[CVALE] A few questions

[Pandora]

On Sat, 12 Aug 2006 20:12:27 -0700
"david burzota" <david_burzota at hotmail.com> wrote:

> is there a way of finding out if a given 
> distribution
>   will support the graphics adapter in my machine?

There are two things involved with graphics adapters.  There may be a kernel module, and there will be an X11 video driver module.  The latter is your biggest worry, but thankfully all distributions use the same X11 program, though some have moved to modular Xorg X11 instead of old buggy XFree86 X11.  So if it works in one, it'll work in another.  The kernel modules are almost a sure thing, but some distributions (*cough*Ubuntu*cough*) use custom kernel modules that may or may not interfere or be buggy.

One big thing to keep in mind with kernel modules, is to make sure whether you're using kernel version 2.4 or 2.6.  (Or 2.2 eek!)  Increasingly fewer modules every day have problems with 2.6. I had some problems a few years ago, but they've since updated.  Some obscure hardware might not be up to date yet though.

> Also, Id like to run the
>   gnome desktop possibly with 2 monitors - is this something that a given
>   distribution would be required for or rule out?

Some distributions like to use KDE as a preference, though it's usually optional which window manager you want to use.  I use xfce4, and eschew Gnome/KDE dichotomy entirely.  As for 2 monitors, that's another X11 thing, and you won't be able to do it with anything but a top of the line video card, a card that has two plugs, one for each monitor.  I've never heard of anyone getting good performance out of having two video cards, but if anyone has feel free to prove me wrong.
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