ATI Mobile Radeon X1400 or ATI FireGL V5200?

[3nigma]

I'm trying to figure out which ThinkPad T60 to get, the T60 or T60p.

The T60 has ATI X1400, the T60p has the ATI FireGL V5200.

Is one or the other better, etc.? Which is better and more compatible for PC-BSD?

Thanks a bunch,
3nigma

[dracheflieger]

I know it's not one of your choices but an nVidia graphics card would be the best choice. nVidia is actively producing and working with FreeBSD developers and releasing new drivers every few months where ATI has blown us off for the last few years. That's not to say that ATI would release something and there have been a few rumors that something would come out opensource now that AMD has procured ATI but something I wouldn't hold my breath over...

[TerryP]

The problem is ATI seems to be a common thing on laptops.

At least down here, you have the choice of Intel or ATI in less you get it shipped in for gaming.

[3nigma]

I was recently told that ATI video cards won't work, is that right?

http://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/free ... 08596.html (http://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-mobile/2006-June/008596.html)

Here's a post re: FreeBSD running.

Anyone have insight into that particularly?

I'm getting bummed out, I don't think PC-BSD is going to work on my ideal ThinkPad hardware.

I might have to downgrade to a earlier/lower model to use PC-BSD, which is very unfortunate =(

[dracheflieger]

ATI works fine with PC-BSD except for the fact you have no hardware 3d acceleration. I had an ATI 9500 pro when I started but things like Google Earth were so slow that it frustrated me. I changed to an nVidia 6200 and it works just fine.

[3nigma]

See, that makes more sense to me, too. I figured I won't get 3D acceleration, but I should still be able to run just fine, I don't quite understand the problems that my friend is mentioning that I'll have. But I'm definitely new at this, and he knows A LOT. He uses OpenBSD and writes documentation and codes and stuff.

Did you get to have a look at that link that I posted? Something in there indicated to my friend that this wouldn't work as a project altogether.

Anyway, is there any reason why these wouldn't work? Is it worth a shot?

I don't have a choice for nVidia, 'cause it's a laptop, so it's kind of all or nothin'.

Thanks again!
-3nigma

[TerryP]

My laptops Radeon Xpress 200M works great, theres just one catch 22.

No hardware support for OpenGL. Which is like the DirectX alternitive.

[3nigma]

I'm new enough to not know OpenGL. Isn't that just for running 3D stuff?

I will only need to do word processessing, web browsing, playing music, storing photoes, etc.

Would those video cards work okay for that? Which is best?

Thanks again!
-3nigma

[TerryP]

Let me put it this way. My laptop uses Software instead of hardware support.

I try to run Tremulous and it's soooo slow that my computer slows to a crawl on the main menu.

My Desktop has hardware support so I can play Quake 4 at high graphics on my Win32 machine.

About OpenGL (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenGL)

Basicly it's just like when you see "DirectX "version" required" on a PC Game box. Only OpenGL/SDL is portable - DirectX is Microsoft.

For desktop work, basically rendoring a programs window on screen or watching a DVD the VESA driver should be fine.

[dracheflieger]

I'm trying to figure out which ThinkPad T60 to get, the T60 or T60p.

The T60 has ATI X1400, the T60p has the ATI FireGL V5200.

Is one or the other better, etc.? Which is better and more compatible for PC-BSD?

Thanks a bunch,
3nigma

The FireGL is based on the X1600 (http://www.techspot.com/news/20361-ati-to-release-firegl-v5200-series-for-notebooks.html) so I suppose it would be the better of the two and Xorg is supposed to support it (http://freebsd.rambler.ru/bsdmail/freebsd-mobile_2005/msg01062.html)

[DragnLord]

Too bad x.org docs don't list the FireGL as being supported.

[dracheflieger]

Too bad x.org docs don't list the FireGL as being supported.

You're right DragnLord, I shouldn't have been so eager to rely on someone else's say so...They are supported in Linux using ATI's latest drivers and for what it's worth, Fedora Core (now that we are using FC I don't know what the possibilities are for anything ATI-wise to be implemented...probably not much.)

I also found someone that owned one saying: 5) No ATI - vesa works

The kernel does not recognize ATI vga card. drm seems not to
be supported. VESA mode Xorg works fine. from this link (http://freebsd.rambler.ru/bsdmail/freebsd-mobile_2006/msg00986.html) so I guess, take it for what it's worth. This is the same way my 9500 Pro worked, with vesa and no DRI but as 3nigma said, he wouldn't be doing any 3D on it.

[antik]

from this link (http://freebsd.rambler.ru/bsdmail/freebsd-mobile_2006/msg00986.html) so I guess, take it for what it's worth. This is the same way my 9500 Pro worked, with vesa and no DRI but as 3nigma said, he wouldn't be doing any 3D on it.

My ATI Radeon 9600Pro works just fine with DRM and DRI. I got one ATI FireLG 2 agp card but it is IBM GPU and it is not supported on other platforms except AIX and Windows....

[3nigma]

Antik, does this mean no-go on the ATI FireGL V5200 if I want to run PC-BSD?

Bear in mind, I won't run any 3D. Purely web browsing, word processing, photo sorting, MP3 listening, DVD watching, etc.

What do you think?

Thanks very much for the help! I'm also going to ask for tips on the freebsdforums.org .

-3nigma

[antik]

Antik, does this mean no-go on the ATI FireGL V5200 if I want to run PC-BSD?

Bear in mind, I won't run any 3D. Purely web browsing, word processing, photo sorting, MP3 listening, DVD watching, etc.

What do you think?

Thanks very much for the help! I'm also going to ask for tips on the freebsdforums.org .

-3nigma

As far as I know then FireGL is not supported in Xorg.