[wellylug] video card choice

[Jonathan Harker]

Richard Hector wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> 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 answers are different depending if you want 3D or not.

When it comes to nVidia or ATI, you might have to bite the bullet with
the free drivers bit, unless you are particularly fanatical about it
and/or are prepared for Hell to freeze over before the free drivers are
ever good enough to do 3D and dual head reliably.

>From the hassle and headaches I've had recently trying to get 3D to
actually WORK RELIABLY, I'd recommend nVidia with recent binary drivers.
Here's why:

1. Instead of the XGL/Compiz debacle, you can use xorg 7.1 (which has
built-in AIGLX), and the Beryl composite manager instead.

2. You get the benefit of XGL for (mostly) free, without actually having
to run XGL. You save the extra memory and CPU overhead of running what
is effectively an extra X server.

3. OpenGL apps such as Google Earth, Quake, etc. don't crash when
attempting to run them with a compositing manager.

4. Dual head is fairly easy to configure with TwinView.

5. The free nVidia drivers are rubbish for 3D and are likely to stay
that way until nVidia release more HW specs, which won't happen so I say
get over it  :-)

6. ATI still insist on using an ancient version of DRI in their binary
fglrx driver, with no word on when they will update it to use AIGLX.
Point 5 applies to ATI as well. This basically means it's a pain in the
arse to get both 3D and dual-head running simultaneously and reliably.

> My understanding, as one who pays little attention to hardware, is that:
> 
> ATI Radeon 92xx and below work fine, but aren't available for PCIe
> Newer ATI cards don't work very well under linux if at all
> nVidia cards work ok, but need binary drivers
> Intel chipsets work ok, but may need hackery for odd resolutions, and
> aren't available as separate cards, so are hard to use with AMD systems

Pretty much. Newer ATI cards are okay on Linux using their fglrx driver,
but their driver development has gone dark recently, and they have
always lagged behind nVidia in terms of keeping up with X development.

At least nVidia are actively involved in X development and keep their
drivers relatively fresh. This is obvious from the reliability and
stability of the driver in day to day use.

They can't release some of their specs because they have patents, NDAs,
cross-licencing and all that drama. Personally I don't care enough to
not use a binary driver - if it's kept up to date and works, I'll use
it. YMMV...  :-)

J