Quick ATI Radeon HD 4870 (RV770) 3D setup guide

[kgk]

The fglrx drivers give you 2D and all resolutions, but no 3D acceleration. here's how I managed to get mine working.



Open Synaptic Package Manager, search for 'fglrx'


The only packages I have installed are "fglrx-controll", "jockey-common", "jockey-gtk", "xorg-driver-fglrx" and "xserver-xorg-video-ati"



Download the 8.7 ATI drivers: http://www2.ati.com/drivers/linux/at...x86.x86_64.run

Run that file

sudo sh ati-driver-installer-8-7-x86.x86_64.run

Do auto install.


Open the xorg config file:

sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Scroll down to:

EndSection
Section "Extensions"
Option "Composite" "X"
EndSection

Replace whatever the X value is ("off", "0", whatever) with "1"

Save and close.

sudo aticonfig --initial

Ctrl-Alt-Backspace to restart x


Go to System-Preferences->Appearance Preferences->Visual Effects, and enable the custom settings

Voila, 3D acceleration should be enabled and compiz should work.


To check, mess with the compiz effects, or click Applications->ATI Catalyst Control Center. If it loads, it's working.


This is after being up all night setting up various different things and finally stumbling across something that worked for me with my 4870. I don't think I left anything out, but I am half asleep.

So if these instructions give you any trouble post something here and I'll likely be able to help.


And for the love of god,

Do not install xgl after installing the 8.7 driver, it'll turn your desktop into monstrous glitchy mess and you'll have to boot into recovery or exit xorg and use terminal to uninstall it. I only say this because the instructions I've seen when you google for 4870 instructions tell you to do this because of the older models needing it to work.