Hi, i'm v.new to linux, and trying to make an effort to switch from windows xp/vista but i'm having some issues with enabling 3d windows managers?

I'm noobie in most areas linux related so please go easy, your help is most certainly welcomed.

I've installed suse 10.2 including what i believe are the extra install paths for beryl, ati and a number of others. updated and security patched the os and felt proud i'd dented the linux phoebia. I running Gnome and the 3d desktop effects using my laptop and nvidia go gfx. chuffed. However issue is my athlon X2 ati x850 system, posing major 3d/desktop issues.

suse10.2 again, and patched e.t.c.
I've downloaded the ati latest run file (still not sure the differences between the various type of files yet, so appologies if i don't sound 100% convincing)

I am unable to select the 3d option in the graphics config, but have followed (i think) the solution provided by suse and ati.

after the recent addition of beryl software packages (incase something was missing? probably seing this as the issue?) and the 3d option installed my x server now doesn't work? and i'm stuck in terminal text command prompt.

I have NO idea how to reconfig or restore the x server, or what commands would be correct to get a GUI back up and running?

Any help in stepping this back into gui would help, or am i best reformatting and reinstalling? Also could someone please inform me the differences between glx, compiz, beryl. and which if any i should be aiming towards? would like a flashy desktop with 3d capability at the end.

Any info is a definate plus for me, so thanks in advance.

Cheers

Jon.

To start, do NOT install ATI packages if you have an NVIDIA card, ATI packages are for ATI cards.

DO install either the kernel module nv or the NVIDIA drivers for linux to power an NVIDIA video card.
[ nv is the open source community driver for NVIDIA cards, it's not quite as effective with my own NVIDIA card as the NVIDIA supplied drivers. ]

I have found that my NVidia GeForce 6800tc chipset card won't play nice with the 3D desktop effects with either driver, as it doesn't use OpenGL for the 3D effects, which the linux software does.

Cheers Jaqui, although i think my comments might have mislead you.

I have 2 systems, 1 workng nvidia laptop suse10.2, and 1 not workin ATI pc, suse10.2. Thanks all the same.

Think i'll try a rebuild with a different o.s maybe ubuntu, as it seems popular these days, and there are quite a few detailled walk throughs on setup & 3d config for my ati machine.

Cheers! Jon.