I havent attemoted to play games on Linux since around 2005 or so.I could never get the ati drvers to work properly and when i did the performance difference between Linux and windows drivers was to great.Example.I built my computer back in 2005 ,just aout the time Ati's x800 came out.I went and picked up a 9800 pro.And I could run games like HalfLife 2,doom 3,Far cry on medium setting pretty good.But on same computer running ati's linux drivers I could barely run the doom 3 linux demo..Even with settings at low and every thing turned off.Im thinking about installing Debian on destop again and see if I can get into some gaming with it.I know i can't play the latest games.But the main game I play is Day of defeat..Are the Ati linux drivers better 3-4 years later?

Yes, they are much better IMO. ATI/AMD seems to be spending a lot of time keeping the drivers up to date. Very refreshing from the old days!