Package:AMD Catalyst Video Drivers

AMD Catalyst Video Drivers

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Introduction

x11-drivers/ati-drivers (often referred to as "fglrx", the name of its kernel module) is the proprietary, accelerated driver for AMD (ATI) graphics cards.

Preparing to Install

Mask xorg > 1.16

This package doesn't work with the latest unmasked version of xorg-server (1.16). However, xorg-server-1.15 works just fine, so it's easy enough to fix this. Add the following to /etc/portage/package.mask:

   /etc/portage/package.mask

>=x11-base/xorg-server-1.16

If X is already installed, force it to downgrade by typing:

root # emerge -auDN world

A few packages will downgrade, and you'll be ready to go.

Configuring the kernel

Configure the kernel as follows. Note that the Direct Rendering Manager is not enabled. It's possible to have it selected as a kernel module, but should not be built-in to your kernel.

[*] Enable loadable module support
Processor type and features --->
      [*] MTRR (Memory Type Range Register) support
Bus options (PCI etc.) --->
      [*] PCI Express Port Bus Support
      [*] Message Signaled Interrupts (MSI and MSI-X)
Device Drivers --->
      Graphics support --->
            < > Direct Rendering Manager (xFree86 4.1.0 and higher DRI support) --->

   Note

If you need support for AGP cards, enable the following kernel options:

Device Drivers --->
      Graphics support --->
            <*> /dev/agpgart (AGP Support) --->
                  Select an appropriate AGP driver:
                  <*> AMD Opteron/Athlon64 on-CPU GART support

Editing make.conf

Add the following to your /etc/make.conf:

root # nano /etc/make.conf
VIDEO_CARDS="fglrx"

Editing package.use

Then, add the following to /etc/portage/package.use:

root # nano /etc/portage/package.use
x11-drivers/ati-drivers qt4

   Note

Feel free to add or remove use flags as you see fit. For example, if you do not want amdcccle support, remove the qt4 use flag.

Installing

Emerging the package

To emerge the drivers, run the following command:

root # emerge -av --changed-use --deep @world

Configuring

Next, set ati-drivers to manage the system's OpenGL implementation:

root # eselect opengl set ati

Afterwards, run aticonfig to modify the X-server configuration file to work with the ati-drivers:

root # aticonfig --initial

   Tip

If you would like to have a full-resolution framebuffer with ati-drivers, check out uvesafb

Troubleshooting

I am using a HDMI connection, and my monitor's display has a black border around it.

Disable overscan using the following command, as root:

root # aticonfig --set-pcs-val=MCIL,DigitalHDTVDefaultUnderscan,0

You may need to restart your X session.

GNOME 3 windows only refresh when I drag them.

This is a known issue, reported in Funtoo Bug 1130. This issue has been fixed by addressing a bug in cogl -- upgrade to cogl-1.12.2-r2 to fix it.

Compton with backend glx does not work well with ati-drivers

Try running compton with the following switches:

root # compton --backend glx --vsync none --paint-on-overlay