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Old 09-20-2004, 08:01 AM   #1
bigjohn
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identifying component's etc


Ok. So, earlier today, I was reading a thread about graphic's speed's etc. The thread mentioned about using "glxgears" in a terminal to identify how fast the graphics card is working. Also about what may be needed to run/play 3d games etc.

As Doom 3 has been released recently, and I can afford it, I was thinking about getting it, or maybe looking into half life or something similar.

Now, from the results of checking the glxgears thing, I get this
Code:
bash-2.05b$ glxgears
4116 frames in 5.0 seconds = 823.200 FPS
5135 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1027.000 FPS
5071 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1014.200 FPS
5012 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1002.400 FPS
4702 frames in 5.0 seconds = 940.400 FPS
5271 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1054.200 FPS
5258 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1051.600 FPS
5339 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1067.800 FPS
5353 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1070.600 FPS
5350 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1070.000 FPS
5339 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1067.800 FPS
5349 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1069.800 FPS
5363 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1072.600 FPS
5358 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1071.600 FPS
X connection to :0.0 broken (explicit kill or server shutdown).
bash-2.05b$
Now, judging from the thread that I was reading (this one) it suggest's that the generic Geforce4 MX420 that I've got installed is average/mediocre and wouldn't possibly be up to something like doom3, half life, etc etc.

So apart from actually "opening the box" (I suspect that I'll be able to find something that would tell me what an AGP socket look's like), how can I find out or establish the capabilities of my graphics system.

I'm quite happy to go out and buy a new graphics card, but I understand that some motherboards have the ability to run AGP x2, or even x8 and don't really know what this is refering to?

From stuff I've seen in magazine articles etc I appreciate that apart from cost of the very latest graphics cards, some of them have size limitations i.e. they're rather bulky.

Actually finding a graphics card isn't so much of a problem, whereas identifying the maximum capability of my motherboard etc is?

Any assistance much appreciated

regards

John

p.s. I've put this in the linux general forum as I'm not really sure if it's more of a hardware or software issue.

Also, previously I've tried the "SiSoft Sandra" utility under windows to try and establish a few specification related stuff (ram etc), but feel that I must be able to do this under linux (afterall, any graphics card that I got, would probably work with windows, it's the linux based performance etc issues that I'm interested in).
 
Old 09-20-2004, 03:19 PM   #2
Tinkster
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http://freshmeat.net/projects/lshw/

Does a fair bit of listing/identification. As
for the AGP speed - I don't know whether
it picks that up, but you could go to the
mobo manufacturers website. ;}


Cheers,
Tink
 
Old 09-20-2004, 04:19 PM   #3
rphook
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I hope this helps
What is sounds like you looking for is whether or not the graphics card is compatible with your motherboard, and whether or not it will run some of the more recent games. So how much information do you want to know about AGP slots or configuring Linux to run the video card?
Keep in mind that games like Doom3 and UT2004 require at least 64 megs of memory on the card. You could get away with 32 if your motherboard has a 400 Mhz FSB, and you have a 4x or higher AGP slot.
 
Old 09-22-2004, 06:42 PM   #4
bigjohn
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Thanks for the replies.

I'll look into that app Tinkster and see what freshmeat says about it. The mobo site isn't that helpful though, because last time I looked into mobo info, it say's it should be board B, but the picture look's more like board A, plus there seemed to be a slight discrepancy about how many pci slot's it should have - though they might not have allowed for the modem riser slot (cnr I think it's called). But a bit difficult to tell the difference with just monochrome line drawings!

As for the graphics card rphook, it's just a generic nvidia based card that appears to be a geforce 4 MX420 - but I'm not quite sure how to tell if it's got 32 or 64 meg's of ram - plus the mobo's too old to have anything like a 400 mhz FSB.

So I'm probably still stuffed! and will have to look into either buying or building something newer! (bugger, bugger, bugger. more bloody money! )

regards

John
 
Old 09-23-2004, 11:32 PM   #5
rphook
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Geforce4 MX 420 specs

Hi John
This should answer some questions about your video card and give some insight about your motherboard.
From Nvidia's website that particular card you have should only come with 64 megs of ram, it did not list any
other amount of memory. Also I checked from another source, and they showed that the card came with 64
megs or RAM on it. So it would be a fair assumption that the card has 64 megs on it. Now as for the mobo
AGP problem, the easiest way is to perform small surgery on your computer. If you take off the side panel, and
remove the video card currently in there, look at the AGP slot it should look something like this.
___________________________
|_____ ___________________|
|__________________________|

If that space is near the back of the computer then it is a 1,2X agp slot. If the slot looks something like this
___________________________
|__________________ ______|
|___________________________|

The slot is closer to the front of the computer, or near the IDE slots, then you have a 4X and up AGP slot.
Your graphics card probably has two slots cut out on the connector, showing it will work with both the 2X and
4X slots. When nvidia came out with the Geforce4 they needed to make it backward compatible with the 2X slots.
Thats why there are two cutout's on the connector. The card itself is capable of handling doom3 at 80 fps, which
is more than enough. The website I got this information from is www.guru3d.com/review/creative/geforce4mx420/
This should have more than enough information about your card. The real problem comes in when you try and
play the actual games. You will need to download drivers from nvidias website, if they don't come with the card.
If you are going to buy another card, and replace this one, keep in mind companies such as ATI do not support
linux as well as many others. Ati doesn't even have specific drivers for linux, they only have catalyst rpm's.
Nvidia's website actually has the drivers for your card, and installation instructions for it. They also have linux
drivers for many other cards they make. I hope this helps, if there is anything else I'll try to help.
 
  


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