NVIDIA Will Support Newly-Dropped GPUs On Linux Through 2019

[pandev92]

You can't compare it because Windows have WDDM that have compatibility options and even include some backward compatibility.

Actually AMD legacy drivers on Windows have those awesome options:

• Lot of small not fixed glitches especially on Vista.
• GPU lockup on HD3XXX in some applications.
• Built-in drivers of Windows 8/8.1 have no OpenGL support.
  Those can't be replaced automatically with installer.
• Installer bugged like hell and usually can't replace old drivers properly.
• No official support for hybrids with HD4250 as noticed above.

Might be open source drivers lack of performance and some features, but in terms of stability they're better that Windows legacy driver.

The installer problem is present with the averidge versions too.. xD
But with catalyst legacy on windows 8, I have more performance than on linux, and no glitches, like gpu lockups under ubuntu, slow performance with xv, and can't play the majority of steam games on linux.

[edoantonioco]

If you use drivers from GIT this might be due to disabled HyperZ:
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?pag...tem&px=MTYxOTQ

Seems to be now its better, thanks

[_SXX_]

It use to run a bit better in mesa 9.2 some months ago, its weird.

If you use drivers from GIT this might be due to disabled HyperZ:

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTYxOTQ

[edoantonioco]

Left to "just" the open source drivers ? I can't believe you typed that with a straight face.

Everyone wanted open source drivers instead of Catalyst and now we're complaining that we have to use the open source drivers ?

"Just" the open source drivers ? Sorry, I still can't believe you said that.

*bridgman bangs head on desk

You are right, open source driver is great, but I still want to run Team fortress 2 in Linux as good as windows does (in my hd4200) It use to run a bit better in mesa 9.2 some months ago, its weird.
I hope more performance stuff will come to the r600 in the future.

[_SXX_]

Yes, but there is one thing that stands out. While the Windows driver recieved an update for it to work on Windows 8 you don't see them do the same to support newer kernels or newer X servers.

You can't compare it because Windows have WDDM that have compatibility options and even include some backward compatibility.

Actually AMD legacy drivers on Windows have those awesome options:

• Lot of small not fixed glitches especially on Vista.
• GPU lockup on HD3XXX in some applications.
• Built-in drivers of Windows 8/8.1 have no OpenGL support.
  Those can't be replaced automatically with installer.
• Installer bugged like hell and usually can't replace old drivers properly.
• No official support for hybrids with HD4250 as noticed above.

Might be open source drivers lack of performance and some features, but in terms of stability they're better that Windows legacy driver.

[_SXX_]

I imagine it wouldn't be any different in Windows either.

It's obviously not official drivers for this hybrid on Windows, but those custom drivers will work:

http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=372799

It's actually two drivers combined: onboard GPU will use legacy drivers and other will use most recent mobile Catalyst.
As long as I know those custom drivers works great for games and any other activity.

No idea if something like that possible on Linux with blob.

[Dukenukemx]

The drop for older hardware can be a problem for some people. My laptop has a HD 4250 that's intergrated and a HD 5470 that's discrete. So can I install the Catalyst 14.3 beta? Nope, at least according to the drivers. I imagine it wouldn't be any different in Windows either. So for now I use open source drivers, cause they actually work.

That HD 4250 chipset was used for sometime. There are people with discrete HD 6000 and 7000 cards that use a intergrated HD 4000 for low power savings.

[boot]

This information distorts the reality. AMD didn't drop Legacy support for Linux alone, but also for Windows at the same time. I consider it misleading the way you posted it, inclining that AMD neglects Linux suport, while it's being the same for Windows. This is not the first that time that you ignored this fact in your articles.

Yes, but there is one thing that stands out. While the Windows driver recieved an update for it to work on Windows 8 you don't see them do the same to support newer kernels or newer X servers.

[Calinou]

Just open source catalyst and deprecate the blob. No one is buying the "OpenGL secret scauce" argument against open sourcing anyway. It's cool that they want to reduce duplicate work by having just one kernel driver, but why stop there? That would make NVIDIA look like the only major GPU vendor that doesn't do things the Linux-way. Still the Linux support NVIDIA offers is outstanding, which kind of makes you forgive them not having open drivers.

They can't do it, for various reasons, like the authors not wanting to free their code, or not wanting to reveal "secret sauce". This is a for-profit company, you can't change their brains.

No, we shouldn't forgive people or companies for supplying proprietary code and technologies, even if they are amazing.

[dungeon]

My basic argument is said AMD sucks. In terms of long term support.

It is obvious how AMD support for graphics chips on linux look like for many years now: every 3 years approximately ATi and then AMD dropped support from fglrx. That was the same politics as of years 2006., 2009., 2012. and one can expect next year some cards will loose support (lets guess all non GCN cards will loose support in fglrx next year ) . And that is expected (otherwise i will be surprised )... in the meantime radeon driver for dropped and other chips evolving and they support ALL these cards... blah, blah. blah .

So that is understandible and it is good support model to me .