AMD Launches New ATI Linux Driver

Michael Larabel writes "AMD has issued a press release announcing 'significant graphics performance and compatibility enhancements' on Linux. AMD will be delivering new ATI Linux drivers this year that offer ATI Radeon HD 2000 series support, AIGLX support (Beryl and Compiz), and major performance improvements. At Phoronix we have been testing these new drivers internally for the past few weeks and have a number of articles looking at this new driver. The ATI 8.41 Linux driver delivers Linux gaming improvements from the R300/400 series and the R500 series. The inaugural Radeon HD 2900XT series support also can be found in the new ATI Linux driver with 'the best price/performance ratio of any high-end graphics card under Linux.' While this new driver cannot be downloaded yet, in their press release AMD also alludes to accelerating efforts with the open-source community."

Comments

Is the driver open-source?

[Anonymous Coward]

If not then forget it. I will only go with those who release their source code. Hell, for all we know there could be a root-kit in the driver.

Re:Put up or shut up...

[thegnu]

But I've been hearing reports on /. since the beginning of the year of ATI linux drivers coming soon. How about we wait until they're actually release before bothering to give them any support.

1. You're new here, aren't you?
2. ATI is under new management, or haven't you heard?

Plus, isn't AMD generally considered pretty good for Linux support? Not that it's not mostly to the NFORCE chipsets' credit, but AMD purchased ATI because their Nforce "monopoly" was over, so Linux users were no longer locked into broken Intel chipsets if they purchased an Intel processor. Am I right?

Am I the only person who suspected that AMD would, in due time, put Linux driver support as one of its main priorities? I seemed to be one of the few (excuse me while I toot my own horn) that Snape killed Dumbledore because Dumbledore wanted him to, so maybe.

Oh, and [/spoiler], btw