[SOLVED] With Mesa 21.2.x, how to setup the usage of Intel Crocus instead of the classic i965 Intel driver?

ZhaoLin1457 · 08-23-2021, 02:37 AM

Hi,

my mini-PC MinisForum Z83-F has CherryView graphics, and from what I read, it's eligible for the usage of Intel Crocus, instead of the classic Intel driver.

However, after last upgrading to Mesa 21.2.x of -current, from what I understand, it's still used the classic Intel driver as usual?

Then, I want to switch to Crocus, because I heard that it have better performance in my particular hardware. How I can do it?

glxinfo -B

Code:

name of display: :0
display: :0  screen: 0
direct rendering: Yes
Extended renderer info (GLX_MESA_query_renderer):
    Vendor: Intel Open Source Technology Center (0x8086)
    Device: Mesa DRI Intel(R) HD Graphics (CHV) (0x22b0)
    Version: 21.2.1
    Accelerated: yes
    Video memory: 1536MB
    Unified memory: yes
    Preferred profile: core (0x1)
    Max core profile version: 4.6
    Max compat profile version: 3.0
    Max GLES1 profile version: 1.1
    Max GLES[23] profile version: 3.1
OpenGL vendor string: Intel Open Source Technology Center
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa DRI Intel(R) HD Graphics (CHV)
OpenGL core profile version string: 4.6 (Core Profile) Mesa 21.2.1
OpenGL core profile shading language version string: 4.60
OpenGL core profile context flags: (none)
OpenGL core profile profile mask: core profile

OpenGL version string: 3.0 Mesa 21.2.1
OpenGL shading language version string: 1.30
OpenGL context flags: (none)

OpenGL ES profile version string: OpenGL ES 3.1 Mesa 21.2.1
OpenGL ES profile shading language version string: OpenGL ES GLSL ES 3.10

lspci

Code:

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Atom/Celeron/Pentium Processor x5-E8000/J3xxx/N3xxx Series SoC Transaction Register (rev 36)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Atom/Celeron/Pentium Processor x5-E8000/J3xxx/N3xxx Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 36)
00:03.0 Multimedia controller: Intel Corporation Atom/Celeron/Pentium Processor x5-E8000/J3xxx/N3xxx Series Imaging Unit (rev 36)
00:0b.0 Signal processing controller: Intel Corporation Atom/Celeron/Pentium Processor x5-E8000/J3xxx/N3xxx Series Power Management Controller (rev 36)
00:14.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation Atom/Celeron/Pentium Processor x5-E8000/J3xxx/N3xxx Series USB xHCI Controller (rev 36)
00:1a.0 Encryption controller: Intel Corporation Atom/Celeron/Pentium Processor x5-E8000/J3xxx/N3xxx Series Trusted Execution Engine (rev 36)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Atom/Celeron/Pentium Processor x5-E8000/J3xxx/N3xxx Series PCI Express Port #1 (rev 36)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation Atom/Celeron/Pentium Processor x5-E8000/J3xxx/N3xxx Series PCU (rev 36)
01:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 07)

KInfoCenter main page:

Code:

Operating System: Slackware 15.0
KDE Plasma Version: 5.22.4
KDE Frameworks Version: 5.85.0
Qt Version: 5.15.2
Kernel Version: 5.13.12 (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: X11
Processors: 4 × Intel® Atom™ x5-Z8350 CPU @ 1.44GHz
Memory: 3.8 GiB of RAM
Graphics Processor: Mesa DRI Intel® HD Graphics

LuckyCyborg · 08-23-2021, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZhaoLin1457

Hi,

my mini-PC MinisForum Z83-F has CherryView graphics, and from what I read, it's eligible for the usage of Intel Crocus, instead of the classic Intel driver.

However, after last upgrading to Mesa 21.2.x of -current, from what I understand, it's still used the classic Intel driver as usual?

Then, I want to switch to Crocus, because I heard that it have better performance in my particular hardware. How I can do it?

To switch from classic/non-Gallium Intel i965 driver to Gallium3D Crocus usage, you need just add in your ~/.profile or ~/.xprofile

Code:

export MESA_LOADER_DRIVER_OVERRIDE=crocus

Then, restart your box and enjoy the Intel Crocus on your CherryView graphics.

Finally, IF you are happy how it works, you can create a /etc/profile.d/crocus.sh containing this variable export, to setup this configuration system-wide, for any user.

I for one, I am very satisfied regarding how Intel Crocus works.

It works better than the classic driver, at least for the desktop - I tested it even on a C2D with Intel GMA4500HD graphics, capable only of OpenGL 2.1 and it works fine.

ZhaoLin1457 · 08-23-2021, 03:41 AM

@LuckyCyborg: Thank you, this shell variable did the trick and looks like Intel Crocus works perfectly on my hardware.

I've got even an OpenGL upgrade from 3.0 to 3.1, like in "glxinfo -B" dump bellow:

Code:

name of display: :0
display: :0  screen: 0
direct rendering: Yes
Extended renderer info (GLX_MESA_query_renderer):
    Vendor: Intel (0x8086)
    Device: Mesa Intel(R) HD Graphics (CHV) (0x22b0)
    Version: 21.2.1
    Accelerated: yes
    Video memory: 1536MB
    Unified memory: yes
    Preferred profile: core (0x1)
    Max core profile version: 4.6
    Max compat profile version: 3.1
    Max GLES1 profile version: 1.1
    Max GLES[23] profile version: 3.2
OpenGL vendor string: Intel
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa Intel(R) HD Graphics (CHV)
OpenGL core profile version string: 4.6 (Core Profile) Mesa 21.2.1
OpenGL core profile shading language version string: 4.60
OpenGL core profile context flags: (none)
OpenGL core profile profile mask: core profile

OpenGL version string: 3.1 Mesa 21.2.1
OpenGL shading language version string: 1.40
OpenGL context flags: (none)

OpenGL ES profile version string: OpenGL ES 3.2 Mesa 21.2.1
OpenGL ES profile shading language version string: OpenGL ES GLSL ES 3.20