[NMLUG] Sabayon 3.3 initially disappointing

[sbrowne at ix.netcom.com (Steve Browne)]

On Mon, 26 Mar 2007 20:33:00 -0600, you wrote:

>No, it doesn't analyze the system.  It's based on Gentoo, which allows for
>very granular configuration and building of every program on the system, but
>the Sabayon install doesn't build anything, it just unpacks/copies a ton of
>stuff to your drive, like most other distros.  Everything you install later,
>or upgrade, using portage is built from source w/ the settings you specify
>in /etc/make.conf and /etc/portage/* but w/ an initial CHOST of I386 (unless
>that's been changed recently), it's going to be using a suboptimal
>instruction set.  You still have the ability to choose what's built w/ what
>support (much like compiling from source and passing the desired ./configure
>options, but easier), and deciding what optimization level and compiler
>flags to use, but changing the CHOST on a running system is really messy on
>a source based distro, which negates some of the extra speed potential.
>
>As for the 6800GT, no idea why it would decide that it's limited to those
>resolutions.  You'd have to look at /etc/X11/xorg.conf and see what
>modelines are available, and what modes are set to be available in the
><Screen> section.  It may be there's a valid modeline in there, but the
>desired resolution isn't in the "Modes" line of the "Display" subsection, in
>which case it won't even try and set it.  If it is in there, you'd have to
>check /var/log/Xorg.0.log and see why it didn't select the desired mode.  It
>could be as simple as adding the desired resolution to the "Modes" line and
>restarting X.  If you have the specs of your monitor handy, you can create
>your own modeline, specifying resolution, horiz and vert refresh rates, etc,
>and probably get it to run at whatever resolution you like.
>
>Also, are you using the proprietary Nvidia drivers?  I didn't have an nvidia
>card in the system I tried Sabayon on, so I don't remember if it installs
>the nvidia-drivers package by default, or tries to use the X.orgs built in
>"nv" drivers.  The nvidia drivers tend to give better performance and a
>larger feature set.

Sabayon install flashed "NVIDIA" onscreen several times, so I suppose
the drivers were meant to be installed. Nvidia has made its Linux
drivers available gratis (though I don't know what legal license this
fits) so I wouldn't call them "proprietary".

There's a point reached where one says, I'VE GOT WORK TO DO, so I'll
stick with Mandriva 2007.

Steve
Stephen B. Browne
sbrowne at ix.netcom.com
"Ubi bene, ibi patria."