Arch Linux

Falcata

Member

From: Michiana

Registered: 2008-01-23

Posts: 501

Website

3d Graphics Cards

Since my new computer shipped with just an integrated graphics card, I'm planning on buying a 3d graphics card for my computer.  Does anybody know of graphics cards that work well under Linux?  I don't know what kind of graphics card slot my computer is, and I don't know how to check it.  I think it might be an AGP 8x slot, but I'm not positive.

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Lord of Maelstrom

koch

Member

From: Germany

Registered: 2008-01-26

Posts: 369

Re: 3d Graphics Cards

what did you buy, give more information.
i do not think that a new computer has agp-card.

Falcata

Member

From: Michiana

Registered: 2008-01-23

Posts: 501

Website

Re: 3d Graphics Cards

It was a refurbished/reconditioned Dell Dimension 8300 that I had bought through a company called Affordable Computers.  However, it seems to be less capable than the production models, as AC has replaced or removed many of the good components (sound blaster sound card, 250gb hard drive, ATI graphics card).

EDIT: I had based the assumption of a AGP 8x slot on the specs of the ATI card that shipped with the production models (ATI Radeon 9800 Pro)

Last edited by Falcata (2008-02-08 12:10:46)

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Lord of Maelstrom

brebs

Member

Registered: 2007-04-03

Posts: 3,742

Re: 3d Graphics Cards

Take the case off and have a look at the motherboard. It will show the manufacturer and model number. Google 'em to get the mobo specs.

For the graphics card, buy the most expensive Nvidia card you can afford

koch

Member

From: Germany

Registered: 2008-01-26

Posts: 369

Re: 3d Graphics Cards

For the graphics card, buy the most expensive Nvidia card you can afford

yes

Falcata

Member

From: Michiana

Registered: 2008-01-23

Posts: 501

Website

Re: 3d Graphics Cards

Well, I found a PDF of the Dimension 8300's manual.  Looks like it was written for someone who knows nothing about hardware.  Anyways, the manual does indicate that the slot is AGP.  Doesn't surprise me, since the computer is a few years old (circa 2004).  I'm not sure exactly what AGP standard it uses, but I'm thinking it's AGP 1.5v.  If anyone knows how to identify it, it looks similar to the one in this picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:AGP_slot.jpg

EDIT: So, nVidia is what works well?  Any cards that work particularly well?

Last edited by Falcata (2008-02-08 12:56:24)

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Lord of Maelstrom

brebs

Member

Registered: 2007-04-03

Posts: 3,742

Re: 3d Graphics Cards

It's "reconditioned", so might contain anything. Take a *look*.

skottish

Forum Fellow

From: Here

Registered: 2006-06-16

Posts: 7,942

Re: 3d Graphics Cards

You may have luck with dmidecode:

sudo dmidecode
... snip ...
Handle 0x001B, DMI type 9, 13 bytes
System Slot Information
    Designation: PCI Express
    Type: x16 PCI Express
    Current Usage: Unknown
    Length: Other
    ID: 0
    Characteristics:
        3.3 V is provided
... snip ...

That may give a hint of what to look for anyway.

Last edited by skottish (2008-02-08 13:17:28)

Falcata

Member

From: Michiana

Registered: 2008-01-23

Posts: 501

Website

Re: 3d Graphics Cards

Here's what I got from it:

Handle 0x090A, DMI type 9, 13 bytes
System Slot Information
        Designation: PEG
        Type: x16 PCI Express
        Current Usage: Available
        Length: Long
        ID: 0
        Characteristics:
                3.3 V is provided
                PME signal is supported

So, I guess it's not AGP afterall.

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Lord of Maelstrom

skottish

Forum Fellow

From: Here

Registered: 2006-06-16

Posts: 7,942

Re: 3d Graphics Cards

You have a PCI Express 16x slot. This is good news because great cards are inexpensive now if you choose wisely. You still need to check to see if the slot is open. I'm sure it is if on-board graphics is what you're using now.

Falcata

Member

From: Michiana

Registered: 2008-01-23

Posts: 501

Website

Re: 3d Graphics Cards

Okay, thanks.  I'm looking at getting something from the GeForce 8 series.

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Lord of Maelstrom

skottish

Forum Fellow

From: Here

Registered: 2006-06-16

Posts: 7,942

Re: 3d Graphics Cards

I have no idea what your budget is like, but the 8600 series is going for very cheap right now in the States. I don't know if you have Fry's up in your area, but $100 will get you a great card. NewEgg can probably do better.

Last edited by skottish (2008-02-08 15:51:31)

Falcata

Member

From: Michiana

Registered: 2008-01-23

Posts: 501

Website

Re: 3d Graphics Cards

Seems like the 8600 has a passively-cooled heat sink.  My system's main board has one of it's cooling fans right above the video card slot, so I'm wondering if that will help any.  Especially if I ever decide to overclock the card.

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Lord of Maelstrom

Falcata

Member

From: Michiana

Registered: 2008-01-23

Posts: 501

Website

Re: 3d Graphics Cards

Well, I ordered my new card, so it's in the mail.  Now then, I know that the package for the nVidia driver is going to conflict with the libGL package, which a lot of packages depend on.  If I attempt to overwrite replace libGL with the nVidia package, the installation process is going to be stopped by every package that depends on libGL.  How do I work around this, without getting a headache?

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Lord of Maelstrom

skottish

Forum Fellow

From: Here

Registered: 2006-06-16

Posts: 7,942

Re: 3d Graphics Cards

Well, I ordered my new card, so it's in the mail.  Now then, I know that the package for the nVidia driver is going to conflict with the libGL package, which a lot of packages depend on.  If I attempt to overwrite replace libGL with the nVidia package, the installation process is going to be stopped by every package that depends on libGL.  How do I work around this, without getting a headache?

nVidia will replace the file. Everything will work fine.