Ubuntu

Problem with Radeon graphics card driver

Asked by Russ Fogg

Hi, since using Ubuntu on my PC, it always starts in low graphics mode. lspci tells me my graphics card is:

ATI Technologies Inc RV516 [Radeon X1300 Pro] (Secondary)

The system uses a Dell E228WFP monitor which with the graphics card works fine on Vista using dual boot. The proprietary ATI accelerated graphics driver has been enabled on the Restricted Drivers Manager (though it didn't work before this was enabled).

I'm new to Ubuntu, so an idiots guide would be appreciated! Cheers

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Benjamin Drung
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Benjamin Drung (bdrung) said : 		#1

Which version of Ubuntu are you using?

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Russ Fogg (fogg-russell) said : 		#2

Using version 7.10. I've been doing more research since raising the original question and think I need to download a proprietary driver for it, but don't know how to do that. If it helps, I'm familiar with using the terminal.

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Benjamin Drung (bdrung) said : 		#3

Do you use Gnome, KDE or XFCE?

You sad that you activated the proprietary ATI graphics driver. So I think the maximum resolution of your monitor is not set up correctly. What do you mean with low graphics mode? Only a small resolution or VESA mode?

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Russ Fogg (fogg-russell) said : 		#4

Hi, I am using Gnome 2.20.1.

Using the Restricted Drivers Manager, I enabled the ATI accelerated graphics driver. Since I enabled the driver and tried to select the appropriate Screen and Graphics card from the Screen and Graphics Preferences, I have had problems.

The pc boots up in low graphics mode, or I get a message (from the monitor?) saying "Auto Detect (Digital Input). Cannot display this video mode. Optimum resolution 1680x1050 at 60Hz). When I restart, it defaults back to a screen I can see:

Screen: Model "Plug and Play" with resolution 800x600 at 73Hz
Graphics Card: vesa - Generic VESA-compliant video cards

If I then try to select the correct Monitor model (Dell E228WFP) with the resolution 1680x1050 at 60Hz, the screen is not viewable, and I get the option to cancel the setting and return to the configuration below:

Screen: Model "Plug and Play" with resolution 800x600 at 73Hz
Graphics Card: vesa - Generic VESA-compliant video cards

When I try to change the graphics card, I select ATI from the list of manufactures, and then I'm given a choice of:

Radeon (fbdev)
Radeon (fglrx)
Radeon (vesa)
Radeon 8500

I'm not sure which (if any) of these relates to the graphics card installed on the PC (Radeon X1300 Pro). But having worked my way through them, non give a screen I can see from.

Cheers
Russ

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Best Benjamin Drung (bdrung) said : 		#5

Did you check the button "Widescreen Monitor" when you selected the correct Monitor model (Dell E228wpf)?

Try to select the graphic card via name:
1. fglrx
2. ati
3. radeon

If none of them are working you can install the package xserver-xorg-video-radeonhd. Then try to select radeonhd as graphic driver. (The radeonhd driver in the package repository is old, may be too old for your card).

If this does not work, you can try to download the current build of the hardy live CD http://cdimages.ubuntu.com/daily-live/current/ and test if hardy is working for you. So you only need to wait 8 days until Ubuntu 8.04 hardy is released.

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Russ Fogg (fogg-russell) said : 		#6

It works - Hurray for Hardy Heron!

Many thanks for your help

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Russ Fogg (fogg-russell) said : 		#7

Thanks Benjamin Drung, that solved my question.