(1). RE: AMD releases all major driver updates only at the end of each year. At other times it is useless to wait.
OK I thought that I had seen a presentation just before Vega launch about the 17.7.2 driver that there was going to be two feature releases a year.
I do not remember if Linux support was mentioned in that presentation, dropping Windows 8.1 64bit support certainly wasn't.
So I might see a "Radeon Software for Linux" release which includes a GUI in 0.5-1.5 years then?
This seems to be taking a very long time: https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=AMD-CCC-Linux-Doing-The-Pre-Req
(2). RE: Just ask yourself a simple question: why do you need this Panel now if 90% of functions do not work or work disgusting?
Most of the functions in Radeon Profile are there that I need in terms of monitoring the GPU, apart from GPU utilisation.
I will try to get that working. I have contacted the developer to see if they can give me some advice on that before I start to debug it and recompile the GUI myself.
Overclocking does seem to work, it just has a problem where it sets the same overclock when multiple GPUs on on the system, I can't apply OC separately.
I can set my fan speed in the GUI. I am not sure that matters too much as I have R9 FuryX/Fury/Nanos so they can all run with close overclock settings anyhow.
(3). One good thing about Radeon Profile is it looks like I can overclock HBM memory clock again, so I should be able to get fair comparison between an RX Vega 64 and an R9 FuryX/Fury/Nano performance on Linux. HBM overclocking on Windows with FuryX/Fury/Nano was disabled around the the time RX Vega was supposed to launch with changes to Radeon Crimson ReLive Settings on Windows. Such a fair comparison is not possible using the Latest Adrenalin Drivers on Windows. Even a small HBM overclock on an R9 Fury X can help improve performance and also improves the effect of an overclock applied to the GPU CLK. RX Vega 64's behave in similar way, not surprising since they are very similar to Fiji architecture, but they have ability to overclock HBM2 clocks in Adrenalin driver.
(4). I need a GUI now, I am not going to be "Waiting for Radeon Software on Linux" I already did that for RX Vega cards, they were late so I ended up having to go to the "GPU Thrift Shop" - Ebay to stay with AMD and buy used FuryX/Fury/Nanos. I also managed to get a few discounted "unsold but new" cards from Online retailers. I am happy enough though. R9 FuryX/Nano combo costs ~ same as an RX Vega 64,performs better in OpenCL benchmarks, and ~ same or better in Crossfire DX11/ DX12 Multigpu gaming.
I have not purchased an RX Vega yet. I am still waiting to see if I can get a 2 slot high card with a decent AIB cooler, and for a price that reflects their value versus Nvidia performance/power.
Radeon Profile seems to be working pretty well after my first compile now. It exists in reality and it seems to work.
(5). RE: WattMan on Linux is not yet supported, about ReLive, Chill, Sync, VR is also not heard, FreeSync
Sure ReLive on AMDGPU/PRO drivers would be nice, but I can use external capture card for Steam Linux Games that actually run on these drivers if I really want to.
I don't see ReLive on Linux as a major priority right now.
Why would I want a gaming recorder on Linux, if the games do not work with AMD Linux drivers in the first place?
I can use existing Linux desktop recorders to record the games crashing and report them to AMD.
Actually I am not sure how I report Linux Games crashing on AMD Linux drivers. There is no AMD Reporting Form option for Linux. I think that needs to change.
I guess email support is the only way to report Steam Linux games crashing to AMD?
A number of Steam Games are simply not supported or working properly with these drivers.
Not to worry, I am only having problems with games you may not have heard of.
Hitman, Rise of Tomb Raider. Dota2 Vulkan, Talos Princliple Vulkan just for starters.
Those games either do not function or simply crash.
I can use Linux desktop recorder for now to report the crashes.
(6). Why do I care about functionality that doesn't even work in Windows?
I would argue that some of those features are not even working properly on Windows yet.
For example:
A. Wattman- Application Profiles do not override global settings. Game profiles have been useless for a long time. I only use them to store my overclock settings, I actually have to change Global Settings to match the stored Wattman settings in my game profiles, before launching a game on Windows.
Once AMD fix Wattman Game/Application Profiles in Windows then I might be interested.
B. Radeon Chill - For me at least, Radeon Chill is not usable in practice. It severely limits keyboard only input FPS on all of the games I have tried to Chill_min + (15-25 FPS), depending on the value of Chill Max(60-300). I need to set Chill Min as low as possible to see maybe a 1-2'C drop in GPU temperature (2'C drop is being generous) when my in game character is standing still doing nothing.
I cannot easily tell how much GPU Power this equates to. R9 FuryX/Fury/Nano do not report GPU power in Adrenalin Overly, even if that option is available in Adrenalin Settings and turned on. I reported this using AMD Reporting form, no response, still not working.
If I turn on Radeon Chill, I need to set Chill Min as low a possible to to see power drop when my in game character is standing still. I do not mind if the Frame Rate in that situation is set to 30 FPS to achieve max possible (any) power saving. However if I set Chill Min to a level where I see GPU Temperature drop versus Chill off in that condition, I then need to maximise Chill max value so I get as high keyboard only input FPS. So say I set Chill Max to 300 (with Chill min at 30 FPS). That will typically allow me to hit 55 FPS with keyboard only input applied in game and Chill min set to 30 FPS.
Yes, that is correct, 55 FPS in game when I use WASD keys to run my character around in a game like BF1 or Overwatch or Fortnite, or Wolfenstein II: The New Collossus, or Team Fortress 2, or Crysis series or Titanfall series or Prey or ... the list seems "countless".
I have tested various graphics settings on those games.
Turning Radeon Chill on drops my keyboard only input FPS from 100-200 range down to 55 in many cases.
The standard monitor refresh rate is 60Hz.
It has been that for years.
Many gaming reviewers and gamers will tell you 60FPS is the bare minimum, and I can turn FreeSync on?
Yes, FreeSync with Radeon Chill - I will get to that in a moment.
You may tell me to set Chill Min to higher values than 30, say 45, or 60, or maybe even 75.
The same behavior still applies.
Chill Min + approx 25 FPS if Chill Max = 300.
Also increasing Chill Min reduces amount of power saved.
Radeon Chill behaviour is completely at odds with how you need to set "FRTC" to use FreeSync without getting screen tearing.
I have to set Chill Max to 300, to achieve 55 FPS, that Chill Max value is above the Freesync range of my monitor.
If the game FPS is greater than top end of the monitor Freesync range I see screen tearing, which defeats the point of FreeSync in the first place.
In Radeon Chill, the Chill Max value is used to set the FPS limit for mouse input.
So if I move my mouse fast enough in game, (with Chill Max set to 300 to give me a massive Chill Min + 25 FPS with keyboard only input).
Fast mouse movement will allow the in game FPS to rise towards 300 FPS, exceeding the top end of the FreeSync range, resulting in screen tearing.
That fast mouse movement causing up to 300 FPS burns more GPU power ... which defeats the entire point of Radeon Chill.
No one in AMD seems to care about fixing this issue with Radeon Chill.
Radeon Chill is heavily advertised by AMD: see here: https://gaming.radeon.com/en/radeonsoftware/adrenalin/chill/
AMD state this on that page "During peak gameplay, Radeon Chill works to deliver the full framerate potential of Radeon graphics."
I definitely do not see that as explained above. I see the same behaviour on GPU from R9 Fury X down. I have not tested Vega 56/64 cards yet. I have had reported to me that it behaves on a similar manner on those cards.
I have tested most of the list of 40 "Chill supported" games. They all pretty much behave the same way. I have been requesting a fix for this since Radeon Chill was launched. Chill does not honor Chill Max for keyboard only input. Chill Max is used as a scaling factor for keyboard only input, but the limit for FPS for mouse input. I can point you to my post so far about that if you want?
If AMD are going to implement Radeon Chill in Linux, at least they might be able to fix it for Linux implementation so I could use it in the real world?
I do think Radeon Chill is a great idea. I used to use Hialgo Chill. With that the user could set the keyboard only input FPS limit and other parameters, in fact I have already given that feedback to AMD, and shown Hialgo Chill working on Skyrim and Crysis1 with AMD Crimson ReLive and Radeon Chill turned off.
(7). I am not sure about VR, I do not care about that and do not know what features you talk about there. What ever happend to Liquid VR anyway? Is VR really a thing for the vast majority of AMD GPU Users?
(8). By sync I guess you mean Vsync / Tearfree settings etc? I can set those at Linux command line for now.
Anyhow, I have given my feedback here.
I just wanted to point out that Radeon Profile is available and it basically works to Monitor and Control my GPU's now.
If people are OK to wait for another 0.5 - 1.5? years for a GUI from AMD then great.
I will report any improvements I manage to make and I will ask the developer if they have abandoned the effort and let everyone know.
Bye.
