Intel GMA 4-Series Support On Linux

[Panix]

If it's feasible for you, I'd definitely recommend going with intel or amd for your next gpu, due to the whole FOSS drivers/specs thing for one, and yes-- I have had problems with my geforce 8400m gs. I applied a bios update, and it's been stable since, but I haven't stress tested it yet-- I should do that soon. Good old nexuiz

Also, If I recall correctly, the X4500 is /already/ brilliantly supported under Ubuntu Intrepid and such.
I hope centrino 2 isn't expensive just because it's new, I'd certainly go with it-- intel is amazing with all their drivers, none of this broadcom wireless or creative sound garbage.

Heat problems with the 8400m GS? I read info from Notebook forums and supposedly, the 'fix' is a BIOS update. But, a point was made that the defect is hardware and so how is software going to fix it? I think that makes sense. I would not be surprised if Nvidia and the laptop manufacturers have a joint recall and offer to fix the problem by a modification in the computer. Already, on one of the notebook forums, there are posts of people creating their own 'fix' by sticking copper and thermal paste onto the nvidia chip.

I don't like options being limited and doing your own repair is something I wouldn't mind doing after owning the laptop for some number of years. But, I don't think it's something I want to do on a brand new laptop I just bought. That's why I was thinking of waiting for the new generation to come out but I'm concerned about pricing for those.

I don't game but I might want the option of using 2D and 3D graphics (Compiz, Editing photos, Photoshop-like programs, Gimp etc. etc.).

[ethana2]

If it's feasible for you, I'd definitely recommend going with intel or amd for your next gpu, due to the whole FOSS drivers/specs thing for one, and yes-- I have had problems with my geforce 8400m gs. I applied a bios update, and it's been stable since, but I haven't stress tested it yet-- I should do that soon. Good old nexuiz

Also, If I recall correctly, the X4500 is /already/ brilliantly supported under Ubuntu Intrepid and such.
I hope centrino 2 isn't expensive just because it's new, I'd certainly go with it-- intel is amazing with all their drivers, none of this broadcom wireless or creative sound garbage.

[Panix]

What does '3 times faster' than the Intel X3100 chips mean? What level would that be?

I'm asking because I'm wondering if I should hold off buying a laptop and wait for this new generation Montevina and the Intel X4500 graphics. I have just discovered that Nvidia has a major heating problem with their chips (namely, 8400M and 8600M) which is offered in Dell XPS and many HP systems. Those are two laptop companies I was looking into and if the Nvidia video chips in there are problems, I need to look at either Intel X3100 or video chips with ATI in them.

Should I wait? How much will the new generation of laptops cost? If I wait a month, will there be a new type of thin/light laptop similar to the Dell XPS M1330 but with the Centrino 2 Montevina cpu and X4500 graphics?

[Louise]

It'll seem a bit weird, if your distribution needs to tell you, that you're capable of using accelerated 3D, as if it was a miracle.

A better option would be to include a simple "glxinfo | grep "direct rendering"" and display "Direct Rendering: Yes|No" in the system monitor of GNOME/KDE.

That was exactly what I was looking for =)

Upon the first boot something should do your command, and tell the user that you have 2D and 3D acceleration or that you need to download third party drivers to get 2D and 3D acceleration.

[Huenengrab]

Nothing, but it would just be much more "professional" if Gnome/KDE or firstboot told weather 3D acceleration was available or not.

I think it would be a really nice feature

It'll seem a bit weird, if your distribution needs to tell you, that you're capable of using accelerated 3D, as if it was a miracle.

A better option would be to include a simple "glxinfo | grep "direct rendering"" and display "Direct Rendering: Yes|No" in the system monitor of GNOME/KDE.

[JulFX]

i realy hope that this X4500 Chipsets will be the first that support vaapi. According to the specs, it can do a very god job for offloading the cpu and improve the quality of vc1 and h264/avc streams.

[Louise]

What's so hard about running 'glxgears'?

Nothing, but it would just be much more "professional" if Gnome/KDE or firstboot told weather 3D acceleration was available or not.

I think it would be a really nice feature

[Zhick]

With all the work there is being done on 3D these days, it is hard to keep track of what hardware is 3D accelerated out-of-the-box when you install a new version of your favorite distribution.

Would it be possible to develop a small Gnome/KDE applet that tells the user if you have 3D acceleration?

And if, where should I submit such an idea?

What's so hard about running 'glxgears'?

[Louise]

With all the work there is being done on 3D these days, it is hard to keep track of what hardware is 3D accelerated out-of-the-box when you install a new version of your favorite distribution.

Would it be possible to develop a small Gnome/KDE applet that tells the user if you have 3D acceleration?

And if, where should I submit such an idea?

[ethana2]

If that gets rolled out quick enough I don't have to give nvidia my money for that much power with the laptop I'm thinking of getting!

Hurry intel! Your drivers are absolutely amazing, but I need more than the X3100...