how well are intel graphics supported?

SqueakyFoxx · 09-02-2023, 02:30 PM

hi!

I'm looking for a laptop for development (gonna run debian), and I was wondering how well intel graphics are supported? I've heard nvidia graphics are awful. should I try to push for AMD instead?

business_kid · 09-02-2023, 02:49 PM

Hello, SqueakyFoxx & welcome to LQ.
Performance wise, New intel graphics cards are a poor third to Nvidia & AMD (In that order). Integrated graphics all suck, and intel's are worse.

Nvidia cards need their binary drivers, but they're the fastest. AMD are improving and may catch up, but they also do open source kernel drivers, which for me makes them number #1.

It totally depends what you're developing - text or graphics?

SqueakyFoxx · 09-02-2023, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by business_kid

Hello, SqueakyFoxx & welcome to LQ.
Performance wise, New intel graphics cards are a poor third to Nvidia & AMD (In that order). Integrated graphics all suck, and intel's are worse.

Nvidia cards need their binary drivers, but they're the fastest. AMD are improving and may catch up, but they also do open source kernel drivers, which for me makes them number #1.

It totally depends what you're developing - text or graphics?

first of all, thank you so much for replying so quickly.

to answer your question, very simple 2D games in C at *very* low resolutions. I have a desktop with dedicated graphics if I need to test at full framerate, so that's not a problem. my main concern is if the graphics drivers are going to randomly break.

Emerson · 09-02-2023, 04:13 PM

Intel has their own open source driver which is allegedly no longer developed. It is kept up to date, nevertheless. However, Xorg recommendation is to use the modesetting driver which is bundled with Xorg. I think there is some 2D acceleration Intel driver offers. In any case, I have a TU116 nVidia in my computer, but I use it only for CUDA. Because the onboard Intel 630 is snappier with 2D. Go figure.

frankbell · 09-02-2023, 08:25 PM

I've been luck enough to have a number (six, I think) of native Linux computers over the years. All of them have been Intel inside.

fatmac · 09-03-2023, 03:49 AM

I've been using Intel & AMD since 1999 without any problems, so I think you'll be safe.

pan64 · 09-03-2023, 05:21 AM

for low resolution simple 2d apps any video card should be ok, even an older and cheaper one.

mrmazda · 09-05-2023, 01:44 AM

I finished upgrades earlier today from Mint Vera to Victoria, on an AMD A10-7850K Radeon R7 desktop PC, and an i5-11400 desktop PC. Glmark2 scores on these two iGPUs run on Victoria 6.2.0-32 kernel:

Code:

2021 65W TDP i5-11400/Intel UHD 730 graphics:
  2984 (3 connected displays)
  3080 (1 1680x1050 display)

2014 95W TDP A10-7850K/Radeon R7:
  2102 (4 connected displays)
  2325 (1 1680x1050 display)

2017 Kaby Lake 35W TDP i5-7500T/Intel HD 630 graphics, on Jammy and TDE on 6.2.0 kernel glmark2 scores:

Code:

  1528 (3 connected displays)
  1614 (1 1920x1200 display)

2013 Haswell 53W TDP Pentium G3220/Intel HD Graphics (Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core), on Victoria, XFCE and 6.2.0-32 glmark2 score:

Code:

  760 with 3 connected displays

2010 Ironlake 73W TDP i5-660/Intel HD Graphics on Debian 12 Bookworm, TDE and 6.1.0-11 glmark2 score:

Code:

   417 with 2 connected displays

2008 Eagle Lake 65W TDP Core2Duo 8400/Intel GMA 4500 Graphics, on Debian 12 Bookworm and TDE on 6.1.0-11 glmark2 score:

Code:

   270 with 2 connected displays

All are motherboard chipset or CPU hosted iGPUs, no discrete graphics, and no non-FOSS software is employed.

For a limited frame of reference with some of the relative oldies, one discrete GPU, a 2012 20W TDP HP OEM NVIDIA GF119 [NVS 310] (Fermi 2.0), with Core2Duo, Victoria, Mate and 5.15.0-78 glmark score:

Code:

   313 with 2 connected displays and FOSS modesetting DIX display driver (same as supported for AMD and Intel)

It seems to me there has been a nice progressive increase in competence from non-discrete GPUs over the years, and most non-gamers ought to be pleased with desktop or laptop performance from modern iGPUs.

beachboy2 · 09-06-2023, 08:00 AM

SqueakyFoxx,

I have found AMD's built-in graphics on Ryzen 5 CPUs to be fine.

Something like this:
https://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/leno...uk/version.asp