AMD to open up graphics specs [LWN.net]

AMD to open up graphics specs

Posted Sep 5, 2007 17:02 UTC (Wed) by cathectic (subscriber, #40543)
In reply to: AMD to open up graphics specs by tialaramex
Parent article: AMD to open up graphics specs

To clarify - I am well aware of the current position regarding the reverse
engineered R300 & R400 drivers (I currently run them on my laptop with a
Mobility X700).

I would disagree with you on 3D performance though - I believe there is a
lot more that can still be done there on the free side, especially if AMD
are prepared to release the specs on these cards (also, full specs for
things like controlling PowerPlay - I know about "DynamicClocks", but
DynamicClocks != PowerPlay by a long shot).

My question was more to do with the fact that - is there any reason why
AMD cannot open up the R300 and R400 specs as well (this announcement only
says "R500 and newer" - is this an oversight, or is there some other
problem with releasing the older specs?), rather than continue to make
life more difficult that it already is for the reverse engineers and
developers?

(Log in to post comments)

AMD to open up graphics specs

Posted Sep 5, 2007 17:25 UTC (Wed) by vmole (guest, #111) [Link]

Probably because they're not selling r300/400 hardware anymore? Or at least not enough to justify the effort of providing the specs? Remember, it's likely that there is no existing formal specification, just lots of internal e-mail between the hardware and driver developers. One can't really blame them for spending the effort on future hardware rather than "old stuff".

AMD to open up graphics specs

Posted Sep 5, 2007 19:42 UTC (Wed) by AWJ (guest, #47173) [Link]

AMD's website still lists the X1050 and 9550 (both R300-based cards) as current products, and all of their integrated GPUs are either R300 or R400 based.