Saturday, October 31, 2009

Ubuntu 3D Desktop Howto


Small tutorial to enabled 3D effects and add a application dock bar in Ubuntu Karmic 9.10.

This video was created in Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha, using a ATI RS480 built-in gfx chipset on old Shuttle ST20G5. It's kind of slow because the recording software brings the framerate to it's knees on this box. Otherwise works fast enough when I'm not recording the desktop at same time.

ATI opensource drivers are much better in this release, but I still have severe crashes once, or twice a day while using the machine.

Basic 3D works ok, but there is still plenty to fix:
- Google Earth still has problems with ATI opensource drivers.
- Xrandr 1.3 can't enable my DVI monitor, if I boot the machine with a VGA monitor pluged in. But if I power of the machine disconnect the VGA cable, start with the DVI monitor and then plug the VGA cable and enable second monitor, it works.
- Dual monitor: If I enable both monitor with 1920x1080 resolutions 3D stops working or refresh becomes very slow, If I reduce the resolution all becomes usable around 1280x1024 on both monitor.