suggestions on a midrange ubantu gaming machine

[max_knr]

Hi
plz suggest config for a midrange machine which is compatable with ubantu

[Curlydave]

To be honest, I would use windows for that. I love computer games, but only two of the ones I play (3 including a mod) work with Linux, and those two have serious issues. (some effects not working right, no surround sound, (I can't even get my sound card working, but the 2-channel onboard audio works) unnaceptable performance for my system, no AA/AF/etc, various other issues including VOIP, no minimizing, the list goes on.)

[dekoi]

If you *insist* on getting a card to work for gaming in Ubuntu, you'll likely have more success with NVIDIA, like a 6200 (you said "midrange," right?)

I have an ATI 9200SE (not a super gaming card in the first place, but 128 RAM), and after configuring it, performance was still dismal at best. But I keep a Win partition for gaming, and like Curlydave said, that might be a better option. It is for me.

[farnsworth]

Yes, definitely go with an nvidia card. I assume you're building it yourself? The most important thing, unless you have unlimited funds, is your motherboard and chip. Too many people spend way more on their graphics card than their chip and motherboard. That extra FSB speed will do more for your gaming than the "GeForce Ultramega 72000FX" ever will.

If this is your first time building a system, tigerdirect.com is a pretty good site to get information on components. They do a pretty good job telling you what components will work together. And before you buy, always google the make and model of each component to see if anyone else has had problems with it.

[Curlydave]

So does linux not play well with ATI or something to that effect? Is it driver-related?

[gil-galad]

So does linux not play well with ATI or something to that effect? Is it driver-related?
The ati drivers go pretty slow in linux compared to windows, while the nvidia drivers perform about as well as their windows counterparts. If your looking to game, I strongly suggest buying a nvidia graphics card.

[wasynyt]

i read an article about memory performance in athlon 64bit processors and there they calimed that higher memory fps (over 200 mhz) did not give signifigant performance boost.. only few % ( i can try to dig it from somewhere if you want see it)
so what i think.. get yourself a prober motherboard, some that will have its slot supported in the future, goood ammount of memory over 512 mb would be enough and graphiccard like nvidia 6600 gt or similiar in performance

[max_knr]

so is it not worth to buy a athlon 64 than a sampron and how much frame rates can i get from a gforce 5200 or 5600 in doom 3 under ubantu (hardware prices are too high here in india 6600 will be too costly for me )

[wasynyt]

at the moment i would say that go after athlon 64, as it supports socket 939 and thats the socket that amd will suport in future with its more powerful processors and they beat semptrons with ease in every task... though semptrons are good if you dont have too much to spend... just be sure and dont take socket a version.. take the 754... as socket a will be removed from amd product line in near future....
the framerate in games like doom 3 is somewhat critical.. you cant have all..... when buying an cheap machine (at least by my standards) but here is what i say..
i have :
amd 2600+ @ 2011 mhz
758 mb memory (333 mhz)
asus geforce mx 440 128 mb (64 bit)

and with this set up i have played doom 3, homeworld 2, mafia... with out a problem and that was in windows xp which is much more waste of resources than linux so if you can play without the higest possible settings all modern games that support linux should be playable..
fps over 60..

and those cards beats mine 10:1
in opinion dont by geforce 5600 as it is crap... save your money and buy 5200 but i would recomend 5700 series for you... if you can get them

[theerga]

i would get a about 2.5 gig or so amd 64 bit 939 processor a 256mb or so nvidia video card and probably about a gig of ram and witht the mother board i would make sure it had a 4 gig capacity for future upgradibility so the machine could last you about 5 years or so it would also be good to get pci express on the motherboard

[DarkKnight]

I'd say AMD 64 socket939, 3400 at least.
512MB or 1GB Dual Channel DDR400 RAM.
Mobo with all teh features.
And 128MB 6600GT. (You don't need 256MB worth of memory, 128MB performs just as well while being cheaper.)

In Ubuntu or even windblows, the system will let you play anything on the market.

[wasynyt]

yes, but when i mean that i have played somethig its performance have to acceptable...
and for 256 mb memory, if you wish to use either some memory intensive graphical apps or prefer to use or thinking to upgrade to two displays the adittional memory really shines.. when using only one display 128 is enough

[DarkKnight]

But how many gamers have dual monitor setups? :)

For a 'mid-range' gameing rig, you'd only ever need 128MB. Granted graphical apps might work better on 256MB, but generally 128MB will cut the mustard.

[theerga]

ive never played on a 256mb rig but i know when run applications to record footage of in game my frame recording rate is only like 10 fps wich is unaceptable it might not be my video card though but my crapy 1.2 gig celleron procesor my ram count also is only 512 on a win xp (not my first choice of an os even for windows) machine

[wasynyt]

darknight you are right.... and i meant that if he would want to use that kind of configuration its the best option... for gaiming in middle price range there is no need for it...
and i have nothing good to say about celerons.. they are cheat.. even durons which cost the half what they do win them in performance