Linux distros

So I have this new computer, a really fast one. I got it several months ago with the intention of installing Mac OS X on it. That plan didn't work. I'm able to install the OS, but when I try to update it or install my hardware-specific drivers, it won't boot. So I've given up on that plan.

My next plan (because I hate Windows) was to install Linux. First I tried Ubuntu, because of all the distros I've tried, it's the most user-friendly and the easiest to get everything working on. Well, apparently the drivers for Radeon cards (mine is a Radeon 5850) suck on the new version of Ubuntu.

Everything from moving windows to opening the launcher is really slow. If I disable v-sync it's slightly better, but a) I want v-sync on and b) it's still much slower than it should be. Apparently this is a widespread problem with Radeon cards - hard to believe they still haven't fixed this. https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/fglrx-installer/+bug/763005

Anyway, if someone can suggest a solution to THAT problem, I'm done messing around with Ubuntu. I tried Debian, and had the same problem with the video drivers. I also don't like how you can't install the "real" version of Firefox on Debian, and the fact that the Software Center is basically a crappier version of the one included with Ubuntu. I've tried Fedora in the past, and hated it - mainly because extremely simple things, like installing Flash, were ridiculously complicated, and didn't even work properly when all was said and done.

So, what other distros might be worth a try? I've looked around a bit and even tried a few, but none of them seem as easy to use as Ubuntu. I should mention I prefer GNOME over KDE.

It really sucks that I have this awesome, really fast computer but I don't really have a workable way to use it on a day-to-day basis except for gaming. I've been using my older, slower Macbook for web browsing for the most part.

 

You can try FreeBSD if you're really sick. If you're less sick (but still sick) try Gentoo. None of them are going to be any easier than Ubuntu. The upside is that (usually) the harder they are, the more control you have. The more control you have, the better the chances of getting something obscure to work.

For the record, I've had way better luck w/ NVidia on Linux.

 

What do you mean by "sick"? Desperate? I would consider getting a Nvidia card, but I've heard people have had similar problems with them as well.

 

i think there's ATI drivers to be downloaded separately from the repositories.

they're not included because they are closed source IIRC. check it before uninstalling ubuntu

 

Ubuntu, OpenSuSe, Fedora & Mint are the ones that are the easiest to use.

My advice, stick with Ubuntu. Did you get the "restricted driver" message? You need to install that one. There is an option in the top menu to check for restricted drivers manually. I think that solves all your issues.

 

Yes, I installed the proprietary fglrx driver. This was the one that caused problems. The performance wasn't quite as bad with the default drivers, but still way below optimal. I even tried downloading the newer drivers off of the AMD (ATI) website. Same.

 

The proprietary driver has great full featured 3D support, but 2D is shitty.
The open source drivers are smooth as butter for normal desktop activities, but the version that comes with 11:04 is pretty old. Try adding either the xorg-edgers ppa, or check out this one from a guy called oibaf:

http://phoronix.com/forums/showthread.php?50038-Updated-and-Optimized-Ubuntu-Free-Graphics-Drivers

I'm running those now on my HD5770. I also just started testing out Gnome3 yesterday, and the OSS drivers work great there too. They are still a bit buggy though, and 3D performance is lacking.

 

I just read the bug report (didn't have time before)... Wow, that sucks... I'm in the process of building an HTPC using Linux and a Radeon card with HDMI... Seems like Ubuntu isn't a choice for now.

Only quick work around is using the Ubuntu LTS release... It's not the latest of the latest but it is supported. I'm not sure if this bug is present in Mint/OpenSuse, otherwise you should try that. Together with Ubuntu those are my favorite distro's when it comes to usability.

 

At first I wondered why everyone wasn't saying get Gentoo. Then I remembered I wasn't on /g/

 

ubuntu, even thought it hates every grathics card in the histroy of time and wont support achi.... or you can be like a normal person and use windows lol

 

http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm

 

It won't be in the repos, but I'm sure you could probably find an older version of your display drivers and use those. I had a case where the latest drivers dropped support for some graphics cards, so I simply switched back to the older set of drivers (that don't support newer hardware) and everything was fine.

 

Sell that radeon card and buy nVidia. A GTX 460 or higher is comparable to that card.

On the plus side, you might get more or the same amount of money you paid for that Radeon card on ebay because a lot of people are picking up Radeon HD 5xxx series cards due to the BitCoin mining and how good those cards are for it.

 

Was that a response to sneakypeanut, or me? I'm not new to Linux, and I haven't used Windows as my main OS for close to a decade - I mainly use Mac OS X. I don't want to use Linux because I'm hoping it'll be like Windows - I want to use it because it's not like Windows. If that wasn't directed at me, then sorry for this whole spiel.

 

You do realize that Mac OSX was derived from BSD right? If your get along with Mac, there is no reason why Linux would be any different. Except everything would be free (Cost wise) and you would be free (rights wise) to install and do anything you want.

 

Then stay away from Ubuntu and Redhat and go for one that is still built on the principle of the user actually knowing something about their computer.

 

Take this with a grain of salt since this is just my opinion, but...

If you want ease of use + huge community support: Ubuntu
If you want reliable server / Uptime: Debian
If you want stuff ready out-of-box: SUSE or Mint (?)
Pain in the ass: Fedora or any RPM distro with a tiny repo (A spawning ground for dependency hell.)

 

i how you fell ,before i got my mac my friend tried to istall osx on his acer wouldn't get past the boot screen so he eventually made his acer dual os so when he turns it on he cane either use windows or linux . btw you have a 1 in 15 chance of making a working hackintosh.

 

I made a Hackintosh w/ one machine -- took a few tries, but was pretty easy after following instructions, and more importantly, checking the HCL.

 

Is OSX really that in demand? Maybe I'm out of touch (^_^);

To me I kind of equate it the same as Linux, except without the need to hack it to get it to work with stuff.