Marcus (m.delete@this.bitsnbites.eu) on October 1, 2022 3:12 am wrote:
> Adrian (a.delete@this.acm.org) on September 30, 2022 7:30 am wrote:
> > I certainly want for any privileged program that I use, like device drivers, to be open
> > source, but nevertheless NVIDIA has provided for about 20 years high quality device
> > drivers for Linux and FreeBSD, even if in closed source form.
>
> That is true (and it was the reason that I used NVIDIA for a long time), but the fact that they
> are closed source means that they integrate poorly with the rest of the Linux graphics ecosystem
> (kernel, mesa, dri, wayland, ...), which is a PITA for Linux users and developers alike.
>
> > Among other hardware producers, only Intel has provided a similar amount of high-quality support work.
>
> ...and their drivers are fully open-source: https://www.phoronix.com/review/intel-arc-graphics-linux,
> which provides a much better user experience.
>
> I'm currently waiting for Intel (preferably) or AMD to make a real difference in the mid
> range GPU market so that I can finally replace my old GTX 1080 without feeling ripped off.


While I might buy an AMD RDNA 3 card, to be used in a server, for computational purposes, if I will be able to afford it, I am also considering an Arc 770 as a replacement for a RTX 2060 Super, which has a similar performance to GTX 1080, even if it is a more recent model.


While I have been happy with many NVIDIA cards, under Linux or FreeBSD, on desktops and laptops, since 2005 until today, I do not believe that in the near future they will introduce any model whose performance / price ratio I will consider acceptable, so for now I am looking forward only to the offers from AMD or Intel.

That has the added bonus of open-source device drivers and software tools, even if there will be some work for converting CUDA programs.