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Linux Driver Wiki Opened

Posted by timothy on from the what-works-and-how dept.

Florian Becker writes "A new Wiki with hardware information for newbies and developer has opened. The site can be found at linux-driver.org." The site is designed to collect driver information about as many pieces of Linux-friendly hardware as possible, "like specifications, developer specifications, installation and the actual state for Linux driver and support. The new page reached the 500 contents in just one week." Update: 09/29 16:08 GMT by T : Jeremy of linuxquestions.org writes "Just wanted to point out that LinuxQuestions.org has a user-created Linux Hardware Compatibility List that already has over 1,500 items." Thanks!

4 of 12 comments (clear)

  1. Great Idea by I_Love_Pocky! · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I just think there should be a similar site that lists hardware that is known to have problems with Linux. It seems just as useful to me.

    1. Re:Great Idea by BinLadenMyHero · · Score: 3, Insightful

      why a similar site, and not this same site?
      it's a wiki..

  2. Re:What I'd like is... by MBCook · · Score: 3, Informative
    I'll take a stab at these questions.

    • Processor - Largely irrelevant. Linux has had support for x86-64 from AMD since before the chip was available. Everything on the Intel side is supported.
    • Video Card - Both ATI and nVidia cards work. If you use the unofficial open source drivers, things will work, but you don't get 3D (I don't think). Both ATI and nVidia have binary drives, but my understanding is that nVidia's are better (more stable, etc) but they have been out longer so that's to be expected (plus ATI has a bit of a reputation when it comes to drivers, but they've been doing much better in the last few years). I'd go with nVidia because the drivers are supposed to be better. When it comes to things like VIVO or All-In-Wonder cards I don't know, I'm not up to speed. If you don't need 3D, Matrox is supposed to work great (don't know if the drivers are open source, open source from the company, or closed source). I say "don't need 3D" because they really aren't a 3D contender.
    • Motherboard/souncard/etc - It's all in the chipset. By and large most everything on motherboards works because the chipsets are pretty well supported (except WiFi, see below). Soundcards I don't know, but the ones built in to chipsets usually work well enough, or I think the Soundblaster Live! series is well supported (if you can get an old SB16 for $10 or something, it's perfect). Network cards aren't usually a problem. Printers work well. The only category of hardware that has been a major problem lately (to the best of my knowledge) is WiFi which is still full of quicksand and boobytraps (in regards to what cards are supported).

    Most major hardware is well supported, but check before you buy.

    --
    Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
  3. Re:What I'd like is... by Singletoned · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Thanks, certainly helpful, but I was thinking a bit more on idealogical grounds as well.

    Do ATI or nVidia have a particularly good relationship with the OSS community? Or maybe Intel or AMD? Maybe their products both work, but one or the other helps in other ways?

    For example Nestle chocolate is probably just as good as other chocolate, but they are an unethical company and so I don't buy their products. Fair Trade coffee is probably slightly worse than some other coffees but they are very ethical (though I don't actually buy Fair Trade coffee as Lavazza is too good).