To install the nvidia drivers I need to upgrade my kernel (apparently), currently using 2.6.16.13-4-default. To upgrade my kernel I have to download it and presumably the src code for it. Not a problem in itself, but I then have to get my wireless card working with the new kernel (It's a D-Link G520) not supported as standard. This means I have to obtain and compile / install the madwifi package as well. Once I have done all this and re-booted and re-configured my wireless network card I can get access to the net again and then download and install the drivers. So the question is - Is it worth it? Are the nvidia drivers so much better than the standard x-org ones? I guess if your running fast games etc. then it probably is, but what other advantages will it give me? Phil
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 The Monday 2006-10-23 at 08:08 +0100, Phil Burness wrote:
So the question is - Is it worth it? Are the nvidia drivers so much better than the standard x-org ones? I guess if your running fast games etc. then it probably is, but what other advantages will it give me?
None. Speed, and 3D support. Inestable, compared with "nv". - -- Cheers, Carlos E. R. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Made with pgp4pine 1.76 iD8DBQFFPI53tTMYHG2NR9URAkUSAJ4+VXikSWlWH3Pk8w7iRLItRNODLwCeOmsh MoIvTFwrEMKV1JW+V/q01mM= =fPlN -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
Phil Burness wrote:
To install the nvidia drivers I need to upgrade my kernel (apparently),
No, you don't need to do this at all. However, you would need to install the kernel SOURCE, which is not installed by default during installation of your OS, if you want to compile a new driver from nVidia (for example, the latest one: NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-8776-pkg1.run ). When you 'run' the driver, it compiles itself and installs itself using the kernel source. There are instructions on the nVida site on what to do.
currently using 2.6.16.13-4-default. To upgrade my kernel I have to download it and presumably the src code for it. Not a problem in itself, but I then have to get my wireless card working with the new kernel (It's a D-Link G520) not supported as standard. This means I have to obtain and compile / install the madwifi package as well. Once I have done all this and re-booted and re-configured my wireless network card I can get access to the net again and then download and install the drivers.
So the question is - Is it worth it? Are the nvidia drivers so much better than the standard x-org ones? I guess if your running fast games etc. then it probably is, but what other advantages will it give me?
Phil
For normal, daily use for wordprocessing, spreadsheets--probably no advantages. Cheers. -- This morning my administration released the budget numbers for fiscal 2006. These budget numbers are not just estimates; these are the actual results for the fiscal year that ended February the 30th. George W. Bush 11 Oct 2006
On Monday 23 October 2006 08:08, Phil Burness wrote:
To install the nvidia drivers I need to upgrade my kernel (apparently), currently using 2.6.16.13-4-default. To upgrade my kernel I have to download it and presumably the src code for it. Not a problem in itself, but I then have to get my wireless card working with the new kernel (It's a D-Link G520) not supported as standard. This means I have to obtain and compile / install the madwifi package as well. Once I have done all this and re-booted and re-configured my wireless network card I can get access to the net again and then download and install the drivers.
So the question is - Is it worth it? Are the nvidia drivers so much better than the standard x-org ones? I guess if your running fast games etc. then it probably is, but what other advantages will it give me?
Phil
There is a disadvantage, at least, and that's that the nvidia driver is a 'blob', an unaudited closed-source piece of binary code that one has to take the company's word for it will not open your computer to security risks, and that you have to trust the company hasn't put anything in you wouldn't want there. Nearly all the rest of your SuSE system consists of open-source code that disinterested external experts (of which I'm not one!) are able to inspect and comment on, and help de-bug and analyse. If you don't need to I certainly wouldn't run closed proprietary code when you've got the x-org drivers available for 2-d work. That would apply particularly if the machines have any kind of public role. -- Fergus Wilde Chetham's Library Long Millgate Manchester M3 1SB Tel: 0161 834 7961 Fax: 0161 839 5797 http://www.chethams.org.uk
On Oct 23, 06 08:08:35 +0100, Phil Burness wrote:
So the question is - Is it worth it? Are the nvidia drivers so much better than the standard x-org ones? I guess if your running fast games etc. then it probably is, but what other advantages will it give me?
In short: install them when you need them. Not before. The nv driver is pretty much accelerated when it comes to 2D. The binary only driver gets you: - 3d acceleration - multiple monitor support - a bit better 2d acceleration (not really worth it) - better (depending on view, but at least more configurable) monitor and mode selection Most people install them due to the first two points. Matthias -- Matthias Hopf <mhopf@suse.de> __ __ __ Maxfeldstr. 5 / 90409 Nuernberg (_ | | (_ |__ mat@mshopf.de Phone +49-911-74053-715 __) |_| __) |__ labs www.mshopf.de
participants (5)
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Basil Chupin -
Carlos E. R. -
Fergus Wilde -
Matthias Hopf -
Phil Burness