But i get the error: dpkg-deb: error: `fglrx_14.501-0ubuntu1_amd64_UB_14.01.deb' is not a debian format archive.
I have tried installing from the AMD website and from the Additional drivers menu, but both crash the display manager on boot.
Minecraft on linux is terrible, getting under 20 FPS on minimal settings . I haven't even tried installing other games.
Are the proprietary drivers worth installing? I would love someone to help me, the only thing preventing me from switching to linux is this driver issue.
I follow the instructions in the video and I was able to get an AMD 290x working. If an idiot like me can get a 290x to work, then there shouldn't be any reason that methodology shouldn't work for a 7970.
Lets get tot he bottom of this.
try deleting everything having to deal with amd on your computer and start fresh.
Had a similar issue with Lubuntu 14.04 and a 7950. I followed AMDs wiki instructions for installing their latest omega catalyst drivers and it was tedious to say the least. Anyways, after finally getting the drivers installed, the performance was still pretty bad. I'm talking only 30-40fps in Day of Defeat Source and Metro Last Light was basically a slide show.
My solution was I just switched to an equivalent Nvidia graphics card. Sold my 7950 for $150 and picked up a GTX 760 for $140. I then switched to Ubuntu 14.10 gnome (wanted to try it anyways) and followed Wendell's guide in his latest video to install the latest Nvidia drivers - a far easier process. I now get 150fps+ in Day of Defeat Source and just much better performance all around.
The Nvidia graphics drivers for Linux are FAR better than AMD's. I can understand that switching GPUs may not be an option for you and I really hope you can get it working decently. But I just thought I'd share my own solution anyways.
Have also heard from other members in the community that certain AMD cards will perform better than others. For instance the R9 270/X apparently perform pretty good, yet the high-end HD 7000 series (like your 7970 and my old 7950) perhaps don't perform as well.
Someone is asking for help with his amd driver and you recommend him buying a nvidia-card. Thats not how you help someone.
@Orange_Bananna since AMD is responsible for the driver packages on their website it is possible that it really is just broken. You could wait some time and check it again, but for the moment the problem is AMD itself.
Did you try the ubuntu software center to install additional drivers? Linux isn't like windows, you don't just go on a website and download an executable and install it. Most of the time you want to use the packet manager to install your software. The installation with the software center is mentioned here. https://youtu.be/lpn1dnDO5Os?t=25m40s
If you read my whole reply you'd see that I explained I had a similar issue that couldn't be resolved by fixing the drivers alone because as it turned out, the drivers were/are the problem. They simply deliver poor performance on the given hardware.
It was suggested to me in another similar thread I made a couple weeks ago (Poor Gaming Performance in Linux) that I make the change to an Nvidia card if I wanted better (windows-like) gaming performance in Linux - because the nvidia drivers are significantly better in that regard. That is what I did and it solved the issue. Thus, those who suggested I switch actually helped solve my issue. I'm simply doing the same thing here. It may not be the solution the OP desires, but it is a solution, regardless.
Whether the OP wants to try to get better performance with the AMD drivers or is willing to make the change to Nvidia as an option is up to them. But don't tell me I'm not helping when I am providing a valid alternative solution. It's not like I'm saying "you're an idiot if you don't switch to Nvidia". I'm saying; this is what worked for me. :)
Thank you for the help. Yes I did mention the package manager in my original post. It completely crashes the boot process, (both fglrx & fglrx-updates). I cannot even get a terminal open with shift + alt + f1.
Thanks for the suggestion. I followed the video click for click. This is a completely fresh installation. I opened Firefox and made this post. (I did install the dependences from the fglrx log and ran apt-get update) without even changing the GNOME interface.
Thanks for the Help. I can't believe that AMD drivers are that bad. Is mantle going to help this issue?
I love Linux and I cannot wait for it to "take over the world", but for me building a Gaming PC to not play games on seems like a waste of time and money for me.
I don't think that I will be able to get a Nvida graphics card any time soon. :-(
I believe there is a strange issue with the 14.04.2 update causing DKMS errors when trying to install fglrx from AMD's website. Installing fglrx from the Ubuntu repositories works just fine. Hopefully it will be fixed in a future update.
Edit: Just realized that you got the drivers installed. Yeah, performance is pretty disappointing. With fglrx and a 7950, I have to set all settings in Counter Strike GO to low to make it playable. Counter Strike GO runs fine on my laptop with Windows (It has a 3 generation old AMD APU) but runs poorly on a 7950 under linux??
OK I just installed from the additional drivers menu. It crashed as usual, but I FINALLY GO INTO THE GUI. Here is what I did.
Booted into safe mode (Right shift) edited the boot options Replaced the line "quiet splash" with nomodset Then as it tried to boot, I spammed CTR + Q It booted into the GUI with the drivers installed!
I have no idea what has happened. The scaling issue has popped up, but I can fix that and it happens on windows anyway.
Yep. I had the exact same issue with my 7950 in Lubuntu 14.04. DoD source ran crappy, regardless of graphics settings. The most I could get was 40fps but it was laggy and not very smooth at all.
Now with the GTX 760 in it's place running on version 349 drivers, everything runs like it does in windows. DoD source runs at 150-200fps+, no lag and butter smooth. I don't know what else to say. The 79XX cards just don't seem to perform well at all in Linux.
How is it performing so far, now that you seem to have the drivers sorted out?
Not sure if mantle will make any difference. I don't know how AMD compiles their proprietary Linux drivers but I do know that Nvidia basically ports (not sure if that's the right word) their latest windows drivers with every update. As a result, the majority of their cards (going back several generations, right up to the latest) are supported and deliver 80-90% windows performance or better. With AMD it seems to be hit and miss, depending on which card you're running and what games you want to play.
I'm running an R9 290 in my main rig and I love it, it's a beast. Shadow of Mordor at 4k high/ultra settings with VSR is no sweat for it. I like AMD products and I want to use them, but they're just not there with their Linux drivers right now. Hopefully they can make some significant improvements in the near future...
It is unfortunate. After trying game after game after game on my 7950 with fglrx, there wasn't a single one that didn't suffer stuttering or freezing or glitching. I thought that catalyst would be up to snuff enough to game decently at a lower frame rate, but nope. AMD really needs to get their shit together if gaming on linux is ever going to amount to anything.
Gaming on Linux is pretty much equal to windows performance on Nvidia cards. I know it's probably not what you or many others want to hear. It's not what I wanted to hear. You've got this fairly high-end GPU, you'd think it should be able to handle it, right? The drivers, unfortunately, let it down. :/
I'm not brand-biased, though I generally tend to favor AMD GPUs (mainly for price/performance). But in this case, selling my 7950 for a GTX 760 was the best thing I ever did for my Linux machine.