Are nvidia drivers worth installing?

JockVSJock · 06-25-2006, 02:13 PM

I've just build to brand new computers that run Slackware 10.2.
I have the following hardware:

-Asus K8N-E Socket 754 Motherboard
-XFX GeForce 6200 256MB AGP w/DVI/TV-OUT

X works great without me having to do anything special, is it recommended that I install the nvidia linux drivers?

thanks

cwwilson721 · 06-25-2006, 02:18 PM

YES.

And nvidia is so easy, there is no reason not to.

Check out the DRI link in my sig, and look in the Nvidia section.

pdw_hu · 06-25-2006, 03:56 PM

Unless you don't want to play any 3D games (or anything using 3D acceleration) it's not necessary, still as cwwilson mentioned, there is no reason not to.

JockVSJock · 06-25-2006, 06:21 PM

Hmmm...is this driver like one size fits all...meaning no matter what the hardware is, it only needs this one driver installed?

I was thinking about trying out America's Army, that shooter game for Linux.

thanks

liquidtenmilion · 06-25-2006, 06:29 PM

Why such incredibly old drivers?

You are going to want the absolute latest drivers from nvidia, as the 5336 doesn't even have support for the 6xxx line.

And yes, if you do an "sh pathtothedrivers.run", then edit the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file properly, you will get the accellerated desktop.

JockVSJock · 06-25-2006, 09:06 PM

Any special directory to install them under?

Anything recommended to read up on before installing them?

thanks again everyone!

cwwilson721 · 06-25-2006, 09:19 PM

Just run it, and when it asks to go on the web and get an interface (or something like that), just say no.

VERY easy.

You did read my post in my sig about DRI, right?

Walks you through it.

davidsrsb · 06-25-2006, 09:26 PM

The only real snag to using the Nvidia driver is that you will have to reinstall it every time you upgrade your kernel.
Not just games need the driver, OpenGL apps like stellarium need it too.

cwwilson721 · 06-25-2006, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidsrsb

The only real snag to using the Nvidia driver is that you will have to reinstall it every time you upgrade your kernel.

I forgot about that.

But at least with Nvidia, it's a fast process.

Compared to ATI, I think it's more than worth it...

JockVSJock · 06-25-2006, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwwilson721

You did read my post in my sig about DRI, right?

I only see the following:
-A Guide: Enabling 3D Acceleration in X11 (i810 series, mostly)
-Mini HOW-TO: Hibernate and resume

Which is under your profile, don't see anything in your signature...

thanks

cwwilson721 · 06-25-2006, 11:46 PM

The DRI link. look here

BTW, sig is on bottom of post, profile on left under the name...

Different forums, different places. Happens to me all the time.

MS3FGX · 06-26-2006, 02:38 AM

Quote:

The only real snag to using the Nvidia driver is that you will have to reinstall it every time you upgrade your kernel.

The same is true for any kernel module. The only difference here is that the Nvidia module is built outside the actual kernel tree, so it doesn't get built when you build all the rest of the modules.

I don't think we will ever see the Nvidia drivers included with the kernel, so it is just something we will all have to live with.

Oh, and to give my input on the question at hand, definitely install them.

mrapathy · 06-26-2006, 05:23 AM

hes only got a 6200 video card he wont be getting into any serious gaming. things are smoother with nvidia drivers. keyword acceleration I havent seen how the open source driver is progressing sure its a slackware user developing if not sure knows how to slack on the progress like a slacker

raska · 06-26-2006, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrapathy

hes only got a 6200 video card he wont be getting into any serious gaming...

I could even play Doom3 smoothly on Slack with such a card, also UT or UT2004 (I used to play those games with a GeForce 4 Ti - 32 Mb)

Actually I have a EVGA e-GeForce 6600GT - 128 Mb, which runs smooth as hell any game I own, including F.E.A.R., though I'm saving money for one of these cards

cwwilson721 · 06-26-2006, 11:34 AM

I think the consensus is:

INSTALL IT.

It will make everything smoother
It will allow 3d apps and such to function
It doesn't hurt

As the money grubbing commercial says:
Just do it.