Intel Skylake Graphics: Windows 10 vs. Ubuntu 16.04 + Latest Open-Source Driver Code

[david_lynch]

The message from intel seems clear: They consider Linux a second class citizen. If you just need normal desktop functionality, intel graphics may be fine. But Linux users who want the best graphics performance had better choose nvidia.

[mifritscher]

Interesting that on stock Ubuntu 16.04 with a Toshiba Z20t-C-121 Skylake (Core m7 6y75 GT 515, rather the same as the used GT 530 despite on a few MHz, the CPU being a lot weaker (dual core with 1,2 GHz + 3,1 GHz turbo), I got way better results with stock GpuTest 0.7.0 (http://www.ozone3d.net/gpudb/score.php?which=276333 : 4745 vs 3777, http://www.ozone3d.net/gpudb/score.php?which=276334: 235 vs. 216, http://www.ozone3d.net/gpudb/score.php?which=276335: 16772 vs. 6953, http://www.ozone3d.net/gpudb/score.php?which=276336: 71 vs. 38, http://www.ozone3d.net/gpudb/score.php?which=276339: 201 vs. 101.

[dungeon]

Well, The Talos Priciple is benchmarked on low and mesa drivers usualy play comparable or better on low

And when you enable more effects like with Xonotic which is benchamrked on High/Ultra... then you also have enabled mblur, bloom, occlude, etc... and that is slow with mesa

edit: i did not checked right now but i know this from earlier, so generaly some effects can be utterly slower with mesa.

[bug77]

The message from intel seems clear: They consider Linux a second class citizen. If you just need normal desktop functionality, intel graphics may be fine. But Linux users who want the best graphics performance had better choose nvidia.

Not necessarily second class citizen, but Intel's IGPs were never meant for gaming. As long as the drivers don't crash, their job is pretty much done.

[rhysk]

Michael, wondering if you could provide/point to some Skylake Iris Graphics 540 or Iris Graphics 550 Phoronix performance benchmarks? These higher end Skylake GPUs are starting to appear in a few ultrabooks and of course the Skylake-based NUCs as well. I recall you were looking to get your hands on one of the NUCs a while back, any success?

[LinuxID10T]

Interesting that on stock Ubuntu 16.04 with a Toshiba Z20t-C-121 Skylake (Core m7 6y75 GT 515, rather the same as the used GT 530 despite on a few MHz, the CPU being a lot weaker (dual core with 1,2 GHz + 3,1 GHz turbo), I got way better results with stock GpuTest 0.7.0 (http://www.ozone3d.net/gpudb/score.php?which=276333 : 4745 vs 3777, http://www.ozone3d.net/gpudb/score.php?which=276334: 235 vs. 216, http://www.ozone3d.net/gpudb/score.php?which=276335: 16772 vs. 6953, http://www.ozone3d.net/gpudb/score.php?which=276336: 71 vs. 38, http://www.ozone3d.net/gpudb/score.php?which=276339: 201 vs. 101.

That is pretty weird. When I get home, I'll run the same tests on my computer.

[Michael]

Michael, wondering if you could provide/point to some Skylake Iris Graphics 540 or Iris Graphics 550 Phoronix performance benchmarks? These higher end Skylake GPUs are starting to appear in a few ultrabooks and of course the Skylake-based NUCs as well. I recall you were looking to get your hands on one of the NUCs a while back, any success?

I don't have any sky lake iris hardware at all so unfortunately tests are only going to happen with more premium subscribers or tippers.

[david_lynch]

Not necessarily second class citizen, but Intel's IGPs were never meant for gaming. As long as the drivers don't crash, their job is pretty much done.

By 'second class' I was referring to the discrepancy between the love they give to the windoze driver, and the apparent lack of love for the Linux driver. As nvidia has proven with their cross platform driver, there is absolutely no reason for Linux to perform worse than windoze.

[bridgman]

are you willing to share your "Interesting analysis" ? or do you wait for another person to get the point?

I haven't had time to actually *do* the analysis... it just occurred to me that it was possible with the info Michael had provided... but if I do have time over the weekend I will definitely share what I find.

[SaucyJack]

Not necessarily second class citizen, but Intel's IGPs were never meant for gaming. As long as the drivers don't crash, their job is pretty much done.

Your argument doesn't hold water as the Windows drivers perform much better.