Hi,
I am looking for a graphics card which is compatible with KDE 4.1.2+.... My main requirements are two things:

1. Google Earth should run comfortably.

2. A Dual monitor setup with 1600x1050 and 1280x1024.

Any suggestion? I am Kubuntu 8.04 (KDE 3.5.10), "may be" move to 8.10.

Nvidia 8600+

@matlit: Are you serious? Nvidia != good KDE 4 experience.

I would say an Intel, free ( opensource ) 3D drivers. I am using one right now. KWin effects, Google Earth work fine.

Yes I'm serious, on nvidia 8800 KDE4 worked fine for me.

Nvidia cards may have issues at the moment with KDE4, but the situation is already improving and in a couple of releases the drivers will fix it all imo.

Intel are good cards, but when it comes to heavy usage like in some videogames Nvidia is on another planet.

I don't think Intel supports dual monitors with 'RightOf' or 'LeftOf' in such a high resolution, at least not all of them.

Thanks folks,

As I said, I really need the dual monitor setp to work. I already had an nvidia card (6600LE) and it was almost perfect untill the capacitors on the card blew off. And I need GE for technical work. I am not a gamer, (at all!) so nothing too "powerful" from that point of view. My only powerful usage is to run two monitors at the resolutions: 22" 1600x1080 + 19" 1280x1024. As I have been searching around the net, I understand that intel cards can not support dual monitors, am I right?

Keep your suggestions and opinions coming. I would like to add that, I can easily wait a few months before jumping on to Kubuntu 8.10 with KDE4. So if things are improving on nVidia's end, then I can wait. But if there is something (nvidia/ati) that works as of now, I am ready to make the purchase.

Intel cards can support Dual Monitors. as long as it is a Intel GM965 ( or above ) then you should have no problem with having two high resolution monitors ( with 3D as well )

If you really want a nVidia card go get a second-hand GeForce 7, they are still supported by nVidia and don't have any of the common "nVidia problems" like the GeForce 8s and newer. I've been sitting at 60fps all the time with my 7800GT throughout all my KDE 4 usage.

Google Earth flies along even when running at 1920x1200 + 1680x1050.

bcooksley wrote:Intel cards can support Dual Monitors. as long as it is a Intel GM965 ( or above ) then you should have no problem with having two high resolution monitors ( with 3D as well )

Is it possible to buy an intel graphics card that I can add to the existing mobo? Nothing here.

No, Intel graphics are strictly integrated only

Zarin wrote:If you really want a nVidia card go get a second-hand GeForce 7, they are still supported by nVidia and don't have any of the common "nVidia problems" like the GeForce 8s and newer. I've been sitting at 60fps all the time with my 7800GT throughout all my KDE 4 usage.

Google Earth flies along even when running at 1920x1200 + 1680x1050.

That is indeed comforting, thank you. I am searching for 7800 GT cards online now. It is interesting that you mention "second-hand". I did not find any manufacturer, evga, pny, providing 7800 (on newegg, amazon, etc..). nVidia's page here also ignores it. Any reason for this? I did find one used one at amazon and a couple on ebay!

Zarin wrote:If you really want a nVidia card go get a second-hand GeForce 7, they are still supported by nVidia and don't have any of the common "nVidia problems" like the GeForce 8s and newer. I've been sitting at 60fps all the time with my 7800GT throughout all my KDE 4 usage.

Google Earth flies along even when running at 1920x1200 + 1680x1050.

That is indeed comforting, thank you so much. I am searching for 7800 GT cards online as I compose this reply. BTW, what are the differences between 7800 GTX 512 or GTX or GT or GS? This is a generic nvidia chipset-model nomenclature question, I guess.

It is interesting that you mention "second-hand". I did not find any manufacturer, evga, pny, providing 7800 (on newegg, amazon, etc..). nVidia's page here also ignores it. Any reason for that, that you are aware of? I did find one used one an amazon and a couple on ebay, though! Thanks again.

kap4lin wrote:That is indeed comforting, thank you so much. I am searching for 7800 GT cards online as I compose this reply. BTW, what are the differences between 7800 GTX 512 or GTX or GT or GS? This is a generic nvidia chipset-model nomenclature question, I guess.

It is interesting that you mention "second-hand". I did not find any manufacturer, evga, pny, providing 7800 (on newegg, amazon, etc..). nVidia's page here also ignores it. Any reason for that, that you are aware of? I did find one used one an amazon and a couple on ebay, though! Thanks again.

Assuming I have my nVidia history right (We are talking three years ago now):

The GeForce 7800 series was the first generation GeForce 7s to be released, the GT being the lower end of the series. The GS is simply the AGP version of the GT with a couple of shader units removed (Making it slower) and the GTX is the upper end of the series.

The GeForce 7800 series was replaced by the updated 7900 series mid-06 that included a slight architectural change, extra HD video processing features and bumped clock speeds. So if you can't find a cheap 7800, go with a 7900.

There is also the 7300 and 7600 series that could be choices. The 7600 is a first generation that doesn't have a replacement, and the 7300 is the lowest series that I think can do what you need it to do (Don't hold me on that though, never owned one myself).

I must emphasis my second-hand comment, these are old cards and not worth paying retail price for. The GeForce 9 series are over 2-3 times the speed (Except in Linux).

Zarin wrote:If you really want a nVidia card go get a second-hand GeForce 7, they are still supported by nVidia and don't have any of the common "nVidia problems" like the GeForce 8s and newer. I've been sitting at 60fps all the time with my 7800GT throughout all my KDE 4 usage.

Google Earth flies along even when running at 1920x1200 + 1680x1050.

+1

I have 7300 and no problem with KDE4