Re: intel extreme graphics chipset
On Tue, May 06, 2008 at 01:09:54PM +0000, Michael Fothergill wrote:
>
> Dear folks,
>
> I noticed from reading an article by Eric S Raymond (http://catb.org/%7Eesr/writings/world-domination/world-domination-201.html) that according to him Intel released the source code for its own graphics processors to the Linux community.
>
> He therefore encouraged Linux users to buy the intel hardware to encourage the company to keep doing this.
>
> I tried googling to see how easy it was for an intel PC with e.g. the extreme graphics chipset stuck in it to have Debian installed on it and also how easy the OS recognised the graphics chip relative to e.g. putting an Nvidia or ATI graphics card into the machine.
>
>
> Someone told me that now ATI have released the source for their graphics cards to the linux community.
>
> Is this true?
They seem to be working on it, although it is far from complete so far,
and some older chips might not get documentation as far as I understand
it due to various NDAs for parts of the design done in the past. So far
ATI is still on my 'no buy' list until I see proof of actual working
quality drivers (something ATI has always lacked).
> What would suit me is being able to buy a 64 bit PC with a graphics chip in it which Linux (Debian) recognizes very easily.
>
> I don't mind if the graphics 3D acceleration is not quite as fast as say an Nvidia card if the installation is reliable and predictable.
The intel chips are VERY slow at 3D compared to an nvidia running the
binary drivers. They have enough 3D power to do some 3D work, but in
general they would hardly be recommended for any level of gaming.
> Talking to intel about this was hard work. It wanted me to talk to PC resellers who thought I wanted to buy something unusual that they didn't sell very often.
To get intel graphics, but a motherboard with an intel chipset and
onboard graphics. G33 and similar chipsets for example.
> It was a bit like trying to buy a washing machine from a hardware store in Soviet Russia in the 1960s.
>
> Has anyone heard of someone who bought or built such an Intel based PC and made it work?
Lots of people probably have. A lot of laptops for example have intel
video.
--
Len Sorensen
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