[mythtv-users] time for a new graphics card

[Brian Wood]

On May 13, 2006, at 10:32 PM, Raphael Pooser wrote:

> Hi all,
> Not to resurrect an old thread or anything but damn, the nvidia driver
> works amazingly well in linux.
> After installing the driver I just used nvidia's own utility to
> autoconfigure xorg.conf.
> I didn't have to do any editing of xorg.conf whatsoever after  
> installing
> the driver.  Merely install, plug svideo out to TV, turn on computer,
> and watch  it work.
> I adjusted the overscan in the nvidia-settings utility (wow, I  
> actually
> adjusted this), but this can also be set statically in xorg.conf.
> After using that old ATI card it's almost as if I forgot that this  
> kind
> of ease of use could exist.
>
> Oh yes, I almost forgot about the real question in this post.  Do  
> people
> use coolbits to underclock their 5200's or do people tend to find the
> heat not a problem.  I touched the heatsink and it's somewhat hot
> (nothing alarming), but I find it a small price to pay for no fan.   
> But
> I wonder about the longevity of the 5200 otherwise, would  
> underclocking
> it increase its lifespan or is there no point in worrying.
> So nice having no nagging issues with my setup anymore.  thanks for  
> the
> input.
> Raphael


I never heard of a Myth user using coolbits, isn't it a Windows  
program ?? Are you a gamer in disguise ? :-)

There is a Linux program, nvclock, which I think does the same thing,  
but again, I've never heard of anyone using it to under or overclock  
an nVidia card in a Myth system.

Basically they seem to work fine without tweaking, nVidia GPUs seem  
to run a bit on the warm side, but their internal slowdown points are  
at temps that seem way high to me (sometimes over 100C), so I guess  
nVidia thinks it's OK.

As far as I can tell, if it works leave it alone. I suppose if it  
still works in an underclocked condition it won't hurt the card, but  
I wouldn't bother if it were me (and it is, and I don't).