What's a good video card for Linux?

[Red Squirrel]

So I've been fighting with these random issues since I built my PC.

(some background: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2297941)

I think I pretty much determined it was the video card, been running a few weeks on an older card now and the issues have not happened at all. So I'm going to buy another card, as this one I can barely game with, it's older.

The card I had trouble with is the GTX 560 TI. Even in Windows there are lot of issues, so the card itself is just bad I guess (as in, that model. Had two cards and they both have same issues) So I'll keep those for a potential bitcoin mining rig or something or sell them off, and replace with something better.

I'm thinking maybe the 650 TI, but since it's part of the same series it may use the same driver, which is probably the root of the problem. Need a card that will be using another driver, to be safe. Any suggestions? At this point I don't care about multi cards or SLI, since Linux can't do more than 2 monitors anyway so no point in having 2 cards.

 

[Jodell88]

Something nvidia. However, if you use GPGPU then I'll go with AMD.

I also think there's something wrong with Nvidia 500 series of cards but I have the infamous optimus freezing problem.

 

[ControlD]

I haven't had any issues using AMD video cards personally. I am currently running with a 7850, and used a 5770 for quite some time before that. I know Nvidia seems to be the default recommendation but I have had good luck (including multi-monitor) with AMD cards.

 

[FrankRamiro]

So I've been fighting with these random issues since I built my PC.

(some background: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2297941)

I think I pretty much determined it was the video card, been running a few weeks on an older card now and the issues have not happened at all. So I'm going to buy another card, as this one I can barely game with, it's older.

The card I had trouble with is the GTX 560 TI. Even in Windows there are lot of issues, so the card itself is just bad I guess (as in, that model. Had two cards and they both have same issues) So I'll keep those for a potential bitcoin mining rig or something or sell them off, and replace with something better.

I'm thinking maybe the 650 TI, but since it's part of the same series it may use the same driver, which is probably the root of the problem. Need a card that will be using another driver, to be safe. Any suggestions? At this point I don't care about multi cards or SLI, since Linux can't do more than 2 monitors anyway so no point in having 2 cards.

If i were you i'd go with any Intel hd cards they work realy good with linux

 

[calden]

If i were you i'd go with any Intel hd cards they work realy good with linux

I second that unless you plan on using your rig for games then go for Nvidia.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah definitely plan on gaming so seems Nvidia or ATI are my best bets, probably Nvidia.

I just found http://linuxhcl.com, am I safe to just make sure my card is in there? My current one is not. But I can look on NCIX/Tigerdirect then cross reference with that site first.

 

[Jodell88]

With the AMD and Nvidia drivers hardware support is the same as windows since it is mostly the same driver across platforms.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Support is not so much the issue, as good support. Ex: The 560TI is supported but I have nothing but issues, it does work, but it causes lot of weird issues like cursor getting stuck in a certain position (Ex: hand cursor), general GUI lockups, random blocks, etc... Since I put in my old card all those problems went away, but that card is not sufficient for gaming, not even Minecraft.

 

[Jodell88]

Support is not so much the issue, as good support. Ex: The 560TI is supported but I have nothing but issues, it does work, but it causes lot of weird issues like cursor getting stuck in a certain position (Ex: hand cursor), general GUI lockups, random blocks, etc... Since I put in my old card all those problems went away, but that card is not sufficient for gaming, not even Minecraft.

You said that it had problems in Windows as well which means the hardware itself was bad.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Tried 2 cards and my friend got the same card, all same issues. It's something with that model. I just want to be sure I don't get another bad model like that. Googled it and lot of people get the same issues too, though given most people use Windows it was only the windows issues I found on Google, specifiably the driver randomly crashing and the screens turning off for a few seconds.

 

[zoiks]

Using a 6970 to power 2 30" Dell displays and it runs beautifully on my 13.04.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Being ATI, how was that to setup? Is it plug and play? That might be my only option. The only Nvidia cards I'm finding are the GTX series and I want to stay away from that in case this issue affects all of them.

I recently put my card back in and immediatly the issues started again, so I know as a fact it's the card now. Only thing is the other card is not even powerful enough to play Minecraft, let alone other games.

 

[bobross419]

Can't help with the video card, but if you're jonesing for some gaming look into ascii based games like Dwarf Fortress or rogue-likes... Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup is pretty fun. Most of these games have tilesets available so you aren't staring at squiggles, but low graphics needed.

Don't want to derail the thread, just providing some options since you say you can't game right now

 

[Red Squirrel]

lol I was thinking more existing games that I already play with friends like UT3 and Minecraft (mostly those two right now). Rather switch cards not switch games. I don't game all that much but still don't want to be limited.

Eventually what I can always do is just setup a separate gaming PC with a KVM switch and that PC would run Windows but for now I need to compromise and just have a card that works both in Linux and windows and also does not cause all these issues I've been getting.

 

[zoiks]

Being ATI, how was that to setup? Is it plug and play? That might be my only option. The only Nvidia cards I'm finding are the GTX series and I want to stay away from that in case this issue affects all of them.

I recently put my card back in and immediatly the issues started again, so I know as a fact it's the card now. Only thing is the other card is not even powerful enough to play Minecraft, let alone other games.

It's not entirely plug and play. You need to download the drivers from the ATI site and then follow a procedure to install them. I think I used something like this.
http://askubuntu.com/questions/2856...adeon-graphics-hd-6770m-on-ubuntu-13-04-64bit
You can use the catatyst application to set your dual monitors or you can use the Ubuntu System Settings>Display to set it up. I find that all my steam games, quake live work beautifully. Also having 2 monitors is a joy to have.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Hmm, does ATI support triple monitors spanning multiple cards? I'm starting to wonder if I should be looking at ATI instead... Even once I fix all my issues, I'm still faced with the terrible multi monitor support and inability to have proper triple monitors.

 

[zoiks]

Hmm, does ATI support triple monitors spanning multiple cards? I'm starting to wonder if I should be looking at ATI instead... Even once I fix all my issues, I'm still faced with the terrible multi monitor support and inability to have proper triple monitors.

I think you should be able to use triple monitors with ati eyenfinity. Some people have done this successfully.
For me the biggest challenge was to get two 2560x1600 monitors running on my 6970. The other DVI port on the card only supports up to 1920x1200 or so. I had to use the display port to power my other u3011.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Thinking of getting this card, does this look good?

http://ncix.com/products/?sku=77797&vpn=FX-785A-ZNL4&manufacture=XFX&promoid=1281

 

[ControlD]

Thinking of getting this card, does this look good?

http://ncix.com/products/?sku=77797&vpn=FX-785A-ZNL4&manufacture=XFX&promoid=1281

I am running a 7850 with Mint 14 and have no complaints, but I only have a monitor and TV connected to it so I can't say three monitors works.

The only thing looking at the XFX card is that the fan looks noisy to me. If that isn't a concern then it is probably as good as any other 7850. I went with a Powercolor model for the quiet fan and paid right about the same amount.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Went ahead and ordered the 7850. Crossing my fingers I can get triple monitor to work. Though most importantly, no more square artifacts. Heck, wonder if the screen flickering will also be a thing of the past, if I use a live cd.

 

[azhangvroom]

If you want good semi open source drivers, Intel. If you want good (proprietary) drivers, NVIDIA.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Does Intel make gaming cards though? Never seen any outside of lower end cards. Though, at this point, if the ATI one I ordered fails, I might try Intel, and just build a separate rig for gaming. Or use my old rig for Linux/working (not like it needs much resources) and new for Windows/games.

 

[spamhunter]

Over the years I've used both ATI and Nvidia videocards with Linux but overall I prefer Nvidia because of the drivers. I always seem to have less problems with the Nvidia drivers.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Trying an ATI 7850 right now. Not even detecting 2 monitors, so not a good start. Also found out the hard way that my VGA to DVI adapter wont fit on the display port adapter I bought, that would have been to get the 3rd monitor going. (only have VGA but do plan to upgrade).

I guess I will try another nvidia card. Sick of spending so much money though. :/ I just keep throwing money at these issues and not getting anywhere. Maybe I'll just have to give up triple monitor, but I at least want to get rid of the issue where I get random square artifacts all over my screen.

Worse case scenario if I really can't get more than 2 monitors going with nvidia, I can maybe look at those boxes that you can plug two monitors into and it shows up as 1 for the PC. Would act as 1 monitor, but at least I'd have double the pixel real estate, which really is the whole point of this as I need lot of stuff open when I'm coding.

That or I can just get two raspberry Pi's and do a synergy setup. I was testing synergy using a secondary PC and it worked ok, it's just that it's loud to have two PCs running. I can always run long DVI cables to the server room and put both PCs there though.

Or say fuck it and go back to Windows so I don't ahve to screw around with weird setups. I was really starting to like Linux though... other than this huge limitation. I wonder if nvidia ever has any plans to support more than 2 monitors.

 

[theevilsharpie]

Or say fuck it and go back to Windows so I don't ahve to screw around with weird setups. I was really starting to like Linux though... other than this huge limitation. I wonder if nvidia ever has any plans to support more than 2 monitors.

A big part of why Linux multi-monitor sucks so much is X11 limitations, and that's not going to be resolved until Wayland and/or Mir mature, which could be years out.

If multi-monitor support is your killer app, Linux is not the right platform for you.