AMD Radeon HD 6540G2 AMD/ATI Open Source Driver query.

[wingnut]

Hello,

First some basic data:
suite: jessie / stretch
architecture: amd64
package xserver-xorg-video-ati, xserver-xorg-video-amdgpu, firmware-amd-graphics
respective kernel version (s): 3.16.* / 4.9.*
Initial Error Message: ERROR* radeon kernel modesetting for R600 or later requires firmware-amd-graphics

AMD/ATI Open Source Drivers (amdgpu, radeon, r128, mach64): https://wiki.debian.org/AtiHowTo

lspci -n | grep VGA
00:01.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] BeaverCreek [Radeon HD 6520G] [1002:9647]
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Seymour [Radeon HD 6400M/7400M Series] [1002:6760]

Drivers
Support for newer AMD graphics hardware is provided by the xserver-xorg-video-amdgpu package.

Support for older AMD (nee ATI) graphics hardware is provided by the xserver-xorg-video-ati driver wrapper package, which depends on three hardware-specific driver packages:

Elaboration:
When installing xserver-xorg-video-ati on debian jessie OR xserver-xorg-video-amdgpu on debian stretch , debian version freezes @ login screen after approximately 3 seconds, rendering all user input ineffective. I'm forced to restart - and - the same issue reoccurs.

The only known solution is using AMD/ATI Proprietary Driver on debian jessie, since it is currently unavailable for debian stretch. https://wiki.debian.org/ATIProprietary

Question:
Is there any chance the AMD/ATI Open Source Drivers will be updated to support the above AMD Radeon graphics cards?

This issue is frustrating because I'm forced to use debian 8.

[dryden]

I assume you have that firmware installed?

When I tried to run Linux on my AMD R9 380 recently (requiring amd-gpu pro) it didn't even boot unless I used nomodeset, but with nomodeset I had very few resolutions available for fullscreen, basically no driver in X.

They say 4.9 is a solid kernel for these things but..... I think the whole thing is a mess, the only thing you can do is find a kernel that works, and then stick to that.

[wingnut]

@dryden: cheers for the reply. IT dev. always seems to be a mess - for no blindly obvious reason except reservation of control.
Anyway, my personal, baseless thoughts and cynicism aside, my video card seems to work on kernel 3.16.* - though, I only use it for general display and do not perform extensive, specialised tests.
I'm quite satisfied with it's performance. It would just be nice to upgrade to the latest version of any linux, without my notebook freezing.
I tried installing a live version of Xubuntu but that froze during boot. I suspect it is a similar issue.

[wingnut]

@dryden: I just realised I didn't answer your question.
As per the AMD/ATI Open Source Drivers (amdgpu, radeon, r128, mach64) https://wiki.debian.org/AtiHowTo I have installed the following
firmware-linux-nonfree (3.3)
libgl1-mesa-dri (10.3.2-1+deb8u1)
xserver-xorg-video-ati (1:7.5.0-1)

When I run:

Code: Select all

dmesg | grep -E 'drm|radeon' | grep -iE 'firmware|microcode'

I get nothing.

BUT, as per the following,
https://wiki.debian.org/ATIProprietary

I also have the following proprietary packages installed:
fglrx-driver,
fglrx-modules-dkms,
Both 115.9-4~deb8u2

I have the 20-fglrx.conf mentioned in the config as well. So I know I'm configured using the proprietary drivers that are no longer available. Sigh. Hence, issue.

Interestingly, my system also has xserver-xorg-video-nouveau (1:1.0.11-1) installed - unsure why this is installed.

I should mention I'm running on a cinnamon desktop as well.
Not sure if the desktop environment has any direct impact on the driver to be used. I don't think so.

[CwF]

Clear out all the proprietary stuff. Reinstall xorg and firmware-amd-graphics. Maybe even update-initramfs. For vm's I've moved to bare metal, declarations made in xorg.conf.d need deleted or commented out, so that 20-fglrx.conf may be hanging you up.