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AMD to help with open-source ATI Linux graphics

Advanced Micro Devices will release open-source driver software to improve Linux support for its ATI graphics chips and is contributing help and funding to outside programmers who are improving the driver, according to a Linux graphics expert.

AMD is sharing specifications, releasing source code of one software component, and funding programmer work on the project, said Michael Larabel of the Phoronix site, which measures Linux performance. AMD is working with Novell's Suse Linux programmers on the project, he said.

An AMD representative told CNET News.com that the company plans to release details later Thursday about its open-source driver … Read more

AMD to update ATI Linux drivers--with open source?

ATI, the graphics chip business Advanced Micro Devices acquired, is planning to release new graphics drivers for Linux, and the move should provide a much-needed performance boost and a new open-source approach, one expert said Wednesday.

"The performance overall for the past sixteen months has been stagnant," said Michael Larabel, who runs the Phoronix site to monitor Linux graphics performance. He tested the driver and said the new 8.41 version will be available within the next week. "The new driver delivers massive performance improvements."

That's handy for the graphics wonks who want fancy 3D-graphics … Read more

AMD developing patch for ATI security flaw

Advanced Micro Devices plans to issue a critical security fix Monday afternoon for a flaw in its ATI driver, which currently could expose the Vista kernel to malicious attackers.

AMD's ATI, as well as competitors Nvidia and other graphics chipmakers, were cited as having poorly written drivers, which could allow malicious attackers to use the technology as an entry point for writing code to the Vista kernel, according to a recent article in the Inquirer.

AMD plans to release a new ATI Catalyst package this afternoon, said Jon Carvill, an AMD spokesman.

"The market recently discovered a potential … Read more

Nvidia gaining ground on Intel, AMD in graphics

Nvidia painted a pretty picture in the graphics market during the second quarter.

The company's market share soared by 81 percent compared with a year ago, as it overtook AMD's ATI division and erased some of Intel's lead in the market for PC graphics, according to new data from Jon Peddie Research. Intel held 37.6 percent of the market in the second quarter, while Nvidia garnered 32.6 percent and AMD had 19.5 percent.

Intel holds the lead in graphics by virtue of its integrated graphics chipsets, which ship with low-end desktops and lots of … Read more

AMD's Dave Orton, former ATI CEO, resigns

Dave Orton came over to Advanced Micro Devices when it acquired ATI Technologies last year, but his tenure at the company will have been brief.

AMD announced Tuesday that Orton, the former CEO of ATI and an executive vice president at AMD, is stepping down at the end of this month. Orton will not be replaced; instead, the heads of AMD's graphics and consumer electronics businesses will report directly to Dirk Meyer, AMD's president, and Hector Ruiz, AMD's CEO.

ATI was a struggling business when AMD snapped it up last year for $5.4 billion, but the … Read more

AMD rolls out next-gen ATI graphics cards for the masses

ATI's Radeon HD 2600 and Radeon HD 2400 lines make their debut today. You can expect five basic variants. Some repackagers (Sapphire, Asus, etc.) may offer options with different amounts of RAM. Others might appear only in systems from PC vendors, rather than on store shelves. The basic variations include:

256MB (GDDR4) Radeon HD 2600 XT - $149 256MB (GDDR3) Radeon HD 2600 XT - $129 256MB (GDDR2) Radeon HD 2600 Pro - $99 256MB Radeon HD 2400 XT - $79 256MB Radeon HD 2400 Pro - $59

These midrange and budget 3D cards fall in the same price … Read more

Asus claims first Radeon X2300 laptop

Asus may be best known for making laptops that are sold under other brand names (we're looking at you, MacBook), but the Taiwan-based company is also frequently the first out of the gate with new technology. For a good example, check out the SideShow-enabled laptop we saw recently at CES.

Asus today announced the first notebook to feature graphics from ATI's new ATI Mobility Radeon X2300 chip. The Asus A8Jr isn't terribly remarkable otherwise, but since ATI isn't saying much of anything about the X2300 just yet, informational nuggets such as the following (from the Asus … Read more

ATI: We like our proprietary Linux drivers

Intel released open-source drivers for its graphics cards on Wednesday, a bid to win Linux allies and give the operating better support, but graphics rival ATI Technologies has indicated it won't follow suit when it comes to the software that lets operating systems communicate with its workstation and PC graphics cards.

"Proprietary, patented optimizations are part of the value we provide to our customers and we have no plans to release these drivers to open source," the company said in a statement. "In addition, multimedia elements such as content protection must not, by their very nature, … Read more

Intel making open-source graphics moves

Intel is expected this week to reveal new details on work involving open-source graphics drivers, according to sources familiar with the situation. Intel has mentioned graphics driver work but has been cagey about details. However, the move could alter the landscape for those using the Linux operating system.

Stand-alone graphics chip companies ATI and Nvidia release proprietary drivers that can be used with Linux, but many in the open-source world have ethical, legal and practical objections.