ASUS M51TA-x2, Radeon HD 3650, Ideas

[jon_z]

Good afternoon,

I am currently running a ASUS M51TA-x2 Laptop. It is equipped with two video cards. The ATI Radeon 3200 (id=0x9512) and the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 (id=0x9591). I am currently running Ubuntu 9.10 and do not have opengl support at all. I was wondering if anyone knows what combination of Ubuntu version + fgrlx version + xorg version + kernel version i need to be able to have fully functioning open gl?

[bridgman]

9.04 plus latest fglrx (9.6) is probably your best bet.

[jon_z]

9.04 plus latest fglrx (9.6) is probably your best bet.

This is a no go. I've tried that. I have posted over in the ubuntuforums.org and have no responses. here is my post from over there: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1206970

[jon_z]

9.04 plus latest fglrx (9.6) is probably your best bet.

I have tried 9.04 and catalyst 9.6. No avail. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1206970 Is my link with methods that I have tried

[bridgman]

There's not much info in the other thread. Did you pastebin an xorg log anywhere ? The recommended mechanism for installation is to build packages for your distro then install using the package manager. Make sure you run aticonfig --initial before starting X the first time.

Is there a BIOS option to disable the 3200 ? The option might be called something like SurroundView. AFAIK the Linux driver doesn't directly support switchable graphics systems.

[rmartinez]

Hello, I wanted to share with you my experience and ask you if you could manage to use M51Ta with linux and 3D acceleration.
Just in case, my computer has this two graphic cards:
01:05.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc RS780M/RS780MN [Radeon HD 3200 Graphics]
02:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Mobility Radeon HD 3650
I installed several versions of fglrx with Ubuntu but none of them worked. When I install Ubuntu 9.04 from scratch 2D acceleration was great, but no 3D. Lastly I tried radeonhd 1.3.0 and 2D works well but the computer doesn't turn off normally, I must press the button. I made some changes in xorg.conf to see if linux could recognize the HD3650 card, so I specified the PCI of the card I wanted Ubuntu to recognice (PCI 2:0:0), but it didn't work. If I specify the integrated card (PCI 1:5:0) or nothing it works fine, but of course with no 3D... Well if you manage to activate HD3650 card and have 3D working please let me know. Thanks!
Best,

[Kano]

You can install the fglrx driver from the U 9.10 repo, that should work. Older drivers do not work with that laptop.

[rmartinez]

You can install the fglrx driver from the U 9.10 repo, that should work. Older drivers do not work with that laptop.

Thanks, I will try that and post the result.

[rmartinez]

Just to remind you: M51-Ta notebook with hybrid graphics (ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics & ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650).
Today I installed Ubuntu 9.10 beta, after updating I installed xorg-driver-fglrx (2:8.660-0ubuntu4) and all other dependencies which were needed but still I cannot use visual effects or use 3D programs (no 3D acceleration).
I think I must stay with win7 and linux under VirtualBox.....
Please, if someone has a clue of how to get 3D acceleration with my configuration I will appreciate.

[tball]

well did you run:
aticonfig --initial

After, check that it set the right pciID under device section in xorg.conf.

EDIT:
It should say 02:00.0 in your config.

[rmartinez]

well did you run:
aticonfig --initial

After, check that it set the right pciID under device section in xorg.conf.

EDIT:
It should say 02:00.0 in your config.

Hello, thanks for your comment, I will tell you exactly what I did:
(1) Installed from scratch Ubuntu 9.10 beta 64bits (in other partitions Ubunut 9.04 64bits & Vista 32bits)
(2.0) Upgraded everything that could be updated (kernel 2.6.31-14,...)
(2.1) Restart
(3) Installed xorg-driver-fglrx (2:8.660-0ubuntu4) and all other dependencies which were needed from Synaptic
(4.0) In terminal: "sudo aticonfig --initial -f"
(4.1) A xorg.conf file was created (before there was no xorg.conf) with the following text:

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "aticonfig Layout"
Screen 0 "aticonfig-Screen[0]-0" 0 0
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "Module"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "aticonfig-Monitor[0]-0"
Option "VendorName" "ATI Proprietary Driver"
Option "ModelName" "Generic Autodetecting Monitor"
Option "DPMS" "true"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "aticonfig-Device[0]-0"
Driver "fglrx"
BusID "PCI:1:5:0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "aticonfig-Screen[0]-0"
Device "aticonfig-Device[0]-0"
Monitor "aticonfig-Monitor[0]-0"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 24
EndSubSection
EndSection

(4.2) Restart... XORG CRASHED!
(5) I tried changing in xorg.conf BusID to "PCI:2:0:0" but it always crashes...
(6) Finally I changed the name of xorg.conf so that it doesn't read it and now it works but, of course, no 3D acceleration
PLEASE HELP!

Shoul I install the fglrx manually?? following this guide: http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/Ubuntu_Jaunty_Installation_Guide
I don't know what else to do.

[tball]

Hello, thanks for your comment, I will tell you exactly what I did:
(1) Installed from scratch Ubuntu 9.10 beta 64bits (in other partitions Ubunut 9.04 64bits & Vista 32bits)
(2.0) Upgraded everything that could be updated (kernel 2.6.31-14,...)
(2.1) Restart
(3) Installed xorg-driver-fglrx (2:8.660-0ubuntu4) and all other dependencies which were needed from Synaptic
(4.0) In terminal: "sudo aticonfig --initial -f"
(4.1) A xorg.conf file was created (before there was no xorg.conf) with the following text:

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "aticonfig Layout"
Screen 0 "aticonfig-Screen[0]-0" 0 0
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "Module"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "aticonfig-Monitor[0]-0"
Option "VendorName" "ATI Proprietary Driver"
Option "ModelName" "Generic Autodetecting Monitor"
Option "DPMS" "true"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "aticonfig-Device[0]-0"
Driver "fglrx"
BusID "PCI:1:5:0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "aticonfig-Screen[0]-0"
Device "aticonfig-Device[0]-0"
Monitor "aticonfig-Monitor[0]-0"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 24
EndSubSection
EndSection

(4.2) Restart... XORG CRASHED!
(5) I tried changing in xorg.conf BusID to "PCI:2:0:0" but it always crashes...
(6) Finally I changed the name of xorg.conf so that it doesn't read it and now it works but, of course, no 3D acceleration
PLEASE HELP!

Shoul I install the fglrx manually?? following this guide: http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/Ubuntu_Jaunty_Installation_Guide
I don't know what else to do.

Maybe you should try deactivate the internal card in the bios?

EDIT:

Hmm if you can't deactivate the internal card, is there some way you can deactivate hybrid in fglrx?

[rmartinez]

Maybe you should try deactivate the internal card in the bios?

EDIT:

Hmm if you can't deactivate the internal card, is there some way you can deactivate hybrid in fglrx?

With the present bios 207 in this computer (ASUS M51Ta) it's impossible to activate or deactivate any of the integrated / discrete graphic cards. And if there is a way to deactivate from any other place I would be delighted to know how... May be with new kernel 2.6.32 and integrated radeonhd driver... I just have no idea.

[rmartinez]

Hello, I wanted to share my frustration again with new fglrx 8.661 (ATI driver for Linux 9.10):

Update: fglrx 8.661 with ASUS M51Ta still not working
================================================== ===

Details:

Linux: Ubuntu 9.10beta + all updates
Kernel: 2.6.31-14
fglrx: 9.10 (8.661)
Hybrid graphic cards:
01:05.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc RS780M/RS780MN [Radeon HD 3200 Graphics]

02:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Mobility Radeon HD 3650

Error (in Xorg.0.log):

(EE) fglrx(0): Invalid video BIOS signature!
(EE) fglrx(0): GetBIOSParameter failed
(EE) fglrx(0): PreInitAdapter for slave 0 failed

xorg.conf: http://pastebin.com/f9e7eb26
Xorg.0.log: http://pastebin.com/f5f0bb023

[Kano]

Latest bios used? Btw. i would NOT hardcode the device in the configfile. Put a # in front.

[rmartinez]

Latest bios used?

Yes, I have lastest BIOS 207. And unluckily, this BIOS does not allow to enable/disable any of the two graphic cards that M51Ta has (HD3650 & HD3200).

Btw. i would NOT hardcode the device in the configfile. Put a # in front.

Ok, I will try that and let you know. Thanks!

[bridgman]

The hybrid graphics spec requires that the SBIOS include the ability to select "integrated", "discrete" or "switchable" graphics, so that OSes other than Windows will work.

There seem to be a few models which didn't follow the spec and therefore don't work with the Linux drivers. It's not a bug, but it is a problem for people who buy those laptops and expect to run something other than Windows on them.

I'm trying to compile a list of offending laptop models to see if there is anything we can do in the driver, assuming we can't get the mfgs to update the BIOS and include the proper selection options.

EDIT - when I was looking around at other sites to see if anyone had found switching options in the M51TA bios I kept running into your posts on those sites as well. Alex pushed some changes into the radeon driver recently which are not directly targeting this problem but might help - can you try the radeon driver from git master and see if that works for you ?

[rmartinez]

Now I didn't specify the PCI of the integrated graphic card. At least now it gave my another error, but it crashed the same:

Errors in Xorg.0.log:
(EE) AIGLX error: dlopen of /usr/lib/dri/r600_dri.so failed (/usr/lib/dri/r600_dri.so: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory)
(EE) AIGLX: reverting to software rendering
...
EE) open /dev/fb0: No such file or directory

xorg.conf: http://pastebin.com/f55906554
Xorg.0.log: http://pastebin.com/f56ef110

Any ideas??

[bridgman]

The error messages are not a problem; the first two just indicate that you don't have an open source 3D driver built yet. Looking at conf and log files now.

EDIT - actually it looks like the X server is choosing the radeon driver anyways, which is good. Can you describe the crash ?

[rmartinez]

The hybrid graphics spec requires that the SBIOS include the ability to select "integrated", "discrete" or "switchable" graphics, so that OSes other than Windows will work.

I already did a bug report to ASUS for the lack of BIOS enable/disable options for the graphic cards... But of course no answer.

I'm trying to compile a list of them to see if there is anything we can do in the driver, assuming we can't get the mfg to update the BIOS and include the selection options.

That would be great! Thanks, if there is anything I can do, please let me now.

[bridgman]

For now let's see if we can get you running with the radeon driver. I didn't see any clues about a crash in the log - can you describe what you see, and whether the machine responds at all ? If X just dies and you go back to a command prompt or something can you pastebin the output from the dmesg command ?

[rmartinez]

For now let's see if we can get you running with the radeon driver. I didn't see any clues about a crash in the log - can you describe what you see, and whether the machine responds at all ? If X just dies and you go back to a command prompt or something can you pastebin the output from the dmesg command ?

When I use the "xorg.conf" file (either with the PCI card specified (http://pastebin.com/f9e7eb26) or not specifying (http://pastebin.com/f55906554)) it happens the same: The machine cannot load X and it returns to a command prompt, but the problem is that the monitor flickers and even the keyboard does not respond well, so what I do is ctrl+alt+del (even the computer does not respond immediately to this command).
And from other partition I work. If I delete or rename the "xorg.conf" file, that partition (the one with Ubunut9.10b+fglrx8.661) loads perfectly well, but of course with no 3D acceleration.
What other information/output files can I bring to you.

(Meanwhile, I sent another petition for ASUS to make a new BIOS update for this machine... At least I will continue doing that until they respond)

[bridgman]

And from other partition I work. If I delete or rename the "xorg.conf" file, that partition (the one with Ubunut9.10b+fglrx8.661) loads perfectly well, but of course with no 3D acceleration.

OK, what I would suggest is keeping the 9.10 partition safe so you have a fallback, and installing a clean copy of 9.10 on the other partition. That should give you the radeon driver, 2D and video acceleration, but no 3D -- then add the 3D driver on top of that.

[rmartinez]

OK, what I would suggest is keeping the 9.10 partition safe so you have a fallback, and installing a clean copy of 9.10 on the other partition. That should give you the radeon driver, 2D and video acceleration, but no 3D -- then add the 3D driver on top of that.

Actually, it is what I do: I have this partition configuration:
* sda1 (Vista32bits)
* sda2 (swap)
* sda3 (extended)
+ sda4 (Ubuntu 9.10beta + fglrx 8.661) [all info in this post from here]
+ sda5 (Ubuntu 9.10beta + radeon) [without installing any extra driver, 2D works great]
+ sda6 (Ubuntu 9.10beta + radeonhd) [trying to compile last kernel with experimental 3D acceleration, but so far no good results... I'm trying to follow Neo_The_User guide http://www.phoronix.com/forums/showthread.php?p=96374&mode=linear#post96374]
* sda4 (All my data)

But I didn't understood the part of "-- then add the 3D driver on top of that", to which partition are you referring? And most important, how??

[bridgman]

Great - you're already heading in that direction. I had been hoping that we could get the drm code for 6xx/7xx 3D into 9.10 before it locked down so all you would need was mesa from edgers, but if you're building kernels I guess that didn't happen.

I had been thinking about adding the 3D driver to your sda5 partition, picking up the latest mesa 7.6 branch code (probably from an edgers build) and picking up drm from agd5f's repo.

That said, it shouldn't reall matter whether you use radeon or radeonhd, and picking up drm from the latest kernel should work as well or better, so staying with what you are doing on sda6 should also be OK. I wouldn't mess with kernel modesetting yet; don't think it has as much test coverage on laptops as it does on desktops so probably get running with user modesetting first.

I ran into problems getting 3D running after updating to karmic, so off the top of my head I guess the first thing I would try would be :

- wipe sda6 and replace with a fresh install of 9.04 (ie Jaunty)
- build drm from the r6xx-r7xx-3d branch of agd5f's repo
- build mesa from the 7.6 branch or pick up an edgers build

That seems like the easiest way to get 3D running for now.

[rmartinez]

Great - you're already heading in that direction. I had been hoping that we could get the drm code for 6xx/7xx 3D into 9.10 before it locked down so all you would need was mesa from edgers, but if you're building kernels I guess that didn't happen.

I had been thinking about adding the 3D driver to your sda5 partition, picking up the latest mesa 7.6 branch code (probably from an edgers build) and picking up drm from agd5f's repo.

That said, it shouldn't reall matter whether you use radeon or radeonhd, and picking up drm from the latest kernel should work as well or better, so staying with what you are doing on sda6 should also be OK. I wouldn't mess with kernel modesetting yet; don't think it has as much test coverage on laptops as it does on desktops so probably get running with user modesetting first.

I ran into problems getting 3D running after updating to karmic, so off the top of my head I guess the first thing I would try would be :

- wipe sda6 and replace with a fresh install of 9.04 (ie Jaunty)
- build drm from the r6xx-r7xx-3d branch of agd5f's repo
- build mesa from the 7.6 branch or pick up an edgers build

That seems like the easiest way to get 3D running for now.

Thanks a lot for the help! I will do as you say and post results.

[Kano]

Well you could also try to specify the bus id of the 3650.

[rmartinez]

Well you could also try to specify the bus id of the 3650.

[Sidelight: tested of course on partition with Ubuntu9.10b+fglrx8.661)

Ok, I tried that. I specified the PCI of the discrete graphic card (PCI 2:0:0 -> hd3650) and it happened the same: X crashed, it went to the command prompt with flickering screen... But the error output was different than when specifying the integrated graphic cards (PCI 1:5:0 -> hd3200) and more similar than when no specification was done:

Error in Xorg.O.log:

(EE) fglrx(0): Invalid video BIOS signature!
(EE) fglrx(0): GetBIOSParameter failed
(EE) fglrx(0): PreInitAdatper failed
(EE) fglrx(0): PreInit failed

xorg.conf: http://pastebin.com/f28d6d67c
Xorg.0.log: http://pastebin.com/f63ec9d69

What can we learn: May be when no specification is done in xorg.conf it tries to use discrete graphic card (hd3650), and that is why they have similar Error logs in the Xorg.0.log files... Correct me please if I'm wrong.

Any more ideas for this partition?? Meanwhile, I'm going to follow bridgman's idea in another partition:

- wipe sda6 and replace with a fresh install of 9.04 (ie Jaunty)
- build drm from the r6xx-r7xx-3d branch of agd5f's repo
- build mesa from the 7.6 branch or pick up an edgers build

[rmartinez]

- wipe sda6 and replace with a fresh install of 9.04 (ie Jaunty)
- build drm from the r6xx-r7xx-3d branch of agd5f's repo
- build mesa from the 7.6 branch or pick up an edgers build

Hi, for installing radeonhd, it's ok to follow this guides in this order:

(1) install radeonhd: http://www.x.org/wiki/radeonhd%3AINSTALL
(2) install radeonhd:r6xx_r7xx_branch: http://www.x.org/wiki/radeonhd%3Ar6xx_r7xx_branch
(3) install radeonhd: DRI: http://www.x.org/wiki/radeonhd%3ADRI
(4) install radeonhd:experimental_3D: http://www.x.org/wiki/radeonhd%3Aexperimental_3D

[Kano]

Well i had this laptop to test for a few h and had the same problem. If you want to test latest radeon it is more easy to check fedora daily iso images. You can put em onto usb drive with image-writer, dd or whatever you like.

http://alt.fedoraproject.org/pub/alt/nightly-composes/desktop/

if not already installed:

su
yum install mesa-dri-drivers-experimental

If somebody from fedora reads this: please use at least a symlink with the same name for everyday, i do not intent do check the names all the time again. No other distro which daily images hardcodes the date in the iso image itself.

[rmartinez]

Well i had this laptop to test for a few h and had the same problem. If you want to test latest radeon it is more easy to check fedora daily iso images. You can put em onto usb drive with image-writer, dd or whatever you like.

http://alt.fedoraproject.org/pub/alt/nightly-composes/desktop/

if not already installed:

su
yum install mesa-dri-drivers-experimental

If somebody from fedora reads this: please use at least a symlink with the same name for everyday, i do not intent do check the names all the time again. No other distro which daily images hardcodes the date in the iso image itself.

So, are you saying that current drivers radeonhd won't give 3D acceleration to notebook ASUS M51Ta? And that I could install Fedora to be able to test mesa-dri-drivers-experimental? Doesn't it exist something like that for Ubuntu?

[Kano]

You don't need radeonhd at all. You can test Fedora 3d accelleration even in live mode.

[rmartinez]

You don't need radeonhd at all. You can test Fedora 3d accelleration even in live mode.

Thanks Kano, I will surely try that. Not right now, because my internet connection sucks.

And continuing with the radeonhd + 3d acceleration...

(1) I installed Ubuntu 9.04 from scratch and updated everything
(2) Followed this guide http://www.x.org/wiki/radeonhd%3AINSTALL to install radeonhd, all went right
(3) And while I was installing radeonhd:experimental_3D, following this other guide http://www.x.org/wiki/radeonhd%3Aexperimental_3D ; most specifically while installing mesa, I had an output error after this command:

sudo ./autogen.sh --with-dri-drivers=swrast,r600 --libdir=$(pkg-config --variable=libdir dri) --includedir=$(pkg-config --variable=includedir dri) --disable-gallium --enable-debug

Error:
autoreconf: Entering directory `.'
autoreconf: configure.ac: not using Gettext
autoreconf: running: aclocal
autoreconf: configure.ac: tracing
autoreconf: configure.ac: not using Libtool
autoreconf: running: /usr/bin/autoconf
autoreconf: configure.ac: not using Autoheader
autoreconf: configure.ac: not using Automake
autoreconf: Leaving directory `.'
configure: error: expected an absolute directory name for --includedir:

Am I missing something? Thanks.

[rmartinez]

You don't need radeonhd at all. You can test Fedora 3d accelleration even in live mode.

YEEESSS!!!! Finally real 3D acceleration on my notebook ASUS M51Ta!!!! I installed fedora 12 beta nightly-compose of 26/10/2009 and then installed (as Kano suggested) mesa experimental drivers:

su
yum install mesa-dri-drivers-experimental

I cannot be more happier!! Thank your so much guys!!!