Radeon HD 8000 series speculated to be "pivotal moment" for AMD Linux support

[moshpit]

Phoronix has posted an editorial where Michael explores the future of AMD's open source drivers and the impact of reduced lag time in supported GPUs.

Up to this point AMD's open-source initiatives have always lagged behind the development of the next-generation ASICs and the proprietary Catalyst driver development. Since the wonderful time back in September of 2007 when AMD announced their open-source strategy and initially partnered with Novell to develop the xf86-video-radeonhd driver for R500+ GPUs, they've been in a constant game of catching up to supporting their latest products.

Source : Phoronix
Techreport credited

[erek]

+1,

told ya Linux was a viable gaming platform. (AMD must agree as it's working even harder.) Snitches.

[Rekzer]

+1,

told ya Linux was a viable gaming platform. (AMD must agree as it's working even harder.) Snitches.

I dont think anyone ever said Linux sucked for gaming. It was just too unfriendly to novice and maybe even imtermediate users to ever be popular. Gaming companys wont go to a platform that scares away users. Linux has made leaps in the past couple of years is being usable by basic users. If good linux drivers came out today and linux started doing some HARD advertising, youd see a rapid shift over the next couple of years.

[moshpit]

I dont think anyone ever said Linux sucked for gaming.

Just to be difficult, I'll say it. Linux sucks for gaming. I don't really mean it, just couldn't let the "anyone" part slip by uncontested

[caveman-jim]

Wake me up when a triple-A titles hits Linux once a quarter. Ain't gonna happen.

[Hyrax]

Just to be difficult, I'll say it. Linux sucks for gaming. I don't really mean it, just couldn't let the "anyone" part slip by uncontested

The only issue may be the lack of DirectX that makes it bad for gaming. There really is no reason it should suck for gaming. I would say it should be much better. For one could make an Operating System with a far smaller footprint.

I always got the impression that hardcore linux users snob at anything that is not open source.

[moshpit]

The thing that will keep Linux from really becoming a serious gaming platform will be the lack of a unifying API. OpenGL is great for graphics, but without the sound, input, and other Dx-like functions to make game development easier, it's going to remain a "Windows gaming world" for gaming on a home computer. Sadly, even Mac has outstripped Linux for a modern gaming platform, and that's pitiful!

[Chuck]

..meaning more games would be available for the mac? Muahahahaha.....?!

Seriosly though... the HD6xxx series just came out like a month ago and they're already talking about the HD8xxx? A little premature don't you think?

[moshpit]

..meaning more games would be available for the mac? Muahahahaha.....?!

Seriosly though... the HD6xxx series just came out like a month ago and they're already talking about the HD8xxx? A little premature don't you think?

Nope. They're not talking about the HD 8000 itself so much as the development teams reorganization of activity that should pull together results BY the HD 8000's estimated launch period.

It's no more premature then wondering if Windows 9 will be mostly cloud based due to Windows 8's stronger focus on cloud computing. It's a fair topic of discussion and concern.

[erek]

Wake me up when a triple-A titles hits Linux once a quarter. Ain't gonna happen.

how much you willin to lay down on the line? wanna make a friendly wager on those remarks?

lets make a bet.

[acroig]

how much you willin to lay down on the line? wanna make a friendly wager on those remarks?

lets make a bet.

Why do you care so much?

[erek]

Why do you care so much?

because of all of the nasty things said about Linux in this thread, http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?t=33971985

[caveman-jim]

Currently game developers are contemplating dropping support for making games for Windows PC's. If that market is too small/low return why would they then aim for the smallest segment of that market? They wouldn't.

Linux will never be a mainstream x86 gaming platform. If Android moves to x86 hardware, different story.

[moshpit]

because of all of the nasty things said about Linux in this thread, http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?t=33971985

I never did answer your question from that thread, sorry bout that. The answer would be a HEARTY yes, I definitively prefer Linux over Mac. I can think of a LOT of things I wouldn't like but would rather use then a Mac though, that's a loaded question when asking me, the Resident Mac Hater. Hell, I'd rather be dragged down the street by wild horses then use a Mac, but you don't see me out there strapping myself in for a go at road rash

Edit: Since posting this, my imagination has been running wild with things I would rather do then use a Mac, but would still hate doing. I didn't realize that was such a rich area of ideas. I could almost make a "Top 10 Things I Hate, But Would Rather be Doing then Using a Mac" list pretty easily

[erek]

I never did answer your question from that thread, sorry bout that. The answer would be a HEARTY yes, I definitively prefer Linux over Mac. I can think of a LOT of things I wouldn't like but would rather use then a Mac though, that's a loaded question when asking me, the Resident Mac Hater. Hell, I'd rather be dragged down the street by wild horses then use a Mac, but you don't see me out there strapping myself in for a go at road rash

Edit: Since posting this, my imagination has been running wild with things I would rather do then use a Mac, but would still hate doing. I didn't realize that was such a rich area of ideas. I could almost make a "Top 10 Things I Hate, But Would Rather be Doing then Using a Mac" list pretty easily

what about FreeBSD