Linux and ATI

[Ardan]

I am a very seasoned linux user, but I felt I would ask any ways. Next year I plan to buy a new graphics card to replace my GeForce4 Ti4200-128MB card (its so I can build a new PC for someone; I know I don't need a new card) and i'm curious about how far along ATI's support with linux is? I have always used nvidia cards and i've always had great experiences, but I have been installing ATI cards for people lately (one had a video card go bad---8MB Vanta heh--and I replaced it with the Radeon 9000 Pro; they don't game) and I have really liked their feature set and the 2D quality. I do a lot with video, and ATI has always been by far the kings of video and multimedia but my nvidia cards do that well also.

Last time I heard, a linux person I know described it as a slight hassle compared to nvidia's brainless linux driver install. Granted, I wouldn't consider him a linux 'guru' quite yet, but he does know his stuff. I know ATI has linux drivers on their website but are they any good yet? Anyone know? If they still need some work, I will probably get the eVGA GeForceFX 5900SE because it is going to be the right price for me. I have finally found a job again, so i'm hoping to get a badly needed CRT to replace my aging, 7-year-old Gateway 17" CRT screen. I don't need help in that department---NEC FP912SB ALL THE WAY! , but I know nothing about ATI's level of drivers in linux. If they're just fine, then perhaps I will get the Radeon 9700 Pro instead of the 5900SE. The reason I ask is because I do play games in linux from time to time, and I do play videos in there. I have also asked this on the Gentoo forums as well, but I love advice in here so much I HAD to ask . Either way I don't think I can lose .

 

[Sunner]

From what I've heard, ATI's Linux drivers are nowhere near nVidias if you're a gamer.

Might wanna ask GTAudiophile, he's a fanATic and a Linux user

 

[Ardan]

Yeah i've heard they aren't but that they have been getting better.
Depending on what GTAudiophile says (since you say he uses Linux and has ATI), I may just have to get the eVGA Ge-Force FX 5900SE some time. I use Windows XP Professional but i'm not about to forget about my dealings with linux

Have you seen the reviews of that? Man, what a great card. The fact that I will overclock it if I deem necessary makes it even better.

EDIT: Just a quick question...if I want to buy the FP912SB in January, but lets say I don't have as much cash as I think I do at that time. If this hypothetical situation were to come true, what less expensive one would you recommend? I was contemplating the Viewsonic G90fb, since it seems that people like it on other forums.

 

[Crusty]

I use ATI in Linux. I was able to get 3d Accel in both Debian and Gentoo under a variety of kernels. Mostly 2.4 and 2.6 kernels. Its kinda a hassle though. Under Gentoo I didn't use ATI drivers at all. I used the xfree-drm module and got it working faster then I did with Debian and the real ATI drivers.

 

[Ardan]

Well I think I will focus on getting the 5900SE in January that I like from reviews then.
I can handle tremendous hassles but thats just one I don't want to deal with

 

[silverpig]

I got my 9800 Pro working under gentoo in a snap.

emerge ati-drivers
fgrlxconfig
cp ~/XF86Config-4 /etc/X11/XF86Config-4
<ctrl + backspace>
startx

glxgears then gave me ~4700 fps.

It was the easiest piece of my hardware to set up.

 

[clicknext]

I'm a noob and I was never able to install ATI's driver properly. The driver that came with my distro worked fine for 2D anyway, though.

 

[SUOrangeman]

May not be saying much, but I think ATi is only supporting 9500 and later with updated drivers.

At the very least, I installed them once on system with a 9800 Pro card here at work. I don't event hink I've booted Linux since to actually test them (not my machine and it is very busy with other tasks these days).

-SUO

 

[Ardan]

Interesting that I came across this article again (I haven't been 'subscribed' to it)
Its been a while now since I came to a decision in this article and i'm still finding 'advice'