[wellylug] video card choice

[Daniel Pittman]

Richard Hector <richard at walnut.gen.nz> writes:

> Any suggestions on linux-friendly video cards?
>
> I want free drivers, PCIe, for a new AMD 64-bit machine, and ability
> to do dual-head. Does anything exist?

The free 'radeon' driver can run anything up to an X850, including:

       R423/R430   Radeon X800, M28 PCIE (2d only)
       R480/R481   Radeon X850 PCIE/AGP (2d only)

Free 3D driver support is being built, but not yet generally available,
for that same hardware.  

[...]

> How do other brands compare? SiS? Matrox? Others?

Fairly poorly, but usually with better open 3D support.  Not always
good, but better.


Your best bet, right now, for getting a higher end graphics chipset with
full and open driver support -- including 3D -- is to get an integrated
Intel graphics chipset on the motherboard.

Sad, isn't it?  I keep hoping that some bright spark will figure a way
to plug the Intel graphics parts onto a stand-alone card with dedicated
memory.

Regards,
        Daniel
-- 
Digital Infrastructure Solutions -- making IT simple, stable and secure
Phone: 0401 155 707        email: contact at digital-infrastructure.com.au
                 http://digital-infrastructure.com.au/