Re: Which ATI video card to buy?

From: Valentin Guillen (usenet1_at_myrealbox.com)
Date: 11/19/05 

Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2005 01:34:40 -0700

On Fri, 18 Nov 2005 11:44:35 -0800, Doug Cole wrote:

> Now, I know I am going to open a can of virtual worms here when I ask
> this, but I am so tired of messing around with hardware that will do some
> things but not all, so please tell me is there a AGP video card with DVI
> output that will work with SuSE 10 ? One that will display my console
> fonts correctly (or at all) .

First off, I can't tell you anything about ATI because I don't use it,
never have.

 
> I like to use term-v24n.psfu for my console font, it works fine on my
> T23 laptop (S3 video) but on my main destop pc (Matrox G550 dual head)
> it doesn't work (blank display or fails and loads default font). Of
> course all displays fine in an X session, but I like to use my virtual
> consoles, so I would appreciate any input on what video card will work
> with the above scenario?

Second order of business, what is the native resolution of your flat
panel? Imperative to understand that unlike CRT, flappanels have a native
resolution (only 1) and if you DON'T use the panel under its native
resolution, then software must interpolate all other resolutions you ask
the system to do, (both lower and higher resolutions). So the first
recommendation is to ONLY use the flat panel at its native res.

Then the next question is, does the flat panel have both analog and
digital inputs, and if so, do you intend to use the DVI or digital input?
I recommend that you only use the DVI digital input.

> Oh, and just to clarify, I don't play any games, so I don't care about
> overall performance and all the gamer stuff, I just want a DVI output
> AGP card to talk to my LCD monitor.
>
> tia for any input
>
> Doug

Then comes the religion. Some people say they don't like NVidia, because
they don't provide source code for their drivers. I don't know about ATI,
but I doubt they provide source either. Both manufacturers worry about
their competitive advantages (read: trade secrets) and previously, both
manufacturers only supplied binary drivers.

I have one of the earliest Gateway 15" flat panels, with ONLY a digital
input. I chose an NVidia 5200 with a DVI output, with 256MB of ram. The
flatpanel has a native res of 1024x768, and that is the only res I run at.
 If I go lower, it looks like ***, and I've never tried a higher res,
 because I know better. So, back to drivers.....I made the decision that I
 could live with binary-only drivers. I've been very happy with the
 mechanism which NVidia has for providing me with drivers.
 Philosophically, I wish they provided source, but they don't. End of
 story.

What I can also tell you is that I recommend you get ALL the ram you can
afford on the video card. My system performs much faster than my buddy's
computer, even though he as a much faster processor, and a *Much* better
motherboard. When we play UT2004, my system outperforms his. He has
128MB of video ram, with a 5800 NVidia card, I have 256MB with a 5200
NVidia card. I have double the ammount of system RAM. Now, I'm not a
hard core gamer. In fact I seldom play, but EVERY DAY I use streaming
media to watch television from other countries. Having a great video card
means I get superb performance when watching streaming media and other
similar uses at full screen size. This means that even for NON-gamers,
the best video system you can afford is a very wise investment.

Once again, run your system at only its native resolution. You'll get
impecable visual acutity, and you'll be one happy camper. Now, hopefully
others can post with details related to ATI products.

Good luck!

Valentin