8 replies to this topic

[rogerdv]

Im planning to exchange an Nvidia Vanta card with 8mb for and ATI with 64 mb. I would like to hear opinions about opengl perfomance using ATI cards under linux, so I can decide if to use the new card in some windows workstation (for playing) or use it in my linux (mostly used for game development/research/testing).

[Noor]

Will, I can tell you that ATI your getting is much better than the Nvidia you had. Do you happen to know the version number for your ATI card? like Radeon 7000 64MB AGP RP VO, Radeon 7000 64MB DDR AGP RP DVI VO, Radeon 7500 64MB AGP RP DVI VO, Radeon 7500LE 64MB AGP RP VO, Radeon 9000 64MB DDR AGP RP VO DVI, or even the Radeon 9500 64MB DDR AGP RP DVI VO. there are a lot of version numbers out there with a 64MB, so if you can be more specific, that would would be great so that I can tell you the exact details.

-NK

[rogerdv]

i dont know the model yet. It is a new Pc that *accidentally* was shipped with such powerful video card for a mere office work. I still have to check it carefully. Im sure it will be much better than the nvidia, but I still cant decide if I put it in windows and keep another nvidia vanta in my linux (and so, play latest games like Blackhawk Down), or put it in linux and keep using for games nvidia vanta or a sis 300 (and wait for another miracle). As I have heard that 3d support under linux is crappy with ATI cards, would be useless to put such a card in my linux box.
And talking about models, havent ATI announced an unified driver model or something? One driver fits all like nvidia drivers?

[Noor]

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i dont know the model yet. It is a new Pc that *accidentally* was shipped with such powerful video card for a mere office work.

WOW, what a coincidence, I hope that happened to me when I purchased my dell system. As a matter of fact, they forgot to put a CD writer, and I had to call them to tell them “you guys forgot my damn CD writer”. They wouldn’t believe me. Anyways, that was a little off topic.

Generally speaking, I have read an article once that confirmed that ATI is rock-stable in Linux as it is in Windows; again it REALLY depends on the ATI model number. Newer ATI’s, like the 9700 series and the 9900 are stable in Linux because ATI update their drivers more often than Nvidia do. I’m not sure about ATI older model numbers though, you’re going to have to email them and see.

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And talking about models, havent ATI announced an unified driver model or something? One driver fits all like nvidia drivers?

That would be really interesting to see, haven’t heard of it though. I'm going to have to google it tonight and I'll tell you the results.

[Ed Mack]

Well, here's Google's output. Here's some urls that looked interesting:

http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2003/...6/msg00078.html
http://www.ati.com/d...r/proginfo.html

Anyway, I use Nvidia cards and am perfectly happy with them. They are actively supported (the devs have a forum for getting feedbakc and helping users), and good enough cards. I'm not going to buy the latest and greatest megamoney card, so all these ATI vs. Nvidia holy wars don't really matter to me.

Didn't quite get this codey stuff the first time :)
Fixed google link

[Noor]

Thanks Ed Mack for your answer, I was hopping someone would help me :D .

Anyways, the first like you supplied is broken (the google one). it takes me to a site called http://google's/ :unsure: . so if you could just fix the link :P .

Thanks

-NK

[rogerdv]

You would be surprised to know how little knows some resellers here in Cuba about video cards. Usually they cant notice the difference between intel 810 and i815, direct3d support and such things which are the ABC for gamers and game developers. Anyway, I have decided to install the new card in windows to play neverwinter nights and keep fightin with my vanta under linux until i can make my cousin donate me an old geforce 2 or 3 or whatever card he could get cheap in UK. My openGL work is not so intensive yet to require more power and linux games... well, thats another story.

[baldurk]

I know a little bit about this, and I would say that ATI support is pretty crappy in linux.

they used to have official linux drivers, but they have since been stopped, AFAIK, and so they only way to get on is to use unnofficial drivers. Obviously, this isn't as good, but it may be OK. Not sure how good OpenGL support is though.

nVidia is almost certainly your best bet with linux/BSD, etc

[davepermen]

for new cards, r300 based, the drivers are very good, i've heard.. for the olders, i dunno.. but i think the r200 based ones (thats radeon8500 or bether, if i'm right.. the dx8.1 capable cards i'm talking about..) have good linux support, too..


but nvidias support is still called to be best on linux..

this is not true anymore on windows, hehe.. finally:D