BOINC doesn't recognize AMD/ATI GPU in 16.04 despite sudo /etc/init.d/boinc-client restart

[EliasAlucard]

Back on 14.04 and also 12.04, all you had to do to get BOINC to use the GPU(s), was to install AMD's proprietary fglrx driver, and then type in terminal:

sudo /etc/init.d/boinc-client restart

You had to type that like every time you (re)started Ubuntu for BOINC to recognize your graphics card, but it worked to fix the GPU recognition with AMD cards (not sure about Nvidia cards though, since I don't have any). Now however, in 16.04, AMD's Catalyst drivers have been deprecated, and while the switch to AMD's improved open source GPU drivers is a good move, for some reason, this command line no longer works to recognize AMD graphics cards. And since we can no longer install fglrx/Catalyst on Xenial, I hope AMD's work on their open source drivers gets a BOINC optimization ASAP.

[Steve Hawker (bluepowdermonkey)]

I stupidly went ahead and installed 16.04 after weeks of being told there was an "upgrade". What a complete lie. Losing a massive part of my system is in no way an "upgrade"

16.04 not only took away fglrx but also your ability to run OpenCL apps of which BOINC has a ton.

So, bottom line, if you have an AMD GPU do not install 16.04.

I'm probably going back to 14.04 and stick with Catalyst until my AMD GPU dies, then I'm off to NVIDIA.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[John Bridgman (john-bridgman)]

Which GPU are you using ? If you are running a CI or VI part (Bonaire, Hawaii, Tonga, Fiji etc..) then you can install the amdgpu hybrid stack which is replacing fglrx, and get the same OpenCL driver. If you are running an SI part (Cape Verde, Pitcairn or Tahiti) then we are still working on that support so staying on 14.04 for a bit longer would be good.

For older parts (anything pre-GCN) you will need to go back to a 14.04 LTS install for sure.

[Steve Hawker (bluepowdermonkey)]

I'm using Tahiti so I'll be waiting.

I tried to go back to 14.04 but ran into a whole bunch of hateful issues there.

I really wish I'd never upgraded. This has been nothing but a complete disaster. I will never buy another AMD GPU again and I am utterly unimpressed by this "upgrade". The system knows I've got fglrx installed, why on earth did it not warn me about the black hole I'd be falling into? This is Microsoft-style nonsense. I'd come to expect better from the Linux community.

[Alberto Salvia Novella (es20490446e)]

@ Steve Hawker

We are sorry you are experiencing those issues. On the other hand take into account the context of this bug is very specific, and libre drivers will work better in nearly any situation.

In fact I own a Radeon HD5870 and I have been using libre drivers much before proprietary ones were deprecated, because of their advantages. Modern cards even have better support than that.

[John Bridgman (john-bridgman)]

In this case Steve is trying to run an app (BOINC) which requires the proprietary OpenCL userspace driver, either from the old fglrx stack or the new amdgpu hybrid stack.

In the short term (until we extend amdgpu hybrid support back to SI) going back to a 14.04 LTS version would be best... in terms of still-supported-for-a-long-time versions that do not have 16.04 kernel/gfx would that be 14.04.1 ?

http://www.ubuntu.com/info/release-end-of-life