How are ATI's Linux Drivers? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

killeena · 05-26-2005, 07:31 AM

I am planning on getting a laptop sometime soon, and it will most likely have an ATI display. I was thinking about possibly only putting Linux on there. The main thing that has held me back in the past is not being able to play games. After looking at Cedega, it looks like it can support a good amount of games. There seem to be a few games here and there that end up coming out on Linux as well, so I figured I would give it a try. But, last I knew, the ATI drivers for X were pretty crappy. I know the NVIDIA drivers are pretty well around par, but has ATI's drivers gotten any better? I will definately be wanting to play 3D games, especially World of Warcraft, so if drivers still suck, I am just going to stick to dual booting.

connyosis · 05-26-2005, 08:45 AM

I hear a lot of Linux users still bitching about ATI and their drivers, so by the sounds of it they still suck. I of course may be wrong, never use ATI myself.

Stare At The Sun · 05-26-2005, 08:50 AM

I too have heard a linux user bitch up a storm about his 9800pro and drivers

sailor · 05-26-2005, 09:46 AM

As far as I know, the drivers still are crappy. Better than they used to be, but crappy.

I don't have any first-hand experience with that, mind you, but thats what Ive heard.

skaven · 05-26-2005, 06:13 PM

I finally ditched my ATI video card in favor of an nVidia one simply because ATI's linux support sucked so bad. The drivers work fine in 2D mode (but that's no suprise, the open-source ati driver that comes with X does too) but in 3D mode...don't even bother.

sasKuach · 05-26-2005, 09:26 PM

I have a Dell Inspiron 4000 with an ATI Rage 128 Mobility. This works great, and I've been running nothing but Debian for more than a year now (Mandrake and WinMe before that). Everything works: modem, network card, pcmcia, 3d acceleration from the ATI (the little it has). In short PERFECT. Now, my dad got a newer Dell laptop and looking at all the cheap SiS crap in there I don't think anything would work with Linux.

As for the newer ATI cards, they'll surely work to display 2d graphics, but whether you'll get 3d graphics is another story. Or it may work (most likely the case), just slower than it should.

Good luck.

05-26-2005, 07:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
killeena Crazy Location: Meechigan	How are ATI's Linux Drivers? I am planning on getting a laptop sometime soon, and it will most likely have an ATI display. I was thinking about possibly only putting Linux on there. The main thing that has held me back in the past is not being able to play games. After looking at Cedega, it looks like it can support a good amount of games. There seem to be a few games here and there that end up coming out on Linux as well, so I figured I would give it a try. But, last I knew, the ATI drivers for X were pretty crappy. I know the NVIDIA drivers are pretty well around par, but has ATI's drivers gotten any better? I will definately be wanting to play 3D games, especially World of Warcraft, so if drivers still suck, I am just going to stick to dual booting. __________________ Freedom would be not to choose between black and white but to abjure such prescribed choices. - Theodor Adorno

05-26-2005, 08:45 AM	#2 (permalink)
connyosis Psycho Location: Sweden - Land of the sodomite damned	I hear a lot of Linux users still bitching about ATI and their drivers, so by the sounds of it they still suck. I of course may be wrong, never use ATI myself. __________________ If atheism is a religion, then not collecting stamps is a hobby.

05-26-2005, 09:46 AM	#4 (permalink)
sailor beauty in the breakdown Location: Chapel Hill, NC	As far as I know, the drivers still are crappy. Better than they used to be, but crappy. I don't have any first-hand experience with that, mind you, but thats what Ive heard. __________________ "Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws." --Plato

05-26-2005, 08:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
Stare At The Sun Eh? Location: Somewhere over the rainbow	I too have heard a linux user bitch up a storm about his 9800pro and drivers

05-26-2005, 06:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
skaven Insane Location: Austin, TX	I finally ditched my ATI video card in favor of an nVidia one simply because ATI's linux support sucked so bad. The drivers work fine in 2D mode (but that's no suprise, the open-source ati driver that comes with X does too) but in 3D mode...don't even bother.

05-26-2005, 09:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
sasKuach Tilted	I have a Dell Inspiron 4000 with an ATI Rage 128 Mobility. This works great, and I've been running nothing but Debian for more than a year now (Mandrake and WinMe before that). Everything works: modem, network card, pcmcia, 3d acceleration from the ATI (the little it has). In short PERFECT. Now, my dad got a newer Dell laptop and looking at all the cheap SiS crap in there I don't think anything would work with Linux. As for the newer ATI cards, they'll surely work to display 2d graphics, but whether you'll get 3d graphics is another story. Or it may work (most likely the case), just slower than it should. Good luck.