What Linux drivers are compatible with Mint?

[TrevorS]

I was just given an old Pentium 4 machine sans hard drive and I just located and downloaded the necessary 98SE and XP drivers for it, but I also see a bunch of Linux drivers! I'm thinking of trying out Linux on it and am wondering if any of these might be Mint compatible!

LAN
Novell Linux Desktop 9, SP1, SP2
Red Flag Linux Desktop 4.0
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 3 Update 3,4,5
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 4, Update 1
Red Hat Linux 8.0, 9.0
SUSE Linux 8.2

Video
Novell Linux Desktop 9, SP1, SP2
Red Flag Linux Desktop 4.1, SP1
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 3 Update 3,4,5
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 4, Update 1
Red Hat Linux 8.0

Audio
Novell Linux Desktop 9, SP1, SP2
Red Flag Linux Desktop 4.0
Red Flag Linux Desktop 4.1, SP1
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 3, Update 3,4,5
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 4, Update 1
Red Hat Linux 8.0, 9.0
SUSE Linux 8.2

[Gizmo]

For older equipment, Linux Mint will almost certainly have at least SOME support out of the box for practically all of the hardware. Boot up the Live CD and see!

[Daniel ~]

These are available though Mint 15 Driver Management for my 670 GTX... But it selects according to your card.

[TrevorS]

My concern is just that given a relatively old board, the built in hardware devices (specifically LAN, video, audio) are likely not supported by the distro as is. Guess it depends on just how far back (and how broadly) their original 2006 distro reached. Given the board has a variety of Linux drivers from Intel through 2004, perhaps the chances aren't so bad, don't know.

I would like to know of a reasonably complete operator manual for the OS (the so called "User Manual" is very incomplete). An example -- what is the command set for the console? I gather the marketed Linux distros consist of a series of layers, the uppermost being the graphical user interface, the base being the core Linux build. I gather in Mint's case, above the Linux core is Debian, then Ubuntu (or perhaps the Debian and Ubuntu elements are at the same level?), then Mint, and finally one of some four desktops (including Cinnamon and Mate).

I would've guessed the driver question is one of compatibility with the Linux core, but given the multiple drivers Intel provides, I gather the core itself is variable, both an advantage and disadvantage of open source. As suggested, just have to try it. If I hit a problem, can try installing drivers from Intel's offerings and see if one works. I was expecting there would be a driver compatibility guideline provided by Mint's developers, but if one exists, it's clearly not in the "User Manual"!

[Daniel ~]

I've never needed a manual so I can't help you there. but whatever drives Nvidia has mint will find and download so you can pick one and have mint install it.

[TrevorS]

Sounds great and apparently works really well for a gaming application. Are the Mint compatible drivers provided by the video card manufacturers for both N'Vidia and AMD, or are others involved? I have more of a general purpose application in mind such as "office" or "server". For use with basic mainboards, my usual choice is built-in graphics if present, or else one of my basic ATI cards. I'm just not inclined to steer towards a N'Vidia card at this level, what I have should be adequate.

Originally Posted by Daniel ~

These are available though Mint 15 Driver Management for my 670 GTX... But it selects according to your card.

Sorry, I didn't pick up on this post. I was looking for a "Driver Management" discussion in the "User Manual" but didn't see it (though saw a reference). It helps make clear I really do need to get some hands on with the software. Thanks Daniel !

[Daniel ~]

Driver are supplied by Nvidia and the Linux Community.... Nvidia drivers work far better at this point as Linux doesn't have access to the code.

I can't tell you anything about ATI other than your pretty much doomed to disappointment if you try to use ATI in any Linux destro.

Linux at this time is completely dependent upon the manufacture to supply the drivers it uses ( not open source) ....Nvidia does a hugely better job of this than does ATI.

You probably won't find much on drivers as the Linux community is still trying to wrap it's head around using non open source code being used at all... Mint was the first to recognize that weather we like it or not we NEED Video card drivers if we are going to appeal to the great unwashed.(Me and other non Guru Linux users.)

[TrevorS]

Originally Posted by Daniel ~

I can't tell you anything about ATI other than your pretty much doomed to disappointment if you try to use ATI in any Linux destro.

I wouldn't have expected this to be true for non-performance applications. Gaming is performance, office and server are not. Guess I'll find out!

[Daniel ~]

Right you are...I was speaking in teams of Gaming.

[TrevorS]

Cool, brother !

[Daniel ~]

It never hurts to keep things straight open and in the clear":O}