How To Install AMD Radeon Driver on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
Installing the AMD Radeon driver on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS is a crucial step for users seeking optimal graphics performance and compatibility. Whether you’re a gamer, content creator, or simply want to harness the full potential of your AMD graphics card, this comprehensive guide will walk you through the process. We’ll explore various installation methods, troubleshoot common issues, and provide tips for optimizing your system’s performance.
Understanding AMD Driver Options
Before diving into the installation process, it’s essential to understand the different AMD driver options available for Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. This knowledge will help you make an informed decision based on your specific needs and use case.
Default Open Source Driver
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS comes with built-in kernel support for AMD graphics cards through the open-source AMDGPU driver. This driver is integrated with Mesa, an open-source implementation of OpenGL and Vulkan APIs. The advantages of using the default open-source driver include:
- Automatic updates through the Ubuntu package manager
- Excellent compatibility with most AMD GPUs
- Good performance for general use and light gaming
- Seamless integration with the Linux kernel
For many users, the default open-source driver provides sufficient performance and stability. However, some may require additional features or optimizations offered by proprietary drivers.
Proprietary AMD Drivers
AMD also offers proprietary drivers, known as AMDGPU-PRO, which can provide additional features and optimizations for specific use cases. The benefits of using proprietary drivers include:
- Enhanced performance in certain professional applications
- Support for specific features not available in the open-source driver
- Optimizations for some games and graphics-intensive tasks
While proprietary drivers can offer advantages in certain scenarios, they may not always be necessary for general use or casual gaming. It’s important to consider your specific requirements when deciding between open-source and proprietary drivers.
Prerequisites
Before proceeding with the installation of AMD Radeon drivers on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, ensure that your system meets the necessary requirements and is properly prepared.
System Requirements
- A compatible AMD Radeon graphics card
- Ubuntu 24.04 LTS installed and up to date
- A stable internet connection for downloading drivers and packages
- Sufficient disk space for driver installation (at least 2GB free)
Preparation Steps
- Update your system:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
- Install required packages:
sudo apt install linux-headers-generic build-essential dkms
- Backup important data:Before making any significant changes to your system, it’s always wise to backup your important files and configurations.
Installation Methods
Now that we’ve covered the basics and prepared our system, let’s explore the different methods for installing AMD Radeon drivers on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.
Method 1: Using Default Open Source Drivers
For many users, the default open-source drivers provided by Ubuntu 24.04 LTS will be sufficient. Here’s how to ensure they’re properly installed and configured:
- Check the current driver status:
lspci -nnk | grep -i vga -A3 | grep 'in use'
This command will show you the driver currently in use for your graphics card.
- Verify kernel module loading:
sudo lsmod | grep amdgpu
If the amdgpu module is listed, it means the open-source driver is loaded and functioning.
- Optimize performance:To ensure optimal performance with the open-source driver, you can install the Mesa Vulkan drivers:
sudo apt install mesa-vulkan-drivers
If you’re satisfied with the performance of the open-source driver, no further action is necessary. However, if you require additional features or optimizations, you may want to consider installing the proprietary AMDGPU-PRO driver.
Method 2: Installing AMDGPU-PRO
For users who need the proprietary AMD drivers, follow these steps to install AMDGPU-PRO on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS:
- Download the AMDGPU-PRO driver package:
wget https://repo.radeon.com/amdgpu-install/6.2.3/ubuntu/jammy/amdgpu-install_6.2.60203-1_all.deb
- Install the downloaded package:
sudo apt install ./amdgpu-install_6.2.60203-1_all.deb
- Run the AMDGPU-PRO installation script:
sudo amdgpu-install -y --usecase=graphics,rocm
This command installs both the graphics drivers and the ROCm (Radeon Open Compute) stack for GPU computing.
- Add your user to the render and video groups:
sudo usermod -a -G render,video $LOGNAME
- Reboot your system to apply the changes:
sudo reboot
After rebooting, your system should be using the AMDGPU-PRO driver. You can verify this by running the following command:
glxinfo | grep "OpenGL vendor"
If the output shows “Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.” as the OpenGL vendor, the AMDGPU-PRO driver is successfully installed and in use.
Method 3: ROCm Installation
For users interested in GPU computing and machine learning applications, installing the ROCm (Radeon Open Compute) stack can be beneficial. Here’s how to install ROCm on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS:
- Install the AMDGPU DKMS package:
sudo apt install amdgpu-dkms
- Reboot your system:
sudo reboot
- Install the ROCm package:
sudo apt install rocm
After installation, you can verify the ROCm setup by running:
rocminfo
This command will display information about your ROCm installation and available GPU devices.
Troubleshooting
Even with careful installation, you may encounter issues with your AMD Radeon drivers on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. Here are some common problems and their solutions:
Black Screen After Installation
If you experience a black screen after installing or updating your AMD drivers, try the following steps:
- Boot into recovery mode by holding Shift during startup.
- Choose “Root with networking” from the recovery menu.
- Uninstall the problematic driver:
amdgpu-uninstall
- Reboot the system:
reboot
Driver Conflicts
If you’re experiencing conflicts between different driver versions, you can try purging all AMD drivers and reinstalling:
sudo apt purge *amdgpu*
sudo apt autoremove
sudo apt install amdgpu-dkms
Performance Issues
For users experiencing performance issues, try adjusting the power management settings:
- Create a new configuration file:
sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/amdgpu.conf
- Add the following line to the file:
options amdgpu dpm=1
- Save the file and reboot your system.
Performance Optimization
To get the most out of your AMD Radeon graphics card on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, consider the following optimization tips:
Graphics Settings
- Enable Freesync if your monitor supports it:
sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-amdgpu.conf
Add the following lines:
Section "Device" Identifier "AMD" Driver "amdgpu" Option "VariableRefresh" "true" EndSection
- Adjust power management settings for better performance or power efficiency:
sudo nano /etc/default/grub
Add amdgpu.ppfeaturemask=0xffffffff to the GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT line.
Gaming Optimizations
- Install GameMode for automatic system optimizations while gaming:
sudo apt install gamemode
- Use Lutris or Steam’s Proton for running Windows games on Linux with optimal settings.
Verification and Testing
After installing and optimizing your AMD Radeon drivers, it’s important to verify their functionality and performance. Here are some steps to ensure everything is working correctly:
- Check driver installation:
glxinfo | grep "OpenGL renderer"
This should display your AMD GPU model.
- Run a benchmark to test performance:
sudo apt install glmark2 glmark2
This will run a series of tests and provide a performance score.
- Monitor system stability:
sudo apt install stress stress --cpu 8 --io 4 --vm 2 --vm-bytes 128M --timeout 60s
This command will stress-test your system for 60 seconds to ensure stability under load.
Congratulations! You have successfully installed AMD Radeon Driver. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the AMD Radeon Driver on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official AMD website.