Intel Announces Arc B-Series "Battlemage" Discrete Graphics With Linux Support

[Quackdoc]

Thanks for the reply, it's good to know ... not like I care about faked resolution or fake frames though

My question was more about Wayland support with Xe/Xe2 (i)GPU. Can't find anything useful sadely about Intel Arc and Wayland and I'd like to use Hyprland on the computer I'm planning to build.

been using an A380 on kwin, cosmic, sway for a long time now, no issues. I can try hyprland specifically if you want me to, but I see zero reason why it would be any different. It's a safe assumption that battlemage will be fine

[Guilleacoustic]

DGPUs uses same engines as in iGPUs, so no problems.
Intel iGPUs are the main workhorses for developers - they're using laptops or desktops with Intel iGPUs.
Wait for Battlemage if you want discrete card.

Thanks a lot for the reply. I'll be jumping from a 4th gen i7 and always had good result with Intel iGPU drivers. Couldn't find much about Xe/Xe2 and wayland though, so I was wonderinf if the drivers were mature enough for that.

been using an A380 on kwin, cosmic, sway for a long time now, no issues. I can try hyprland specifically if you want me to, but I see zero reason why it would be any different. It's a safe assumption that battlemage will be fine

Awesome, good to read. Thanks for those valuable infos.

[Eudyptula]

I wish at least 1 USB-C output was put on the reference card. By now we should be seeing niche USB-C-only cards with 6 outputs. And can we get back to the days of 6 display outputs being supported? Eyefinity was cool. Bring it back, please.

(Yeah, I actually want 6 display outputs. :P The current max is making me claustrophobic and I own about 10 monitors. Even docks are often just 1 - 3 outputs... The current only solution I have is a combination of ultrawides (the actual ultra ones with two monitors in one) and large 4k+ monitors that can be split into 2 or 4, as well as a second computer where I do related tasks in parallel. It's not enough. I'm a serious multitasker and I'm tired of having to go back and forth between windows and programs.)

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valve has sponsored mesa/amd work for a very long time, way before the steamdeck was likely in development.

Yeah, Valve got on this train for the long-haul. [Insert Half-Life references about staying on or getting off the train and other train-related references.] xD

So many people haven't realized how far back Valve planned for all of this. While they couldn't predict specifically where the train would take them, they knew there were many ways of leveraging it. And there were. There is. There will be. They have been determined about the investment in the Linux eco systems as well as hardware and engine tech. We are witnessing the ever more ripe fruits being harvested from the mature tree they've been nurturing for so long. They are still planting seeds and so is the open source community.

I don't know if you've followed leaks and also the less secret stuff that we know will happen, but I'm pretty excited for Deckard and Steam Controller 2. And it seems they are giving Steam Machine a second go. This time they might actually succeed. I'm starting to feel like the first attempt was actually a really good thing despite it failing. They have showed that they keep on coming back stronger each time. The early hardware is nothing like Deck. Even Deck is nothing like Deck anymore. People underestimating Valve needs to reevaluate their estimating.

Perhaps Intel should try knocking on Valve's door and see if they will invite them in for a chat over a cup of tea? If they're lucky Valve will put something in it to make them forget. About the past recent times at Intel. A recent past that hopefully won't make Intel walk up a set of certain stairs and knock on a certain other door.

Someone please lock me up, I'm having too much fun with metaphors and references. :P


PS: Very nice of you to offer to benchmark for that user (followed by your follow-through following the request for specific game benchmarks). Kudos to you.

[Quackdoc]

I wish at least 1 USB-C output was put on the reference card. By now we should be seeing niche USB-C-only cards with 6 outputs. And can we get back to the days of 6 display outputs being supported? Eyefinity was cool. Bring it back, please.

speaking of USBC, I really wish virtual link cards/devices were more common, they used to be on a lot of gpus, but so far I don't think a single intel gpu supports it. With how affordable the PSVR2 is now right now, One of these cards with virtual link on it would be a VR powerhouse.

Yeah, Valve got on this train for the long-haul. [Insert Half-Life references about staying on or getting off the train and other train-related references.] xD

So many people haven't realized how far back Valve planned for all of this. While they couldn't predict specifically where the train would take them, they knew there were many ways of leveraging it. And there were. There is. There will be. They have been determined about the investment in the Linux eco systems as well as hardware and engine tech. We are witnessing the ever more ripe fruits being harvested from the mature tree they've been nurturing for so long. They are still planting seeds and so is the open source community.

I don't know if you've followed leaks and also the less secret stuff that we know will happen, but I'm pretty excited for Deckard and Steam Controller 2. And it seems they are giving Steam Machine a second go. This time they might actually succeed. I'm starting to feel like the first attempt was actually a really good thing despite it failing. They have showed that they keep on coming back stronger each time. The early hardware is nothing like Deck. Even Deck is nothing like Deck anymore. People underestimating Valve needs to reevaluate their estimating.

I haven't really been following the stuff, One thing I think is necessary for a dedicated steam machine, is a TV optimized compositor. (I actually am working on a niri config for use as a proper TV compositor, as well as one for mobile, the mobile one is almost done, just blocked by missing niri features). I think this is necessary because people have come to expect more then just "a console" from stuff, they expect applications to work like multi-media stuff, netflix and youtube apps etc.

I would *love* to use steam as a TV friendly launcher. I think what they could do, which would go a LONG way, is if they add a gamepad/remote friendly flatpak store, and make sure apps installed via it get added to steam.

as for other TV friendly launchers, if anyone has one I would love to find it, I was working on a basic POC in slint but sadly my RSI has developed too far to do any real programming now, modifying a config is about the most I can do now. Even typing this has taken me a long time to do xD.

Flatpak supports appstream metadata, so you can filter out https://www.freedesktop.org/software...ations-control to get an idea on only showing "gamepad/remote" friendly applications.

Perhaps Intel should try knocking on Valve's door and see if they will invite them in for a chat over a cup of tea? If they're lucky Valve will put something in it to make them forget. About the past recent times at Intel. A recent past that hopefully won't make Intel walk up a set of certain stairs and knock on a certain other door.

Someone please lock me up, I'm having too much fun with metaphors and references. :P


PS: Very nice of you to offer to benchmark for that user (followed by your follow-through following the request for specific game benchmarks). Kudos to you.

[coder]

Perhaps Intel should try knocking on Valve's door and see if they will invite them in for a chat over a cup of tea? If they're lucky Valve will put something in it to make them forget. About the past recent times at Intel. A recent past that hopefully won't make Intel walk up a set of certain stairs and knock on a certain other door.

It's not like Intel hasn't tried to enter the console market. They just haven't been successful at it, since the original XBox.

[Eudyptula]

It's not like Intel hasn't tried to enter the console market. They just haven't been successful at it, since the original XBox.

That's just funny, though. In the past they had absolutely nothing useful to offer and they actually tried getting into the console market? xD AMD has been far ahead in terms for integrated GPUs and their Ryzen CPUs have been both good at multi-threading and been more efficient at load. I mean, in recent times they are better in the majority of areas, if not all the relevant ones.

But now they are (barely?) at a point where they might be able to do something in a Steam Machine or something. If only to compete on price on a low-end offering.

But when I think about it, I don't think it would be very wise for Valve to even think about splitting up the hardware like that. It looks like they are planning to use the same components in their handheld device as in their upcoming VR set. And even if they were to use different components in a Steam Machine (or simply just a bigger chip with more chiplets), they would make a better deal with AMD and it would be a win-win for both.

So I guess Intel is just gonna have to prove themselves, get back to the old strong Intel we once knew. With solid performance, good performance to power ratio, low latency, stability and reliability. And stop trying to make every feature either a server-only feature or make them exclusive to K variants. Not arbitrarily make new sockets incompatible with last year's CPUs and not trying to be clever with marketing rap battles (just to later do what they made fun of their competition for doing only to claim it's an Intel innovation).

But at least, can we please get more Intel network cards in consumer devices? Can they really not make anything that can compete on price with Qualcomm etc.? If it weren't for Lenovo soldering the WNIC to the motherboard, I'd put an Intel card in there. They're still good at networking controllers. Other than that, I think you're right, they don't really have too much to offer to someone like Valve.

[coder]

I was working on a basic POC in slint but sadly my RSI has developed too far to do any real programming now, modifying a config is about the most I can do now. Even typing this has taken me a long time to do xD.

Yikes! Focus on your nutrition, switching up your movement, and ditch the armrests from your chairs. That's what I did, as well as using ergo keyboards (Kinesis Advantage) and I haven't had any RSI flareups in almost 20 years! I also switch between trackball and mouse (one at home, one at work), to add some diversity of movement.

I don't know specifically what supplements benefit RSI, but I'd guess the direction you want is anti-inflammatory (less omega-6, more omega-3 fatty acids, etc.). I also do exercises to improve core strength and avoid myostatin inhibitors, like creatine. Instead, I focus on supplementing things like vitamin B5, zinc, and silicon, popular joint health supplements, and a good amino acid profile in my protein sources.

Also, this might interest you (although I wouldn't put too much heed into that, since the main effect seems to be analgesic, rather than affecting the underlying mechanism):

https://www.ergo-log.com/cup-of-coffee-reduces-rsi-arm-pain.html

Good luck, buddy! RSI sucks and you're way too valuable to this community to drop out of the game!

[Eudyptula]

Yikes! Focus on your nutrition, switching up your movement, and ditch the armrests from your chairs. That's what I did, as well as using ergo keyboards (Kinesis Advantage) and I haven't had any RSI flareups in almost 20 years! I also switch between trackball and mouse (one at home, one at work), to add some diversity of movement.

I don't know specifically what supplements benefit RSI, but I'd guess the direction you want is anti-inflammatory (less omega-6, more omega-3 fatty acids, etc.). I also do exercises to improve core strength and avoid myostatin inhibitors, like creatine. Instead, I focus on supplementing things like vitamin B5, zinc, and silicon, popular joint health supplements, and a good amino acid profile in my protein sources.

What about those tapping gesture "keyboards" that you wear on your fingers? Tap Strap for instance. You tap on a surface with that one. I know there are also some where you pinch different fingers (sort of like sign language).

One day we might get something that reads electromagnetic pulses and frequencies on your head that can make you able to type without doing button mashing or finger tapping. I've seen tech in the past that has limited input range, only enough for replacing half a games controller. Gabe with an N (under Valve?) are working on some neuro interface, though. :P


The Omega 3 to Omega 6 ratio thing you mention is real (I even read up on recent studies not long ago). It's also important to remember (to those who don't know) that Omega fatty acids from plant sources aren't bioavailable. Well, they are, but only a couple percent at most and depending on source. But even that doesn't help you, since plant sources contain so much more Omega 6 you're just making the situation worse as you're messing up the ratio even more and also since the Omega 6 imblanace also inhibits the uptake of Omega 3 to some degree.

So marine sources is key. And of course, less processed food which makes it harder for the body to take up various nutrients. Some processed food makes the body having to replenish certain nutrients because it deprives you from it. Refined sugar, for instance, which you'd want to switch out with raw unrefined sugar (not sure how to translate it to "everyday English" from my language).


I also wonder whether IR light therapy could help with RSI. I know it helps many conditions (related to muscles, joints, permanent injuries or chronic illnesses). Swimming or pool activities are also a great way to stay in shape and get a whole body workout and there's very low risk of exercise injuries from "doing to much" or "going over the limit".

I have no idea if any of this helps, but RSI sounds awful and I hope you both are able to improve the situation, although it seems like you're doing quite good considering, as you've found ways of aleviating the situation.

[Quackdoc]

Yikes! Focus on your nutrition, switching up your movement, and ditch the armrests from your chairs. That's what I did, as well as using ergo keyboards (Kinesis Advantage) and I haven't had any RSI flareups in almost 20 years! I also switch between trackball and mouse (one at home, one at work), to add some diversity of movement.

I don't know specifically what supplements benefit RSI, but I'd guess the direction you want is anti-inflammatory (less omega-6, more omega-3 fatty acids, etc.). I also do exercises to improve core strength and avoid myostatin inhibitors, like creatine. Instead, I focus on supplementing things like vitamin B5, zinc, and silicon, popular joint health supplements, and a good amino acid profile in my protein sources.

Also, this might interest you (although I wouldn't put too much heed into that, since the main effect seems to be analgesic, rather than affecting the underlying mechanism):

https://www.ergo-log.com/cup-of-coffee-reduces-rsi-arm-pain.html

Good luck, buddy! RSI sucks and you're way too valuable to this community to drop out of the game!

I've been trying a few things out. but for me, I think my hands are a bit too far gone. between RSI and the damage I did when I was doing sports and factory work, at this point, im just glad it doesn't interfere in my daily life outside of PC stuff. I do plan on looking more into ergo keyboards, the MS one I have is trash microsoft ergo keyboard that was a waste of money

[coder]

I've been trying a few things out. but for me, I think my hands are a bit too far gone. between RSI and the damage I did when I was doing sports and factory work, at this point, im just glad it doesn't interfere in my daily life outside of PC stuff.

You could try some protolytic enzymes. There's definitely some snake oil in that realm, but I do believe in some of the underlying science. I haven't delved too deeply to see which and how much is needed to achieve some of their benefits.

Also, I've used topical steroid cream to relieve some problems I've had with joint inflammation, in my hands. That's not why it was prescribed, but it definitely worked! So, that might be an avenue worth considering, depending on your particulars. I'd just say: don't give up!

I'd add that even four years ago, I thought my joints were too far gone ever to do running again, but now I do 5 miles a day, like 3 times a week!