AMD/ATI Gets Serious About Linux Support - Overclock.net

thiussat · 06-19-08

Quote:

AMD has now evolved their Linux support by taking it a large step further. AMD is in the process of pushing new high-end features into their Linux driver -- such as Multi-GPU CrossFire support -- and with the ATI Radeon HD 4850 they have even begun showing off Tux, the Linux mascot, on their product packaging and providing Linux drivers on their product CDs!

Link: http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?pag...volution&num=1

**Chipp** · 06-19-08

Sweet - it's about time, let's see if any other major hardware manufacturers follow suit.

Linux does not have a chunk of the market by any means, but it's users are often quick to vote with thier wallets. If ATI can distance it's support from Nvidia, they can stand to lock down the Linux enthusiast market for the time being.

onexero · 06-19-08

Wonderful, since I was thinking of installing Mandriva Linux on my new computer.

(Or on a separate hard drive...

) KDE 4 should look pretty sweet with CrossFire. AMD/ATI are definitely taking the world by storm when it comes to performance-price ratio.

rabidgnome229 · 06-19-08

That's fantastic. There was a time when if you wanted linux you were pretty much forced to use nvidia.

_Sreenath_ · 06-19-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chipp

Sweet - it's about time, let's see if any other major hardware manufacturers follow suit.

Linux does not have a chunk of the market by any means, but it's users are often quick to vote with thier wallets. If ATI can distance it's support from Nvidia, they can stand to lock down the Linux enthusiast market for the time being.

are you kidding me? as a Linux enthusiast for many years, let me tell you something -- most people remember the heartache and health damage inflicted upon themselves with crappy ATi Linux drivers.

nVidia is still going to be the choice for Linux users, if for no other reason than a somewhat non-objective bias that was based on objective comparisons as recent as a few months ago. nVidia has SOOO much better Unix/Linux support and it will be hard for ATi to catch up. Sure their drivers WORK now....at least people can actually USE their card's potential somewhat. But they have a long way to go.

edit: i do sincerely hope they get there though, plus i hope they can answer CUDA. Their hardware is so much better to be honest (so much more potential), its just not taken advantage of in the slightest. example: hd4850 has 800 stream processors. if someone made a CUDA for that card then OMG

Pyranite · 06-19-08

What the jebus would you need crossfire for on linux anyway? lol?

thiussat · 06-20-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pyranite

What the jebus would you need crossfire for on linux anyway? lol?

I think the point of the article is not that ATI plans on providing Crossfire support -- it's that they plan on providing the SAME support for Linux as they do Windows -- even so far as putting Linux drivers on their CD's. We can debate all day whether you "need" Crossfire on Linux, but that's not really the point. As the article said, some of the recent ATI cards were not officially supported in Linux for SIX months after release. ATI says they will now offer same day support. The article was specifically talking about the latest ATI video card line, which was just released.

I am not aware of any other desktop hardware maker that currently puts the Tux logo on the package signifying that it supports Linux or that ships Linux drivers with the hardware (someone correct me if I am wrong). For AMD/ATI to do this hopefully will bring other hardware manufacturers along.

Melcar · 06-20-08

Already posted on the News section. Anyways, this is a good move by AMD, and hopefully Intel follows the lead (as far as the "official" support). I doubt Nvidia will ever get off it's high horse though.

**Chipp** · 06-20-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Sreenath_

are you kidding me? as a Linux enthusiast for many years, let me tell you something -- most people remember the heartache and health damage inflicted upon themselves with crappy ATi Linux drivers.

nVidia is still going to be the choice for Linux users, if for no other reason than a somewhat non-objective bias that was based on objective comparisons as recent as a few months ago. nVidia has SOOO much better Unix/Linux support and it will be hard for ATi to catch up. Sure their drivers WORK now....at least people can actually USE their card's potential somewhat. But they have a long way to go.

edit: i do sincerely hope they get there though, plus i hope they can answer CUDA. Their hardware is so much better to be honest (so much more potential), its just not taken advantage of in the slightest. example: hd4850 has 800 stream processors. if someone made a CUDA for that card then OMG

I remember those days myself - and yes, I too purchased a Nvidia card back then because I was sick of ATI's crappy support. I'm looking to the future, seeing that ATI is offering Linux software that is going to be almost identical in function to its Windows counterpart, and I'm pretty excited about that.

Sure, Nvidia's drivers have worked for years. But can you do everything with them you can do with their Windows drivers?

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AMD/ATI Gets Serious About Linux Support

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