install x600/x500 ATI driver

I, like many others am unfortunate enough to have discovered too late the problems associated with ATI and linux. I have seen many posts of people having trouble installing the drivers, but few successes. I must have been lucky because I got my 3d acceleration working, so I thought i should post a small "how to" for installing ATI drivers in suse.

my card was a radeon X600. If you have a different card, this how to MAY OR MAY NOT still apply to you. but might as well read on and see.

1) Check that your card is supported!
go HERE and read the installation instructions to see if your card is supported.

2) Download the driver that will work for you. (hopefully)
The linux ATI drivers are found here
(make sure you have the right architecture.)

at least for the radeons, you have a choice. you can download their "ATI Driver Installer" or one specific to your x-windows version. I used the "ATI Driver installer" because i think it's easier.

3) Installing kernel sources (if applicable)
if you havn't already installed the kernel-sources package in suse. do so... otherwise this won't work (as i discovered after an hour of frustration).
go to Yast.
type in the search field "kernel"
and look for a package "kernel-sources"
select it. install it.

4) Installation (making binary package)
I think making an rpm package is the best choice for installation.

Open a terminal:

Code:

$ su
passwd: <root passwd>
# cd directory/containing/ati-<blah>.run
# ./ati-<blah>.run
(wait for window to open)

now you will have a window for the ati installation. you might want to read the installation instructions mentioned earlyer if you plan to stray from this "how to".

DON"T select "install driver"
DO select "Generate distrobution specific driver package"

select your distro (mine was Suse9.3)
NOTE: if you can't see the "continue button" because the list of distros is too big, (my annoying problem)... right click at the top of the window and select Advanced > No border... hopefully you will be able to just see the button and click it. if not use tab and try to guess if it's selected or not and then hit enter or ctrl-enter. (good luck)

done!

5) install the binary package
the binary package will be in the same directory as your ati-<blah>.run.
you can use yast to install it if you wish: right click on it > actions > install with yast
but i chose to use rpm from a terminal (i think it's better):

Code:

$su
passwd: <root passwd>
# rpm -ivh fglrx-<blah>.rpm
(done)
if this doesn't work because you tried installing an ati driver before:
# rpm -Uvh fglrx-<blah>.rpm
done

6) configure xorg
I strongly recommend that you backup your xorg.conf otherwise if the changes give you graphics problems it's even more of a pain.

Code:

$ cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /home/some/dir/you/will/remember/xorg.conf.backup

now you can run fglrxconfig

Code:

$ su
passwd: <blah>
# fglrxconfig

now you will have to choose your specs. if you don't know how to answer, the script gives you a suggestion after the question in [these].

at the end tell it "yes", write file to /etc/X11/xorg.conf
you may want to make sure the settings are correct so...

Code:

# vi /etc/X11/xorg.conf
(yes, emacs is fine too :D)

check that it looks sort of like this
-----------------
..blah...
Section "Module"
...blah...
Load "glx"
Load "dri"
...blah
EndSection
...
Section "Device"
Identifier "ATI Graphics Adapter"
Driver "fglrx"
Option no_accel "no"
Option no_dri "no"
...blah...
------------
these settings may have to be fiddled around with if it doesn't work... the ones i've mentioned are the important ones. if you chose the suggestions in the fglrxconfig it should be fine.
NOTE: if you see more than one "Device" section... that's ok

7) Reboot and pray
reboot.
pray. (if applicable)

Possible problem 1: X doesn't load
if X doesn't load. curse. then log in in text mode.
open up xorg.conf again and fiddle around with the settings. Or you could run fglrxconfig again and try different settings again.
then reboot and pray again... etc.

if you still can't get X to load... copy your backup xorg.conf.backup back to /etc/X11/xorg.conf
graphics will work as they did before.

Possible problem 2: Yay X loaded... but where's the 3D accel!!
X loaded. good stuff. now check to see if you have 3D accel.

Code:

$ glxinfo | grep direct

if it sais Direct rendering: no
sorry... it didn't work. try messing around with xorg.conf again.

8: Direct rendering: yes.
jump for joy and install favorite game (doom 3?)

that's it. If i've missed anything please post. and if this didn't work hopefully the nice people in the linuxforums.org will be able to help you.