Budget Driver

[Enjiel]

[I labeled this budget driver, I meant budget graphics card]

I've found a thread for this topic but it was 8 years old so I hope it's cool if I start it up again. I run a couple of servers in my basement, both of which run on 3 year old computers.

Both comps use the same monitor through a switch box if that means anything.

It seems a graphics card has died on me, since the monitor no longer recognizes it is plugged into something when I switch to it. Thus, I've started my journey in cheap graphics card search online.

I've found some information stating that NVIDIA may have some issues with Fedora 16/17. I'm running Fedora 17 64bit. Is there anything in particular I should look out for?

Here's what I'm looking at now.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814162053

I don't play games/movies ect. on this system. It serves only as a minecraft server. Although, I may decide to network it and run it as an Apache webserver.

Any ideas on the subject?

IMO all 8000 & 9000 series cards are complete rubbish.

[sonoran]

I've been using an EVGA 8400 GS - same chips and memory as your model - in Fedora 16 & 17 for a year with no problems. I'm even still using the nouveau driver in Fedora 17, perfectly good for everyday tasks.

For fullscreen 1080p movies the nvidia driver produces a better picture, but the card is up to the job.

[george_toolan]

Please try to connect the cable from the monitor directly to the card to make sure the card is broken and not the switch ;-)

A server doesn't really need a graphics card. Does the motherboard have onboard graphics?

Any old "budget" card will do the trick. Try to find one with passive cooling.

[droidhacker]

Originally Posted by Enjiel

[I labeled this budget driver, I meant budget graphics card]

I've found a thread for this topic but it was 8 years old so I hope it's cool if I start it up again. I run a couple of servers in my basement, both of which run on 3 year old computers.

Both comps use the same monitor through a switch box if that means anything.

It seems a graphics card has died on me, since the monitor no longer recognizes it is plugged into something when I switch to it. Thus, I've started my journey in cheap graphics card search online.

I've found some information stating that NVIDIA may have some issues with Fedora 16/17. I'm running Fedora 17 64bit. Is there anything in particular I should look out for?

Here's what I'm looking at now.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814162053

I don't play games/movies ect. on this system. It serves only as a minecraft server. Although, I may decide to network it and run it as an Apache webserver.

Any ideas on the subject?

For an extra $5, get an AMD card.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161376

And look, more memory, dual digital connectors (hdmi+dvi, which are really the same thing and can be adapted back and forth), and NO NOISY FAN!!!

[Enjiel]

Score. Thanks a ton.

[stevea]

Originally Posted by Enjiel

[I labeled this budget driver, I meant budget graphics card]

I label this 'budget advise' b/c I don't have a dog in this fight, and don't care

I've found a thread for this topic but it was 8 years old so I hope it's cool if I start it up again. I run a couple of servers in my basement, both of which run on 3 year old computers.

Both comps use the same monitor through a switch box if that means anything.

It seems a graphics card has died on me, since the monitor no longer recognizes it is plugged into something when I switch to it. Thus, I've started my journey in cheap graphics card search online.

Been there.

I've found some information stating that NVIDIA may have some issues with Fedora 16/17. I'm running Fedora 17 64bit. Is there anything in particular I should look out for?

Since it's a server and presumably a server mobo then *maybe* you can config the bios to only use a serial port. If so then PUNT the vid card. If it requires a vid - then find the cheapest S3Virge PCI card that s supported. For a 'basement' serve you only need boot-ability, zero power, no fans. You DON'T need a $35 vid card with a fan ((fans are typically the lowest reliability component)). And you absolutely DO NOT want a power hog with a noisy fan.

http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-7700-GeFo...lebrotcusts-20

If that cheap*ss $5 used bd doesn't have driver (check it) then look at the $7 offerings. $3 is pointless excess.

Any ideas on the subject?

Yeah cheap...relaiable, no frills.

Originally Posted by Yellowman

IMO all 8000 & 9000 series cards are complete rubbish.

In a basement server app - exactly what sort of graphics performance do you imagine is required .... .hint ZERO is an option.

Originally Posted by droidhacker

For an extra $5, get an AMD card.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161376

At LEAST theres no low reliability fan !

And look, more memory, dual digital connectors (hdmi+dvi, which are really the same thing and can be adapted back and forth), and NO NOISY FAN!!!

And HOW do you imaging any of those power-hog, expensive features is valuable in a server ? I dunno minecraft from mineshaft and MAYBE there are some specialized GPU boards that use provide some serious performance advantages - but .. seems unlikely that these cheap graphics cards have nay special value.

a/ make the system bootable.
b/ make he system perform adequately.
c /don't pay for pointless features.

[george_toolan]

That's an AGP card with a fan and AFAIK AGP cards don't fit into PCI (express) slots ;-)

[Enjiel]

Thanks for all the advice. Sorry took so long to get a decent response, been a bit crazy this week.
Yeah the comp has two cards onboard and off. Tried both, both shot with and without switch.

Not worried about graphics in the slightest, no movies or games just Desktop/Terminal and Firefox.

I don't care about the noise on fans, but I guess my computers could use some more cooling. The fans are all years old and I kind of suspect heating may have played a part in the wear and tear of these dinosaurs since they run 100% of the time. They don't really run anything exhaustive though, the servers are pretty simple.

I definately like cheap is better. I guess I was originally just afraid that some cards may refuse to display Fedora for whatever reason. I know the newer Windows OS' will scream at you if you are using a crappy card.

Thanks again everyone for your input. Hopefully I'll have this thing back on it's feet soon.
On a completely unrelated topic, can anyone point me to a good link that might help me understand Apache server config files for Fedora? I'm having a hard time making sense of the sources I have.

[AlanSac]

I had the same card in my old machine - worked fine, even in Fedora 16 with nouveau or nvidia drivers. After 6 years, the fan started making a lot of noise on boot - diagnosis - bearingswere finally shot. If you don't need sexy graphics, a "budget" card should be fine. If the servers are crucial, then you might want to pick up a spare card as insurance while they are still available..

[george_toolan]

Both cards broken, eh?

Please triple check the cable and try a different video cable ;-)

Noise probably doesn't matter in the basement, but if it doesn't have a fan then it cannot break.