AMD Tahiti PRO [Radeon HD 7950/8950 OEM / R9 280] Black screen during and after install ZORIN OS 16

Legacy BIOS
GPU : Radeon HD 7950

Tried editing the grub by adding:
radeon.si_support=0/1 radeon.cik_support=0/1 amdgpu.si_support=0/1 amdgpu.cik_support=0/1 radeon.dc=0/1 amdgpu.dc=0/1 radeon.modeset=0/1 amdgpu.modeset=0/1

GRUB_GFXMODE=1920x1080x32

it ends up in a black screen or moving pixels then black screen.. is this because i am missing an xorg.conf file?

The only way that works is via low graphics by adding the nomodeset in the grub but then limited gpu performance with screen tearing/blinking ect... In settings it then shows under graphics: llvmpipe (LLVM 12.0.0, 128 bits)

Could you please support me with steps to follow to make my system recognize my gpu Radeon HD 7950?

If more information is required please let me know.

Thank you so much in advance!

What is the output in terminal of:

uname -a

?

this is the ouput of uname -a :

Linux desktop-a 5.11.0-34-generic #36~20.04.1-Ubuntu SMP Fri Aug 27 08:06:32 UTC 2021 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Cheers

There it is.

Please see this thread:

Am not sure if AMD is affected as well as Nvidia. Can you test?

Tried both the latest and now the previous kernel:
Linux desktop-a 5.11.0-27-generic #29~20.04.1-Ubuntu SMP Wed Aug 11 15:58:17 UTC 2021 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

My grub is:
GRUB_DEFAULT=0
GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE=hidden
GRUB_TIMEOUT=0
GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash radeon.si_support=0 radeon.cik_support=0 amdgpu.si_support=1 amdgpu.cik_support=0 amdgpu.dc=1 amdgpu.dpm=1"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""
GRUB_GFXMODE=1920x1080x32

No black screen but it seems that there is still tearing. I checked online to see if the gpu is in use and i found this way of checking in terminal:
lspci -vnnn | perl -lne 'print if /^\d+:.+([\S+:\S+])/' | grep VGA

with an output:
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Tahiti PRO [Radeon HD 7950/8950 OEM / R9 280] [1002:679a] (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])

Does this mean my gpu is in use?

Cheers

It does.

So, no black screen- but there is screen tearing?

Great!! Via your post i also set kernel updates on HOLD.

Yes weird horizontal red lines and via the settings under display "unknown display" is shown. Currently i have 2 monitors plugged in (gpu can handle 4 via 4 outputs but up to 6 with an amd eyefinity adapter) but only one is detected and mirrored on both monitors..

Thank you so much for your prompt replies!

Can you please post the output of lspci -k here?
Can you navigate to /usr/share/X11/ and check if you have any files named (Similar to) xorg.conf, radeon.conf or amdgpu.conf?

lspci -k output:

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 4 Series Chipset DRAM Controller (rev 03)
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. P5Q Deluxe Motherboard
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 4 Series Chipset PCI Express Root Port (rev 03)
Kernel driver in use: pcieport
00:1a.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. P5Q Deluxe Motherboard
Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
00:1a.1 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) USB UHCI Controller #5
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. P5Q Deluxe Motherboard
Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
00:1a.2 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) USB UHCI Controller #6
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. P5Q Deluxe Motherboard
Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
00:1a.7 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. P5Q Deluxe Motherboard
Kernel driver in use: ehci-pci
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) HD Audio Controller
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. P5Q Deluxe Motherboard
Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
Kernel modules: snd_hda_intel
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) PCI Express Root Port 1
Kernel driver in use: pcieport
00:1c.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) PCI Express Root Port 5
Kernel driver in use: pcieport
00:1c.5 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) PCI Express Root Port 6
Kernel driver in use: pcieport
00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. P5Q Deluxe Motherboard
Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
00:1d.1 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. P5Q Deluxe Motherboard
Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
00:1d.2 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. P5Q Deluxe Motherboard
Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
00:1d.7 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. P5Q Deluxe Motherboard
Kernel driver in use: ehci-pci
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 PCI Bridge (rev 90)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801JIR (ICH10R) LPC Interface Controller
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. P5Q Deluxe Motherboard
Kernel driver in use: lpc_ich
Kernel modules: lpc_ich
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) SATA AHCI Controller
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. P5Q Deluxe Motherboard
Kernel driver in use: ahci
Kernel modules: ahci
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) SMBus Controller
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. P5Q Deluxe Motherboard
Kernel modules: i2c_i801
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Tahiti PRO [Radeon HD 7950/8950 OEM / R9 280]
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Tahiti PRO [Radeon HD 7950/8950 OEM / R9 280]
Kernel modules: radeon, amdgpu
01:00.1 Audio device: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Tahiti HDMI Audio [Radeon HD 7870 XT / 7950/7970]
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Tahiti HDMI Audio [Radeon HD 7870 XT / 7950/7970]
Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
Kernel modules: snd_hda_intel
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 12)
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Motherboard
Kernel driver in use: sky2
Kernel modules: sky2
03:00.0 IDE interface: Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88SE6111/6121 SATA II / PATA Controller (rev b1)
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. 88SE6111/6121 SATA II / PATA Controller
Kernel driver in use: pata_marvell
Kernel modules: ahci, pata_marvell, pata_acpi
05:02.0 Ethernet controller: Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88E8001 Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 14)
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Marvell 88E8001 Gigabit Ethernet Controller (Asus)
Kernel driver in use: skge
Kernel modules: skge
05:03.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): LSI Corporation FW322/323 [TrueFire] 1394a Controller (rev 70)
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. LSI FW322/323 IEEE 1394a FireWire Controller
Kernel driver in use: firewire_ohci
Kernel modules: firewire_ohci

in /usr/share/X11/ i have a folder called xorg.conf.d. In this folder i have several conf files:

10-amdgpu.conf
10-radeon.conf
10-quirks.conf
40-libinput.conf
70-wacom.conf

Cheers

Please open 10-radeon.conf in an elevated Text Editor or use nano in terminal with

sudo nano /usr/share/X11/10-radeon.conf

And check if you have the following line:

Option "TearFree" "on"

If you do not- please add it and save.

must i place the file in usr/share/X11/ or in usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d?

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You're right. Sorry about that.
/usr/share/X11/xorg,conf.d/

How embarrassing for me...

No prob :slight_smile:

I rebooted and still is the same with weird horizontal lines. When i watch a youtube video it is very laggy, flickers, and sometimes one out of the 2 monitors turns black and then turns back on...

I tried editing the 10-amdgpu.conf file with the same inputs but the behavior is the same. Its no improvement.

Cheers

Let's try the oibaf drivers:
Add the repository

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:oibaf/graphics-drivers

Update:

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

Done and rebooted.

Must i change a setting?

No, it would act on the drivers automatically. Any change?

Still seems the same...

Usually shouldnt i also be able via the settings edit each display connected to the gpu?

Yes, you should- but you stated that you are seeing the display, but that it is Mirrored.

billy@Zorin-16-Pro:~$ uname -a
Linux Zorin-16-Pro 5.13.0-16.1-liquorix-amd64 #1 ZEN SMP PREEMPT liquorix 5.13-14ubuntu1~focal (2021-09-12) x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

In fact via the settings i am not seeing 2 displays only one is visible under the name "unknown display".

Physically both monitors are showing the same(mirrored)

Also the fact that no sound is coming out of my gpu seems that its not working properly..

1 Like