GeForce4 MX 440 on RedHat 9
 

Hi everyone, right now I am running WindowsXP Pro on my Master HDD. I have a Slave with data, but no OS... just a FAT32 FS. Should I install Linux, it will be to the Slave... I'm aware I will format it and maybe change the FS. I want to download Linux RedHat 9.0 but I've checked my hardware compatibility, and I notice my video card GeForce4 MX 440 is not compatible. Before I even begin the ISO download, I want to know is there any way I can install Linux whilst making my video card fully operable? I read a post from a person who is quoted to say "Even the new Nvidia drivers need you to install from command line without X running to get them working correctly."

What is this? Or is there another distro I need to download where my video card IS compatible? I'm still researching but any help here would be appriciated. Thanks.

Oh yeah and I'm on 56K and wanna download all 3 CDs so I wanna know for sure if it'll work or not. I have no experience on Linux whatsoever except the fact I know it's related to a penguin. 'Till next time, kids...



Ch1ngoken

Hi Chingoken

When you say you want it fully operable - do you mean 3D Acceleration?

Your card should give you 2d capabilities - this is fine for learning/using Linux.

3D accelerstion is just a bonus if you can get drivers.

Personally I would just stick to Windows for games at present and enjoy using Linux in 2D for the moment.

The command line is just a screen with a prompt for you to type in a series of commands to perform a specific task - when it says "without X running" it means that you wont be able to install any drivers for your card from a GUI interface ie point and click.

good luck and re-post if you need to.

Skyline~

In fact, for Linux, I don't want 3D Acceleration... I'm fine without this. However, I would like it to support the other features (mainly my desktop resolution of 1280x1024).

The thought I have stuck in my head is this: If I don't have any drivers, or the card is not supported, then I will be stuck with 16 Bit color in 640x480 desktop resolution as if it was Windows.

If I install Linux then it will grant me 2D privileges? If yes, and I can access 32Bit color mode in 1280x1024 then I'm satisfied.

Thanks for your help.



oRioN

nVidia Drivers
 

I went to the nVidia website to look at drivers for my GeForce4 MX 440 video card, and I found drivers for Linux. The installation is extremely confusing, but that's because I'm hungry and tired. I'll learn them eventually... but I noticed 3 options for choosing the Linux OS... I saw: IA32, AMD64, IA64. What are these? Are they dependant on what type of system I have? My system is AMD based, Athlon XP 2000+ (1.64GHz) So should I choose AMD64? I assume the "I" stand for Intel... which is correct?



oRioN

IA32 IA64 AMD64 simply refer to different platforms/intsruction sets. IA32 stands for Intel Architecture 32 bit - It's the name for the 32 bit CPU instruction set .

Your Athlon XP is IA32 based

Skylinr & Others~

Thanks this has been a trumendous help. I believe this is sufficeint information until I install Linux and attempt to install the drivers there and hope for the best. Thanks again.



oRioN

One thing to note RedHat will not install kernel source by default. You need to select the {kernel development} package. Atleast I think that is what they called it. If you dont have the kernel source you nvidia installation will crap out with an error.