Intel Sandy-Bridge graphics installation

WarTurkey · 06-16-2012, 09:40 AM

Hello, I've searched on LQ for this a few times in a few ways, but the closest thing I could find to something helpful was here, but this is only to see if the user was running a Sandy Bridge chipset. In my case, I know I am using a Sandy Bridge chipset, however I have no idea how to go about getting drivers for it in Debian. I've been using Linux for a while, but I've never successfully installed drivers before. I'm looking at here, however I don't know how to use a "git" repository, or if I need the 2D driver or the 3D driver, or both.

Essentially, I'm completely confused, and I am not sure where I should go to either learn more information (as simple Google searches provide information that's still above my level), or a simple walkthrough of how to install the drivers. In the second link, I think I've found what I am looking for, however I don't know how to install a "git repository." When I search "git repository debian," I get results of how to *create* a git repository, however I'm looking to simply access one, and though I'm sure the information is somewhere under my nose, I'm not sure where!

What I'd like is for my laptop's display to be at native resolution (1366x768), as right now it only has two options: 800x600 or 1024x768, and to be able to render YouTube videos, so even if I could only get a less-capable driver with what I suppose offers only 2D rendering for the videos, I would be content.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

cascade9 · 06-16-2012, 12:00 PM

Using debian, the easiest way is to backport a kernel and xserver-xorg-video-intel.

business_kid · 06-16-2012, 12:09 PM

Did you see this one? :-)

WarTurkey · 06-22-2012, 08:34 AM

@business_kid: I did see that, however I don't think I have any Intel Graphics driver installed at all, because when I run "dmesg | grep intel," I get no output. And xrandr has different output:

Code:

xrandr: Failed to get size of gamma for output default
Screen 0: minimum 800 x 600, current 1024 x 768, maximum 1024 x 768
default connected 1024x768+0+0 0mm x 0mm
   1024x768        0.0* 
   800x600        61.0

I suppose I'm going to need to go with cascade9's idea, and figure out how "backporting" works.

---------- Post added 06-22-12 at 08:34 AM ----------

@business_kid: I did see that, however I don't think I have any Intel Graphics driver installed at all, because when I run "dmesg | grep intel," I get no output. And xrandr has different output:

Code:

xrandr: Failed to get size of gamma for output default
Screen 0: minimum 800 x 600, current 1024 x 768, maximum 1024 x 768
default connected 1024x768+0+0 0mm x 0mm
   1024x768        0.0* 
   800x600        61.0

I suppose I'm going to need to go with cascade9's idea, and figure out how "backporting" works.

business_kid · 06-23-2012, 04:25 AM

Post the output of

Quote:

glxinfo |grep render

and we can tell you what's going on. If you don't have Intel graphics, I think you may need them. My understanding was that these drivers are in an early stage (read pretty awful) and that OSS is behind Intel/Amd so you don't really have a choice. I don't own an Intel card (anything Intel, in fact).

You might also find stuff on phoronix.com