HOWTO ATI
From ZWHLUG
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[edit] About
This howto can lead you through the 'tough' part of installing and configuring the ATI linux drivers for your graphics card on an Ubuntu system. You can either choose to use the binary drivers from the ATI website or use the drivers that are in the Ubuntu online repository. The drivers from the site are for the people who really want the latest drivers and want to risk running into problems. The drivers from the repository are for everyone who likes comfort and auto-updates.
[edit] Binary driver
This HOWTO will lead you through the 'tough' part of installing and configuring the ATI drivers from the ATI-website. I used Ubuntu Breezy (5.10) together with the ATI drivers version 8.18.6. But should also work for later versions of the driver. If you however find that this howto is outdated, please let us know either through mail or our forums.
[edit] Downloading the driver
First we need to prepare ourselves. So let's get the needed drivers from the ATI site. Determine if you need a 64-bit version of the driver or a 32-bit version and choose the appropriate driver at [here]. Then download the ATI Driver Installer to a directory of your choosing (use "Save file as"). Please notice that this part of the ATI website will not work with a console based webbrowser like lynx.
[edit] Installing the driver
Next we need to remove any repository drivers that are allready installed. (after this you will need to reboot)
sudo apt-get remove xorg-driver-fglrx sudo apt-get remove fglrx-control sudo apt-get remove linux-restricted-modules-$(uname -r) sudo reboot
You'll need the software to compile applications. By installing the build-essential package and its dependencies we make sure that all necesary packages will be installed. We will also need the kernel-headers, these are needed at compile time so that the drivers will be created for the kernel that you are using:
sudo apt-get install build-essential sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r)
Now we are ready to finally install the ATI drivers! You can just click on through the installer, just make sure you don't get any errors. If you get any check the fglrx log, for details and possible solutions! Do not reboot after this step, please continu the HOWTO first.
sudo sh ./ati-installer[rest_of_the_installer_name]
[edit] Configuring the driver
Let us configure the driver so you can really use it. The aticonfig (formerly known as fglrxconfig) tool just creates a new /etc/xorg.conf based on the input you supply and it should be installed on your harddrive somewhere by the installer, probably in /opt/ati/bin/aticonfig. After this you need to reboot so the new kernel module can be loaded.
sudo aticonfig sudo reboot
I had a little problem with Breezy because my xorg.conf did not contain my correct font paths, so I received some errors when I tried to start Xorg. In case this happens to you will need to check the paths and, if required, change the faulty font paths to the correct ones.
sudo vim /etc/xorg.conf sudo /etc/init.d/xorg-common restart sudo /etc/init.d/gdm restart
[edit] Repository driver
This will lead you through the 'tough' part of installing and configuring the ATI drivers from the repositry. I used Ubuntu Dapper Drake (6.06) when writing this HOWTO.
[edit] Installing the driver
We need to install the linux-restricted modules and Xorg fglrx driver
sudo apt-get install linux-restricted-modules-$(uname -r) sudo apt-get install xorg-driver-fglrx
[edit] Configuring the driver
You will have to edit you xorg.conf:
sudo vim /etc/X11/xorg.conf
In the Section "Screen" the Identifier needs to be changed.
Identifier "aticonfig-Screen[0]"
In the Section "Device" the Driver needs to be changed.
Driver "fglrx"
Then you just have to restart your Xorg
sudo /etc/init.d/gdm restart
[edit] Check if everything is OK
Now let's check if everything went right and you are already using the new drivers. Then you're done.
fglrxinfo
And you should get some output looking like this (at least ATI needs to be printed somewhere)
display: :0.0 screen: 0 OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc. OpenGL renderer string: RADEON 9700 Generic OpenGL version string: 1.3.5395 (X4.3.0-8.18.6)
[edit] Problem solving
If your fonts are too small you'll need to add a 'DisplaySize' to your Monitor in your /etc/xorg.conf. You can find some possible 'DisplaySize' values below. Just remember that one of these 'DisplaySize's need to be put in your 'Section "Monitor"' before 'EndSection'.
DisplaySize 270 203 # 1024x768 96dpi DisplaySize 338 254 # 1280x960 96dpi DisplaySize 338 270 # 1280x1024 96dpi DisplaySize 370 277 # 1400x1050 96dpi DisplaySize 423 370 # 1600x1400 96dpi
Note: If you want other values, you can use the following formula: displaysize = {pixelsize}/96*25.4
Don't forget that 75DPI is smaller than 96 DPI!
[edit] Related pages
Example ATI dualscreen xorg.conf
Ubuntu wiki - Binary drivers - ATI
