Kernel 2.6.28 + G33 => big video and gaming performance boost !

[DebianAroundParis]

So does it mean that mesa 7.3 may arrive soon?

[whizse]

mesa 7.3 still has not reached Debian experimental. [...]

Right, I'm a Debian user myself. Mesa isn't hard to compile from git, but if you're already getting satisfying results, I guess it would be a waste of time

Anyway, just for fun, these are the results on my G45 using 7.3-rc1:

Tremulous:
1024 x 768
Average: 43.13 Frames Per Second


1280 x 1024
Average: 43.00 Frames Per Second

[DebianAroundParis]

Interesting!
With what CPU exactly?
Could you please test the vids from Vimeo I linked to in my first message?
In fact testing this more demanding video (after downloading it) would be more interesting, because when I play it I get a message in the console about my CPU being too slow, and many bytes are dropped:

http://www.vimeo.com/2736049

I hesitate to get a G45 motherboard for DVI support (my Asus P5K-VM only has VGA). Getting smoother videos would help my decision.
I may also just buy a GS8400 from nVidia.
Does anyone know how much playing 1080p videos could improve on the diverse Intel chipsets?

[whizse]

Interesting!
With what CPU exactly?

Core 2 Duo E8400 @ 3.00GHz

Could you please test the vids from Vimeo I linked to in my first message?
In fact testing this more demanding video (after downloading it) would be more interesting, because when I play it I get a message in the console about my CPU being too slow, and many bytes are dropped:

http://www.vimeo.com/2736049

Sure! The first two videos seems to play fine, not that I'm a very good judge of video smoothness, but at least MPlayer doesn't complain.

Unfortunately, the last one you linked to, Winter, does have some obvious skips.

I'm using 2.6.99.1 of the intel driver, using EXA and textured video (the G45 does not have overlay).

[DebianAroundParis]

Thank you!
I use Intel driver 2.5.1.
Which means I must not expect as big an improvement with 2.6 for HD videos as an nvidia 8400GS would bring. Or maybe a new version of mpayer could help as much as a new graphics card?

[whizse]

Looks like Mesa 7.3-rc1 is on it's way to experimental now.

For big speed ups in video decoding I think we need to wait for VA-API to be implemented.

[DebianAroundParis]

Yes, mesa 7.3-rc1 is there, but it depends on libdrm-intel 2.4.3 which is there too but depends on intel 2.6-rc1 which is not.

[DebianAroundParis]

Finally! Intel's 2.6 video driver has arrived, and along with mesa 7.3-rc1 and libdrl 2.4.3, the improvements are clear:

Tremulous:
1024 x 768

18.3 Frames Per Second
18.4 Frames Per Second
18.4 Frames Per Second

Average: 18.36 Frames Per Second

A 50% improvement.
The improvement is also very precious in Torcs: I can now play it at 1280*1024 without slowdowns.
One year ago this game was unplayable, even at lower resolutions.
On the other hand, no improvement when playing HD videos. For that I look forward to the next versions of mplayer, vlc, ffmpeg.

[crumja]

Still a lot slower than the 30 fps at 1280x1024 from here.

[DebianAroundParis]

Have you any idea why?