X graphics get a boost (NewsForge) [LWN.net]

X graphics get a boost (NewsForge)

Posted Feb 8, 2006 19:04 UTC (Wed) by vmole (subscriber, #111)
In reply to: X graphics get a boost (NewsForge) by elanthis
Parent article: X graphics get a boost (NewsForge)

Except that the vendors aren't going to release the specs for 3D API, so "fully accelerated speed" is just not going to happen. Neither is stable.

It's all great to be talking about reverse engineering them, but given that the r300 stuff still doesn't work reliablly after what, 3 years, I don't have much hope for that approach. Note that I'm not dissing the r300 developers, they've done some impressive work, but they've taken on a really hard task.

My only hope is that some vendor will decide that getting 90% of a small market is better than trying to battle Nvidia and ATI in the large market, adn be able to make it work. Go Traversal Go!

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X graphics get a boost (NewsForge)

Posted Feb 8, 2006 22:18 UTC (Wed) by Ed_L. (guest, #24287) [Link]

It's probably worth at least a note that Matrox has at least partial Open Source drivers for its G550 line of cards. I know, these are not exactly 3D barn-burners, and there is still a HAL. Nonetheless, if partial credit is to be given, Matrox at least deserves part of some. See here.

X graphics get a boost (NewsForge)

Posted Feb 8, 2006 22:23 UTC (Wed) by mattdm (subscriber, #18) [Link]

Yes, that card should also go in the big benchmark comparison testing I'd like to see. :)

X graphics get a boost (NewsForge)

Posted Feb 9, 2006 11:58 UTC (Thu) by smitty_one_each (subscriber, #28989) [Link]

Thanks for the URL. Now we need to make these a big seller, so that the graphics people get the clue that more FOSS==better. Then (affixes rose colored glasses) maybe even the wireless vendors will get onboard.

X graphics get a boost (NewsForge)

Posted Feb 9, 2006 13:16 UTC (Thu) by mattdm (subscriber, #18) [Link]

I wouldn't get too excited. That chipset is over five years old -- see http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=1492. As far as I know, the G550 support is worse than that for the G450, and there's no 3d support for their newer "Parhelia" line, so they're basically trending away from open drivers. :(

(Plus, even the Parhelia cards get pretty low performance marks.)