The ATI Catalyst Display Driver 8.33.6 for Linux represents a significant update to the graphics driver suite designed for users of ATI (later acquired by AMD) hardware on Linux operating systems. This driver package aimed to provide enhanced performance, stability, and feature support for a wide range of ATI graphics cards, catering to both professional workstation users and general desktop users alike. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the ATI Catalyst Display Driver 8.33.6 for Linux, detailing its supported hardware, operating system compatibility, system requirements, new features, resolved issues, known issues, and installation information.
ATI Workstation Product Support
The ATI Catalyst Display Driver 8.33.6 for Linux was specifically engineered to support ATI’s FireGL line of workstation graphics cards. These cards were targeted at professionals in fields such as CAD, DCC (Digital Content Creation), and scientific visualization, where reliable performance and certified drivers are crucial. The following FireGL cards were officially supported by this driver release:
- FireGL V7350
- FireGL V3400
- FireGL Z1-128
- FireGL V7300
- FireGL V3300
- FireGL T2-128
- FireGL V7200
- FireGL V3200
- FireGL X1-128
- FireGL V7100
- FireGL V3100
- FireGL X1-256p
- FireGL V5200
- FireGL X3-256
- FireMV 2200 (Single card PCI-e configuration)
- FireGL V5100
- FireGL X3
- Mobility FireGL V5000
- FireGL V5000
- FireGL X2-256
- Mobility FireGL T2
ATI Mobility Product Support
In addition to workstation cards, the ATI Catalyst Display Driver 8.33.6 for Linux also extended support to ATI’s Mobility Radeon line of mobile graphics processors. These GPUs were commonly found in laptops and notebooks, offering a balance of performance and power efficiency. Supported Mobility Radeon cards included:
- Mobility Radeon X1800
- Mobility Radeon X300
- Mobility Radeon X1600
- Mobility Radeon 9800
- Mobility Radeon X1400
- Mobility Radeon 9600
- Mobility Radeon X1300
- Mobility Radeon 9550
- Mobility Radeon X800
- Mobility Radeon 9500
- Mobility Radeon X700
- Radeon Xpress 200M series
- Mobility Radeon X600
ATI Integrated Product Support
The driver also supported ATI’s integrated graphics solutions, which were typically found in chipsets that combined the graphics processing unit (GPU) with the motherboard’s northbridge. This provided a cost-effective graphics solution for general-purpose computing. Supported integrated products included:
- Radeon Xpress 1250 IGP
- Radeon Xpress 200 series
ATI Desktop Product Family Support
The ATI Catalyst Display Driver 8.33.6 for Linux offered support for a wide range of ATI’s desktop Radeon graphics cards, catering to various performance segments from entry-level to high-end gaming. Supported desktop cards included:
- Radeon X1900 series
- Radeon X600 series
- Radeon X1800 series
- Radeon X550/X300 series
- Radeon X1600 series
- Radeon 9800 series
- Radeon X1300 series
- Radeon 9700 series
- Radeon X850 series
- Radeon 9600 series
- Radeon X800 series
- Radeon 9550 series
- Radeon X700 series
- Radeon 9500 series
It’s important to note that All-In-Wonder variants based on the above-mentioned cards were also supported, although video capture functionality was not included.
Operating System Distributions Supported
The ATI Catalyst Display Driver 8.33.6 for Linux was primarily designed and tested for compatibility with the following Linux distributions:
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux suite
- Novell/SuSE product suite
While the driver might be installable on other Linux distributions, AMD officially supported and verified its functionality only on the distributions listed above. Users on other distributions might need to refer to the Package Generation installation instructions for more information or rely on community-contributed packaging scripts. However, AMD did not guarantee the reliability of these community-generated packages.
System Requirements
Before installing the ATI Catalyst Display Driver 8.33.6 for Linux, ensure that your system meets the following minimum requirements:
- XOrg 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 7.0, or 7.1; XFree86 version 4.3
- Linux kernel 2.4 or higher
- glibc version 2.2 or 2.3
- POSIX Shared Memory (/dev/shm) support is required for 3D applications
The driver suite no longer included precompiled Kernel Modules, requiring a GCC compiler and kernel-headers or kernel-source for enabling 2D and 3D acceleration.
For optimal performance and ease of use, AMD recommended the following:
- Kernel module build environment (Kernel Source or Kernel Headers packages)
- ISSE Support enabled in your Linux Kernel (for Intel Pentium III and later CPUs)
- The rpm utility installed and configured (if installing via RPM packages)
- QT version 2.x.x (for the ATI Control Panel, but not mandatory)
Furthermore, on 64-bit systems, the following 32-bit packages were necessary for the proper installation and functioning of the drivers:
- XFree86-Mesa-libGL
- libstdc++
- libgcc
- XFree86-libs
- fontconfig
- expat
- freetype
- zlib
New Features
The ATI Catalyst Display Driver 8.33.6 for Linux introduced the following key new features:
- X.Org 7.2 Support: Full support for the official X.Org 7.2 release, an upgrade from the previous 8.32.5 release, which only supported the X Org 7.2 RC2 release.
- Linux Kernel 2.6.19 Support: Compatibility with version 2.6.19 of the Linux Kernel.
Resolved Issues
This driver release addressed several issues reported by users, enhancing stability and overall user experience. Some of the resolved issues included:
- Corrected an issue where enabling Stereo on a FireGL V5000 would result in corruption on the X-Windows desktop.
- Fixed a problem where the "continue" button would remain greyed out during the package generation installation process.
- Resolved an issue where the ATI Control Panel would still be installed even when deselected during a custom installation.
- Addressed a bug where connecting two display devices and switching the overlay to the secondary display device would cause aticonfig to fail.
Known Issues
Despite the improvements, the ATI Catalyst Display Driver 8.33.6 for Linux still had some known issues:
- Installation on distributions with updated 3D components outside of the stock XOrg 6.8.2 could lead to improper initialization of 3D applications.
- Loading the XVideo Extension on 64-bit Xorg 6.9+ systems could cause the X Server to segfault on launch with Radeon X1K products.
- A system hang might occur when attempting to resume from hibernation mode.
Installation Information
For detailed installation instructions and further information, users were directed to the ATI website (which now redirects to AMD).
Download Links:
Alternative Download Links:
Due to the age of this driver, official AMD links may no longer be active. Here are some alternative sources where you might find the ATI Catalyst Display Driver 8.33.6 for Linux:
- Softpedia: (Check their driver archive)
- DriverGuide: (Requires registration, but often has older drivers)
- Guru3D: (Known for its comprehensive driver database)
- Linux Driver Project Repositories: (Check community-maintained archives)
- Archive.org (Wayback Machine): Use the Wayback Machine to find previously hosted AMD driver pages.
Conclusion
The ATI Catalyst Display Driver 8.33.6 for Linux was an important release for users of ATI graphics hardware on Linux systems. It provided support for a broad range of workstation, mobile, integrated, and desktop graphics cards. While it addressed several issues and introduced new features like X.Org 7.2 and Linux Kernel 2.6.19 support, some known issues remained. Users were advised to review the system requirements and release notes before installation to ensure compatibility and optimal performance. Despite its age, the ATI Catalyst Display Driver 8.33.6 for Linux remains a relevant piece of software for those still using legacy ATI hardware on Linux platforms. The ATI Catalyst Display Driver 8.33.6 for Linux aimed to provide a stable and performant experience for users with older ATI hardware. The ATI Catalyst Display Driver 8.33.6 for Linux was a crucial update for many Linux users at the time of its release.