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    Ubuntu eye candy vs. Windows eye candy

    Discussion in 'Linux Compatibility and Software' started by Fewmets, Jul 11, 2008.

  1. Fewmets

    Fewmets Notebook Consultant

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    How does the Ubuntu eye candy compare to Windows eye candy performance-wise?

    I have an old desktop running XP that I am debating experimenting w/ Linux on, it has 512mb of ram and about a 1.9ghz P4 processor. Will it be able to handle any eye candy? Not a big deal if not, but I'm curious.
     
  2. Gintoki

    Gintoki Notebook Prophet

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    Taken straight from my Linux Switcher's Guide (the sticky at the top, you should read the stickies first before posting).

     
  3. Fewmets

    Fewmets Notebook Consultant

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    Thnks; sry about that, didn't think the stickies would cover it.
     
  4. Gintoki

    Gintoki Notebook Prophet

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    That's exactly what they're there for, always read the stickies.
     
  5. descendency

    descendency Notebook Consultant

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    You should test it yourself.

    If you have 10 GB free on your HDD (and a CD burner), download Ubuntu and burn it. (or mount it using a Virtual CD drive).

    Then install "Wubi" (a Windows internal partition for Ubuntu) from the disc.

    It'll force a reboot and you'll be prompted to wait a bit while it installs. After that, it'll boot and prompt you which operating system you want. Choose Ubuntu.

    If you don't like it, simply load Control Panel and uninstall.

    edit: Here's the information: http://wubi-installer.org/
     
  6. wearetheborg

    wearetheborg Notebook Virtuoso

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    I think the graphics card is the limiting factor. I ran compiz on a T42 with CPU underclocked to 600Mhz, at full SXGA+ with a graphics card with only 32MB of video ram..
    Standard RAM should not be a problem.
     
  7. pixelot

    pixelot Notebook Acolyte

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    Ubuntu bloody PWNS!!! :D
     
  8. Bog

    Bog Losing it...

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    I think its safe to say that Linux is light years ahead of any other OS in terms of eye candy, among other things. I ran Beryl back in the day with a Radeon 9000 (with transparency, wobbly windows, the works), and I'm running Compiz Fusion today on a Radeon 9600 on the IBM in my sig; not a big upgrade, but the things you can do with Compiz Fusion simply can't be done with any other OS out there right now.
     
  9. lemur

    lemur Emperor of Lemurs

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    Compiz is buggy. I've turned it off until the developers get their act together.
     
  10. rockharder

    rockharder Notebook Evangelist

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    Wubi installed Ubuntu will be greatly disturbed by VISTA updates. I had reinstalled three times along after some stu**d VISTA update.

    Install Ubuntu directly will gives u better stability and performance. Running ubuntu on NTFS partition is slow somehow.
     
  11. v1k1ng1001

    v1k1ng1001 Notebook Deity

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    ^^^ no doubt by M$ design

    I dunno. You will be able to enjoy a lot more eye candy with ubuntu. On the other hand I'd recommend leaving, say, random animations off. If you just want to run the cube you should be all set. To maximize performance you might want to run compiz with Xubuntu or something.
     
  12. descendency

    descendency Notebook Consultant

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    Yet another reason I continue to run Windows XP.

    Not the best suggestion, but it's way better than Live CD or Virtual Machine.
     
  13. theZoid

    theZoid Notebook Savant

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    I don't use it anymore as I favor the speed and stability without it.
     
  14. JCMS

    JCMS Notebook Prophet

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    A compiz with everything 3D enabled is more GPU intensive than Vista's. My GPU idles at 90C with compiz on, 83 off. Vista is 74~83 depending on its mood.
     
  15. Baserk

    Baserk Notebook user

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    Fahrenheit, I hope...
     
  16. lemur

    lemur Emperor of Lemurs

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    GPU temperatures are usually reported in celcius.
     
  17. Baserk

    Baserk Notebook user

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    I know, but an idle Vista with 74~83 degrees Celsius is not good (nor a Linux distro with Compiz 3d enabled at 90).
    Anyone else hear a laptop screaming for canned air?
     
  18. lemur

    lemur Emperor of Lemurs

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    Canned air or whatever will help lower those temps.
     
  19. Gintoki

    Gintoki Notebook Prophet

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    He may need a new laptop period. :p
     
  20. theZoid

    theZoid Notebook Savant

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    JCMS: I've got the ddr3 card, and it's always idling around 68C, maybe low 70's, KDE, no compiz....Vista usually never drops below 76C. FWIW.
     
  21. wearetheborg

    wearetheborg Notebook Virtuoso

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    I had it running on a mobility radeon 7500 with 32 mb of video ram at SXGA+ resolution :)
     
  22. Bog

    Bog Losing it...

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    There you go then! Linux effects kick ass!