Changing GPU - From nVidia Nouveau To AMD AMDGPU?

English Hardware
1

Hi,

I have openSUSE Tumbleweed KDE 64Bit installed on a desktop.
The desktop currently has a very old nVidia GeForce GT 240 GPU.
I want to install a better AMD Radeon HD 7870 GPU.

What must I do after I physically install the AMD GPU?
On boot with nVidia Nouveau be automatically changed to AMD AMDGPU?

Let me know, thanks!

Jesse

2

Hi
Yes, I would replace, boot up and it may use either radeon or amdgpu, the process is the same as detailed in this thread…
https://forums.opensuse.org/showthread.php/540007-Radeon-HD-7850-how-to-get-the-best-out-of-it

However, the older GCN 1.0 cards are being dropped from amdgpu, so may have to use the radeon driver in the near future, but you would still need to use the boot options except it will be radeon.si_support=1 radeon.cik_support=0

3

Hi,

Uggg…

Never used an AMD GPU under Linux before(been using Linux for 10+ years).
How should I install the AMD proprietary display driver for openSUSE Tumbleweed?

Will this card be a problem in the future with the proprietary AMD Linux display driver?
(I understand it’s an old card - but hoping it will be supported in the future)

Jesse

4

Hi
Nope, it will be radeon or amdgpu… I would not even attempt trying to install…

5

Ok, thanks, I will stay with default “Radeon” driver…

6

Hi
Does it not show the amdgpu driver? I would set the boot options if staying with radeon, there are probably other kernel tweaks to help performance if it’s lacking…

7

Running “Radeon” driver.
Going to try Unigine “Superposition” benchmark to test GPU performance.

8

Benchmark is below:

http://fallenangelsoftware.com/stuff/files/4Stuff/Superposition_Benchmark_v1.1_3381_1587784171.png

9

or the upstream default, which will be used automatically if neither xf86-video-amdgpu nor xf86-video-ati nor xf86-video-intel nor xf86-video-nouveau are installed, and KMS is not disabled, for every AMD/ATI, Intel or NVidia GPU that is both non-ancient and non-bleeding edge. The (upstream default) modesetting DDX is in use here for up to 3 displays at once on all currently supported openSUSE releases plus 15.2beta on 25+ multiboot PCs, all of which have at least 3 openSUSE installations each.

10

Hi
I keep forgetting about that, even using the modesetting driver for intel…

11

Worth trying

RADV_PERFTEST=aco

environment variable.

I recommend GCN 3.0+ for better results with AMD graphics.