AMD Releases Open-Source R600/700 3D Code

Michael writes "AMD has just released code that will allow for open-source 3D acceleration on their ATI R600 and R700 graphics cards, including all of their newest Radeon HD 4xxx products. This code consists of a demo program that feeds the commands to the hardware, updates to their RadeonHD driver, and a Direct Rendering Manager update. With this code comes working 2D EXA acceleration support for these newer ATI graphics processors as well as basic X-Video support. AMD will be releasing sanitized documentation for these new ATI GPUs in the coming weeks. Phoronix has an article detailing what's all encompassed by today's code drop as well as the activities that led to this open-source code coming about for release."

Don't forget...

[Anonymous Coward]

Don't forget to pay your $699 licensing fee, you cock-smoking teabaggers!

Mod parent informative

[Anonymous Coward]

I had almost forgotten to pay my $699 licensing fee. Makes me feel like such a cock-smoking teabagger!

Dammit

[wicka]

AMD doing nice shit just makes it all the more heartbreaking when Intel releases better chips. I hope they get their shit together soon, I feel dirty with a Core 2 Duo.

Re:this is either

[QuantumG]

accountants? I don't think they do what you think they do.

Re:Dammit

[Anonymous Coward]

I've got an Athalon chipset and it runs swimmingly

Cool, I've never heard of those. Who builds these? And what processors do they support?

I would love to have a chipset that can still operate correctly when fully submerged. Do they generate enough heat so I can do the dishes with the waste water?

Re:Lawl?

[Anonymous Coward]

Only slightly worse than "linky".

Not clever, not cute, and stuff like this tends to make me ignore whatever the point of message was.

Re:Hallejulla!

[Hal_Porter]

I have an R350 chipset, you insensitive clod!

Seriously though, I'm not seeing much progress with respect to older processors. FTFA,

Two weeks after the initial R500 3D documentation release, AMD had released an R300 3D register guide. This programming guide concerning their older graphics hardware was previously only available through Non-Disclosure Agreements to select developers.

Well, so far my experience with the open source R350 drivers is lukewarm. They do work to an extent, in that they can run Tux Racer and its forks, but FlightGear remains beyond their capabilities.

Why not just buy a R600 or R700 card?

Yours

AMD Marketing.

Re:Heck yeah

[symbolset]

I'm not as crazy as you think. It'll take a while, but yeah that's what's going to happen. It's not because people care about the FLOSS. It's about the secondary effects - code quality, clever applications, creative leverage on having a real view of the underlying architecture. That, and more eyes on the problem.

No, I'm not crazy enough to think the vast majority of people care about this for the inevitable fully functional GPL video drivers that will come of it. Some do, but in the grand scale not enough to shift the market faster than the technologies go obsolete.