# Before you start

For 6xx/7xx 2D acceleration, you **don't** need to use a branch of radeonhd any more - standard, **released version 1.2.5 is enough**. 

You still need correct version of drm (kernel) driver. You can just install 2.6.30 kernel, or the Ubuntu Jaunty default kernel, or use following instruction for that. The alternative driver, [[radeon|radeon]], can also [[utilize|radeon:r6xx_r7xx_branch]] the same drm branch for the same features. 

Current status is : 

* It should provide EXA acceleration, Xv acceleration. 
* AGP support has been recently added 
* Corruption problems believed to be fixed  
* Hanging on VT switch believed to be fixed 
* r6xx-r7xx-support branch were merged into master for both radeonhd and radeon 
* You **must** use drm code from r6xx-7xx branch of mesa drm or 2.6.30 kernel, or an older kernel (eg. Jaunty) with backported support. 

## How to build drm from r6xx-7xx branch of mesa drm

* checkout the source for the drm: 

[[!format txt """
   git clone git://anongit.freedesktop.org/mesa/drm
"""]]
* switch drm to the experimental branch and build its modules : 

[[!format txt """
   cd drm/linux-core
   git checkout -b r6xx-r7xx-support origin/r6xx-r7xx-support
   make radeon.o drm.o
   find /lib/modules -name "radeon.ko" -o -name "drm.ko"
   sudo cp radeon.ko /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/.../radeon.ko
   sudo cp drm.ko /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/.../drm.ko
"""]]
This last path will likely depend upon your linux distribution. 


## How to enable EXA and Xv

* configure your xorg.conf ; you need at least two options in the **Device** section : 

[[!format txt """
        Option      "AccelMethod" "exa" # default shadowfb
        Option      "DRI" "on"
"""]]