NVIDIA Releases OpenGL 3.0 Supportive Beta Linux Driver

[btarunr]

Following the release of OpenGL 3.0 compliant drivers for Windows back in August, NVIDIA has released drivers for Linux/Free BSD, that provide support for the said graphics API. OpenGL functionality is something driver provider manage. Each compliant display driver carries with it, an ICD (installable client driver) for OpenGL.

The driver, 177.61.02 supports OpenGL 3.0, and OpenGL Shader Language (GL-SL) 1.30, with a broad range of compatible hardware already out by NVIDIA. All GeForce 8 Series or newer, Quadro FX 370/360M or newer graphics accelerators are supported. The release supports x86 and x86-64 variants of most Linux and Free-BSD derived operating systems. The driver can be downloaded from NVIDIA's FTP directory here. Please note, that the driver is in a beta stage as of now.

A description on the API related features the new driver brings along has been provided by Phronix:

As part of this OpenGL 3.0 effort, the NVIDIA Linux driver now exposes the ARB_vertex_array_object, ARB_framebuffer_object, and ARB_half_float_vertex extensions on OpenGL 2.1. The additional OpenGL 3.0 extensions exposed include GLX_create_context, ARB_draw_instanced, ARB_geometry_shader4, ad ARB_texture_buffer_object. Also added to this beta driver is rendering support to a FBO with mixed-size attachments, VAO bug-fixes and performance improvements, EXT_texture_swizzle support, transform feedback missing functionality is now implemented, and other fixes.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[theJesus]

Does anything really utilize OpenGL 3.0 yet? I mean anything that would be relatively useful to the general public / average joe and not just programmers etc.

 

[btarunr]

Does anything really utilize OpenGL 3.0 yet? I mean anything that would be relatively useful to the general public / average joe and not just programmers etc.

Does the 'average joe' use Linux/BSD? (although the OS was meant for the average joe who wouldn't want to spend $200 on an OS)

GL3, GL-SL 1.3 for Linux serves mainly for CGI companies and graphics artists who use *nix instead of Windows on a large scale, presumably to cut costs. The only proper GL game I can think of, for Linux is the UT series.

 

[theJesus]

Well, I meant for Windows as well, but I see your point. Also, for some reason I was thinking that August was a while ago

 

[jbizzler]

I don't think any major software uses OpenGL 3.0 yet. That's why they need a driver. To develop software for it.

Unlike Windows, OpenGL is the only hardware-accelerated 3d graphics library on most other platforms. This means virtuall ALL 3D games (within the last decade at least) for Mac and Linux, use OpenGL.

But, obviously, it's not just for games, and on those platforms, it has more uses outside of games.

 

[btarunr]

Well, I meant for Windows as well, but I see your point. Also, for some reason I was thinking that August was a while ago

idtech5, id software's next gen game engine uses GL3.0. id will be building games such as Rage, and additions to the Doom/Quake franchise. And yes, id plans to take on CryTek for tech supremacy, and they're using GL to do so, like they always have, so it would be interesting to see id's new games. And this time around, id plans to release its games for all consoles, as well as Linux and x86 Macs.

 

[theJesus]

Thanks, I'm quite interested now to see how id's new engine does

 

[btarunr]

Thanks, I'm quite interested now to see how id's new engine does

http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/1182/video.php
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/90994.html?playlist=featured

 

[theJesus]

Hmm, only mildly interested in that particular game shown. As for the engine, I can't really develop an opinion yet; I'll probably have to play Rage or something to decide. Thanks for the links though