The AMD GPU solution is detected, but I’m still unsure about the details.
The AMD GPU solution is detected, but I’m still unsure about the details.
TL;DR - Used PopOS for about 5 months, had to reinstall or refresh it roughly 10 times due to driver issues. Now I’m stuck with black screen on boot, still learning how to fix GRUB settings. Found a solution but not sure if it’s safe. I’m unsure whether upgrading the OS or kernel is needed, and I want to avoid installing an older version just for this. Is it risky? Also, what’s the difference between security and better drivers/features? Any advice would help.
All AMD drivers are integrated into the kernel (AMDGPU for newer cards and RADEON for older ones, chosen automatically by the kernel), eliminating the need for manual installation. The official AMDGPU-PRO driver is available on the AMD website as an optional proprietary variant. If previous versions fail, you can use the proprietary catalyst drivers. Updated January 28, 2020 by CactusMan
AMDGPU-PRO is AMD's custom driver, designed mainly for workstations rather than typical consumer PCs. It often shows lower performance and more compatibility problems. The standard Mesa stack usually covers your needs and is recommended by AMD. A Sea Island card remains somewhat outdated and experimental. To use it effectively, you might need to adjust settings by creating /etc/modprobe.d/amdgpu.conf with specific lines, then restart your system. Adjust options like amdgpu support and cik_support accordingly. If issues persist, modify /etc/mkinitcpio.conf to prioritize amdgpu and ensure it loads first. If problems continue, look for kernels built with Sea Island support; most distributions likely have it enabled by default. Updated February 25, 2020 by Nayr438.
Consider using mesa amdgpu when radeon isn't enough. It supports vulkan but doesn't have vaapi support for SI. Make sure you don't mix it with amdgpu-pro.
I apologize for the delayed response. Trying to find a solution that functions smoothly on Windows was challenging, so I moved to Windows 10 without much effort. Now I can play certain games purchased on Steam that need a Core 2 Duo and 512MB GCard. I own an I5 2500 and a 4GB 290. Electronics Wizard says most games run well with the Radeon driver, but many modern titles need dxvk/d9vk and Vulcan/Proton. CactusMan mentioned the opposite: AMD GPU drivers are outdated, while Radeon drivers are newer. The AMD GPU drivers are crucial since they support an older OpenGL version that the Radeon lacks (possibly OpenGL 1.2). I’m currently using AMD® Hawaii Radeon drivers, auto-chosen by the kernel. They don’t work with dxvk/d9vk or Vulcan/Proton properly, especially for my card in the GCN2 experimental category. Installing the Catalyst drivers causes a black screen at startup. I’m hesitant to follow the suggested commands because I fear resetting my system again due to confusing errors. Nayr438 - The default Mesa stack prevents dxvk/d9vk and Vulcan/Proton. I’ve read that AMD GPU drivers are the older ones, while Radeon drivers are newer. The AMD GPU drivers support a version of OpenGL that the Radeon doesn’t. I’m using the AMD Hawaii drivers auto-selected, but they fail with modern games like Supraland unless I enable the AMD GPU. I’m unsure how to properly configure the AMD GPU settings and might need to manually adjust /etc/modprobe.d/amdgpu.conf. I’m still a beginner and don’t know how to edit that file safely. I’ve tried several guides, but the biggest hurdle is getting Uplay to load and log in. The same issue occurs with Lutris when using dxvk/d9vk. I’m unsure whether to follow the instructions carefully or risk further complications. Please clarify what the command does and how it could help, as I’m not sure if it’s safe.
I've adjusted my understanding, thanks for noticing. This discussion points to the specific issues I'm facing starting from the second post onward. As mentioned in a previous comment, having a card without Vulkan support feels similar to using a card without 3D graphics acceleration – essentially very limited. The example from Phoronix suggests that running the amdgpu-pro driver with an older kernel might still be possible. If you've installed PopOS version 18.04 (presumably the LTS release), would that actually install a more recent kernel, or is it just an unnecessary effort? What are your thoughts? Should I try resolving this or consider giving up?
Start a command prompt. Type "sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/amdgpu.conf" and add the following settings: options amdgpu si_support=0, options amdgpu cik_support=1. Press Ctrl+X, then Y to save and enter. Open another terminal. Navigate to /etc/mkinitcpio.conf and find the # MODULES line. Insert the relevant modules before any boot hooks are executed. Advanced users can list all system modules in MODULES and remove any radeon entries if needed. For example: MODULES=(amdgpu ...). Save and exit. Check the directory listing of /etc/mkinitcpio.d to see kernel presets. Run "sudo mkinitcpio -p kernelname" for the current Manjaro kernel. Restart your system and you should see a stable build supporting Vulkan with AMD GPU. I’ve used a 270x, which is the same kernel base under Arch Linux, and Manjaro shares that foundation. If it fails on PopOS, try Manjaro. You might also consider using TKG’s PDS kernel builds from ChaoticAur, as they focus on gaming and include fixes not in the official releases. Lowering your kernel version can help, but it may also affect other components like Mesa. Remember that DXVK and Mesa sometimes require compatibility patches, so outdated Vulkan or Mesa versions could break things. Downgrading your kernel is just one step; you may also need to adjust Mesa. Avoid Proton and DXVK if you’re stuck with an outdated setup, as they’ll revert to older OpenGL versions. Essentially, you’d end up back where you began, but on a less recent system.