Video Drivers Help

[XvXSemiXvX]

I know you've probably heard it before I'm fairly new to Ubuntu or any Linux OS and I'm having trouble getting the full capabilities of my video cards. I installed Ubuntu v11.04 on two of my machines an old comp I had laying around and my current laptop I use.

First the desktop computer I'm having problems it doesn't seem to want to do any 3D or any animations (CCSM). When I move windows around it's all choppy like when you install Windows OS fresh with no video drivers. I read all over forums looking for an easy way to install the drivers since I'm new to Linux don't know the lingo or how to use it efficiently. Maybe someone can show me an easier way.

Desktop Specs
Mother Board: Gigabyte GA-8IPE1000(-L) v2.0
CPU: Intel Pentium 4 2600 MHz
Ram: 2 Gigs
Video: Radeon X1650 512 MB
Sound: SB0090 Audigy Platinum Sound Card
HDD: 80 Gigs
OS: Windows XP & Ubuntu 11.04 (Dual Boot)

Second on my laptop I don't know if there's an update for possibly better drivers then the one that come with Ubuntu 11.04. Most of the animations work in CCSM, I'm guessing some don't b/c the laptop doesn't have that much power in the hardware.

Laptop Specs
CPU:1.60 GHz Intel® Pentium® Dual Core processor T2060
Ram: 1024MB DDR2 (2 Dimm)
Video: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
HDD: 120GB 5400RPM (SATA)
OS: Ubuntu 11.04

Any help would be much appreciated, Thank You.

[JooseyJay]

How recently did you install natty? After a little while of playing around on the desktop the auto updater popped up, and video driver updates after that.

[devils casper]

Hi and Welcome !

Check System - Administration - Additional Drivers in both machines.

[XvXSemiXvX]

Hi and Welcome !

Check System - Administration - Additional Drivers in both machines.

I did check this out had nothing
Desktop - Just does a search for drivers then the window pops up and at the top says "No proprietary drivers are in use on this system."
Laptop - Just lists my Broadcom driver for the wifi card but thats in working order.

[devils casper]

Execute this in Laptop's Terminal :

lspci | grep -i vga
grep -i driver /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Post output here.

[XvXSemiXvX]

 semi@Semi-Linux:~$ lspci | grep -i vga
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
semi@Semi-Linux:~$ grep -i driver /etc/X11/xorg.conf
grep: /etc/X11/xorg.conf: No such file or directory 
  

That's what came up... sorry I'm new bear with me.

[devils casper]

Ubuntu installed in your Laptop is using Generic Intel driver for Graphics Card. This driver works fine in most of machines but it doesn't support 3D desktop effects. If display/resolution is fine in your Laptop then I would suggest you to keep using generic driver only.

For Desktop, you can install ATI driver manually. By default, Ubuntu uses generic 'radeon' driver.
Execute both commands in Desktop too and post output here.

[XvXSemiXvX]

Desktop terminal...

 semi@SEMIDESKTOP:~$ lspci | grep -i vga
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc RV535 [Radeon X1650 Series]
semi@SEMIDESKTOP:~$ grep -i driver /etc/X11/xorg.conf
grep: /etc/X11/xorg.conf: No such file or directory