nv driver versus nvidia driver

paranerd · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Posts: 129

I had to replace my video card yesterday swapping out an old GEFORCE 256 32mb for a GEFORCE MX400 64mb when all of a sudden X started locking on exit. The problem does not occurr when I am using the nv driver, only when I've got the nvidia driver plugged in. Research has shown me I am not alone with this problem. More to the point many people are having trouble with their nvidia drivers.

What I am asking in this post is:

Is there a compelling reason to stay with the nvidia driver?

I don't game and to tell you the truth I don't really notice much of a difference in performance between the two drivers. Still I do watch movies on my computer so if there's reason enough I'll put up with never being able to log out of X without a reboot. What do you think?

chunderbunny · Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 1:52 pm Post subject:

Go with what works best for you. Personally I find that the Nvidia driver provides a significant performance boost and is very stable. If you think otherwise, then don't use it.

paranerd · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Posts: 129

Jakub · Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 3:15 pm Post subject:

Hmm, I recently switched from nvidia (without renderaccel) to nv (I don't play games) and I got rid of the problems I had with tiny fonts on some sites. Also, kde somes more responsive now.

These are my (subjective) experiences.

ROJO · n00b Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 13

i have the same problem with X locking up when I log out with the nvidia drivers. I don't like it though, because it has caused file system errors to come up, whether they are malignant or not, I don't like them. So until someone comes up with a way to fix the new batch of nvidia drivers, I'll stick with nv.

perseguidor · Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 11:22 pm Post subject:

I use nv; this way everything seems more responsive to me, and I save memory because I don't have to modprobe nvidia

When I want to game or whatever, I fire another, accelerated, X for the game/program that needs it with a simple script I did.

I like it better this way.
_________________
O make me a mask!

paranerd · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Posts: 129

Thanks for the responses. I'm surprised, though. I guessed I'd get a ton of people telling me how obvious it was that the nvidia driver was better.

I ran a very unscientific test tonight: (times in seconds)

Peaceable Frood · Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2004 1:04 am Post subject:

Hmmm, let's see, the nv driver has no 3D acceleration, while the nVidia driver does. If you ever decide to the compositing feature of X11R68 then your best be using the nvidia driver with RenderAccel enabled, for best performace. Also the nvidia can take advantage of the hardware more so then the nv driver.
_________________
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we, they never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." George W. Bush

paranerd · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Posts: 129

I wonder why no one spoke up for the nvidia driver until after I published some questionable benchmarks?

Peaceable Frood · Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2004 2:41 am Post subject:

I don't get what your benchmark is showing.
_________________
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we, they never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." George W. Bush

apmurray · Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2004 3:04 am Post subject:

X was locking on exit because your nvidia drivers want 8k stacks still but in your kernel (>2.6.5 yeah?) it automatically has 4k stacks, so either upgrade to newest nvidia drivers or change your kernel to 8k stacks.

paranerd · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Posts: 129

deathdruid · Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2004 6:42 am Post subject:

Simple answer: you want 3D, use nvidia. Otherwise, use nv.

nvidia also has issues with rivafb (not sure abt vesafb). Are you using a framebuffer driver?

Seriously speaking, if you want great 2D, I would get another card. Hell I would even send you one of my Matrox G400/G450 cards for free. Matrox has the fastest 2D X11 drivers of any card, to say nothing of the quality of the hardware.

paranerd · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Posts: 129

paranerd · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Posts: 129

theaks · n00b Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 30

when i quit X after using the nvidia driver, my diplay doesn't resume back at a text prompt. Its normally got text up there from my kernel loading... I can still using it just like a prompt, (restart X etc) but i can't see what i'm doing...

is there anyway to fix this?

apmurray · Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2004 3:32 pm Post subject: