On Sat, Sep 19, 2015 at 03:23:28PM +1000, [email protected] wrote:

> The problem is almost certainly something to do with the GPU as as stated
> the sound does keep playing so what is happenning is an xserver display
> lockup and the kernel is still running (Note it appears the X app concerned
> vlc is still running..
> 

can you ssh in and kill the app or the X server?


> My own thinking is Craig has hit the nail firmly on the head, although
> I have run the 7870 extensively on i386 with little trouble (Note I
> have actaully struck this before, an AMD card giving problems under
> certain versions of linux). I believe the way forward also is for
> an Nvidia card. I have tried both AMD and Nvidia offerings and from
> all this experience the Nvidia's with the closed source driver is
> superior.

before spending money on a new card, try the catalyst driver. it's as
simple as 'apt-get install fglrx-driver' (for sid & testing, fglrx-glx
for stable) and if it works, will save you hundreds of dollars.

otherwise, see my comments on gtx-960 and gtx-970 below.


also, try googling for things like 'linux 7870 crash' and similar -
somone may have run into the same problem as you and figured out a fix
or workaround.


> I do compile my own kernels, this machine (I am writing this on the AMD64
> installed machine) is 3.16.7 compiled last november so its due for an
> update. Note also I have tried updating the kernel, it did not help.

3.16.7 is ancient. there have been numerous fixes and updates to the
radeon driver since then....it's worth trying a new kernel because just
like trying fglrx it may save you hundreds of dollars if it works for
you.



> I give a look at digging up a reasonable Nvidia card, a real high end
> job is a waste of money though.

a GTX-960 for around $260-$290 is roughly comparable with a Radeon 7870.

a GTX-970 for around $450-$500 is significantly better than a 7870.

http://www.hwcompare.com/18439/geforce-gtx-960-vs-radeon-hd-7870/

http://www.hwcompare.com/18058/geforce-gtx-970-vs-radeon-hd-7870/


BTW, i did some research a few weeks ago when i was considering
upgrading the GTX-560 on my win7 gaming box ...the Gigabyte WF30C
GTX-970 seems the best value for money for 970 cards. i ended up
deciding i didn't want to spend $479 if i didn't have to (my 560 wasn't
displaying anything even after a cold reboot, so i thought it had died.
fortunately after a few hours switched off at the wall, it came good
again. i suspect it will probably have to be replaced eventually...or
maybe playing Risen 3 put the card in a weird state)

the 560 has been great - they were exceptionally good value for money at
the time, so good that it hasn't been worth upgrading them. but i bought
a 2560x1440 monitor a few months ago, and it's struggling in some games
at full resolution. will probably have to get a gtx-970 eventually.


craig

-- 
craig sanders <[email protected]>
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