Before attempting to install the ATI Catalyst Linux software suite, the following software must be installed:

• XOrg 6.8, 6.9, 7.0, 7.1, 7.2 or 7.3
• Linux Kernel 2.6 and above
• glibc version 2.2 or 2.3
• POSIX Shared Memory (/dev/shm) support is required for 3D applications

The ATI Catalyst Linux software suite no longer provides precompiled Kernel Modules; all installations require GCC compiler and kernel-headers or kernel-source in order to enable 2D and 3D acceleration.

For best performance and ease of use, AMD recommends the following:

• Kernel module build environment - should include the following:
  • Kernel source code: Either the Kernel Source or Kernel Headers packages
• The rpm utility should be installed and configured correctly on your system, if you intend to install via RPM packages

The following packages must be installed in order for the ATI Catalyst Linux driver to install and work properly:

• XFree86-Mesa-libGL
• libstdc++
• libgcc
• XFree86-libs
• fontconfig
• freetype
• zlib

This release of ATI Catalyst Linux introduces product support for the following new operating systems:

• CrossFireX support
• Adaptive Anti-Aliasing support
• Support for new Linux operating systems
• ATI OverDrive Support for Linux
• ATI MultiView
• Auto Detection and installation of distribution packaging

This release of ATI Catalyst Linux introduces support for CrossFireX configurations using the ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series on systems running the Linux operating system.

This release of ATI Catalyst Linux introduces Adaptive Anti-Aliasing support for the ATI Radeon HD 4800, ATI Radeon HD 3000 Series, ATI Radeon HD 2000 Series, and ATI Radeon X1000 Series of products installed on systems running the Linux operating system. Adaptive Anti-Aliasing substantially improves image quality by anti-aliasing transparent textures. This option is available in the Catalyst Control Center Linux Edition.

This release of ATI Catalyst Linux introduces support for the following new operating systems:

• RHEL 5.2 production support
• RHEL 4.7 early look

ATI OverDrive maximizes the performance of the graphic processing unit (GPU) on your graphics card. This provides the ability to improve the performance of your GPU, especially if you are using a custom cooling solution.

Using ATI Overdrive to increase the graphics processor or memory clocks above normal limits may result in graphics corruption, data loss or system hangs. If ATI Overdrive detects unsafe conditions, it will automatically reduce the clocks. However, ATI cannot guarantee results, and will not be responsible for data loss or other problems that may occur as a result of using ATI Overdrive.

ATI OverDrive on AMD Linux driver is a command line GPU overclocking tool for supported graphics adapters. It allows the users to:

• Enable or disable ATI OverDrive
• Get GPU and memory clock range
• Manually set clocks within the available range. Note that there
• Test clocks with a stress utility
• Obtain GPU temperature

Graphics cards supported include:

• ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2
• ATI Radeon HD 4800
• ATI Radeon HD 4670
• ATI Radeon HD 4850
• ATI Radeon HD 4550
• ATI Radeon HD 3870
• ATI Radeon HD 3850
• ATI Radeon HD 3830
• ATI Radeon HD 3690
• ATI Radeon HD 3600
• ATI Radeon HD 3470
• ATI Radeon HD 3450
• ATI Radeon HD 3430
• ATI Radeon HD 2600

Note: The ATI Radeon HD 2900, ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2, and ATI Radeon HD 3850 X2 series of products, along with Workstation, and FireStream products are currently not supported.

Note: Mobile GPU OverDrive support is individual for each vendor, i.e. the same mobile GPU may have or may have not Overdrive 5 support. Please contact your vendor for more information.

More details on how to use ATI OverDrive can be found in the aticonfig help file.

ATI MultiView provides the ability to utilize GPUs from multiple adapters on an independent multi-display desktop. It allows a user to configure, manage and use a Multiview configuration under Linux and allows OpenGL applications run on any displays driven by multiple GPUs. ATI MultiView provides:

• Multi-GPU configuration support
• Up to 4 displays support
• Enhanced display configuration and selection through the Catalyst Control Center Linux Edition
• Administrator shortcut which provides access to configuration options that require root privileges. Root privileges are required for multi-screen configurations, including enabling and disabling certain multi-screen configurations and screen placement.
• ATI MultiView only works on systems with two identical FireGL products which include:
  • ATI FireGL V7700
  • ATI FireGL V7400
  • ATI FireGL V5600
  • ATI FireGL V5200
  • ATI FireGL V3700
  • ATI FireGL V3600
  • ATI FireGL V3400
  • ATI FireGL V3350
  • ATI FireGL V3300
• ATI MultiView does not operate with Compiz environments
• ATI MultiView (released in 8.52/8.53) does not operate with Xinerama enabled

With version 2.0 of the AMD Graphics Driver distribution packaging Application Programming Interface (API), each Linux distribution will have the option of updating their packaging scripts to provide auto detection and installation of the AMD graphics driver.

Version 2.0 of the API installation option will automatically generate and install a distribution-specific package using the distribution's package management system, it automatically check for build and install dependencies when generating and installing distribution-specific packages.

This is achieved in supported distributions by using the following command: aticonfig --buildandinstallpkg

Version 2.0 enhancements include the following:

• Automatic OS detection. Users will be able to generate and install distribution-specific packages without having to provide system-specific information
• Dryrun option. Users will have the ability to request a test run of the installer to ensure that all dependencies are met

Dryrun can be added after either --buildpkg or --buildandinstallpkg to simulate those actions.

Currently only RedHat, Slackware and Ubuntu support these enhanced options. As more distribution packaging scripts implement the AMD Graphics Driver distribution packaging API version 2.0 this list will grow.

The following section provide a brief description of resolved issues with the latest version of the ATI Catalyst Linux software suite. These include:

• Setting the Overscan to an invalid value no longer results in segmentation faults. Further details can be found in topic number 737-35211
• XServer no longer fails when playing media files with XVideo enabled. Further details can be found in topic number 737-35968
• An incorrect error message is no longer returned when applying an unsupported TV geometry in a console terminal. Further details can be found in topic number 737-35212
• Connecting a CRT display device to a system containing an ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 product no longer results in the display device flashing multiple times or failing to display an image when attempting to launch the Catalyst Control Center. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34300
• Quake 3 Arena (demo): Segmentation faults no longer occur when attempting to play the game. Further details can be found in topic number 737-34302
• OpenGL PBOs no longer fail to work with GL_RGB texture format
• Ubuntu 7.04: aticonfig --enable-monitor no longer results in X restarting
• Launching the Catalyst Control Center (Linux Edition) and clicking on the hyperlink located on the Welcome screen no longer results in the browser taking an extra long time to load the web page
• The initial RPM installation no longer results in an libGL.so, no such file or directory error
• The Linux installer now automatically determines the package to build
• The Linux kernel module is no longer installed to wrong location if the Linux kernel is updated
• Running X server without a window manager no longer results in the X server flashing green for a moment, going black, and the computer becoming unresponsive
• Creating two successive connections no longer results in direct GL context to fail. Further details can be found in topic number 737-35215
• Doom3: Connecting a secondary display device and configuring the game to launch on the secondary display device under x, no longer results the game failing to launch on the secondary display device
• A segmentation fault no longer occurs in kdesktop_lock application
• X no longer fails to start after installing the driver and configuring the driver using default values

The following section provides a brief description of known issues associated with the latest version of ATI Catalyst Linux software suite. These issues include:

• DiscoveryStudio1.7: The print preview and save as functions may fail to work properly. Further details can be found in topic number 737-35219
• Desktop corruption may be noticed when dragging the overlay/video when using dual-display mode. Further details can be found in topic number 737-29578
• Bandwidth corruption may be noticed when setting the desktop resolution to 2048x1536 on systems containing an ATI Radeon HD 3200 series of product. Further details can be found in topic number 737-33499
• An X segmentation fault may occur when launching SUZI/textured video. Further details can be found in topic number 737-35214
• The X Server may fail to reset clearly when AIGLX is enabled. Further details can be found in topic number 737-35217
• Running Xtest may result in the operating system failing to respond. Further details can be found in topic number 737-35927
• Softimage XSI Ariane x64: A segmentation fault may occur when loading the application. Further details can be found in topic number 737-35963
• The entire X desktop including the mouse cursor is choppy during playback of video files or suzi test app
• Some display resolution mode may fail to be available when using component video
• Connecting an HDMI display device may result in the audio failing to be heard
• Entering a standby state while running a 3D application may result in desktop corruption being noticed when resuming the system
• Logging out one of multiple users may result in X failing to display an image

For further information and general help on driver or software installation, game issues, and more, visit the ATI FAQ website.