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Intel sometimes gets a lot of credit from desktop Linux users for having open-source drivers, but I don't get it. Their drivers are bad, at least when it comes

by pxc 4y ago

Intel sometimes gets a lot of credit from desktop Linux users for having open-source drivers, but I don't get it. Their drivers are bad, at least when it comes to graphics and WiFi. Tearing problems, graphical artifacts, and connections dropping out have all been problems I've had with Intel as long as I can remember. I haven't had a laptop that came with an Atheros chipset in a while, so I don't know if the buyout by Qualcomm has spoiled anything, but Atheros always had way better WiFi support on Linux than Intel did. And similarly, a recent AMD GPU with the community drivers in Mesa has given me way better stability than anything Intel has put out. Open-source drivers are nice, but good open-source drivers are worth a lot more. Go for AMD or Atheros where you can. (That said, I've had unproblematic experiences with a lot of other kinds of Intel hardware on Linux, like SSDs, wired NICs, NUCs, and even Thunderbolt. And for the most part, WiFi has been more or less good enough for me with Intel in the past few years that I haven't bothered to replace Intel WiFi cards when they've come included in my laptops.)

stametseater 4y ago
In my experience, tearing only occurs with Intel GPUs if you're using X without a compositor. With a compositor it isn't an issue.
- jeroenhd 4y ago
  Compositors still have issues in some setups (mine, specifically: Intel + Nvidia + mux chip). On most Linux laptops with no dedicated GPU, Intel GPUs seem to work fine, though.
  - stametseater 4y ago
    Ah I see, I have no experience with dual-GPU setups.
    - jeroenhd 4y ago
      Before this laptop, I used an Intel+AMD laptop which worked fine (except for AMD's driver messing up in suspend, because the architecture was uncommon and left behind in the middle of a driver model switch). "Avoid Nvidia; if you have to use Nvidia, avoid other brands if possible" seems to be the way to go. I'm still mad about Nvidia setting an arbitrary limit to the amount of X11 displays. There is no good reason for it other than locking their customers into data center GPUs.

by pxc 4y ago

stametseater 4y ago

In my experience, tearing only occurs with Intel GPUs if you're using X without a compositor. With a compositor it isn't an issue.

jeroenhd 4y ago
Compositors still have issues in some setups (mine, specifically: Intel + Nvidia + mux chip). On most Linux laptops with no dedicated GPU, Intel GPUs seem to work fine, though.
- stametseater 4y ago
  Ah I see, I have no experience with dual-GPU setups.
  - jeroenhd 4y ago
    Before this laptop, I used an Intel+AMD laptop which worked fine (except for AMD's driver messing up in suspend, because the architecture was uncommon and left behind in the middle of a driver model switch). "Avoid Nvidia; if you have to use Nvidia, avoid other brands if possible" seems to be the way to go. I'm still mad about Nvidia setting an arbitrary limit to the amount of X11 displays. There is no good reason for it other than locking their customers into data center GPUs.