Linux Mint 12 and AMD Issue

[pkbest]

I've been scouring forums for over a day now. When I try to live boot either Linux Mint 12, or Ubuntu 11.X or 12.04, the screen goes crazy with lines and half distorted background. It will go blank, then re appear, and repeat this in an infinite loop.

I read that the latest Gnome 3 kernel does not play well with my graphics card as of right now. My current set up is :

AMD Phenom II X4
8 Gb RAM 1333mhz

Asus Mobo with Intel Graphics (currently trying to install this way, set it to default in bios)

Graphics Card is AMD HD Radeon 6790 1 Gig GDDR5 <- what I want working.

I've seen a variety of different methods to "try" and fix this issue, nomodeset, radeon.modeset=0 , etc. but i dont know which one I SHOULD be using. I've used linux off and on for many years, and this is the first time I've not been able to even boot live cd/DVD. I haven't tried LXDE, or KDE (not a fan of either really), but I hear they work fine with my current set up.

I would really like to get this up and running so I can get school work done from home. Posting this from work actually.


Any help and assistance is GREATLY appreciated.

[hal8000]

You may have more than one problem here.

The problem is not the kernel but Gnome3 desktop aned your ATI graphics card,
Gnome3 requires accelerated hardware and loads the open source radeon driver...
however you should be able to run the live CD as it uses vesa compatible drivers.

I find that on my ATI Radeon HD5750 the opensource driver not only creates some
graphics distortion, but also runs the fan more aggressively, (its quiet with ATI
fglrx driver).

The solution is notr to load the Cinnamon desktop but use gnome fallback, which
the Mint team have advanced and call it the Mate desktop.

Mint is a spin off from Ubuntu which is why Ubuntu does not work.
Do you have any other live linux CD's?

You should not see distortion when you dont use gnome3, so you need
to either run in console mode or try a live CD like PClinuxOS which is
totally different from Ubuntu/Mint.

You may get a working display but PCLinux uses KDE4 as default.
I'll keep an eye on this thread as I would like to try the new Cinnamon
desktop, but I hate gnome shell.

[GregE]

Two thoughts.

If you do not play games and only run Linux then remove the ATI card and use the on board Intel graphics. You will be infinitely better off and everything will just work. Just un-install fglrx before shutting down and removing the ATI card. I know the ATI card is a hundred times more powerful, but if that power is never used and causes headaches then what is it for? For school work you want rock solid stability, and Intel graphics will provide that. Plus you will never ever have an issue with system updates.

Secondly, you could run Xfce4 as your desktop and avoid these issues. Just go into Synaptic and search on xfce and install the basic system, then log out and select Xfce and log back in. Xfce will run with fglrx drivers and the new version, 4.8, is a very good desktop that is very similar to Gnome 2.x

[TBABill]

Why would you recommend someone remove a superior piece of hardware that is supported on Linux? All the OP needs to do is uninstall the fglrx driver, then go to AMD, get the catalyst driver (12.3) and install. Instructions: http://www.upubuntu.com/2012/03/how-to- ... t-123.html

[GregE]

Why would you recommend someone remove a superior piece of hardware that is supported on Linux? All the OP needs to do is uninstall the fglrx driver, then go to AMD, get the catalyst driver (12.3) and install. Instructions: http://www.upubuntu.com/2012/03/how-to- ... t-123.html

Because he has a Northen Islands chipset that is not yet fully supported, and then only with the absolute latest and greatest drivers.

http://www.x.org/wiki/RadeonFeature

But, by activating Xorg Edgers PPA at least what works will work.

For absolute stability then the Intel On-Board will the better option. My point is also that if you do not play games and only use Linux then it does not matter how good the 3D card is as it's power will never be harnessed. Also the Open Source driver only has minimal power control functions leading to issues with fans and running flat stick for no reason.

Sometimes, just because it is superior technology does not necessarily make it a better choice.

[mank_in]

AMD Phenom II X4
8 Gb RAM 1333mhz

Asus Mobo with Intel Graphics (currently trying to install this way, set it to default in bios)

My question :
How in the earth AMD processor have mobo with onboard intel graphic

If Gnome shell have problem , try logout and login to MATE session. Or maybe you can try KDE /LXDE version.

[AlbertP]

@ pkbest: You mean onboard ATI/Nvidia graphics? Onboard Intel graphics isn't possible with AMD CPU.

[GregE]

@mank-in and

@ pkbest: You mean onboard ATI/Nvidia graphics? Onboard Intel graphics isn't possible with AMD CPU.

Good pickup, if he has onboard AMD of an older variety the the open source driver should work work well. Onboard Nvidia with the Nvidia driver and it would work even better.

[GregE]

Why would you recommend someone remove a superior piece of hardware that is supported on Linux? All the OP needs to do is uninstall the fglrx driver, then go to AMD, get the catalyst driver (12.3) and install. Instructions: http://www.upubuntu.com/2012/03/how-to- ... t-123.html

Sorry, I should not have dismissed your reply. The problem as I see it is that pkbest cannot install from a live CD. He has yet to actually get fglrx installed. So, yes he could use the card with the latest fglrx, but he has to get the system installed first. So, remove card, use onboard graphics - whatever it is and ignore the hardware drivers installer - also install xfce4 through Synaptic so that you can have a working desktop when the ATI card goes back in. Then once the system is running add the card and reboot and go into Xfce instead of Gnome, wait for the hardware drivers popup and select the latest catalyst driver (or just select Settings -> Additional Drivers). Once it is all running then at the next log in you can select Gnome if you want.

And by all means he should ensure he has the latest fglrx. Hopefully that can be achieved from Xfce.

pkbest - it has been a few days. Are you still trying?

[pkbest]

@ pkbest: You mean onboard ATI/Nvidia graphics? Onboard Intel graphics isn't possible with AMD CPU.

Sry, yes the mobo is ATI, not Intel. I mispoke... ive honestly given up at this point until future fixes come out for this issue. its a wireless desktop so putting it on the network the way i need to would be pretty much a pain in the you know what.


But, when i get time ill get around to removing the fglrx driver and installing ati's most current. is there anything stated on the status of if they are gonna fix fglrx on newer cards soon?

[hellfire695]

@ pkbest: You mean onboard ATI/Nvidia graphics? Onboard Intel graphics isn't possible with AMD CPU.

Sry, yes the mobo is ATI, not Intel. I mispoke... ive honestly given up at this point until future fixes come out for this issue. its a wireless desktop so putting it on the network the way i need to would be pretty much a pain in the you know what.


But, when i get time ill get around to removing the fglrx driver and installing ati's most current. is there anything stated on the status of if they are gonna fix fglrx on newer cards soon?

I wouldn't give up completely, just try kubuntu or linux kde, as kde plays much better with amd. I've had the same problem with a radeon hd 5770, and kde worked wonderfully, so did xfce4

[AlbertP]

The latest driver from http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/l ... linux.aspx should support any ATI/AMD hardware of Radeon HD 2000 series and later.

[GregE]

I would agree with hellfire695

The simplest solution is to just grab the latest Xubuntu 12.04. Xfce will work fine and the restricted hardware app will install WiFi and Video drivers. Once you have a functional system then go for the latest fglrx if you need it. Kubuntu would work just as well, and offer more network oriented tools. Or, wait for Mint 13 and try again.

[AlbertP]

kde plays much better with amd.

If you use the latest graphics driver Gnome 3 is often working right as well. Please try the latest driver before giving up on Gnome or Linux.