[wook]

Hello,
Since yesterday i'm trying to install XBMCbuntu on my computer.
After couple of failures i realized that the problem is my GPU - Radeon 4850 - some driver problems
I have read tons of posts on this forum and and realized that my Linux knowledge (wich is close to zero) is not enough to make it work - even with tutorials.

So the question -
whitch cheap GPU should i buy to be the most compatible with 12.3 frodo xbmcbuntu or in the future with Gotham.
It doesn't need to be a powerful one - i won't play games on it.

unless there is an easy way to make this work with my GPU card

Thanks for any help ;]

[gfisher]

For the price a gt610 like. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6814130788

You might try a USB thumb drive install of this oss guide first:
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=174854

Not sure about your ati cards abilities. The oss guide costs 0$. Just some of your time. Good luck. The gt610 has amazing capabilities out of the box.

[wook]

Well like i said - i have never using linux before
i'm confused at the beginning ;]

My confusion starts now ...

Code:

0.) Basic Installation and script tuning
After the mini iso is installed, continue with the following steps:

i think i'll stick with a new card buy

[gfisher]

Fair enough. Openelec might be easier to try but you have to get the correct one for your card.

You basically format a USB stick bootable and install. (Google openelec installation for a tutorial) Reboot. Done.

http://openelec.tv/get-openelec/download

I prefer the unstable nightly- can be buggy but its easier, faster, more options than stable: http://openelec.tv/forum/20-development-...mitstart=0
The latest versions are in that long thread.


Note terms fglrx = amd proprietary driver = pretty good playback, some limitations and bugs to avoid.
Radeon Oss- the open source amd driver, lots of options, younger, good playback on most sources.
Nvidia - closed source drivers are best. Great playback of almost all content out of the box. Watch version of driver, buggy on the latest.

Openelec or OE as many call it- the drivers are in there for you. Just format the USB flash install, done.
Good luck.

[un1versal]

Well like i said - i have never using linux before
i'm confused at the beginning ;]

My confusion starts now ...

Code:

0.) Basic Installation and script tuning
After the mini iso is installed, continue with the following steps:

i think i'll stick with a new card buy

Yes good idea, I also dont think that your HD4xxx is OSS supported anywho. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_Vid...abled_GPUs you need UVD2.2 or higher for OSS to work

Like its been said, Nvidia gpu rulez Linux Out of the box.

[gfisher]

@uNiversal. Agree. Looking more, Radeon 4850 Is a legacy device. Time to shelf it.

[negge]

I concur with gfisher, the GT610 is the one and only card you want.

[nickr]

Good (on Linux) = nvidia. Cheap is a matter of searching newegg.

[gfisher]

Your card might work soon. . http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=ne...px=MTU5MjE

The oss driver with Gotham JUST (check the oss thread) got really good. I cannot now recommend gt610 over amd apu IGP any more, as an addon card. Oss aside from being Beta and getting some minor bugs fixed: The picture quality is pretty near equal to my gt610 on the latest stuff on my pokey a4-3400. The oss devs are working hard and deserve props. Deinterlacing temporal is quite good. Good luck.

[un1versal]

Please dont gfisher good news is whe it works with minimal fuss.

It will be a while before these things actually work properly just as well as nvidia crap does with 50 times less fiddling, especially for inexperienced users like we have here

I will say this for AMD they did have the initiative to opensource their drivers at least, well ahead of nvidia. Though for closed source drivers they do work pretty well and minimum fuss setup.

[gfisher]

UNi. Don't get me wrong, I really like my gt610 for the HTPC. It pacified my picky eyes, during fglrx days. I can still recommend it. I would have felt bad if the OP's card got support tomorrow, then I get the stink eye telling him to shelf It. A bit OT, but fritsch and wsnipex dropped a bomb, mesa 10.03- sped up AMD OSS FPS capability 30-40%! So now all that pesky 1080i NTSC and other 59.94 fps stuff plays so well... The gt610 ate that content for lunch, but now so does the apu. happy days.
I too hope it gets easier to install for new Linux users. OE kind of fills that void. G

[un1versal]

Well, what it is and how well the legacy cards support in oss brings or is yet to bring and how well they will actually works, but that's besides the point, the point is setup and go, which OE does well when things are actually supported and been ironed out, these new things especially take a much longer period before they are fully mainstream and as easily setup.

OE is noticeably almost total a complete abstraction of Linux OS configuration aspects (you maybe get one file or two you can access and edit), it is perfect for those who dont want to be bothered with the OS portion at all imho