Evil3d.net: [nVidia] Linux Drivers & Page Flipping

[ Thanks to Richard Patakowski for this link. ]

"Since the release of the 1.0-2313 drivers for Linux there has been quite a buzz regarding the performance boost offered. Especially than that seen at 1600x1200x32. However, many of our readers were only experiencing minor performance gains, if any, at other resolutions. So, I decided to investigate the issue a little further and not just toss up benchmarks of software titles that are completely ill equipped to measure the graphic sub-system's performance.

The key here is the implementation of page flipping [something that has always been available in Windows]. I'll quickly yank a bit from Appendix M of the NVIDIA readme file for the explanation...

...What isn't being mentioned is the fact that Page Flipping is only available in specific resolutions of X in conjunction with a specific resolution of a full screen OpenGL application [in our case Quake 3: Arena] when VSYNC is disabled [default]. If VSYNC is enabled then page flipping is enabled for all resolutions. But then your monitor's refresh rate, not the graphics adapter, would limit your frames per second. Listed below are the combinations that enable Page Flipping..."

Complete Story

Related Stories:

• LinuxHardware.org: New NVIDIA Linux Driver Performance(Nov 30, 2001)
• NVidia Releases New Linux Drivers (1.0-2313)(Nov 30, 2001)
• Linux Drivers for nVidia Based Hercules Cards Available(Oct 24, 2001)
• Evil3d.net: RedHat 7.1 & NVIDIA 3D HOWTO(Jul 21, 2001)
• nVidia 1.0 Linux Drivers Are Out(May 18, 2001)