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I need a new PCI-Express graphics card, where i can connect two LCD monitors using a digital connection (either DVI or HDMI). What kind of graphics can would you recommand?

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7 Answers

up vote 2 down vote

I'd try to find an Intel card. You don't care about 3D performance but you want good driver support. NVidia drivers work but you need a binary blob from Nvidia. This can be quite annoying if you regularly upgrade kernels, expect community support, ...

In my experience the free (Intel) drivers are usually more stable.

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+1 unless the OP is doing games development, no-nonsense hardware would be better. – sybreon Sep 14 '09 at 16:43
They also don't completely implement OpenGL 2.1 spec (yay patents), and I've run into several odd glitches while using them. For Compiz and dual monitors, they're fine. Anything more than that (3D modeling, gaming, watching HD video) and I'd recommend getting an ATi or Nvidia card. – JamesGecko Sep 15 '09 at 6:29
-1. Most distributions of Linux are now able to install adequate ATI or NVIDIA drivers for you without any hassle. – Eric Sep 15 '09 at 12:00
@Eric: and the nvidia ones are binary only. This is bad for development especially if he's doing kernel work. Reversing your downvote. – Broam Mar 23 '10 at 21:21
@Broam: where does he say that he's doing any kind of development? As a user, the driver packages available with linux distributions (e.g. Ubuntu) are generally sufficient. Are you seriously recommending manually installing an alternative driver in all situations? – Eric Mar 24 '10 at 10:02
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up vote 1 down vote

I have used NVIDIA Geforce for a long time and I've had good experiences with it. The driver is a closed-source binary, but works well. It's fairly common among Linux users, I'd say, so there's no shortage of information on the Internet about problems or different configurations.

I've had a dual monitor setup, and it hasn't been terribly difficult to setup.

I understand that ATI has good drivers as well nowadays, so I guess that the same applies to them, but I have no personal experience with them

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up vote 1 down vote

In my experience, ATI and Nvidia both work good, but both have their fair share of problems. I would pursue integrated Intel graphics if possible due to the level of kernel level support provided.

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up vote 1 down vote

I currently use a nVidia GeForce 9500 GT in Twinview mode with two LCD monitors to create a virtual deskop. As others have said the only problem with NVidia cards is the fact that you have to update the device driver to match the kernel you are using otherwise you end up with just a blinking cursor in the corner of your screen.

I have written couple of posts about this isue and Twinview on my blog Musings of an OS Plumber. Reading the posts may help you understand the potential problems with nVidia, kernel updates and dual monitors.

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Caveat: Twinview is only compatible with the binary driver, and the binary driver can use it and only it. xrandr works with everything else. – Broam Mar 24 '10 at 15:03
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up vote 0 down vote

Almost any card with two digital outputs will be fine. There is absolutely no point arguing over who has the best 3D performance out of ATI and nVidia at the moment, because for development you have no need of 3D performance, let alone the insane power(*) of the cards currently considered as the mid-end.

Pick up a low-end card of the current generation, and make sure you have the latest version of your distro to stand the best chance with drivers if you want compiz.

(*: both in terms of 3D capabilities and quantity of electrical power sucked, heating up your room.)

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up vote -2 down vote

i'm using an ati hd2600 pro on dual dell 19 inch monitors connected through dvi. works great for me running adobe CS4.

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You can't run CS4 on Linux. Please read question more carefully next time. – Broam Mar 23 '10 at 21:21
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up vote -5 down vote

Without a doubt, get a card with an ATI chipset (i.e. not Nvidia)

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THE BATTLE BEGINS – Will Sep 14 '09 at 12:19
6  
-1 for a no argument, flame starting answer. – Thomas Geritzma Sep 14 '09 at 12:58
You just don't know what you're talking about: ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=435220. But feel free to go for ATI, I don't care after all, it's not my computer :) – Pascal Thivent Sep 14 '09 at 14:03
Actually the previous (nVidia fanboy) comment started the flames, but that's deleted now. Of course the ATI fanboy answer doesn't add anything either! – bobince Sep 14 '09 at 14:15
It was golden when the complete opposite response was the only other response! – Kieveli Nov 19 '09 at 18:41
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