Mesa version? (glxinfo | grep OpenGL)

Did you check that your current user is in the video group?

# glxinfo | grep OpenGL
OpenGL vendor string: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: AMD Radeon R9 200 Series
OpenGL core profile version string: 4.3.13399 Core Profile Context 15.302
OpenGL core profile shading language version string: 4.40
OpenGL core profile context flags: (none)
OpenGL core profile profile mask: core profile
OpenGL core profile extensions:
OpenGL version string: 4.5.13399 Compatibility Profile Context 15.302
OpenGL shading language version string: 4.40
OpenGL context flags: (none)
OpenGL profile mask: compatibility profile
OpenGL extensions:


I added myself to the video group as well

But it has made no use I am getting the same error I tried this as well
https://askubuntu.com/questions/506349/opengl-glx-context-is-not-using-direct-rendering-which-may-cause-performance-pr

If you are on LM 17.3 then the OS is only offering the Linux Kernel 4.4.x and also employs and old version of Mesa...

You should consider upgrading or making a fresh install of LM 18.3 or jumping straight to the newly released LM 19.

Why that is important? Because your GPU is quite a recent one from AMD so the best driver you can use on linux is the opensource driver... and that driver is built-in on those two OS core components.

Both LM 18.3 and LM 19 have Linux Kernel 4.15 and a more recent Mesa, and most of the work improving opensource AMD GPU drivers came after the 4.4 kernel, so you are really missing all the fun.

Yeah i have actually started backing stuff up already will probably have to go down that route. Have you much experience with the open source drivers on 4.15?

I have an AMD Phenom II x4 965 + AMD Radeon HD 7770 and I am using LM 18.3 with kernel 4.15 now with zero noticeable issues for quite a while. I've been using the opensource driver exclusively since LM 18.0 and it only got better.

In your case it will make even more of a difference because your GPU is newer, there are things AMD has not enabled for mine but are working well for yours AFAIK, such as improved GPU power management and video decoding... and VULKAN, very important this one!


I've installed LM 19 to a secondary disk to test it out but I've had very little free time to set it up and start actually using it as my daily OS. Also there was a black-screen-bug that hit me at first on LM 19 but it is fixed now.


PS: It was a kernel issue with lack of entropy / available pool of random numbers at boot that hit Ubuntu 18.04 and by extension LM 19. It was kind of funny because it halted the PC booting up unless you mashed your mouse and keyboard erratically for a few minutes to increase entropy... literally you had to act random to help the computer. Go figure?!

Did you wait till 18.2/3 to upgrade? I tried to upgrade to version 18.0 with kernel 4.4 I got a black screen on boot which is why I held off as I was still getting security updates.

I went for it right away at that time and had no such issues.

LM 18 started offering a dark theme (Mint-y Dark) so I was very anxious to get it as soon as it was released.

Since I have 2 similar drives on my main PC I always install new versions from scratch on alternate drives instead of upgrading. LM upgrades are mostly fine but there is always some risk of issues involved.

Now with timeshift as a default backup tool (available by default since LM 18.3, and further integrated to the system on LM 19) it is easier to recover from botched updates and upgrades.

If you look at LM's website there are instructions for upgrading:
https://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=3615

They even laid out an upgrade path from 17.3 all the way up to 19 if you want to try it, though it is a bit convoluted...

I have just in installed 18.3 cinnamon upgraded the kernel to 4.15 no issues haven't played any games yet but its very snappy