Confused over bleeding edge drivers

[mrtom852]

Hi,

I'm trying to run a 2.6.32 RC kernel (as my vaio has some new support) and assumed that newer=>better must also apply to the intel modules. In practice, I lose hardware acceleration in X.
When it comes to drivers and X I have always been confused about how much is in the kernel and how much is in xserver-xorg-video-intel.

Can someone explain to me what the kernel modules do and what the xserver-xorg-video-intel packages do, how they are related and, most importantly, what versions will work togther?

Regards,
Tom

[caramerdo]

Hi,650 2530001

I'm trying to run a 2.6.32 RC kernel (as my vaio has some new support) and assumed that newer=>better must also apply to the intel modules. In practice, I lose hardware acceleration in X.
When it comes to drivers and X I have always been confused about how much is in the kernel and how much is in xserver-xorg-video-intel.

Can someone explain to me what the kernel modules do and what the xserver-xorg-video-intel packages do, how they are related and, most importantly, what versions will work togther?

Regards,
Tom

Hi Tom,

I don't know how to explain you different parts work together, but I can tell you which are those parts:
2D driver: xf86-video-intel
3D driver: mesa 7.6 release
Kernel
libdrm
x-server xorg

Every quarter Intel releases a "graphics package". This is no more than recommended versions of the above which work together. As a rule of thumb, if you use the versions they recommend or higher, you're fine. The latest recommendation is for Q3 and can be found here http://intellinuxgraphics.org/2009Q3.html

I'm using the versions recommended in the link above (apart from the kernel, which is 2.6.31.6) and I'm very happy with its performance. I would not recommend you to use RC kernels - wait a bit more till their out officially.

I've been tracking intel driver updates in the kernel since .29 and I can tell you that while the difference between .29, .30 and.31 is HUGE but the difference between .31 and .32 is minimal, mostly suspend/restore and powersaving tweaks.

[tormod]

See http://intellinuxgraphics.org - under Download you will see the quarterly releases which are bundles of recommended versions.

Roughly, initialization/modesetting is done in kernel, 2D functions in the -intel DDX and 3D in mesa (talking to the card through the drm component in the kernel). Over the latest releases, more and more was moved to the kernel.

[mrtom852]

Hi guys,

Sorry for the late response, I am currently without internet at home(!).

The links provided have cleared a lot up. I was able to install the newer xorg drivers in Debian and it works.

Thanks.
Tom

[Dypeeffelty]

I have Intel original DG33 FB Motherboard.

I need the ICH9 compatible Drivers for my motherboard for F6 installation for XP 32bit.

tried a lot ...but could not able to find it...
Plz can someone help me .....tell me exact location where can i get the compatible drivers.

even i am confused with ICH9 / ICH9R //.....
Which one is for my MOBO???

thanks
AH