Any Problems w/Intergrated Video?

[loopback48]

Like many who have jumped on the Linux bandwagon I have taken the first baby steps toward building my own machine. And like many on this forum I'm not a gamer nor will I be doing any kind of heavy duty video work. As such I have no need for a high end/high priced video card. I have been considering the NVidia GeForce MX 440 64MB as a low-end but adequate card that will meet my needs which are mostly email, surfing the net, research, and a bit of streaming video and internet radio. So I believe this card will handle all my needs. As budget constrains will determine what equipment I purchase, a motherboard that has audio and video intergrated -with the option (slots) to add a graphic card later if needed- will be considered. With that said, I'd like to hear from those that have use MoBos with intergrated video. Good points, bad points, easy of use with Linux, etc. I realize that the amount of ram will play a big part in the preformance of my system. At the moment I'm using FedoraCore 2 and Slackware on two old PCs and I will probably be installing one or the other on this new machine. Any input will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[frimann]

you should have no probems with nvidia integraded on mb, i have been useing one "asus a7n266-vm" for over 2 years and no complaints, the 3d driver from nvidia works great.

I would stay away from ati integrated mb, as ati does not support linux aswell as nvidia.

[CyberCoder]

the same thing with EPoX EP8-RGA/+

[drummerboy195]

I've never had a problem with integrated video at all, but maybe I've just been lucky. :D

[retsaw]

I built myself a system with VIA Unichrome integrated graphics, the standard driver worked fine, but wasn't making full use of the chipset and it was a pain to get it working fully. I had to choose between a driver that would display at 1280x1024 without hardware MPEG2, and one that would only go to 1024x768 with hardware MPEG2 which is useful for DVDs. When I choose the mobo it was the only one I found with both integrated graphics and SATA for a good price so I wasn't really concerned about the graphics support as long as it worked.

The NVidia GeForce MX 440 64MB is what is in my dad's computer, and seems to work a lot better than my system, despite being in an older computer. I haven't run any comparisons to test that though.

[loopback48]

Thanks for the input so far. And yes, I have read in this and other forums that Nvidia is easier to work with.

As stated in my initial post, I understand the importance of have enough ram when using a mobo with intergrated video. My plans are to have a minimum of 512 mgs of ram. Obviously, if I can afford to install more I will. But I feel that with that amount of ram and a swap ram of 512 that would give me a gig of memory. Will that suffice? Because I'm give myself a way out by purchasing a board with an AGP slot and using as much memory as I can afford I feel that this is a viable route to take. Of course I'd like to use the intergrated chip rather that purchase a video card. Are my concerns valid? I'd still like to hear from more people that have succesfully used a mobo with intergrated video and the problems, if any, or lack of problems. Thanks.

P.S. It would be nice to hear from gamers who have used intergrated video motherboards and their experiences too.

[StarKnight83]

My desktop MB is a MSI with a SiS chipset to it and i never had any problems with integrated video. As far as games go; if you want to play them at a res. higher then 800x600 and any amount of real detail set, it has a few problems with keeping up (read alot) if its just to watch an occasional video and simpler/older games you'll be fine-especially if you have an agp slot to fall back on if you ever need/want a vid card. Another thing I noticed with integrated video is that the processor has to work a lot harder-i always found mine to be maxed out when playing games or movies (after i got a vid card cpu usage dropped slightly)

[loopback48]

StarKnight83's reply is the kind of information I'm looking for. Thanks StarKinight83. Try as I might, I just can't get into games. All of you gamers, forgive me. Different strokes for different folks as they say. Be that as it may, I am still waiting for more input. All information and opinions greatly appreciated. Give me more! It will only help me in making the proper choice of motherboard to purchase. StarKnight83, you mentioned your processor being tasked. Can you give us some of the specs: clock speed, ram, etc of your machine? Thanks.

[madcompnerd]

The MX 440 is actually quite a bargain for a low end card, it will play Doom3 on all bottom settings, and it's playable enough that I am in Hell playing it (Hell is a level in the game).

[loopback48]

"...I am in Hell playing it." Madcompnerd, appreciate the clarification. Wasn't quite sure what you meant. Thanks for the input. Any more from the great unwashed! (Just kidding). Any and all opinions wanted. Thanks.

[retsaw]

I have 512 megs of RAM with 64 given over to the integrated video and I don't ever use swap.

[loopback48]

As stated before, I'm not a gamer but it's good to know that a motherboard with intergrated video will, at the very least handle some games even if at a lower setting. It gives me the impression that intergrated video just might be the way for me to go for the time being any way. But just in case, I plan to purchase a mobo with a video slot. But if it can handle all the ordinary mundane things I do, why not?

Nvidia has been mention as the way to go. What about SiS or VIA? Comments anyone? Thanks.

[retsaw]

Originally posted by loopback48
Nvidia has been mention as the way to go. What about SiS or VIA? Comments anyone? Thanks.

I mentioned I was using a mobo with a VIA chipset (KM400) in my last post, there are open source drivers for this which work well enough, with the limitation I mentioned previously, but they are a pain to set up.