xorg-x11-drv-ati enhancement and bug fix update

An update x11-drv-ati package which fixes several bugs, adds enhancements,
and includes a technology preview is now available.

The xorg-x11-drv-ati package provides a driver for ATI® cards for the X.Org
implementation of the X Window System.

This update addresses the following bugs:

* ATI's on-chip hardware scaler (RMX mode) was used by default, causing
poor rendering on IBM servers with CRT displays and ES1000 cards. Digital
panel validation now matches modes with Extended Display Identification
Data (EDID) rather than automatically using RMX mode. Consequently, output
to analog (e.g. CRT) devices won't be distorted by the RMX mode scaler.

For laptops using the Radeon X driver, external display support must be
explicitly configured if the external monitor is not detected at server
startup. Please refer to the latest version of the Red Hat Enterprise Linux
5.2 release notes for this information:

http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/enterprise/

* on R100-class cards, the texture cache was not flushed correctly.
Consequently, text in OpenOffice.org menus and dialog boxes was poorly
rendered. The texture cache is now flushed correctly, so text rendering is
correct even with "RenderAccel" on.

* the RN50 video controller's CRT Controller (CRTC) only collects one EDID
structure. The Open Platform Management Architecture (OPMA) server's KVMoIP
feature captures DVI-I signals and transmits them for remote console use.
This combination caused OPMA server local monitors to go 'out of range',
causing a blank screen upon X session initiation. OPMA servers are now
checked for. When detected, the driver performs DDC on the VGA output.
Retrieved EDIDs are preferred over the on-board DVI-I EDID. The driver then
picks a mode from the selected EDID and limits it to 1600 x 1200 pixels,
ensuring it can be displayed on both the connected monitor and remote
console.

* the algorithm for establishing resolutions made an incorrect assumption
concerning preferred resolution size. Wide-screen resolutions broke this
assumption. This made some wide-screen resolutions unavailable on certain
displays. This updated package incorporates an improved
resolution-determining algorithm.

* on Dell servers with ES1000 cards, the RMX mode generated from the EDID
automatically invoked RMX stretching, which could cause the screen to go
blank. The driver now disables RMX mode in the presence of ES1000
hardware.

As well, the ATI FireMV 2200 card is now supported in SGI® Altix® systems
with PCIe. Note: the FireMV 2200's 3D capabilities are not supported. Only
un-accelerated 2D graphics are supported.

Finally, this release contains a technology preview, radeon_tp:

* radeon_tp supports mode-setting on the ATI R500 and R600 chipsets; 2D
acceleration on R500-family chipsets; and shadow frame-buffer acceleration
on R600-family chipsets.

Supported R500-based cards include the X1300-, X1550-, X1600-, X1800-,
X1900- and X1950-series. Supported R600-based cards include these Radeon HD
cards: 2350-series 2400-series, 2600-series, and 2900-series.

radeon_tp also supports Mobility Radeon and Mobility Radeon HD. Mobility
Radeon cards supported by this preview include the X1300, X1350, X1400,
X1450, X1600, X1700, X1800-series, X1900, X2300 and X2500. Mobility Radeon
HD cards supported by this driver include the 2300, 2400-series,
2600-series, and 2700.

The radeon_tp driver also supports FireGL cards analogous with the noted
Radeon cards.

Note: the 3D features of cards noted above are not supported by this
preview driver.

All ATI cards users should upgrade to this updated package, which resolves
these issues, adds these enhancements, and includes the radeon_tp driver
technology preview.

Before applying this update, make sure that all previously-released
errata relevant to your system have been applied.

This update is available via Red Hat Network. Details on how to use
the Red Hat Network to apply this update are available at
http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/FAQ_58_10188

235156 - On-chip RMX mode cause video corrupt on IBM server
274831 - add OPMA server support
302871 - Disable RMX for Dell Server with ES1000 chips
310331 - System hang on DELL server with ES1000 video chip
310371 - add widescreen resolution support for radeon driver

r500, r600, radeon, rn50