AMD GPU-PRO Beta Driver for Linux released with Vulkan support for Dota 2

Quoting: pete910Am not sure whats more annoying , Lack of 290(cgn 1.1) support or the lack of the standard .sh LINUX installer

That's a non-issue. Very likely distros will handle this for us (the installer part) ;-). Depending on the distribution part in the license, hope AMD made a good one there.


Last edited by STiAT on 23 May 2016 at 7:08 am UTC

The worst part about the AMDGPU-Pro drivers by far is that it still relies on proprietary microcode. Most Nvidia cards have free software microcode (up until the last couple of generations at least). So when I go to run GNU Guix or Trisquel on whatever, the machine has so many problems that I sometimes can't even get picture on the screen - I have to fall back to Intel integrated graphics (which I normally disable due to my CPU overclock). But if I boot up my GTX660M laptop, these distros work 100%.

We're told the firmware is proprietary because of the DRM stuff that's basically only used on Windows, so I don't see why AMD can't just strip that stuff out of it and release the remaining non-DRM-related functionality as free software. Then it could be included in Linux Libre and all the 100% free distros, and it would be the fastest 100% free driver available as well.

Even if some actually used functionality had to be disabled, it would still be a better situation than we have now, and it would probably (depending on missing functionality) still be possible to recommend AMD cards for the best free software-compatible experience.

It's quite frustrating. I kinda feel like, if I can't have working free software distro-supported graphics on AMD, why not just buy Nvidia?


Last edited by boltronics on 23 May 2016 at 8:10 am UTC

Quoting: boltronicsIt's quite frustrating. I kinda feel like, if I can't have working free software distro-supported graphics on AMD, why not just buy Nvidia?

Don't you think this statement sounds ridiculous knowing how Nvidia "supports" free and open drivers? Also, microcode stuff seems to be a trend lately, even with Intel.
I don't say this is good, but AMD is not the only one out there doing things this way. Even so, they made the largest turn in the last few years compared to others and who knows what they still have in plans.


Last edited by tuxintuxedo on 23 May 2016 at 8:33 am UTC

Quoting: boltronicsThe worst part about the AMDGPU-Pro drivers by far is that it still relies on proprietary microcode. Most Nvidia cards have free software microcode (up until the last couple of generations at least).

All modern graphics cards require binary closed firmware.

Quoting: tuxintuxedo

Quoting: boltronicsIt's quite frustrating. I kinda feel like, if I can't have working free software distro-supported graphics on AMD, why not just buy Nvidia?

Don't you think this statement sounds ridiculous knowing how Nvidia "supports" free and open drivers?

Yes I do, which is why I said it's so frustrating!

Quoting: Pecisk

Quoting: boltronicsThe worst part about the AMDGPU-Pro drivers by far is that it still relies on proprietary microcode. Most Nvidia cards have free software microcode (up until the last couple of generations at least).

All modern graphics cards require binary closed firmware.

Sad but true. At least you can get a relatively new Nvidia card easily enough. And Intel's firmware is built into the UEFI last I checked, so it doesn't need to be shipped with the kernel to work.

Looks like you can get an Nvidia GTX 750Ti 2Gb from MSY in Australia for AU$166, which IIRC doesn't require proprietary drivers.


Last edited by boltronics on 23 May 2016 at 8:56 am UTC

I'm happy to see amdgpu is prepared to ramble!

Is the nVidia driver already able to run Dota 2 Vulkan? Is a 560ti capable running Vulkan?

EDIT: Wait ... only GTX 6xx and newer as well as GCN 1.2? :/


Last edited by cRaZy-bisCuiT on 24 May 2016 at 9:46 am UTC

(was duplicate, forgot I made this one).


Last edited by TheRiddick on 24 May 2016 at 10:59 pm UTC

Has ANYONE managed to get Company of Heroes 2 working with this driver, I asked Feral and they said its not supported by this driver yet... I see someone got Shadow of Mordor working which I'm downloading now (41GB is a kick in the balls with my connection), if that works then I suppose CoH2 just has a problem....


Last edited by TheRiddick on 24 May 2016 at 10:58 pm UTC