MUCH improved graphics performance ATI Mobility Radeon 7000 IGP (R200) Karmic

Linux Tips & Tricks
1

First generate a xorg.conf.new file…

(you’re going to end up with no GUI until you restart X, so you might want to print this off)

To generate xorg.conf.new you need to switch to a virtual console using the key-combo Ctrl+Alt+F1

You will then need to log-in with your username and password

First make sure you are in your home directory

cd ~

Now execute the following commands:
This will stop X.

sudo service gdm stop

Now generate an xorg.conf file:

sudo Xorg -configure

(remember Linux IS case sensitive)

This has generated the file xorg.conf.new in your home directory

Now restart X:

sudo service gdm start

Your desktop GUI will start again…Next backup your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file (if there is one)

sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.bak

Then move xorg.conf.new from your home directory to the /etc/X11/ directory, and rename it xorg.conf

sudo cp ~/xorg.conf.new /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Now open the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file in gedit:

sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

and, add the following 2 lines to the end of the Section “Device” section, just above the EndSection line

Option "DRI" "False" Option "AccelMethod" "EXA"
so it looks like this
Option "DRI" "False" Option "AccelMethod" "EXA" EndSection
and save.

Next I added the xorg-edgers Launchpad PPA to my repositories… which will update the radeon drivers (and DRI) with “tweaked” versions.

BE AWARE these are not “official” packages and are applied “at your own risk”, but they worked flawlessly for me.

More info here (read first):
https://launchpad.net/~xorg-edgers/+archive/ppa?field.series_filter=karmic

If you want to try them (in karmic or higher)… in a terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:xorg-edgers/ppa

then:

sudo apt-get update

then run update manager

Now reboot.

I was expecting 2D performance to improve, but I also expected disabling DRI would give me a 3D performance “hit”… in reality I ended up with MUCH faster 2D performance, including smooth youtube and flashplayer video for the first time ever :slight_smile: , but 3D performance also improved :slight_smile: … although it’s still no games machine :wink:

2

Hello First post there.

PCNetSpec I said I understand the risks and I do. I am getting this error that gdm is not a recognized service. So on a whim I tried lxdm and got the same error.

3

For Peppermint 3 (or recent versions of Ubuntu) … every time you see gdm in the above instructions, replace it with lighdm :slight_smile:

so:-
sudo service gdm stop
and
sudo service gdm start

would become:-
sudo service lightdm stop
and
sudo service lightdm start

etc.

–

4

The mainters of Peppermint seem to have put xorg.conf in /usr/share.

Sorry for the verbose and repeated assistance. I see a learning exercise for me here as well.

Regards.

5

Erm … no they haven’t … there is NO xorg.conf file until you create one.

and it most definitely goes in /etc/X11 after you create it … if you put it anywhere else, it will NOT be used.

The stuff in /usr/share is either the /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d DIRECTORY or the xorg.conf.5.gz and xorg.conf.d.5.gz manual (man pages) in /usr/share/man/man5

–

6

brotherred@brotherred-Catherine ~ $ ls /etc/X11/
app-defaults fonts rgb.txt xinit Xreset Xresources Xsession.d Xwrapper.config
default-display-manager openbox X xkb Xreset.d Xsession Xsession.options
brotherred@brotherred-Catherine ~ $

Sorry but what am I missing?

7

You’re missing NOTHING ???

Since Ubuntu 9.10 (so ALL Peppermint versions) there is NO /etc/X11/xorg.conf by default … but if you create one, and place it there … it WILL be acted upon.

It’s pointless looking for one on a default Peppermint install (it doesn’t exist) … create it as I said, them move it there … then reboot … and it WILL be read and acted upon.

Why not just try following the given instructions ?

–

8

brotherred@brotherred-Catherine ~ $ sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.bak
[sudo] password for brotherred:
cp: cannot stat `/etc/X11/xorg.conf’: No such file or directory
brotherred@brotherred-Catherine ~ $

Sorry once more but this is what is tripping me up.
Regards.
brotherred@brotherred-Catherine ~ $ sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.bak
[sudo] password for brotherred:
cp: cannot stat `/etc/X11/xorg.conf’: No such file or directory
brotherred@brotherred-Catherine ~ $

9
brotherred@brotherred-Catherine ~ $ sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.bak [sudo] password for brotherred: cp: cannot stat `/etc/X11/xorg.conf': No such file or directory

You only need to copy the existing xorg.conf if there is one already
Like Mark put it:

Your desktop GUI will start again...Next backup your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file ([b]if there is one[/b]) Code: [Select] sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.bak

If you have not got one then just move on with the next instruction. :slight_smile: