[geeks] linux box upgrade

[Andrew Jones]

On 03/27/2012 03:59 PM, Joshua Boyd wrote:
>
> I would say that if you want games and cad, go nvidia, but if you want
> the least amount of fuss in general, go with Intel graphics.
>
> In my experience, AMD graphics under Linux can work very well, and
> sometimes it just works without fiddling, but it often seems that
> upgrades bring regressions.
> _______________________________________________

Regressions are the problem with all the open source drivers.   I have, 
periodically, had very good luck with Intel in the past.  Then you 
upgrade a kernel, and surprise, it just doesn't come back from DPMS.

My work desktop, with Sandy Bridge integrated graphics, works "fine." 
But it can't even render the classic "gears" demo correctly -- some 
parts are inside out.

My laptop, again Sandy Bridge, doesn't have the artifacting problem. 
But it runs StarCraft II at <1 fps under Linux.  Not entirely a win. 
Oh, and it crashed on resume ~20% of the time until 3.2.x.

I assume these will all be fixed at some point in the future.  Or it 
will start hanging up again.  Or both.  That's all part of the excitement.

If you don't want to participate in "exciting" bug reports and kernel 
upgrades, the nVidia proprietary driver is often a safe choice.  (For 
one thing, no one will want to hear your bug reports thanks to the 
tainted kernel :)