ATI/NVIDIA Driver install in PCLInuxOS 2008

PCLinuxOS 2008 Minime is a boon for so-called advanced users, who like to keep their system free of flab.
It comes with a minimal set of applications and an amazing artwork.
This ultra small release also comes with a few good utilities including an easy setup for ATI/NVIDIA drivers.
Check out the images below and see for yourself how easy is it to install NVIDIA driver.

The Utilities Folder


The Video Installation Tool



Click the NVIDIA Tab


Click the "Install Driver" Button


NVIDIA Driver installation in Progress


At the End, the installer gives an option to restart X Server ( I missed taking a screenshot of that), and on X restart, the correct NVIDIA drivers are installed and used. I think PCLinuxOS 2008 has made ATI/NVIDIA drivers install very easy, however it is still not as easy as the Restricted Drivers Manager of Ubuntu, which not only correctly auto-detects the driver for the card but also gives a pop-up to install it, making the user aware that there is a better driver for his hardware.
Nevertheless, this is a very good attempt by PCLOS devs.

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1-Click Compiz Fusion onOpenSuse 10.3

I have a three years old desktop with AMD 2400+ CPU, 640 MB RAM on a Via KM400 motherboard. I love my desktop as it helps me in experimenting with the latest and the greatest software and distribution releases. Currently I have OpenSUSE 10.3 on it. Its a fairly old computer so I could not try the latest eye candy on it, I am referring to compiz-fusion.
I also wanted to test mac4Lin, but could not test the eye candy again.
One fine day I decided that I had enough and went ahead to buy an economical graphics card which will run fusion easily. A little search and I had determined that I am going for Nvidia 6200 256 MB card. Now this card is just for RS 2300 ( aprox $60, might get even cheaper in US ) and delivers excellent results for compiz-fusion.

Buying the card was the toughest part, after it was all smooth. From opening the chassis and physically installing the card to getting beautiful compiz, all was like a child's play. Here are the steps I followed after physically installing the card and rebooting to OpenSUSE 10.3.

1. The system could not start KDM, as it was configured to my earlier via driver, and brought me to command line login. I just edited the /etc/X11/xorg.conf and changed the driver to vesa ( a generic driver ) to enable GUI mode.
2. Next I had to install Nvidia drivers. I little search on SUSE site took me to their Nvidia Page. It has detailed instructions for OpenSUSE 10.2 and OpenSUSE 10.3. It even distinguishes between "new" and legacy Nvidia cards. Here again I saw how easy is it to use 1-Click install. I choose the "new" Nvidia card for my 6200 and just followed the YAST2 install procedure. Here is a direct link for new Nvidia cards driver for the lazy readers
   To use NVIDIA's driver directly to run Compiz or Compiz Fusion run the following commands and restart X (Logout and press <CTRL> <ALT> <BACKSPACE>).
   su -
nvidia-xconfig --composite
nvidia-xconfig --render-accel
nvidia-xconfig --add-argb-glx-visuals -d 24

3. With proper drivers for my card installed, I went to the OpenSUSE 10.3 compiz-fusion install page. Again the install was as simple as clicking For KDE and For GNOME.
   
4. I did not follow any further instructions, instead I went to KDE Menu and clicked on "Compiz Fusion Icon" under New Applications. Thats it. I had the beautiful Compiz-Fusion in all its glory.
   

As of now I do not know how to take screenshots while rotating the desktop, else would love to flaunt my beautiful desktop. Could someone please leave instructions for that?
Also would request to please tell me how to have that ultra cool FIRE burning effect that I have seen in numerous you tube videos.

OpenSUSE have really hit the bulls eye with their one click install concept and I am loving it.

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Nouveau: A First Look

Nouveau is a community project that is working on producing open-source
3D display drivers for NVIDIA graphics cards. Nouveau is not affiliated with
NVIDIA Corporation and is an X.Org Foundation project. While this project is still
far from being completed, for this holiday special we are sharing some of our
first thoughts on this project from our experience thus far. We would like to
make it very clear, however, that the Nouveau driver is no where near completed
and still has a great deal of work ahead for the 3D component. This article today
will also hopefully shed some light on the advancements of this project so far.

Read the full article at Phoronix.

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