Thanks for the comments on this thread. I have a
few follow-up questions.
OK, I bought a cheap video card with nVidia chipset,
and I bought a nice big disk. I'm having a display puzzle
and would like any guesses about it.
Joseph wrote:
> Most newer NVidia and ATI cards are well supported
> in Linux if you use binary drivers.
I'm not picky about my drivers. I presume that what I'm
getting with any canned distros are "whatever works best",
vs always being truly free software, but my story may give
you clues to the contrary. See notes below.
I have plugged in my new e-GeForce MX 4000 (cheap) with
an nVidia chipset, and Ubuntu Live picked it right up,
so I know it can be done. (This is with an old 15" monitor
I'm using as a spare. I haven't tried the 21" yet.)
PROBLEM: Puppy Linux 109 CE only runs it in XVESA mode
(which looks fine to me, but I'm no connoisseur). Puppy
basically disconnects my monitor (the monitor goes into
"no signal" mode) if I select Xorg. Systemrescue CD, which
does not even bring up a GUI, also gets the disconnect, as
soon as I select it in LILO. SimplyMepis 2004-06 displays the
bootup sequence but the monitor disconnects when it goes
to bring up X.
So, what would cause a video feed to flat-out disappear?
Joseph wrote:
> Just remember that LCD's only run at a single resolution,
> called the native resolution and usually spec'd as "max"
> resolution, so don't try to set it at anything besides
> the one resolution specified in the manual (which means
> you probably want to check the specs when you buy for
> 1600X1200 or 1920X1200 resolution).
OK, I'm really puzzled by that statement. I was just over
at Fry's trying out a few of their LCD monitors, and I was
able to change the resolution. Are you saying this is
harmful? Or are you saying that Linux can't change the
resolution? Or are these not true LCD monitors, thus not
the kind that you were recommending?
Joseph wrote:
> If your old monitor revives with the new card,
> DEFINITELY step the resolution down to 1280X1024.
> Very few CRT monitors are reliable at the high
> frequencies needed for 1600X1200, even if the
> monitor claims support for that high resolution.
Really? By "reliable" are you talking about shortened
life? This is a 21" monitor (maybe you missed that
part). I'm running another old 21" at work, under
Windows, at the same resolution. Will this kill my
work unit too? And then, what is the use of a 21"
monitor if you have to run it at 1280x1024?
Mage wrote:
> vic, I have a few places that might work for an
> IDE/sata converter for cheap
> (no need to toss those old HD's yet)
Thanks. That won't be a problem. I'll be keeping my
motherboard with 2 eide slots. I am currently running
3 hard disks which is excessive: An 80, a 40 and a 20.
The 40 and 20 will be retired, becoming backup media
via USB adaptor. The 80 will stay at /dev/hdb, and my
new 300 EIDE will become /dev/hdb. I will move to SATA
with my next mobo, which hopefully wont' be very soon.
Vaugh wrote:
> Another bonus - the LCD is easier on the eyes, at least
> in my experience. I used to get eyestrain headaches
> before I switched over.
Thanks for that. I have never had a real eyestrain problem,
although I've used CRTs as long as they have existed (!) and
am no stranger to 16-hour hacking sessions. But I do find
the LCDs a lot nicer to look at, and will spring for a new
17" unit when holiday prices come out, if my 21" stays dead.
Joseph wrote:
> ... putting a UATA drive on an EIDE port is sort of like
> putting a V-12 in a Yugo, it might fit, but it's not
> going to work as well as you'd hope and it might
> melt-down unexpectedly.
LOL! :-) OK, I'm not too concerned with speed, but how
would you expect it to melt down? Anyway, I've now got
a 300 GB UATA and it's going to an EIDE slot, so wish me
luck! It's a Maxtor. Reqs on the box seem to support
this application.
Thanks again to all.
Vic
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