How To: ATI & Crossfire in Linux
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 2:42 pm
Nvidia users have enjoyed SLI (Scalable Linking Interface) for years, why must ATI users suffer? This has finally all changed in our nix world. Crossfire aka Crossfire X is a multi-graphic card subsytem similar to that of SLI, my mainboard supports quad Crossfire (4 video cards, currently running with 2), before today nix would only use one of these cards, it may be time to order 2 more
Well ladies & gents, this is not for the light of heart, moreso for the poweruser. I am told that future versions of the native ATI linux driver will allow this feature to be switched on through CCC (Catalyst Control Center), today at time of this post this is not the case, and is somewhat a pain to get enabled. Well about 20 minutes later I am reaping the benefits of such a configuration. I thought I would take the time and share it with you. Took me longer to write the how to then to get it working.
Disclaimer:
I take no responsibility if you bork your system (highly unlikely), straight forward & simple
Driver Installation:
Preparing for driver installation:
1. Ensure all software sources (repositories) are open System>>Administration>>Software sources...
2. Update & upgrade. System >> Administration >> Update Manager, then click check to refresh your list
3. Most likely you will have to reboot (kernel upgrades etc.)
4. Install EnvyNG. Applications >> Accessories >> Terminal (If you already have EnvyNG installed you may skip this step)
5. Obtaining the driver. Applications >> System >> EnvyNG
6. Reboot
Verify all went well:
Open a terminal and enter the following:
It should return:
Breaking out Crossfire X:
To enable crossfire to work you must first know your adapters in order to create a "chain", first we will obtain this information using the included tool aticonfig in a terminal...
It should display similar:
Note the 0 & 1, yours may be different. We now have all the information we need to create a "chain" & enable it.
Setting up the "chain":
Using the above output (using mine as an example) enter the following in your terminal:
Should display similar:
Reboot...
What still no crossfire?
Well nope not yet all we have done is create the chain now it is time to enable the chain. We can verify this with the following in a terminal:
Results:
Kicking it all into gear:
In our trusty terminal:
Should return similar:
Reboot and enjoy Crossfire X
To verify:
Should return similar:
Enjoy,
TheeMahn
Well ladies & gents, this is not for the light of heart, moreso for the poweruser. I am told that future versions of the native ATI linux driver will allow this feature to be switched on through CCC (Catalyst Control Center), today at time of this post this is not the case, and is somewhat a pain to get enabled. Well about 20 minutes later I am reaping the benefits of such a configuration. I thought I would take the time and share it with you. Took me longer to write the how to then to get it working.
Disclaimer:
I take no responsibility if you bork your system (highly unlikely), straight forward & simple
Driver Installation:
Preparing for driver installation:
1. Ensure all software sources (repositories) are open System>>Administration>>Software sources...
2. Update & upgrade. System >> Administration >> Update Manager, then click check to refresh your list
3. Most likely you will have to reboot (kernel upgrades etc.)
4. Install EnvyNG. Applications >> Accessories >> Terminal (If you already have EnvyNG installed you may skip this step)
- Code: Select all
sudo apt-get install envyng-gtk envyng-qt envyng-core
5. Obtaining the driver. Applications >> System >> EnvyNG
6. Reboot
Verify all went well:
Open a terminal and enter the following:
- Code: Select all
glxinfo | grep rendering
It should return:
santa@NorthPole:~$ glxinfo | grep rendering
direct rendering: Yes
santa@NorthPole:~$
Breaking out Crossfire X:
To enable crossfire to work you must first know your adapters in order to create a "chain", first we will obtain this information using the included tool aticonfig in a terminal...
- Code: Select all
aticonfig --list-adapters #note 2 minus's before list
It should display similar:
santa@NorthPole:~$ aticonfig --list-adapters
* 0. 01:00.0 Radeon X1650 Series
1. 02:00.0 Radeon X1650 Series
* - Default adapter
santa@NorthPole:~$
Note the 0 & 1, yours may be different. We now have all the information we need to create a "chain" & enable it.
Setting up the "chain":
Using the above output (using mine as an example) enter the following in your terminal:
- Code: Select all
aticonfig --adapter=0,1 --cfa #note 2 minus's before each parameter
Should display similar:
Crossfire chain added.
Warning: X needs to be restarted for changes to take effect.
Reboot...
What still no crossfire?
Well nope not yet all we have done is create the chain now it is time to enable the chain. We can verify this with the following in a terminal:
- Code: Select all
aticonfig --lsch #note double minus's
Results:
santa@NorthPole:~$ aticonfig --lsch
CrossFire chain for adapter 0, status: disabled
0. 01:00.0 Radeon X1650 Series
1. 02:00.0 Radeon X1650 Series
Kicking it all into gear:
In our trusty terminal:
- Code: Select all
aticonfig --adapter=0,1 --crossfire=on
Should return similar:
santa@NorthPole:~$ aticonfig --adapter=0,1 --crossfire=on
Warning: No CrossFire chain defined for master adapter 1
CrossFire chain(s) enabled
Warning: X needs to be restarted before CrossFire changes take effect.
Reboot and enjoy Crossfire X
To verify:
- Code: Select all
aticonfig --lsch
Should return similar:
santa@NorthPole:~$ aticonfig --lsch
CrossFire chain for adapter 0, status: enabled
0. 01:00.0 Radeon X1650 Series
1. 02:00.0 Radeon X1650 Series
santa@NorthPole:~$
Enjoy,
TheeMahn