Re: [Dri-users] Inquiry on GPUs with free drivers

[Mikko J R. <mjr...@cc...>]

On ma, 2006-08-07 at 11:25 +0100, Alan Chandler wrote:
> I am planning on building myself a new computer from scratch, probably based 
> on the new Intel Core 2 Duo chips, and am seeking opinions on the best 
> graphics chipset/card that I should use.  Basic criteria are as follows 
> 
> 1)  Must be open source driver (under linux)

This, along with the rest of the specs, basically means Intel integrated
graphics. So if you can find an MB with one of those (the later 945/950
models probably), you should be pretty well off, especially since you go
on to say that you don't require the fastest 3d around.

> 2)  Some 3D capability - but not necessarily the fastest, but expect to run 
> the following in the future (not particularly tried any of these yet)
>  -  Flight Gear

I bought myself a Radeon x800 (that PCI-E dilemma and all, plus I went
with AMD64x2 so couldn't really get an Intel). Some applications work
fine with the r300 DRI, others easily crash and take the whole box with
them. Particularly, with the X.org DRI version shipped with Dapper
Drake, Flight Gear crashed my box conveniently when I crashed my plane.
Of course, some progress has probably been made on the r300 DRI since
then; I'm just relaying my experience. Haven't bothered to try later
releases, since I'm not really into FG anyway.

Still, the r300 development seems encouraging, and if you can't go with
Intel, a <=x850 Radeon would probably be the only way to go, but you
would have to be prepared to deal with the occasional driver problem. Do
not go with Matrox. Free support is available only for their obsolete
models, and even their proprietary support is the worst of the three
from what I've heard.

I'm not holding my breath, but I do wish ATI would become a bit more
cooperative since the acquisition... The free software community could
use another (GPU-wise) friendly manufacturer besides Intel. Meanwhile,
this _is_ another reason to go with Intel, rewarding them for their
stance in this particular matter (or at least not rewarding the others
for theirs).

Hope this helps.

-- 
Mikko J Rauhala <mjr...@cc...>
University of Helsinki