Ubuntu 12.04 vs. Windows 7: Intel Sandy/Ivy Bridge Loses On Linux

When kicking things off with the Lightsmark OpenGL lighting benchmark at 1920 x 1080, Microsoft Windows 7 with Intel's binary Windows driver was much faster than Ubuntu 12.04 and the latest open-source Intel driver code. Windows 7 was 35% faster for Lightsmark on the i5-2500K Sandy Bridge (HD 3000 graphics) and 48% faster than Ubuntu 12.04 for the i7-3770K Ivy Bridge (HD 4000 graphics) processor.

When running the now-defunct open-source Nexuiz game, the frame-rate for this game was similar between Windows and Linux for both Intel processors with integrated graphics.