuntu 12.10 there are still some things to complain about - which are surely largely caused by ignoring the free driver upon porting all those games: Especially the Source engine games have some really intense flickering issues. It really surprise me that you have no problems at all as I have a video card of the same generation: an HD 4870.

[Zardozo]

lol me want what youre smokin

[Sith]

I must use fglrx, the open driver makes my gpu really hot and loud.
P.S.: I'm using an ATI HD 5870

[Cool Chulainn]

Автор сообщения: Sith

I must use fglrx, the open driver makes my gpu really hot and loud.
P.S.: I'm using an ATI HD 5870

really hot and loud? sounds like my wife

YAKNOWWHATIMEAN

[kwahoo]

ROCK... in old games/engines. I can run any Souce-based game on R600g with 70% fglrx performance. But modern games (Trine 2, SS3: BFE) are a different story. 10 or maybe 20 times slower than fglrx.

PS Source engine 10 years ago. Source engine 10 years ago. Radeon 9x00 and Geforce 5x00 era;)

[Cool Chulainn]

Автор сообщения: kwahoo

ROCK... in old games/engines. I can run any Souce-based game on R600g with 70% fglrx performance. But modern games (Trine 2, SS3: BFE) are a different story. 10 or maybe 20 times slower than fglrx.

PS Source engine 10 years ago. Source engine 10 years ago. Radeon 9x00 and Geforce 5x00 era;)

Trine 2 and SS3 BFE were already super slow for me under fglrx anyway; figured I'll wait til I get a new computer to play those :(

If I set the source games on lowest graphics settings I get playable framerate. With fglrx I couldn't even enter the games due to the opengl srb thingy.

[Shark]

That's weird, I thought 13.1 legacy had support for that card. Anyway, open source drivers can be really good or really bad, depends on which card you are using. On very old cards open source is usually faster.

[Cool Chulainn]

Автор сообщения: Wouter

That's weird, I thought 13.1 legacy had support for that card. Anyway, open source drivers can be really good or really bad, depends on which card you are using. On very old cards open source is usually faster.

12.04.1 yes support
12.04.2 no support :(