Linux 64bit and ATI

[Nori]

Wasn't sure where to put this as I don't see a hardware thread...

Anyway, I'm thinking about installing a Linux distro solely to run KSP 64bit as I've heard it is nearly flawless on Linux.

Before I think of doing that I wanted to ask the people who are running on Linux if any of you have a AMD/ATI graphics card and also how KSP runs on Linux in general.

I have a Sapphire R9 270x.

[xtoro]

No problems here. ATI Radeon 7990XT. Installed Kubuntu, went to the system settings and chose to use AMD/ATI drivers, restart and no problems.

Edited September 26, 2014 by xtoro

[dryer_lint]

Installed Kubuntu

When you said that I thought you had been playing too much KSP.

[robopilot99]

I have a Sapphire 6 something. It was a pain to get the drivers working but it works alright now.

[hellion13]

When i had it, my PC had an AMD FX-8350, 32gb of ~1800mhz ram and the HD7950 GPU. Running windows 7 I had all the mods I wanted with 1000+ part rockets and never went below 20fps. with maybe the odd crash but I can count on one hand how many times that happened. And this was before the texture reduction happened.

I posted a lot about this back about a year ago, I understand that my rig was over powered for the game and not everybody can afford good parts, but I've also been in threads that had people, with rigs better than mine was, straight not be able to play.

Edited September 26, 2014 by hellion13
addendum

[hellion13]

32gb of ~1800mhz ram.

I realize KSP only uses maybe 4gb.

[xtoro]

By the way, I do HIGHLY recommend using Kubuntu. I've used many different distros and this one was the best right out of the box.... KSP never crashes. Like, ever. Tried running KSP in windows recently and it was a crash fest....

When you said that I thought you had been playing too much KSP.

Haha, no, it's the KDE version of Ubuntu

I realize KSP only uses maybe 4gb.

Depends, I use almost 50 mods and I'm well over 4GB....

[Nori]

When i had it, my PC had an AMD FX-8350, 32gb of ~1800mhz ram and the HD7950 GPU. Running windows 7 I had all the mods I wanted with 1000+ part rockets and never went below 20fps. with maybe the odd crash but I can count on one hand how many times that happened. And this was before the texture reduction happened.

I posted a lot about this back about a year ago, I understand that my rig was over powered for the game and not everybody can afford good parts, but I've also been in threads that had people, with rigs better than mine was, straight not be able to play.

So not Linux?

My situation is I don't want to use ATM (texture reduction) and I want to be able to install EVE (visual enhancements). However, I am near the max for my computer on 32bit. Crashes if I use too much more memory. So got this extra SSD lying around collecting dust, so thinking maybe Linux could do it for me.

[xtoro]

So not Linux?

My situation is I don't want to use ATM (texture reduction) and I want to be able to install EVE (visual enhancements). However, I am near the max for my computer on 32bit. Crashes if I use too much more memory. So got this extra SSD lying around collecting dust, so thinking maybe Linux could do it for me.

I run EVE along with Distant Object Enhancer, City Light and Clouds, KerbalSide, Texture Replacer etc etc etc and it runs just fine. Do it, you won't ever go back to playing KSP on windows

Oh, by the way, make SURE you download/install the 64-bit linux!!

[merlinux]

I do not use an AMD/ATI card myself, as 14 years of using linux have taugh me Nvidia drivers are the best. However I have installed linux on many computers with ati cards...

Wether it is KSP or another game the process should be the same and results will vary depending cards and your drivers and will be less than in windows, but for most things should be enough. There are 2 drivers available ( opensource and Closed sourceAMD ), you should always try the opensource one first. The commercial driver is known to have (in some cases) better performances in 3d but is very buggy when it comes to 2d. Meaning that if the opensource drivers are not enough you might have to use 2 drivers depending if you are gaming or desktop use.

As others say, install a 64 bit kernel and play KSP in 64bit. I am sure you will get playable results with a bit of work;) It is a beauty compare to windows (32 and 64b), even if you loose some fps on the way... And dont focus too much on distros, the underlaying software/drivers are the same... I use arch (and gnome/gtk apps) and I could argue its better than ubuntu +kde however it is only a matter of personnal preference, I am sure my KSP runs as bug free as it would in kubuntu

Edited September 26, 2014 by merlinux

[Nori]

I run EVE along with Distant Object Enhancer, City Light and Clouds, KerbalSide, Texture Replacer etc etc etc and it runs just fine. Do it, you won't ever go back to playing KSP on windows

Oh, by the way, make SURE you download/install the 64-bit linux!!

Not fair! This is exactly why I want to try it. Would you say it runs faster/better at all? Or handle high part counts better?

[Sandworm]

Not fair! This is exactly why I want to try it. Would you say it runs faster/better at all? Or handle high part counts better?

Yes. With a couple minor exceptions (see the linux support thread) the linux versions of KSP run far smoother than any of the windows/mac versions. That is IF you run it on an actual linux box, not a virtual machine on a windows box. I'm running KSP_64, using 6gb of ram, as I type this. I cannot remember the last time KSP crashed. In fact I think 24.2 hasn't ever crashed on me.

[Nori]

Cool. Thanks for the info. I'm gonna see if I have time to try installing sometime soon.

[xtoro]

Not fair! This is exactly why I want to try it. Would you say it runs faster/better at all? Or handle high part counts better?

Well, I'm flying a massive ship in a mission currently, and it started with 657 parts. (The link is in my signature, Avalon) Wasn't exactly smooth as silk but it was still very playable... My clock in the top right was yellow most of the time with the odd green flickers, but it never went red.

I've had spacestations with fewer parts in the Windows version go red on me and it was painful to try to work with it... And, it crashed all the time...