Ok, well, I looked at some cards that I am going to get next, cuz I feel like my GeForce2 GTS 32mb is done me well, and deserves to retire. Im realy looking to get a Graphics card that has at least a core speed of 325Mhz or more, (I could live with 300) I realized that the graphics cards that I used, excluding the radeon 9600 I had, had no more then 200Mhz core speed, and ran games somewhat slow, or just SLUGISH, video memory didn't help out either. (NOTE: Im getting a graphics card for GAMING purposes, both native and WINEX) SOOO I scrunged up 2 Different brand of cards, that I might want. My first one is a GeForce something, probably a G4 Ti, maybe an FX 5xxx. (not 5200 none ultra I had that, its only 50 Mhz faster then the G2 GTS) The second one im considering is the Matrox Parhelia 512, or another brand of Matrox, I've only heard good about this card, nothing bad (or not too bad). But the problem is I dont KNOW too much about the matrox, could someone fill me in on it? Ther kinda pricy for a Parhelia, but the soround gaming, and the specs on it seem great! And the drivers (I think) are included with XFree86, so I wont have to configure anything. (not saying installing Nvidia drivers are hard)

I'm not sure what you should get, but you should probably get an NVidia card... I heard that the drivers are good under Linux.

EDIT: ATi cards under Linux: So-so. I know from experience.

Core speed means nothing. Seriously.

Save up and get a GeForce FX 5900XT, or if you can bear shoddy drivers, a radeon 9800pro.

Those should both be around $200

600xt from ati or wait until the pci-exptrem bus comes out along with the new form factor and the new cpu

Matrox cards are really good... They have the best drivers for Linux, they manage multi-screen very good...but I don't think they are done for gaming. Moreover they are really expensive

Oliv'

Well, if you want to use Linux for gaming, there is only 1 choice: Nvidia. I wouldn't even consider an ATI card - their Linux support has been just promises of a better future, while Nvidia has a good driver now. ATI:s drivers are also slow btw, you will get much worse performance compared to Windows. Nvidia works in Linux just as fast as in Windows.

Forget ATI. I had so many troubles with Doom3, xmame, X11, Flightgear,unreal tournament, etc.... ATI SUXXOR. Before, i had a NVIDIA, and it worked fine and it was easy to configure. I'll buy a new one soon.

DO NOT GET A ATI CARD OVER ANYTHING! ANYTHING! There is no Linux support for their card at the moment, and Nvidia is already ahead of them in the linux race. ATI will never catch up!

I have a radeon 9800 pro, and it can barely run UT2004 in linux, but in windows it can run perfectally in highest settings. God ATI hurry up with the drivers.

Another thing:
-ATI is better for directX.
-NVIDIA is better for OpenGL.
Do you really expect to see directX on linux?