SUSE Linux 10

How can I change my graphics card in Suse Linux 10?

I picked the wrong one on install and now the desktop in KDE is completely unreadable.

PLease help I am a total Linux novice.

[ogwalla]

I had a similar problem (dif version of linux) but just ended up reinstalling. If someone has a solution I'd love to hear.

[Gareth]

You won't need to resort to re-installing the OS, as the only part that is borked is X. As such, I would edit the file /etc/X11/xorg.conf, as this is where the configuration settings for the X server are stored.

As you may already know, xorg.conf consists of several different sections, and each section is responsible for defining a particular aspect of the configuration. You're interested in the 'Device' section, as this deals with the graphcis card you've told X you're using.

Alternatively, the X server comes with a handy utility that will automatically create a working xorg.conf file. You should be able to simply call xorgconfig from a command prompt. It will prompt you for the info it's unable to determine itself, before writing a new version of xorg.conf (you might want to back-up your original one, even though it's not working properly, in case you want to see what it has changed. Just do cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.old)

You might need to call startx once you've made the change, in order for the X server to actually start.

[bonzoe]

Hope there are good working drivers for your graphics card, those on SUSE didn't work for me, although MAndriva was OK. Had issues with both using KVM switch, mouse problems, but OK with Windows PCs.

Good luck!

Hmmm Simply re-installed and selected Gnome desktop instead of KDE and all is well!

OK maybe sometime I will understand what went wrong, but for now I have a laptop that works with Linux and I'm ready to play.

[Gareth]

Ah well... as long as you didn't mind reinstalling

Just out of interest... which desktop environment do you prefer, KDE or Gnome? KDE seems more eye candy, whereas I've always thought of Gnome as being more functional than pretty. Saying that, I much prefer KDE to Gnome.

[Tristan]

Originally Posted by Gareth

Ah well... as long as you didn't mind reinstalling

Just out of interest... which desktop environment do you prefer, KDE or Gnome? KDE seems more eye candy, whereas I've always thought of Gnome as being more functional than pretty. Saying that, I much prefer KDE to Gnome.

You clearly haven't seen Xgl in action yet!

[Gareth]

Nope... tell me more

[Tristan]

Originally Posted by Gareth

Nope... tell me more

Basically is impliments an X server using OpenGL, so every window is rendered as a texture by your 3D card. Not only does this make it very fast, but it means that all sorts of fancy effects can be achieved.

It was released a couple of weeks ago by Novell -- there are videos all over the net, but the best one is here:

http://www.freedesktop.org/~davidr/xgl-demo1.xvid.avi

(that's a 57MB download, but I'm guessing on 10 Meg that won't be a problem...)

I've been trying out Xgl on the development version of Ubuntu, and I have to say it's fantastic.

Who needs Vista!

[handyman]

Originally Posted by Tristan

Basically is impliments an X server using OpenGL, so every window is rendered as a texture by your 3D card. Not only does this make it very fast, but it means that all sorts of fancy effects can be achieved.

It was released a couple of weeks ago by Novell -- there are videos all over the net, but the best one is here:

http://www.freedesktop.org/~davidr/xgl-demo1.xvid.avi

(that's a 57MB download, but I'm guessing on 10 Meg that won't be a problem...)

I've been trying out Xgl on the development version of Ubuntu, and I have to say it's fantastic.

Who needs Vista!

Christ that looks good.

I feel a multi boot coming on.

[brundles]

Very impressive - any ideas on what hardware that demo box was running though?

[Tristan]

No, but I've been running Xgl on a GeForce 4 4600 for a while now. Hardly cutting edge, but it works exactly as in the demo, except that video playback is choppy -- apparently this is something to do with the current Nvidia drivers using software fallback for cards that don't have pixel shaders, or something.

From what I've read, Xgl is intended to work on low-end hardware -- they're targetting the Intel integrated chipset as a baseline. And besides, all the effects are in the form of plugins, so if something does cause slowdown, you can just turn it off.

[Gareth]

Oooh, just downloaded it at home and I like that a lot

ps - 57Mb took 59 secs to download

Just installed the beta 10.1 64bit version and its wicked just sat here learning stuff by the skin of your pants must say its the finest linux version i have tried i have got most things on the go but saying that im not a gamer. I,m a happy chappy am loving this.