Linux 2.6.32 To Get R600 Kernel Mode Setting
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Wed 9th Sep 2009 22:29 UTC, submitted by lemur2
Linux Open source 3D graphics drivers for ATI R600 garphics cards has been submitted to the kernel-next tree for possible inclusion in the Linux kernel 2.6.32. "David Airlie has pushed a horde of new code into his drm-next Git tree, which is what will get pulled into the Linux 2.6.32 kernel once the merge window is open. Most prominently, this new DRM code brings support for kernel mode-setting with R600 class hardware as well as 3D support."
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RE[5]: Things are Still a Mess
by lemur2 on Thu 10th Sep 2009 12:24 UTC in reply to "RE[4]: Things are Still a Mess"
lemur2
Member since:
2007-02-17

"As for driver side.. well, nVidia drivers may be binary but they've ALWAYS worked like a dream for me and support all the functionality of the card in question, even old cards are still supported.


Ditto. I'd still recommend nvidia to Linux users, entirely because of their binary driver. "

A binary driver fails with the first kernel update.

If there IS a problem, a binary driver is impossible to fix (so one is reliant on the goodwill of the OEM).

If the OEM no longer sells the hardware, binary drivers for it will no longer be forthcoming from the OEM. "Planned obsolesence".

We should understand that their driver codebase is their "crown jewel" (they share the codebase with the windows driver") and they are not giving that up lightly.


Doesn't make any sense. The could give out the source code of their driver to every single person on the planet, and it still wouldn't run on an ATI card.

But, in exchange we get a good (stable and fast) driver that receives much of the love dedicated to their money-maker (windows users).


It doesn't work on Linux. Nvidia have refused to fix a performance bug with 2D for over two years, for example. Because it is a secret, they could be being paid money to keep it poor on Linux.

There is no real need to get worked up about device drivers and open source. Hardware is expendable. When intel and ati get their acts together regarding the driver quality, we'll have more choices, but nvidia is currently the safe bet.


Nope. Just plain no. Shun binary drivers. We now have specifications for, and open source drivers for, fully-funtional competitive-performance ATI cards.

Before the end of this year, people who are fortunate enough to have ATI cards and have Linux installed will enjoy by far the best-performing bang-for-buck desktop systems on the planet.

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