Update: Now Ubuntu 64 9.04 is running stable, no more X lockups but that is only do to turning off compiz completely. Now running with Ubuntu's Hardware closed source nVidia driver aka 180 after a "to bare metal" re-install of Ubuntu.
More evidence that the nVidia 8100 can do the job. I know I can turn off the on-board video chip in Bios but Linux kernels may still detect it since this board seems to only care about MS. I was wondering if anyone has actaully done it. Joe On Sun, May 17, 2009 at 10:29 AM, Chris Knadle <[email protected]>wrote: > On Saturday 16 May 2009, Joseph Apuzzo wrote: > > Hardware advice, Linux related > > > > Ok as many of you know I stupidly purchased a Motherboard one night > > at 2am, not thinking clearly. > > I wound up with the BioStar TF720 A20+ board which has a nVidia > > 8100 integrated into the North-Bridge chip. > > I have had little to no success in getting Linux to run as > > workstation on this MB, it will lockup randomly which X needs to be > > re-cycled. > > Which drivers did you try? I have to ask, because there are now > several versions of the proprietary 'nvidia' driver, as well as the 2D > open source 'nv' driver, and they all behave slightly differently. > Theoretically for GeForce 8 devices the latest proprietary driver > version 180.xx should be the one to use, but the only way to really > tell is to read "Appendix A" in the README that comes with the > drivers, which lists which specific GeForce devices are supported. > > > The other problem came when I upgraded to a new Acer > > 21.5" LCD ( 1920x1080 ) monitor. Now in any OS mkv and DVD peg the > > cpu at 100% and will drop frames ( this on a dule core AMD 2.4Ghz > > with 4Gb of memory ). > > HD video does the same to my Desktop, especially that .mkv test file > you gave me on CD -- though I have an older Intel 2.6 GHz P4. So this > doesn't surprise me -- I have a sneaking suspicion that the only way > to play HD video without bringing a box to its knees is to use an HD > accelerator. > > > Lastly the HDTV tunner card I have ( Linux > > only one http://www.pchdtv.com/ which I will eventually give a full > > talk on ) can not seem to display at full 1080p, it's shutters > > badly now since I can display all the pixels. > > That could be one of three models -- and here again the card has the > host computer do the MPEG2 decoding rather than onboard. > > > In my case gaming in not an issue, This system is mainly and > > foremost my personal "HDTV" and Linux server. > > It's second role is family email, word processing and homework > > station, video is not critical for it's other uses. > > > > Thus I don't want to waist the money I put in the MB, it is stable > > and other then the Video issues it's fine. > > My idea is it shutoff the MB video chip and use a new ATI video > > card. This will allow the North-Bridge to map all 4Gb of memory for > > the CPU and not have to steal cycles for whatever the hokey 8100 / > > nForce720a was doing. Also the ATI is better designed for HD and > > can do upscaleing of DVD's on the GPU. So I think the Radeon HD > > 4670 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express for about $60 should solve my > > issues, since it has the following: > > > > Selling points: > > 1) Support for DVI and HDMI out with native 1920x1080 resolutions > > and above. 2) Linux 32 and 64 bit drivers > > 3) H.264 rendering ( aka MKV ) acceleration > > 4) DVD upscaling on the GPU, no hit to the CPU > > I think 3) and 4) are the critical pieces. > > > 5) Uses about 1/2 the wattage of the comparable nVidia GPU > > > > Downside: > > 1) NOT a gamer video card. > > 2) ATI does not have the best Linux history, my last ATI card was a > > nightmare to get working under Linux and impossible with 64bit > > > > So comments? > > My only experience with ATI cards were before the days of 'fglrx' > drivers, and my experiences were generally pooor. > > > Has anyone "turned off" the onboard video chip and added a better > > Video card with success? > > Yes. Usually there's a setting in the BIOS to all disabling the > onboard video. > > > If anyone has experience with modern ATI video cards and Linux I > > would love a better recommendation if you can. > > Is there any reason to go to the higher HD 4800 class board ( at > > double the money ) ? > > Or go lower say the HD 4550 for $45 ( still has Linux 32/64 drivers > > )? > > Can't help here -- haven't used any in years. > > -- Chris > > -- > > Chris Knadle > [email protected] > > _______________________________________________ > Mid-Hudson Valley Linux Users Group http://mhvlug.org > http://mhvlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mhvlug > Upcoming Meetings (6pm - 8pm) MHVLS Auditorium > Jun 3 - TBD > Jul 1 - TBD > Aug 5 - TBD > _______________________________________________ Mid-Hudson Valley Linux Users Group http://mhvlug.org http://mhvlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mhvlug Upcoming Meetings (6pm - 8pm) MHVLS Auditorium Jun 3 - TBD Jul 1 - TBD Aug 5 - TBD
