Radeon Linux 4.4 vs. Catalyst

Benchmarks of a few Radeon tests on the Linux 4.4 kernel then compared to Catalyst 15.9 from AMD.com. Benchmarks by Michael Larabel for a future article on Phoronix.com.

Compare your own system(s) to this result file with the Phoronix Test Suite by running the command: phoronix-test-suite benchmark 1511299-HA-REDSIDE8361
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Performance Per
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HD 6870: Linux 4.4 Radeon
November 20 2015
 
R9 290: Linux 4.4 Radeon
November 21 2015
 
R7 370: Linux 4.4 Radeon
November 21 2015
 
R7 370: Catalyst
November 27 2015
 
R9 290: Catalyst
November 27 2015
 
HD 6870: Catalyst
November 27 2015
 
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HD 6870: Linux 4.4 Radeon

Processor: Intel Core i7-5960X @ 3.50GHz (16 Cores), Motherboard: Gigabyte X99-UD4-CF, Chipset: Intel Xeon E7 v3/Xeon, Memory: 16384MB, Disk: 240GB OCZ VERTEX3, Graphics: Sapphire AMD Radeon HD 6870 1024MB, Audio: Realtek ALC1150, Monitor: SyncMaster, Network: Intel Connection

OS: Ubuntu 15.10, Kernel: 4.4.0-rc1-phoronix (x86_64) 20151118, Desktop: Unity, Display Server: X Server 1.17.2, Display Driver: radeon 7.6.99, OpenGL: 3.3 Mesa 11.1.0-devel (padoka PPA) Gallium 0.4, Compiler: GCC 5.2.1 20151010, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 2560x1600

Processor Notes: Scaling Governor: intel_pstate performance
Graphics Notes: EXA

R9 290: Linux 4.4 Radeon

Processor: Intel Core i7-5960X @ 3.50GHz (16 Cores), Motherboard: Gigabyte X99-UD4-CF, Chipset: Intel Xeon E7 v3/Xeon, Memory: 16384MB, Disk: 240GB OCZ VERTEX3, Graphics: XFX AMD Radeon R9 290 4096MB, Audio: Realtek ALC1150, Monitor: SyncMaster, Network: Intel Connection

OS: Ubuntu 15.10, Kernel: 4.4.0-rc1-phoronix (x86_64) 20151118, Desktop: Unity, Display Server: X Server 1.17.2, Display Driver: radeon 7.6.99, OpenGL: 4.1 Mesa 11.1.0-devel (padoka PPA) Gallium 0.4, Compiler: GCC 5.2.1 20151010, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 2560x1600

Processor Notes: Scaling Governor: intel_pstate performance
Graphics Notes: GLAMOR

R7 370: Linux 4.4 Radeon

Changed Graphics to MSI AMD Radeon R7 370 / R9 270/370 OEM 4096MB.

R7 370: Catalyst

Processor: Intel Core i7-5960X @ 3.50GHz (16 Cores), Motherboard: Gigabyte X99-UD4-CF, Chipset: Intel Xeon E7 v3/Xeon, Memory: 16384MB, Disk: 240GB OCZ VERTEX3, Graphics: MSI AMD Radeon R7 370 4096MB (1030/1400MHz), Audio: Realtek ALC1150, Monitor: SyncMaster, Network: Intel Connection

OS: Ubuntu 15.10, Kernel: 4.2.0-18-generic (x86_64), Desktop: Unity, Display Server: X Server 1.17.2, Display Driver: fglrx 15.20.3, OpenGL: 4.4.13399, Compiler: GCC 5.2.1 20151010, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 2560x1600

Environment Notes: LIBGL_DRIVERS_PATH=/usr/lib/fglrx/dri:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/dri:/usr/lib/dri:/usr/lib32/fglrx/dri:/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/dri
Processor Notes: Scaling Governor: intel_pstate performance

R9 290: Catalyst

Changed Graphics to Supported device 67B1 4096MB (947/1250MHz).

HD 6870: Catalyst

Changed Graphics to Sapphire AMD Radeon HD 6800 1024MB (900/1050MHz).

Radeon Linux 4.4 vs. CatalystOpenBenchmarking.orgPhoronix Test SuiteIntel Core i7-5960X @ 3.50GHz (16 Cores)Gigabyte X99-UD4-CFIntel Xeon E7 v3/Xeon16384MB240GB OCZ VERTEX3Sapphire AMD Radeon HD 6870 1024MBXFX AMD Radeon R9 290 4096MBMSI AMD Radeon R7 370 / R9 270/370 OEM 4096MBMSI AMD Radeon R7 370 4096MB (1030/1400MHz)Supported device 67B1 4096MB (947/1250MHz)Sapphire AMD Radeon HD 6800 1024MB (900/1050MHz)Realtek ALC1150SyncMasterIntel ConnectionUbuntu 15.104.4.0-rc1-phoronix (x86_64) 201511184.2.0-18-generic (x86_64)UnityX Server 1.17.2radeon 7.6.99fglrx 15.20.33.3 Mesa 11.1.0-devel (padoka PPA) Gallium 0.44.1 Mesa 11.1.0-devel (padoka PPA) Gallium 0.44.4.13399GCC 5.2.1 20151010ext42560x1600ProcessorMotherboardChipsetMemoryDiskGraphicsAudioMonitorNetworkOSKernelsDesktopDisplay ServerDisplay DriversOpenGLsCompilerFile-SystemScreen ResolutionRadeon Linux 4.4 Vs. Catalyst BenchmarksSystem Logs- Scaling Governor: intel_pstate performance- HD 6870: Linux 4.4 Radeon: EXA- R9 290: Linux 4.4 Radeon: GLAMOR- R7 370: Linux 4.4 Radeon: GLAMOR- R7 370: Catalyst, R9 290: Catalyst, HD 6870: Catalyst: LIBGL_DRIVERS_PATH=/usr/lib/fglrx/dri:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/dri:/usr/lib/dri:/usr/lib32/fglrx/dri:/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/dri

openarena: 2560 x 1600tesseract: 2560 x 1600unigine-valley: 1920 x 1080 - Fullscreenxonotic: 2560 x 1600 - Ultraxonotic: 2560 x 1600 - Ultimategputest: Furmark - 2560 x 1600 - Fullscreengputest: Triangle - 2560 x 1600 - FullscreenHD 6870R9 290R7 370R9 290HD 6870 Linux 4.4 Radeon Linux 4.4 Radeon Linux 4.4 Radeon Catalyst Catalyst Catalyst97.4787.3839.30103.2166.581005109767179.53141.6786.70186.57150.852961159024135.50113.3957.07151.34115.461778156.03115.47188.86270.50201.1874.19208.67171.012953491042115.8789.0830.28155.39105.291303249960OpenBenchmarking.org

OpenArena

HD 6870R9 290R7 370OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterOpenArena 0.8.8Resolution: 2560 x 1600Linux 4.4 RadeonCatalyst60120180240300SE +/- 1.12, N = 3SE +/- 0.09, N = 3SE +/- 3.34, N = 6SE +/- 3.63, N = 3SE +/- 2.40, N = 3SE +/- 0.18, N = 397.47115.87179.53270.50135.50156.03
HD 6870R9 290R7 370OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterOpenArena 0.8.8Resolution: 2560 x 1600Linux 4.4 RadeonCatalyst50100150200250Min: 96.2 / Avg: 97.47 / Max: 99.7Min: 115.7 / Avg: 115.87 / Max: 116Min: 174.7 / Avg: 179.53 / Max: 196.1Min: 263.9 / Avg: 270.5 / Max: 276.4Min: 133 / Avg: 135.5 / Max: 140.3Min: 155.7 / Avg: 156.03 / Max: 156.3

HD 6870R9 290R7 370OpenBenchmarking.orgMilliseconds, Fewer Is BetterOpenArena 0.8.8Resolution: 2560 x 1600 - Total Frame TimeLinux 4.4 RadeonCatalyst918273645Min: 3 / Avg: 10.34 / Max: 23Min: 1 / Avg: 8.62 / Max: 42Min: 2 / Avg: 5.61 / Max: 40Min: 1 / Avg: 3.66 / Max: 41Min: 2 / Avg: 7.48 / Max: 33Min: 1 / Avg: 6.39 / Max: 42

Tesseract

Tesseract is a fork of Cube 2 Sauerbraten with numerous graphics and game-play improvements. Tesseract has been in development since 2012 while its first release happened in May of 2014. Learn more via the OpenBenchmarking.org test page.

HD 6870R9 290R7 370OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterTesseract 2014-05-12Resolution: 2560 x 1600Linux 4.4 RadeonCatalyst4080120160200SE +/- 0.46, N = 3SE +/- 0.12, N = 3SE +/- 1.17, N = 3SE +/- 3.33, N = 3SE +/- 0.28, N = 3SE +/- 0.32, N = 387.3889.08141.67201.18113.39115.47
HD 6870R9 290R7 370OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterTesseract 2014-05-12Resolution: 2560 x 1600Linux 4.4 RadeonCatalyst4080120160200Min: 86.51 / Avg: 87.38 / Max: 88.07Min: 88.84 / Avg: 89.08 / Max: 89.25Min: 139.34 / Avg: 141.67 / Max: 143.04Min: 195.13 / Avg: 201.18 / Max: 206.63Min: 113.02 / Avg: 113.39 / Max: 113.93Min: 115.15 / Avg: 115.47 / Max: 116.11

Unigine Valley

This test calculates the average frame-rate within the Valley demo for the Unigine engine, released in February 2013. This engine is extremely demanding on the system's graphics card. Unigine Valley relies upon an OpenGL GL3 Core Profile context. Learn more via the OpenBenchmarking.org test page.

HD 6870R9 290R7 370OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterUnigine Valley 1.0Resolution: 1920 x 1080 - Mode: FullscreenLinux 4.4 RadeonCatalyst20406080100SE +/- 0.06, N = 3SE +/- 0.03, N = 3SE +/- 0.21, N = 3SE +/- 0.09, N = 3SE +/- 0.13, N = 339.3030.2886.7074.1957.07
HD 6870R9 290R7 370OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterUnigine Valley 1.0Resolution: 1920 x 1080 - Mode: FullscreenLinux 4.4 RadeonCatalyst1632486480Min: 39.19 / Avg: 39.3 / Max: 39.37Min: 30.22 / Avg: 30.28 / Max: 30.32Min: 86.49 / Avg: 86.7 / Max: 87.12Min: 74.02 / Avg: 74.19 / Max: 74.32Min: 56.8 / Avg: 57.07 / Max: 57.21

Xonotic

This is a benchmark of Xonotic, which is a fork of the DarkPlaces-based Nexuiz game. Development began in March of 2010 on the Xonotic game. Learn more via the OpenBenchmarking.org test page.

HD 6870R9 290R7 370OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterXonotic 0.8Resolution: 2560 x 1600 - Effects Quality: UltraLinux 4.4 RadeonCatalyst50100150200250SE +/- 0.48, N = 3SE +/- 0.97, N = 3SE +/- 3.39, N = 3SE +/- 1.60, N = 3SE +/- 1.25, N = 3SE +/- 15.24, N = 6103.21155.39186.57208.67151.34188.86
HD 6870R9 290R7 370OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterXonotic 0.8Resolution: 2560 x 1600 - Effects Quality: UltraLinux 4.4 RadeonCatalyst4080120160200Min: 102.59 / Avg: 103.21 / Max: 104.15Min: 153.48 / Avg: 155.39 / Max: 156.6Min: 179.8 / Avg: 186.57 / Max: 190.31Min: 206.34 / Avg: 208.67 / Max: 211.74Min: 148.91 / Avg: 151.34 / Max: 153.06Min: 112.7 / Avg: 188.86 / Max: 206.32

HD 6870R9 290R7 370OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterXonotic 0.8Resolution: 2560 x 1600 - Effects Quality: UltimateLinux 4.4 RadeonCatalyst4080120160200SE +/- 0.02, N = 3SE +/- 0.09, N = 3SE +/- 2.76, N = 3SE +/- 0.71, N = 3SE +/- 0.32, N = 366.58105.29150.85171.01115.46
HD 6870R9 290R7 370OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterXonotic 0.8Resolution: 2560 x 1600 - Effects Quality: UltimateLinux 4.4 RadeonCatalyst306090120150Min: 66.55 / Avg: 66.58 / Max: 66.62Min: 105.14 / Avg: 105.29 / Max: 105.44Min: 147.51 / Avg: 150.85 / Max: 156.33Min: 169.64 / Avg: 171.01 / Max: 172.04Min: 114.89 / Avg: 115.46 / Max: 116

GpuTest

GpuTest is a cross-platform OpenGL benchmark developed at Geeks3D.com that offers tech demos such as FurMark, TessMark, and other workloads to stress various areas of GPUs and drivers. Learn more via the OpenBenchmarking.org test page.

HD 6870R9 290R7 370OpenBenchmarking.orgPoints, More Is BetterGpuTest 0.7.0Test: Furmark - Resolution: 2560 x 1600 - Mode: FullscreenLinux 4.4 RadeonCatalyst6001200180024003000SE +/- 0.33, N = 3SE +/- 0.33, N = 3SE +/- 7.69, N = 3SE +/- 48.23, N = 3SE +/- 10.73, N = 310051303296129531778
HD 6870R9 290R7 370OpenBenchmarking.orgPoints, More Is BetterGpuTest 0.7.0Test: Furmark - Resolution: 2560 x 1600 - Mode: FullscreenLinux 4.4 RadeonCatalyst5001000150020002500Min: 1005 / Avg: 1005.33 / Max: 1006Min: 1302 / Avg: 1302.67 / Max: 1303Min: 2952 / Avg: 2960.67 / Max: 2976Min: 2890 / Avg: 2953.33 / Max: 3048Min: 1757 / Avg: 1777.67 / Max: 1793

HD 6870R9 290OpenBenchmarking.orgPoints, More Is BetterGpuTest 0.7.0Test: Triangle - Resolution: 2560 x 1600 - Mode: FullscreenLinux 4.4 RadeonCatalyst110K220K330K440K550KSE +/- 45.88, N = 3SE +/- 8.09, N = 3SE +/- 585.33, N = 3SE +/- 263.07, N = 3109767249960159024491042
HD 6870R9 290OpenBenchmarking.orgPoints, More Is BetterGpuTest 0.7.0Test: Triangle - Resolution: 2560 x 1600 - Mode: FullscreenLinux 4.4 RadeonCatalyst90K180K270K360K450KMin: 109701 / Avg: 109766.67 / Max: 109855Min: 249946 / Avg: 249959.67 / Max: 249974Min: 157854 / Avg: 159024 / Max: 159643Min: 490573 / Avg: 491042 / Max: 491483

HD 6870: Linux 4.4 Radeon

Processor: Intel Core i7-5960X @ 3.50GHz (16 Cores), Motherboard: Gigabyte X99-UD4-CF, Chipset: Intel Xeon E7 v3/Xeon, Memory: 16384MB, Disk: 240GB OCZ VERTEX3, Graphics: Sapphire AMD Radeon HD 6870 1024MB, Audio: Realtek ALC1150, Monitor: SyncMaster, Network: Intel Connection

OS: Ubuntu 15.10, Kernel: 4.4.0-rc1-phoronix (x86_64) 20151118, Desktop: Unity, Display Server: X Server 1.17.2, Display Driver: radeon 7.6.99, OpenGL: 3.3 Mesa 11.1.0-devel (padoka PPA) Gallium 0.4, Compiler: GCC 5.2.1 20151010, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 2560x1600

Processor Notes: Scaling Governor: intel_pstate performance
Graphics Notes: EXA

Testing initiated at 20 November 2015 16:56 by user phoronix.

R9 290: Linux 4.4 Radeon

Processor: Intel Core i7-5960X @ 3.50GHz (16 Cores), Motherboard: Gigabyte X99-UD4-CF, Chipset: Intel Xeon E7 v3/Xeon, Memory: 16384MB, Disk: 240GB OCZ VERTEX3, Graphics: XFX AMD Radeon R9 290 4096MB, Audio: Realtek ALC1150, Monitor: SyncMaster, Network: Intel Connection

OS: Ubuntu 15.10, Kernel: 4.4.0-rc1-phoronix (x86_64) 20151118, Desktop: Unity, Display Server: X Server 1.17.2, Display Driver: radeon 7.6.99, OpenGL: 4.1 Mesa 11.1.0-devel (padoka PPA) Gallium 0.4, Compiler: GCC 5.2.1 20151010, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 2560x1600

Processor Notes: Scaling Governor: intel_pstate performance
Graphics Notes: GLAMOR

Testing initiated at 21 November 2015 08:05 by user phoronix.

R7 370: Linux 4.4 Radeon

Processor: Intel Core i7-5960X @ 3.50GHz (16 Cores), Motherboard: Gigabyte X99-UD4-CF, Chipset: Intel Xeon E7 v3/Xeon, Memory: 16384MB, Disk: 240GB OCZ VERTEX3, Graphics: MSI AMD Radeon R7 370 / R9 270/370 OEM 4096MB, Audio: Realtek ALC1150, Monitor: SyncMaster, Network: Intel Connection

OS: Ubuntu 15.10, Kernel: 4.4.0-rc1-phoronix (x86_64) 20151118, Desktop: Unity, Display Server: X Server 1.17.2, Display Driver: radeon 7.6.99, OpenGL: 4.1 Mesa 11.1.0-devel (padoka PPA) Gallium 0.4, Compiler: GCC 5.2.1 20151010, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 2560x1600

Processor Notes: Scaling Governor: intel_pstate performance
Graphics Notes: GLAMOR

Testing initiated at 21 November 2015 08:52 by user phoronix.

R7 370: Catalyst

Processor: Intel Core i7-5960X @ 3.50GHz (16 Cores), Motherboard: Gigabyte X99-UD4-CF, Chipset: Intel Xeon E7 v3/Xeon, Memory: 16384MB, Disk: 240GB OCZ VERTEX3, Graphics: MSI AMD Radeon R7 370 4096MB (1030/1400MHz), Audio: Realtek ALC1150, Monitor: SyncMaster, Network: Intel Connection

OS: Ubuntu 15.10, Kernel: 4.2.0-18-generic (x86_64), Desktop: Unity, Display Server: X Server 1.17.2, Display Driver: fglrx 15.20.3, OpenGL: 4.4.13399, Compiler: GCC 5.2.1 20151010, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 2560x1600

Environment Notes: LIBGL_DRIVERS_PATH=/usr/lib/fglrx/dri:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/dri:/usr/lib/dri:/usr/lib32/fglrx/dri:/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/dri
Processor Notes: Scaling Governor: intel_pstate performance

Testing initiated at 27 November 2015 09:13 by user phoronix.

R9 290: Catalyst

Processor: Intel Core i7-5960X @ 3.50GHz (16 Cores), Motherboard: Gigabyte X99-UD4-CF, Chipset: Intel Xeon E7 v3/Xeon, Memory: 16384MB, Disk: 240GB OCZ VERTEX3, Graphics: Supported device 67B1 4096MB (947/1250MHz), Audio: Realtek ALC1150, Monitor: SyncMaster, Network: Intel Connection

OS: Ubuntu 15.10, Kernel: 4.2.0-18-generic (x86_64), Desktop: Unity, Display Server: X Server 1.17.2, Display Driver: fglrx 15.20.3, OpenGL: 4.4.13399, Compiler: GCC 5.2.1 20151010, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 2560x1600

Environment Notes: LIBGL_DRIVERS_PATH=/usr/lib/fglrx/dri:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/dri:/usr/lib/dri:/usr/lib32/fglrx/dri:/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/dri
Processor Notes: Scaling Governor: intel_pstate performance

Testing initiated at 27 November 2015 10:01 by user phoronix.

HD 6870: Catalyst

Processor: Intel Core i7-5960X @ 3.50GHz (16 Cores), Motherboard: Gigabyte X99-UD4-CF, Chipset: Intel Xeon E7 v3/Xeon, Memory: 16384MB, Disk: 240GB OCZ VERTEX3, Graphics: Sapphire AMD Radeon HD 6800 1024MB (900/1050MHz), Audio: Realtek ALC1150, Monitor: SyncMaster, Network: Intel Connection

OS: Ubuntu 15.10, Kernel: 4.2.0-18-generic (x86_64), Desktop: Unity, Display Server: X Server 1.17.2, Display Driver: fglrx 15.20.3, OpenGL: 4.4.13399, Compiler: GCC 5.2.1 20151010, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 2560x1600

Environment Notes: LIBGL_DRIVERS_PATH=/usr/lib/fglrx/dri:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/dri:/usr/lib/dri:/usr/lib32/fglrx/dri:/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/dri
Processor Notes: Scaling Governor: intel_pstate performance

Testing initiated at 27 November 2015 10:40 by user phoronix.