Linux Format forums

jjmac

Gotta get a decent graphics card ... but don't know really what to get (grin).

So i thought i might draw on some LXF experiance.

My existing setup so far is an ...
Athlon64 S939 3000+ with an Asus A8V-D board using the via K8T800Pro and via VT8237 chipsets and 1Gb of Geil. as dual 500Mb modules. Running deb.

Trying to decide on something around the 128Mb range, 3D capable. But it doesnt have to be fasted card around. Something mid-range, that will play a dvd properly and wont make me look like to much of a dork to my nephew (8y) (grin)

TIA

jm

Nobber

Can't go wrong with NVIDIA - their drivers are pretty solid. Only drawback is that they're not open source. Unfortunately, X11, decent 3D acceleration and open source don't seem to mix. Sad

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towy71

what he said Wink

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mugstar

Pretty much. Set a maximum amount to spend, then buy the best NVIDIA card you can get for the money.

bigbee

I have a nvidia card and must say installation under suse went veryyyy smooth! Although installation on other distro's isn't that hard either...
If I was you, I would buy the best NVIDIA card I could afford (and that is compatible with my hardware ofcourse Wink

)
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Flea

lol pretty unanimous isn't it. Very Happy

You can add my vote to an NVIDIA card.

Dave

Gordon

Get the best nVidia based card you can afford and get the Linux drivers from nVidia.com
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Rhakios

I think NVIDIA cards are quite good, has anyone mentioned that? <insert innocent smiley here>
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1slipperyfish · Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2005 7:45 pm Post subject:

what about NVIDIA cards Confused

are they any good or what Question

paul
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A-Wing · Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2005 10:27 pm Post subject:

dapo · Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2005 3:27 pm Posts: 4

I would suggest a card that has been around for a few months, so that NVIDIA have incorporated support into their driver. If you are shopping in the sensible price range, I would expect all of the cards to be supported.

jjmac · Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2005 12:00 pm Post subject:

hmmmmm, ok, thanks for all that. I think i get the drift Very Happy

Nvidia it shall be, i actually feel a bad in a way too, to even think it (grin)

A-Wing
>>
Get an ATI, try getting it working in Linux, cry a bit, then you will get the picture Smile

>>

Some one must be a mind reader Smile

.

Amongst Nvidia chipsets, is there much variance between the different vendors. I expect there would, board layout and cooling strategies would have some significance.

Ive been looking at linuxquestions.org lately ... and going over some of their reviews, which can be quite good, but tend to boil down to ... it either worked or it didn't, or it ... was recognised or it wasn't ... not much more detail than that. I'm wondering, does passive cooling actually work. It's cold over in Aus at the moment, but, when summer comes ... look out !, mega humid and mega hot.

Aside from memory, cooling, and layout, i guess the rest would involve ... what can be plugged into it, hmmm, i'll spend the next few weeks probing into Nvidia based cards i think. There are some markets on in town tomorrow, so i'll go and do some pricing there. I gotta get one of those mini PS/2 dust proff keyboards they have ... at $15, a bargain Smile

.

dapo
>>
I would suggest a card that has been around for a few months, so that NVIDIA have incorporated support into their driver.
>>

Yes, a good suggestion.

jm
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nordle · LXF regular Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2005 10:56 pm Posts: 1497

Is performance an issue? For example, some of the nvidia 6000GT offer very good value for money, but some have no active cooling which may be a real advantage

eg
Leadtek Winfast Geforce 6600GT 128MB Ddr3 AGP Dvi-i Tv-out Retail £120
http://tinyurl.com/92f9p

OR the slightly slower, but still pretty quick, silent
Gigabyte GV-N66256DP 6600 256MB Silent pipe AGP £90
http://tinyurl.com/8vqut

Dont know if anyone else thinks that these are not good anymore etc Or if there is better value to be had elsewhere etc
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jjmac · Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 10:29 am Post subject:

>>
Is performance an issue?
>>

Not necessarily, somewhere midway i guess. Not on a gaming crew level anyway (grin). I will be giving myself some time there, so it should workout. If it can play StarTrek dvds', as such, i'll be happy. I think cooling is though. Over here it gets quite humid during summer. Which tends to work against things. I can remember you mentioning Leadtek Winfast Geforce before, so i will take note of that.

>>
some of the nvidia 6000GT offer very good value
>>

nvidia cirtainly is a popular chipset, Thanks for all that, will note Smile

jm
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The FVWM wm -=- www.fvwm.org -=-

Somebody stole my air guitar, It happened just the other day,
But it's ok, 'cause i've got a spare ...