How To Install AMD Radeon Driver on openSUSE

In this tutorial, we will show you how to install AMD Radeon Driver on openSUSE. AMD Radeon graphics cards deliver powerful performance for both gaming and productivity workloads on Linux systems. When properly configured on openSUSE, these GPUs can provide excellent graphics processing capabilities with the right drivers. Whether you’re a gamer, content creator, or developer, having the correct AMD Radeon drivers installed is crucial for optimal performance.

This comprehensive guide walks you through various methods to install AMD Radeon drivers on openSUSE, comparing open-source and proprietary options, and providing troubleshooting solutions for common issues.

Understanding AMD Driver Options on openSUSE

Before diving into installation procedures, it’s important to understand the different driver options available for AMD graphics cards on openSUSE.

Open-Source Drivers: These are the Mesa drivers that come built into the Linux kernel. They offer good compatibility with most AMD GPUs and are maintained by the open-source community. For newer AMD graphics cards based on the Graphics Core Next architecture (from Radeon HD 7000 series and up), the AMDGPU open-source driver provides excellent functionality.

AMDGPU-PRO: These are proprietary drivers developed by AMD that operate as an additional layer on top of the open-source AMDGPU drivers. They often provide better performance for specific professional applications and superior OpenCL support.

ROCm (Radeon Open Compute): These are compute-focused drivers aimed at high-performance computing, machine learning, and AI workloads, particularly useful for workstations.

The best choice depends on your specific needs:

• For general use and gaming: Open-source AMDGPU drivers are typically sufficient
• For professional applications requiring OpenCL: AMDGPU-PRO drivers may offer better performance
• For compute-intensive workloads: ROCm drivers are recommended

System Requirements and Preparation

Before installing any drivers, you need to identify your GPU model and prepare your system.

To determine your AMD GPU model, open a terminal and run:

/sbin/lspci

Look for lines containing “Display controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]” followed by your Radeon model name. This information is crucial for selecting the appropriate driver.

Next, update your system to ensure you have the latest packages:

sudo zypper refresh
sudo zypper update

Back up your current system configuration in case you need to revert changes:

sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup

Using the Default Open-Source Drivers

Most openSUSE installations come with open-source AMD drivers pre-installed. These drivers work well for many users and are constantly improving.

To verify if the open-source drivers are already installed, run:

glxinfo | grep "OpenGL renderer"

If you see “AMD” or “Radeon” in the output, the open-source drivers are working. These drivers typically offer good performance for most day-to-day tasks and gaming.

The Mesa-based open-source drivers receive regular updates through the standard system update process, making them a hassle-free option for many users. They provide good Vulkan support and are compatible with most Linux gaming platforms like Steam.

Installing AMDGPU-PRO via Terminal Method

For users who need the proprietary AMDGPU-PRO drivers, installation via terminal is often the most efficient method.

First, visit the AMD Support website to download the appropriate driver for your GPU and openSUSE version. Look for drivers compatible with SLED/SLES (SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop/Server), as these work with openSUSE Leap.

After downloading the driver package (a .tar.xz file), extract it:

tar -xf amdgpu-pro-XX.XX-XXXXXX.tar.xz

Navigate to the extracted directory:

cd amdgpu-pro-XX.XX-XXXXXX

Add the repository via zypper:

sudo zypper ar -fep93 -n "AMDGPU Pro" /path/to/extracted/folder Hdw_AMDGPU_Pro

The parameters used are:

• -f to refresh
• -e to enable
• -p93 to set priority to 93
• -n to name the repository

Install the driver packages:

sudo zypper install amdgpu-pro

After installation, reboot your system:

sudo reboot

GUI Installation Using YaST

For users who prefer a graphical interface, YaST provides a user-friendly installation method.

Creating Local Repository

1. Download the appropriate driver package from AMD’s website. Look for the SLED/SLES version corresponding to your openSUSE Leap version.
2. Extract the downloaded tar.xz archive to a location on your computer (e.g., /tmp directory).
3. Make note of the extraction path as you’ll need it when adding the repository.

Adding the Repository

1. Launch YaST by searching for it in the application menu or running sudo yast2 in terminal.
2. Click on “Software Repositories” in the YaST Control Center.
3. Click “Add,” select “Local Directory,” and click “Next.”
4. Enter the path to the extracted driver directory (e.g., /tmp/amdgpu-pro-19.10-785424-sle-15).
5. Choose a name for the repository (e.g., “AMDGPU_Pro”) and click “OK.”
6. Accept the repository GPG key if prompted.
7. Ensure the repository status is set to “enabled” and “refresh automatically” is turned on.

Installing the AMDGPU-PRO Package

1. In the YaST Control Center, click “Software Management.”
2. Search for “amdgpu-pro” in the search field.
3. Select the relevant packages and click “Accept” to confirm your changes.
4. Reboot your system to apply all changes.

This GUI method is particularly useful for users less comfortable with command-line operations.

Using the AMDGPU Installer Tool

The amdgpu-install utility is a powerful tool that simplifies driver installation for various use cases.

First, download and extract the driver package as described in previous sections. Navigate to the extracted directory and run the installer with your desired options:

For graphics and Vulkan support:

sudo ./amdgpu-install --usecase=graphics --vulkan=amdvlk --opencl=rocr

For workstation setups:

sudo ./amdgpu-install --usecase=workstation --vulkan=pro --accept-eula

The installer accepts various parameters to customize your installation:

• --usecase=graphics for basic graphics drivers
• --usecase=workstation for professional workstation setup
• --vulkan=pro for proprietary Vulkan implementation
• --vulkan=amdvlk for open-source Vulkan implementation
• --opencl=rocr for ROCm OpenCL support
• --opencl=legacy for traditional OpenCL support

After installation, verify that the drivers are working correctly by checking the OpenGL renderer:

glxinfo | grep "OpenGL renderer"

Installing ROCm Drivers for Compute Workloads

For compute-intensive applications like machine learning or scientific computing, the ROCm stack provides optimized performance.

To install ROCm using the amdgpu-install utility:

sudo ./amdgpu-install --usecase=rocm --accept-eula

After installation, add your user to the necessary groups:

sudo usermod -a -G render,video $USER

Log out and log back in for the group changes to take effect.

To verify your ROCm installation, run:

/opt/rocm/bin/rocminfo

This should display detailed information about your GPU and the ROCm environment.

The ROCm platform supports frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch for machine learning applications. It provides libraries optimized for AMD GPUs, allowing developers to leverage hardware acceleration for compute-intensive tasks.

Driver Configuration for Optimal Performance

After installing the drivers, optimizing their configuration can significantly improve performance.

Power Management Settings

AMD GPUs support different power profiles that balance performance and energy consumption. To check available profiles:

cat /sys/class/drm/card0/device/power_dpm_state

To set a high-performance profile:

echo "performance" | sudo tee /sys/class/drm/card0/device/power_dpm_force_performance_level

Fan Speed Control

For better thermal management, you can install the radeon-profile application from the openSUSE Software site, which provides a GUI for monitoring and controlling your GPU.

Multi-Display Configuration

For multi-monitor setups, use the built-in display configuration tools in KDE or GNOME. Alternatively, for more advanced configurations, create a custom Xorg configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-amdgpu.conf

Add appropriate sections for your monitor layout and save the file.

Verifying Your Installation

After completing the installation, it’s important to verify that your drivers are correctly installed and functioning.

Check the currently loaded GPU driver:

lsmod | grep amdgpu

Verify OpenGL information:

glxinfo | grep "OpenGL"

For a more comprehensive test, you can install and run glmark2:

sudo zypper install glmark2
glmark2

This will run a benchmark that tests various aspects of your GPU performance and confirms that 3D acceleration is working properly.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with careful installation, issues can sometimes arise. Here are solutions to common problems:

Black Screen After Installation

If you encounter a black screen after rebooting:

1. Boot into recovery mode or a TTY console (Ctrl+Alt+F2)
2. Remove the AMD drivers:

   sudo zypper remove amdgpu-pro

3. Restore your backed-up Xorg configuration:

   sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Driver Installation Fails on Tumbleweed

Users of openSUSE Tumbleweed often face challenges installing AMDGPU-PRO drivers as they’re primarily designed for SLED/SLES and openSUSE Leap. This issue occurs because Tumbleweed, being a rolling release, may have newer system libraries that conflict with the driver requirements.

If you see dependency errors like:

nothing provides 'X11_ABI_VIDEODRV = 24.0' needed by xorg-x11-amdgpu-drv-amdgpu

Consider these alternatives:

1. Use the open-source drivers instead, which are often sufficient for most needs
2. Try installing just the OpenCL components without the full pro driver:

   sudo ./amdgpu-install --opencl=legacy --no-dkms

Performance Issues

If you experience poor performance:

1. Verify your GPU is not overheating:

   sensors | grep amdgpu

2. Check if your GPU is running at the expected clock speeds:

   cat /sys/class/drm/card0/device/pp_dpm_sclk

3. Try updating your kernel to the latest version available for openSUSE.

No Desktop Environment After Installation

Some users report losing their desktop environment after installing AMDGPU-PRO drivers. If this happens:

1. Switch to a TTY terminal (Ctrl+Alt+F2)
2. Remove the problematic drivers:

   sudo zypper remove amdgpu-pro

3. Reinstall your desktop environment if necessary:

   sudo zypper install -t pattern gnome_desktop

   (Replace gnome_desktop with kde_desktop for KDE)

4. Reboot your system

Upgrading AMD Drivers

Keeping your drivers updated ensures you have the latest features and bug fixes.

For open-source drivers, regular system updates will provide the latest versions:

sudo zypper refresh
sudo zypper update

For AMDGPU-PRO drivers, you’ll need to download the new driver package and follow the installation steps again. Before upgrading:

1. Remove the current driver installation:

   sudo zypper remove amdgpu-pro

2. Download the new driver package from AMD’s website
3. Extract and install using your preferred method
4. Reboot your system

Consider creating a backup before upgrading in case you need to roll back to a previous version.

Uninstalling AMD Drivers

If you need to remove AMD drivers completely:

For AMDGPU-PRO drivers:

sudo zypper remove amdgpu-pro

For ROCm components:

sudo zypper remove rocm-opencl

To remove the repository:

sudo zypper rr Hdw_AMDGPU_Pro

After uninstallation, reboot your system to ensure changes take effect:

sudo reboot

Congratulations! You have successfully installed AMD Radeon Driver. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the AMD Radeon Driver on openSUSE system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official AMD website.