hello friends,
i have been using my ATI proprietary driver on Intrepid (Kubuntu 10) with KDE 4.1 very successfully. sadly when i made the upgrade to 4.2 my desktop environment starts acting up.

this is only using the proprietary driver, the radeon works great, but lacks OpenGL usage.

anyways, its the typical problems with FGLRX:
-Slow response on the launcher
-Resizing windows takes a coffee break
-Compiz effects (built into KDE) almost non-functional
-GLXgears test is very slow (Max is less then 400)

processor speed seems to not be effected, and the applications run great, i just dont get a timely response on the windows and desktop features. the xorg.config is basically the same as when i was running 4.1. I can post any helpful information you might need.

Here is the GLXinfo

name of display: :0.0
display: :0 screen: 0
direct rendering: Yes
server glx vendor string: SGI
server glx version string: 1.2
server glx extensions:
GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_import_context, GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap,
GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_OML_swap_method,
GLX_SGIS_multisample, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig, GLX_SGIX_visual_select_group
client glx vendor string: SGI
client glx version string: 1.4
client glx extensions:
GLX_ARB_get_proc_address, GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_import_context,
GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_MESA_allocate_memory,
GLX_MESA_swap_control, GLX_MESA_swap_frame_usage, GLX_OML_swap_method,
GLX_OML_sync_control, GLX_SGI_make_current_read, GLX_SGI_swap_control,
GLX_SGI_video_sync, GLX_SGIS_multisample, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig,
GLX_SGIX_pbuffer, GLX_SGIX_visual_select_group,
GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap
GLX version: 1.2
GLX extensions:
GLX_ARB_get_proc_address, GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_import_context,
GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_OML_swap_method,
GLX_SGIS_multisample, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig, GLX_SGIX_visual_select_group
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650
OpenGL version string: 2.1.8087 Release
OpenGL shading language version string: 1.20
OpenGL extensions:
GL_AMDX_vertex_shader_tessellator, GL_AMD_performance_monitor,
GL_ARB_color_buffer_float, GL_ARB_depth_texture, GL_ARB_draw_buffers,
GL_ARB_draw_instanced, GL_ARB_fragment_program, GL_ARB_fragment_shader,
GL_ARB_half_float_pixel, GL_ARB_half_float_vertex,
GL_ARB_instanced_arrays, GL_ARB_multisample, GL_ARB_multitexture,
GL_ARB_occlusion_query, GL_ARB_pixel_buffer_object,
GL_ARB_point_parameters, GL_ARB_point_sprite, GL_ARB_shader_objects,
GL_ARB_shader_texture_lod, GL_ARB_shading_language_100, GL_ARB_shadow,
GL_ARB_shadow_ambient, GL_ARB_texture_border_clamp,
GL_ARB_texture_compression, GL_ARB_texture_cube_map,
GL_ARB_texture_env_add, GL_ARB_texture_env_combine,
GL_ARB_texture_env_crossbar, GL_ARB_texture_env_dot3,
GL_ARB_texture_float, GL_ARB_texture_mirrored_repeat,
GL_ARB_texture_non_power_of_two, GL_ARB_texture_rectangle,
GL_ARB_transpose_matrix, GL_ARB_vertex_buffer_object,
GL_ARB_vertex_program, GL_ARB_vertex_shader, GL_ARB_window_pos,
GL_ATI_draw_buffers, GL_ATI_envmap_bumpmap, GL_ATI_fragment_shader,
GL_ATI_meminfo, GL_ATI_separate_stencil, GL_ATI_texture_compression_3dc,
GL_ATI_texture_env_combine3, GL_ATI_texture_float, GL_EXT_abgr,
GL_EXT_bgra, GL_EXT_blend_color, GL_EXT_blend_equation_separate,
GL_EXT_blend_func_separate, GL_EXT_blend_minmax, GL_EXT_blend_subtract,
GL_EXT_compiled_vertex_array, GL_EXT_copy_texture,
GL_EXT_depth_buffer_float, GL_EXT_draw_range_elements, GL_EXT_fog_coord,
GL_EXT_framebuffer_blit, GL_EXT_framebuffer_multisample,
GL_EXT_framebuffer_object, GL_EXT_gpu_program_parameters,
GL_EXT_gpu_shader4, GL_EXT_multi_draw_arrays, GL_EXT_packed_depth_stencil,
GL_EXT_packed_float, GL_EXT_packed_pixels, GL_EXT_point_parameters,
GL_EXT_rescale_normal, GL_EXT_secondary_color,
GL_EXT_separate_specular_color, GL_EXT_shadow_funcs, GL_EXT_stencil_wrap,
GL_EXT_subtexture, GL_EXT_texgen_reflection, GL_EXT_texture3D,
GL_EXT_texture_compression_latc, GL_EXT_texture_compression_rgtc,
GL_EXT_texture_compression_s3tc, GL_EXT_texture_cube_map,
GL_EXT_texture_edge_clamp, GL_EXT_texture_env_add,
GL_EXT_texture_env_combine, GL_EXT_texture_env_dot3,
GL_EXT_texture_filter_anisotropic, GL_EXT_texture_lod_bias,
GL_EXT_texture_mirror_clamp, GL_EXT_texture_object,
GL_EXT_texture_rectangle, GL_EXT_texture_sRGB,
GL_EXT_texture_shared_exponent, GL_EXT_vertex_array, GL_KTX_buffer_region,
GL_NV_blend_square, GL_NV_texgen_reflection, GL_SGIS_generate_mipmap,
GL_SGIS_texture_edge_clamp, GL_SGIS_texture_lod, GL_WIN_swap_hint,
WGL_EXT_swap_control

and here is the xorg.conf

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "aticonfig Layout"
Screen 0 "aticonfig-Screen[0]-0" 0 0
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "Module"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "aticonfig-Monitor[0]-0"
Option "VendorName" "ATI Proprietary Driver"
Option "ModelName" "Generic Autodetecting Monitor"
Option "DPMS" "true"
EndSection


Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "aticonfig-Device[0]-0"
Driver "fglrx"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "Configured Video Device"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "aticonfig-Screen[0]-0"
Device "aticonfig-Device[0]-0"
Monitor "aticonfig-Monitor[0]-0"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 24
EndSubSection
EndSection

thanks alot! any direction would be appreciated![/code]

Based on the output it doesn't seem the fglrx driver is initialised (on the other hand some ATI strings are present in your output). My glxgears output contains this (I get ±1125 frames per second):

Code: Select all

GL_RENDERER   = ATI Mobility Radeon X1600
GL_VERSION    = 2.1.8304 Release
GL_VENDOR     = ATI Technologies Inc.

What's the output of fglrxinfo on the command line? Which driver version is installed? Not sure how up to date the Kubuntu packages are, but you could try the ATI Catalyst packages (currently 9.1).

I just uninstalled all FGLRX and reinstalled the driver (which is pretty simple in intrepid) and here is my fglrxinfo

display: :0.0 screen: 0
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650
OpenGL version string: 2.1.8087 Release

after reinstalling the FPS on the GLXGEARS test is mostly between 1K and 2K FPS. this is a great increase, but some some reason the resizing of my windows and opening of new windows takes a eon.

the only difference between this install and the last is that this time i did NOT install the ATI catalyst control center. i think i will reinstall it and see if that might have been a potential issue with my FPS. still doesnt fix the window delays and screen refreshing.

moving the windows and even using the special effects works like a charm though. its very perplexing to me!

any thoughts?

mensch wrote:Based on the output it doesn't seem the fglrx driver is initialised (on the other hand some ATI strings are present in your output). My glxgears output contains this (I get ±1125 frames per second):

Code: Select all

GL_RENDERER   = ATI Mobility Radeon X1600
GL_VERSION    = 2.1.8304 Release
GL_VENDOR     = ATI Technologies Inc.

What's the output of fglrxinfo on the command line? Which driver version is installed? Not sure how up to date the Kubuntu packages are, but you could try the ATI Catalyst packages (currently 9.1).

Resizing windows isn't exactly snappy on my system either (but I wouldn't say eons in my case, it's just slow ). I don't have problems with opening or maximising/minimising them, only resizing them using the window corners. Not sure what the reason for that is though. The last time I was running GNOME with Compiz window resizing was as slow as it is now with Kwin and desktop effects. So it's either a driver thing (most likely) or an ATI specific thing in both Kwin and Compiz. The GPU FAQ on the KDE website doesn't offer any clues either.

I can't find any bug report on this issue, only one detailing an NVIDIA issue with GTK windows, so I might file a bug report on this issue.

i tried it both with and without catalyst control center and that provides no difference.

i suppose, ill probably just use the HD driver. its a good 2 second wait to max and min windows and the resizing barely even works.....at all.

using the standard driver its as snappy as it can get i would like to utilize the driver for 3D games and desktop effects but cannot live with basic functions crippled haha.

i will see if i can switch over to Kwin for a test drive. in the new KDE their isnt a quick session change manager for Compiz and Kwin so im going to have to play around till i find the file with the settings for that .lol

i know its something like /usr/lib/.kde/share/conf.........something similar to that.

thanks for your help!

mensch wrote:Resizing windows isn't exactly snappy on my system either (but I wouldn't say eons in my case, it's just slow ). I don't have problems with opening or maximising/minimising them, only resizing them using the window corners. Not sure what the reason for that is though. The last time I was running GNOME with Compiz window resizing was as slow as it is now with Kwin and desktop effects. So it's either a driver thing (most likely) or an ATI specific thing in both Kwin and Compiz. The GPU FAQ on the KDE website doesn't offer any clues either.

I can't find any bug report on this issue, only one detailing an NVIDIA issue with GTK windows, so I might file a bug report on this issue.

i did just now remember once i had an issue with resizing in maybe FC 10 or FC 9 and i fixed it by installing the full Compiz package and settings kit and i enabled the "resize" function and it seemed to fix things. i will play with sessions Kwin and Compiz and see what i can find.

Justin

thealphajustin wrote:i tried it both with and without catalyst control center and that provides no difference.

i suppose, ill probably just use the HD driver. its a good 2 second wait to max and min windows and the resizing barely even works.....at all.

using the standard driver its as snappy as it can get i would like to utilize the driver for 3D games and desktop effects but cannot live with basic functions crippled haha.

i will see if i can switch over to Kwin for a test drive. in the new KDE their isnt a quick session change manager for Compiz and Kwin so im going to have to play around till i find the file with the settings for that .lol

i know its something like /usr/lib/.kde/share/conf.........something similar to that.

thanks for your help!

mensch wrote:Resizing windows isn't exactly snappy on my system either (but I wouldn't say eons in my case, it's just slow ). I don't have problems with opening or maximising/minimising them, only resizing them using the window corners. Not sure what the reason for that is though. The last time I was running GNOME with Compiz window resizing was as slow as it is now with Kwin and desktop effects. So it's either a driver thing (most likely) or an ATI specific thing in both Kwin and Compiz. The GPU FAQ on the KDE website doesn't offer any clues either.

I can't find any bug report on this issue, only one detailing an NVIDIA issue with GTK windows, so I might file a bug report on this issue.

well, im making progress to everyone viewing this thread!

i removed all compiz packages besides the obvious KDE desktop effects package and the ATI proprietary drive "DECENTLY" well as long as the desktop effects are turned off.

the openGL will still remain on so i can utilize that. the GLXgears test gave me a range of 1K-2K FPS and it works well with games like TORCS so that makes me happy.

once concern is that moving the windows can be slightly choppy compared to the HD driver, but nothing to be concerned about. they move quickly, just not smoothly. the resizing of the windows seems to be the same. not 100% smooth but still very quick.

now that i have the driver working (although without Compiz or Desktop effects) i am going to see what i can do about tuning the driver, and what ever else i can play with. i know some of the Karamba gadgets require desktop effects to be turned on so i might give an attempt to get the desktop effects working with this driver.

so basically the choice at this stage is:
1) use the proprietary drive and gain OpenGL support but lose Compiz extras and Desktop Effects

or

2) Use the HD driver and regain SOME compiz features by means of the Desktop Effects for KDE, but i would have to surrender OpenGL support.

next update will be the final as i dont want to fill the thread with junk.

thanks ya'll
Justin

Hi There,

Any updates regarding this? I've been going through the same problems and actually miss 4.1

Let me know.

Thank you.


-Nash