Nvidia or ATI graphics card for Linux compatibility?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by James Pakele on May 2, 2011 at 8:34pm

Safest bet to me??? Take a bootable USB Key/CD into the store...

Permalink Reply by James Pakele on May 2, 2011 at 8:34pm

Sorry, just saw the "NewEgg"...

 

After using Linux, I actually just shoot for the lowest price system, because I know Linux will be snappy on it... No joke... I'm still using my Lenovo X61 from like 6 or so years ago.... Using Linux Mint, they performance is good enough that I can't justify upgrading...

Permalink Reply by Marcus Sortijas on May 3, 2011 at 8:24am

Thanks for the advice, James. At the Ubuntu Installfest, people recommended to go Intel everything--processor, graphics card, and wireless Internet card.  Then things should work out-of-the-box. 

I thought it would cost $800+ to get a laptop with a good graphics card.  I was pleasantly surprised to see those Acer computers on New Egg for $619 and $650.  To me, 1GB of VRAM is still a lot of power.  Would come in handy for photo and video editing.

Permalink Reply by Paul Graydon on May 3, 2011 at 12:44pm

My strong advise is to go with NVIDIA over ATI at the moment.  The open source ATI driver is getting there but still got a good way to go.  The NVIDIA one (nouveau) is better, but again still a way to go.

There are closed source proprietary drivers from both manufacturers, and ATIs driver works very well once you get it to work, but continues to have the strangest bugs.  Arch linux have taken it out of their install repository because it was causing way too many hassles.  I swore I'd never by an ATI card again after the no end of hassles I had with the Radeon 9800 several years ago.  Figured a year or so ago that they'd have got past all those and opted for an HD5000 series card.  It'll work in Ubuntu fairly straight-forward but almost every other distro has arguments, and all seem to exhibit the same mode-setting bugs.

 

In contrast I have an NVIDIA card on my machine at work, and have used them for years with very few problems.  I haven't had a single problem with the nvidia proprietary drivers on this machine.

Permalink Reply by Marcus Sortijas on May 3, 2011 at 3:25pm

Paul, thanks for your comments.  The thing about the Acer laptop with the Nvidia card that bothers me is that it isn't clear if it has an Nvidia Optimus setup.  That's where the laptop switches from an Intel graphics card to Nvidia card depending on the operation, e.g. word processing vs. hardcore gaming.  Last I heard, Linux couldn't support Optimus.  Or has that changed?

 

In the New Egg details, it looks like the laptop only has an Nvidia card.  That would be okay.  But some of the comments indicate an Optimus setup.  Confusing.

 

Might be safer to go with ATI?  I plan on using Ubuntu or one of the Ubuntu-based distros (like Linux Mint).

Permalink Reply by Paul Graydon on May 3, 2011 at 3:32pm

There is no current support for Optimus under *nix primarily because it means overhauling the entire X11 stack.  I honestly don't know what would happen if you had optimus, whether you'd get nvidia only, intel only or otherwise.

 

If you're looking for a laptop with solid Ubuntu support, System76 have a good reputation.

Permalink Reply by Marcus Sortijas on May 14, 2011 at 7:00pm

Thanks to everyone with their advice.  I ended up getting a laptop with an Intel HD graphics card.  I don't do heavy gaming, and so far it's been capable of playing my movies without any glaring hiccups.  Heard Intel cards play well with Linux too.  Now I'm just waiting for Linux Mint 11 to be released . . .