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"Linux questions."

#1. Am I better going for an ATI or Nvidia graphics card for use in a linux machine? Which has the better drivers? Nvidia seems to be better, but then I've never tried either.

#2. Any linux distros that support multiple processors? I fancy building a duallie, but want a linux box. Answer seems to be build a dual linux box. Any that do that?

Ta.

Overall, as UK said, You'll get a better chance with an nvidea card.

Ah thanks for that. Performance was never going to be an issue either, I don't see me playing games on a Linux machine.

I did a bit of research onto it, and ATI's Linux drivers certainly seem to be more hit and miss with not all cards supported.

Nvidia it is I think.

One thing I've noticed while using Gentoo is that the nvidia drivers are better documented within the community, so the idiot's guide (the kind of guide I like) to getting your nvidia card up and running is more easily available than that for Ati cards.

Thanks for the replies.

I wouldn't be bothered about open source drivers, just as long as I have some that will get a graphics card to work.

Regarding the graphics card driver issue, I believe you're equally screwed with either nvidia or ati. Both provide closed-source binary drivers, and both have open-source equivalents, which obviously aren't as good.

Notorious Biggles wrote:
> #1. Am I better going for an ATI or Nvidia graphics card for use in a
> linux machine? Which has the better drivers? Nvidia seems to be
> better, but then I've never tried either.

I don't know much about Linux, but the ATIs are better cards and the catalyst drivers are much better that the old ones. Also, Nvidias drivers have gone down a lot in quility, with some interesting visual effects.

Some useful URLs:

http://www.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031229/index.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031023/index.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031015/index.html

Hope this helps
S.A.

Notorious Biggles wrote:
> #1. Am I better going for an ATI or Nvidia graphics card for use in a
> linux machine? Which has the better drivers? Nvidia seems to be
> better, but then I've never tried either.

nVidea is probably your best bet in my opinion. The ATI drivers seriously do suck ass compared to their rivals. They're functional, but its better in my opinion to go with nVidea.


> #2. Any linux distros that support multiple processors? I fancy
> building a duallie, but want a linux box. Answer seems to be build a
> dual linux box. Any that do that?

I'm not sure distro wise, but I think you'll be fine on any Distro because of the fact that the Kernel comes with multi processor support (upto 8 cpu's in fact)

#1. Am I better going for an ATI or Nvidia graphics card for use in a linux machine? Which has the better drivers? Nvidia seems to be better, but then I've never tried either.

#2. Any linux distros that support multiple processors? I fancy building a duallie, but want a linux box. Answer seems to be build a dual linux box. Any that do that?

Ta.