[Cialug] graphics accelerator

Mon May 8 10:34:30 CDT 2006

I think the kernel installation issue basically boils down to a pathing
thing.  I think it might be possible to make a symlink to the driver
when doing a kernel update. However, I really hadn't had a chance to
play with it...

:) Dave

On Mon, 2006-05-08 at 10:26, David Champion wrote:
> If you use a distribution that includes the nVidia drivers, you should 
> be able to do a kernel update without any problems. I can do this with 
> Mandriva (I think this may only be in the Powerpack edition, not in the 
> Discovery edition that's free to everyone), and I'm sure others (maybe 
> Suse?) do this as well.
> 
> Ideally it would be nice if nVidia would release their driver as OSS, 
> but they're not going to for business reasons. They do offer very good 
> support for Linux drivers. If you use the version you download from 
> nVidia's web site, you just run a script - it will go download the 
> latest version, build the modules and you're good to go.
> 
> BTW - the latest nVidia driver supports up to the GeForce 7900 cards. 
> I'm just going to guess that Dan isn't in the market for a $500+ extreme 
> gaming card, so anything in the "reasonable" price range should be 
> supported.
> 
> http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux_display_ia32_1.0-8756.html
> 
> -dc
> 
> Dave J. Hala Jr. wrote:
> > I'm using the nvidia driver on an old mx400 card with redhat enterprise
> > workstation 3.x without issue. I've never had a lockup or any other
> > problems.
> > 
> > The only pita is that when I do a kernel update, I need to do a driver
> > update/reinstall too. 
> > 
> > 
> > On Mon, 2006-05-08 at 08:52, Jerry Heiselman wrote:
> > 
> >>I agree with the nVidia assessment.  They may be closed-source for
> >>their drivers, but they seem to be willing to at least help out the
> >>open-source community.  I have never had any issues with nVidia in
> >>Linux, just make sure you get a bit older of a card. 
> >>
> >>Jerry
> >>
> >>On 5/8/06, Nathan C. Smith <smith at ipmvs.com> wrote:
> >>        Don't be afraid of nVidia even if it is proprietary.  It works
> >>        well. (I
> >>        suppose that is what is on your Dell machine at work no that's
> >>        I've said
> >>        something nice about it)
> >>        
> >>        Also, Matrox is still available - although they might be more
> >>        in the 2D 
> >>        high-performance area.
> >>        
> >>        Probably the best thing to do is find a card that is not too
> >>        new and has
> >>        good OpenG/L support?
> >>        
> >>        -Nate
> >>        
> >>        > -----Original Message-----
> >>        > From: Daniel A. Ramaley [mailto: daniel.ramaley at DRAKE.EDU]
> >>        > Sent: Sunday, May 07, 2006 10:30 PM
> >>        > To: cialug at cialug.org
> >>        > Subject: [Cialug] graphics accelerator 
> >>        >
> >>        >
> >>        > My current primary computer at home is about 8 years old.
> >>        > I've decided
> >>        > it is time to build a new one. Since i last built a machine
> >>        > it appears
> >>        > the graphics card industry has gone through quite a 
> >>        > shakedown, leaving
> >>        > just ATI and nVidia. And as far as i can tell so far, both
> >>        companies
> >>        > are opposed to open source. Are there any modern graphics
> >>        > cards with 3D
> >>        > acceleration that have open source drivers? 
> >>        >
> >>        > After the experience of running an ATI closed-source driver
> >>        > on my Dell
> >>        > computer at work, i do not want any proprietary garbage on
> >>        my home
> >>        > machine. When using the proprietary driver on my work
> >>        machine 
> >>        > it is the
> >>        > most unstable Linux box i've seen in years; about once a
> >>        week
> >>        > i have to
> >>        > SSH in and reboot it because the graphics card decides to
> >>        > wedge. There
> >>        > is an open source driver that i also use. When using the
> >>        open-source 
> >>        > drive i give up 3D acceleration and some 2D performance in
> >>        > exchange for
> >>        > the usual rock-solid stability that open source offers. I'm
> >>        just
> >>        > wondering if there are any cards out there where such 
> >>        > sacrifices do not
> >>        > have to be made. It looks like there is a group trying to
> >>        > design a card
> >>        > to work wonderfully with open source (Google "open-graphics"
> >>        > for info),
> >>        > but it looks like they are a few years from production
> >>        hardware, if 
> >>        > they ever get there.
> >>        >
> >>        >
> >>        --------------------------------------------------------------
> >>        > ----------
> >>        > Dan Ramaley                            Dial Center 118,
> >>        Drake
> >>        > University
> >>        > Network Programmer/Analyst             2407 Carpenter Ave 
> >>        > +1 515 271-4540                        Des Moines IA 50311
> >>        USA
> >>        > _______________________________________________
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> >>        > Cialug at cialug.org
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> >>
> >>
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