Update Linux Graphics Driver

On Linux, we strongly recommend that you install the closed-source graphics driver from the graphics card manufacturer's web site. To figure out which graphics card you have installed, use the command:

	% lspci | grep VGA

In the above case, the graphics card is a NVIDIA Quadro4 900 XGL.

To check the version of the graphics driver, try:

	% glxinfo | grep OpenGL

The OpenGL version string gives the OpenGL version followed by the vendor's version information. In this case, the driver is version 96.43.07.

If the OpenGL renderer string is Mesa X11 or Software Rasterizer, then you have not yet installed the vendor's graphics driver.

Where to get newer graphics drivers

For NVidia graphics cards:

Go to the NVidia driver web site and check for a newer driver.

For ATI graphics cards

Go to the ATI driver web site.

All others:

If you are hardcore, you can get the latest driver from the Mesa3D web site. Otherwise, you'll need to wait for your Linux distribution to be updated.