My computer died recently and I was thinking of getting a cheap netbook instead of replacing my desktop. What I am wondering is how well does 3D acceleration work with Linux today? Years ago I had to get an ATI card out of the free bin to get any acceleration as my relatively new onboard Intel GMA card wouldn't work. I don't need impressive performance, I only play a few 3D Linux games, some really old windows games with wine, and use PSx for my PlayStation games since my console died. I'm hoping there are better drivers now than there were years ago, gettin an ATI or nVidia netbook looks like it doubles the price.

If there is a good answer in other threads I apologize. I'm posting from my phone and it is difficult to read the forums, all the things I found searching were all rather old.

Hi, Intel GMA, as its name suggests is just a Graphics Media Accelerator, not a full fledged graphic card. Now, I have a GMA 4500HD in my netbook, and its enough for kwin desktop effects, HD video playback (vaapi, since 2.6.35). It has also proven enough for warzone2100 and crack attack, however even "old" games like warcraft 3 are unplayable (windows @1024x768 is playable, unplayable at all in Linux/wine) Diablo 2 tags along at 640x480 (linux). 3D performance is a known issue with the intel driver, but not one I expect to be resolved any time soon. Also, (just FYI) with intel GMAs, you're stuck with opengl 2.1.
Bottom line is : drivers mostly work out of the box (keep clear of the Poulsbo - GMA500 series : no opensource working driver exists, and I hear its a PITA to get working at all), is enough for office use, certainly not for avanced gaming. I know that personnally I prefer having an ati/nvidia integrated card, but thats just me.

Hope I answered some of your questions.

Serafean