It's quite the interesting read but what is written in the article is correct, for the average gamer or consumers, this document either makes no sense to them or they just don't have interest in it.

deltatux

Well, finally after umpteen years of secrecy and BS ATI finally documents their hardware so someone in the Linux community can really write some great OPEN SOURCE (not proprietary) drivers for the hardware. More companies need to do this instead of locking the doors and hiding things. How can you trust a company your doing business with if it is all sneaky, hidden, hide everything, and cover up (kind of like the republicans for the last 8 years and Micros&*& for that matter). Companies stop hiding and give us the information so that we don't have to rely on Microsoft forever.

They would had interest if it was clear that is key document needed to provide open source driver for Linux and other OSes that support OpenGL and full 3D hardware acceleration. So in the next one to two years we could start seeing very good games for other platforms like Linux, FreeBSD, etc.

I suppose they are preparing developers to begin maximizing games for the 790. Probably would have been better if they released it a little earlier though ^_^. It's interesting that the RV730 (4670/4650) supports that burst read instruction. It will certainly help with the open source driver effort. I'd like to think it would help Linux programmers, but seeing as the main API available to them is Open GL 3, I'm not too sure. Open GL is just falling behind due to politics and some stubborn CAD developers in comparison to DirectX. Sad but true.

Linux is for much more than "die hard microsoft haters"
sorry pal but you are missinformed

Really how do you figure ?
My guess is you're a payed MS employee.

LOL, you're a complete noob.
I game in linux every day and havn't had a need for your MS junk for years.
your 2% number is a complete joke(based off obscure W3Counter.com numbers with a giant MS advertisement leading to it) as it don't account for the fact that the vast majority of webservers and mailservers are linux . Not to mention the enormous server/workstation base that MS don't tell you about in that FUD magazine that's rotted your brain.

The simple fact of the matter is Linux gains market share every year, while MS loses market share every year.

Judging from your complete ignorance with these things I doubt you could build your way out of a lego box let alone a pc.


Have fun with your ignorance.

Actually if you knew how many things out there ran linux in the background and that would not exist without linux u would probably not be talking so much.

I use windows xp for my gaming machine, windows vista ultimate for my media center, and mac OSx (somewhat based on Unix) for my laptop hackintosh (it works thanks to it's linux based bootloader). I also work also for a hospital where 99% of our computers and servers are windows based. Sure MS has a huge share of computer, but maybe i;m a bit more well rounded and understand the benefits of every OS.

My router is running DD-wrt (with VPN =] )which is linux based and it has some great features. Some Nas drives use linux. It's time to get your head out of your ass and stop hating things because you don't understand them. All OS's have their place... Go be a die hard fan of one thing it works out well for the company i really don't care...

Maybe when you can afford more then your one computer that your play video games on and use for fighting on the internet you'll understand. In the mean time go sport your MS stuff. MS FOR LYFE!1!1!!!

lol well done to soul_keeper - i use Linux for my media center because windows was just too much of a resource whore!
however for normal gaming etc i still look to windows.

hakesterman - dogs have been in space. +1 to Soul_Keeper.

Hey fudge what distro do you use for your linux media center? I tried a couple and they were not impressive but it's been a while. I still want the eye candy that vista has with the menu transition.

i use XBMC (xbox media center) - get XBMC Live, it says install to USB but you can install straight to HDD

Thanks i'll check it out.

This article will sure to shut some mouth up. Wondering if Nv have something like this or they just say it's a new because we say so?

lol people! This is about ATI new card where is this thing going?

Great job soul_keeper. Hakesterman - look back at all of your comments and you will see all of them are rated down, now you might want to rethink yourself.

Oh and I agree with Norbs: all operating systems do have their uses.

I have licenses for Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows XP, yet I still prefer Linux because it just works for me. It is so simple to install programs, it is quick to boot, it is configured completely without bloat to my liking. Not to mention, I can run many Windows programs with Wine as well as run free, open source, programs which are very similar for Linux.

But anyways, make that +2 for soul_keeper.

Hi norbs,
You can also try Boxee + Ubuntu 8.10. I run it on low grade silent PC and the interface it with simple IR remote. I almost do not use my wireless keyboard and mouse. Also I don't have HDD in my HTPC. I run Ubuntu from USB flash drive and all recordings are stored on my NAS + MythTV backend server + SiliconDust HDhomeRun network dual tuner.
Good luck.

I find Mythbuntu very functional, but still prefer Vista Ultimate for Media Centre

Wow, you really got some learning to do man, i'm sorry, but you've completely wronged a right.
Yea, not too many people have it, but I am a LINUX AND WINDOWS user. And btw, have you ever heard of using WINE? or Any other program via linux that runs windows applications??? Yea, not so shabby are they? I understand your point of view, but do some research and understand WHY people use linux before you go shouting that nobody uses it for GAMING PURPOSES. Actually, I find it fascinating how linux can outperform windows in everything including running windows within linux.... that MIGHT be the reason why a driver would be needed as well.... possibly to do some 3D rendering as well? Possibly programming? So many thoughts, too much typing... good convo starter though man gotta give you that!

i'm thinking about gettin back into linux as well as fixin up this emachien to run it as a media center too... i just need to quick refresh on language and commands...other than that anything else such as unpacking / installing drivers would be of great help too... message me if anyone would like to help

the penguin is at it again LOL!!!
linux community tore a player hater

I'm currently tri-booting Ubuntu Studio 8.10, Windows XP, and Windows 7. I've defended Vista in many arguments, and I abhor ignorant Windows bashing. I'm pretty excited about Windows 7, even though I'll still being using Ubuntu Studio 70% of the time (I only use Windows for Gaming, testing code, and a few apps that don't have linux equivalents).

Every OS has its use. I use three of them. Windows for game, Mac OS X for software dev and Linux.. to fill those other gaps and just for fun.

"Put fun back into computing. Use Linux & BSD" - distrowatch.com

If you hate MS so much
wait till ms bankrupt and linux community can get hands dirty on the os and make WINE (linux's windows compatibility layer) 100% Windoze.

Every single one of my machines is dual bootable with linux and I end up spending time in Windows mostly because of Photoshop because I refuse to run it on Wine. Never been much of a gamer and all the games I play are capable of running within Wine just fine though.

I do hope that the release of this architecture will lead to OSS drivers for ATI cards. Sadly this is a very limited subset of ATI cards, I wish they would release info on their old architectures too, many folks running linux do it on ancient hardware because of how well linux manages the resources. AMD said they'll do this more than a year ago, maybe their internet connections are bad because this is a heck of a ping spike hoho.

jkeelsnc: Thanks for sticking to the subject. Next time can you add some info about your views on Kennedy assasination conspiracy theories and the Loch Ness Monster?

This allso confirms that 4890 is not pure oc version of 4870. There are allso some architectural improvements! Nice find!
So this is something like 4870 II same basic core, but some small improvements.

Sure, some games do work under Wine in Linux (after some annoying playing around - not nearly as easy as double click and play out of box). Some are even native (ID Software comes to mind). I can even see Blizzard extending support to linux because they have the money and historically, I wouldn't be surprised. But you are limited unforutnatly. You can easily get older games to run - and if your the type to run Linux over Windows then you might not even care about waiting a few months for support to come to your platform. But the rest of us want to play a game when it comes out. GTA IV? Warhammer? Fallout 3? Or how about the upcomming Starcraft II or Diablo 3? (While I'm sure Blizz will support Linux in future, this time isn't it) Cysis? These are high profile games that any serious gamer will want to play and Linux will not help them.

Now, with the release of these papers, hopefully we can change that. I AM a Windows fanboy, but this is only because I have no real alternative. Wine works OK, but better then my native solution? Not happening. The day that Linux has full Direct3D support with updates coming from Microsoft is the day I switch to Linux completely. THe catch 22 here is that for that to happen, MS will have to license out its tech to the Linux community, which will cost a bundle, but Linux is free and has no money to pay for this license... Plus Linux has nothing to offer Windows in return so, yea theres that...

Children, there is tech out there worth paying for. If you're the type to shop at a thrift store because its "just as good", then by all means, shop at the thrift store. The rest of us care enough to support people who bring us products we like with money - Microsoft included.

"The views expressed here are mine and do not reflect the official opinion of my employer or the organization through which the Internet was accessed."

I use Windows 7, have Vista for stability, and am currently trying Fedora 10 with GNOME and KDE...

well said gnesterenko i am looking forward to alot of these great titles that are coming out. Quite frankly i am very impressed of the visuals and gameplay. I am looking forward to bioshock 2 and i am going to get it right when it comes out. Steam has changed the way games are played and delivered. With all of that said i currently have ati 3870 512mb and it still kicks ass in all of these games that i have so far. With full 1080P with flying colors.

Its been 1.3 years since i upgraded my card and i am definitely going to upgrade from my 3870 to 4890.

http://appdb.winehq.org/


Oh come on. Other popular titles like
Command and Conquer 3, Red Alert 3, Half-Life 2, Garry's Mod, Counter-Strike: Source , Call of Duty 4, Warcraft III Frozen Throne, EVE Online, Supreme Commander, Left4Dead, blah blah blah
plays 75-90% fine with Wine.

Dont worry about Starcraft II; Blizzard's games most of the time ran ok on Wine and I don't why...

You may want to look at the document again as ATi have reneged on the 4890's abilities.