Re: i give up

On Nov 29, 2008, at 4:15 PM, Beech Rintoul wrote:

> On Saturday 29 November 2008 14:56:47 Garrett Cooper wrote:
>> On Sat, Nov 29, 2008 at 1:42 PM, Alexander Churanov
>>
>> <alexanderchuranov_at_gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Folks!
>>>
>>> I have some ideas on that. The problem is it's sometimes hard to  
>>> check
>>> that given hardware is supported by FreeBSD, even in case you know  
>>> and
>>> want to do it. The list of supported hardware is often written in  
>>> terms
>>> of chipsets and manufacturers often produce cards using supported  
>>> chips,
>>> but named after their own trademark.
>>>
>>> For example, at my location one of frequently sold TV card brands is
>>> "beholder". It is not in the supported hw list. However, three  
>>> years ago
>>> I've installed ethernet cards named "compex" to PCs and they  
>>> worked well
>>> and were detected as "realtek". Given that, should one try  
>>> "beholder" tv
>>> card in the first place?
>>>
>>> The solution is to ask someone, or, better, to pay someone for  
>>> providing
>>> that knowledge. Computer shops rarely indicate that hardware is
>>> compatible with FreeBSD. Whom to ask/pay? All this leads to idea of
>>> creating some organization that will sell FreeBSD compatible PCs and
>>> hardware. I'm sure, business like that can not exist , because  
>>> FreeBSD
>>> userbase is not largest. But non-profit organization, would,  
>>> probably.
>>>
>>> Currently I have ordinary PC and several years ago it was running
>>> Windows, now FreeBSD. Fortunately, all hardware works. Now I am  
>>> thinking
>>> of buying new PC and I would pay 10% extra for a brand PC with a  
>>> sticker
>>> "FreeBSD inside" or "Designed for FreeBSD". A shop like that would  
>>> also
>>> sell 100%-compatible photo cams, remote control units, etc.
>>>
>>> All of these is highly hypothetical, but probably is possible. 10%  
>>> is a
>>> good donation.
>>>
>>> Alexander Churanov
>>
>> There's a hardware compatibility page, but it's probably out of  
>> date /
>> incorrect (I'm sure not all supported hardware is noted there --
>> bsdstats might have more info):
>> http://www.freebsd.org/releases/index.html (look under `Hardware
>> Notes' for your given release).
>>
>> My mileage:
>>
>> - nVidia sucks for use on Unix platforms. Even under Linux I ran into
>> a bunch of issues when building my PC last year, and I've discovered
>> that if you're going to run Unix, stick to Intel chipsets.
>> - nVidia chipsets (from my PoV -- I can be swayed) offer almost zero
>> real advantage over Intel chipsets other than SLi. Then again I never
>> have and never plan on running 2+ nVidia cards at once.
>>
>> So unfortunately by purchasing nVidia hardware you're kind of
>> beckoning for problems, mostly because their datasheets and specs are
>> more closed than Intel.
>
> I just built a box and used an 8500 GT nVidia clone it's a medium  
> range card
> and is fully supported by FreeBSD.
>
> Beech

I was referring more to complete nVidia chipsets (the north 
+southbridge variety), not video cards. Video cards have no real issue.
-Garrett