Should I install graphics drivers?

infraredgirl · 10-09-2006, 04:52 PM

I have an NVIDIA graphics card. I have used Linux for a couple of years now and I've never installed any additional drivers for it (I've always used the generic VESA option in xorg.conf). I don't play any big games or anything like that.

My question is, would I benefit from installing NVIDIA drivers for my card? Would it make any difference? Or is it only important to install them if one wishes to play games?

pljvaldez · 10-09-2006, 05:08 PM

If you go with the generic drivers, you should probably use the "nv" driver instead of Vesa. It'll give you a little bit of a performance boost.

You could benefit when streaming media or if you use OpenGL Screensavers and the like. I don't do a lot of gaming either, but I install them because I figure why not use the resources, even if it's just for frilly stuff like screensavers and Compiz (which has some really useful features among the fluff). It didn't cost me anything except a couple of minutes to install them...

infraredgirl · 10-09-2006, 06:24 PM

Thanks for your reply, I've installed them.