[LAU] pd, linux, graphics hardware.

[Dave Phillips]

naysayer wrote:
> i'm just wondering if there are linux users out there that think that 
> going with a laptop with a ATI or Nvidia GPU is worth the price and 
> driver hassle(grrr) or does the intel GMA (thinking x3100) suffice 
> most of these applications. i have a gut feeling that linux support 
> for intel drivers more friendly than the gaming GPUs.
>
> the new intel x3100 looks like it has the specs to do some cool stuff, 
> but i guess i need linux users words of experience. i have always had 
> either ATI or nvidia but i wonder if it is really that much of a bonus 
> these days. would they improve my audio performance
I've been a more-or-less happy user of nVidia products for a few years. 
I've enjoyed great performance from their cards & drivers, but I will 
warn you that they are a liability when it comes to debugging a 
misbehaving 3D app. I'm currently working with an application that uses 
the OpenGL shaders intensively, and I've been having problems with its 
performance. Its other components check out okay, so my suspicion is 
that there's a bad interaction between some component and the nVidia 
driver. Alas, I can neither confirm or dismiss my suspicions easily, 
because the driver is closed-source.

Nevertheless, I'll continue to use those drivers until the day Linux can 
claim FOSS high-performance fully OpenGL-compliant drivers for a modern 
video chipset. I do wish that ATI and/or IBM would get on their horses 
and resolve this problem. For the record, I may recommend a 
closed-source solution, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. :)

Best,

dp