Hey Guys

To keep it short n sweet, i install Ubuntu Gutsy x64 the other day and i already love it so much bar one annoying problem!

I have (regrettably) a HD3850 ATI Radeon. Now, checking for official drivers, ati dont support it in the latest release (8.1 i think???) so after compiling the .run file and following endless forum posts, i still cannot get Compiz to work.

Some people, despite the driver not being written officially for the card have been able to get it to work.

I have also tried using the open source latest 1.2 release of the RadeonHD drivers(released by novell) but i just cant seem to get them installed.(im not to experienced with compiling using the terminal.

Does anyone know how to get compiz and all the special affects working with this card? If so, which driver are you using?

Also, how can i get my creative soundblaster working?

My Specs

Abit F190HD with onboard GPU turned off
6GB DDR 800
WD7500AAKS SATA Drive set on AHCI
E2160
Corsair 620W
Soundblaster 2 ZS

I don't know what your intended usage is, but for home theater/media playback/record usage, you don't need that level video card, that much RAM, or the Soundblaster card.

I would suggest using the on board video for the time being. Use the sticky thread video driver install procedure to install the ATI driver. Compiz will then be enabled by default. I am certain it will do the 3D effects more than fast enough.

When ATI/AMD picks up the ball for the other video card, you can put it back then. If they don't, sell the card and get an Nvidia.

You may need to use 32bit Ubuntu to use Envy, though. Unless you absolutely need to use >4GB RAM for video editing or large data number crunching, there is no meaningful benefit to using the 64bit OS for most people.

HTPC's are not meant for gamerz types, so you might want to swap out the audio card for something like these, both companies well regarded among musicians and audio enthusiasts:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829118105

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829121122

Soundblaster cards are not well regarded among AV-phile or media PC users. Looking at reviews at newegg and all over the net, it appears they aren't well regarded among gamerz, either, due to driver issues, etc.

If your motherboard has on board audio and SPDIF out, just use that.

Also, for media PC use, I don't think Compiz is recommended anyways. For office/productivity machines- maybe. Aero/Compiz serve no real purpose for media PC's, and may interfere with and corrupt video playback.

You may need to use 32bit Ubuntu to use Envy, though. Unless you absolutely need to use >4GB RAM for video editing or large data number crunching, there is no meaningful benefit to using the 64bit OS for most people.

Thanks for your timely reply!

I managed to install the latest Drivers for my 3850 from ATI as per normal (running the installation) and it installs fine.

After getting the drivers to work however, compiz still cannot be enabled.

I have entered fglrx to the whitelisted .conf for compiz and tried install XOLorg(is that right?) but that just disables the ATI driver and compiz still doesnt work.

'Desktop effects could not be enabled'.

Now as my system stands, i cant even get in to the desktop as Compiz halts with an error, obviously i was messing round so much.
But as it stands, i managed to install the driver and it works and looks better, its just getting compiz to work thats a pain.

I realise of course that its not needed for HTPC use and that the x1250 would do the job (integrated gpu) but that means switching between PCIE and Internal GPU in the bios when switching between Vista and Ubuntu.

In regards to the sound card, i was looking at alternatives and both of those are particulary attractive, however i really need a card thats going to work with Cyberlink power dvd and vista well and ive heard horror stories from the 'alternative makes'.

I really only want ubuntu for web browsing, a change and id love to use Compiz (i like the effects etc)
Vista in my case will be used for Video Playback etc, however it would also be nice to get a perfect linux system. Using the onboard audio for ubuntu wont be a problem as i can enable this at the same time.

I just really want to get compiz up and running :'( Maybe il have to install it to my other pc with an nvidia card.

Does anyone know if you can boot ubuntu from a USB HHD/Flash Stick from more than one computer? I did install it, but then after installing it, it wouldnt boot on another pc. I just thought it would be cool having my own portable OS that i could use compiz with(for my nvidia pc) and then normally on my main pc.

Hi Dodgeander. Feel your pain relating to the ATI HD Video card, as I've had no luck either with a HD3650 and with several well known Distros, but my Sound Card is same, but is Plat. Pro with Breakout Box and always works, so be certain and disable on-board audio in BIOS. I went with the Latest Ubuntu's, which released Today and all was well. Alright back to the ATI HD...if you want to use it, and quite easily too, then get the New Mandriva 2008 "One" Live Distro, as it boots up, then an option appears to use Compiz and will load the HD ATI Series Drivers, which are built-in to the Live "One" release! Desktop loaded to the Native Display Resolution. It appears that performance is far better with the New Mandriva on very new Systems. Give it try and report back the results. ;)

my turtle beach riviera was a pita, I got the optical out working easily in dapper. When I switched to gutsy I never got it working again, had the analogs working for a while, than lost all sound in flash applications(every website youtube, flash games). I'm currently using the onboard ac97 audio, but I would buy an M-Audio if I had the money.

You are using really old drivers if you have 8.1. The new ones are 8.4. I know they fixed video playback in 8.3. I don't know if you are using 32 or 64bit. You will need to make sure you uninstall the old ones completey before installing the new ones. I ususally use Envy to remove them and run ATI's commands to install.

http://ati.amd.com/support/driver.html

You should be looking in Ubuntu forums for Compiz help. Actually, I think it is default now in Hardy.

Edit: Oops you are using 64bit, sorry. Just get the new 64bit drivers and you should be able to get it going.

ATI will give you the same driver whether you select x86 or x86_64. They are both included in the one download.

I see that there now is a selection titled HD3xxx, so I guess version 8.4 now supports your card.

Yes, i installed 8.4 and it worked a charm in gutsy, im now using hardy and the drivers are built in. Ally you do is install them from the unsupported driver system and bam straight away, nor flickering video and compiz working fine!

In regards to the soundblaster, everything works out the box for me fine both with gutsy and hardy( didnt have the right input on my amp selected before)

Have to agree with Rgb, you're in the wrong forum. Go over to ubuntu.com because what you're asking about is WAY overkill for a HTPC. Nice that you got it working, but not OT for here.