Intel Prepares Linux Drivers for Next-Generation Battlemage GPUs with Focus on Efficiency

[AleksandarK]

According to the report from Phoronix, the upcoming Linux 6.11 kernel will introduce initial display support for the highly anticipated Intel Battlemage graphics processors. Battlemage, built on Intel's Xe2 architecture, represents the company's latest effort to challenge established players in the graphics arena. This new line of GPUs is designed to succeed the current DG2/Alchemist hardware, promising enhanced performance and improved power efficiency. The Linux 6.11 kernel will provide the fundamental capability to drive displays connected to Battlemage GPUs. While this initial support is a crucial first step, it lays the groundwork for more comprehensive functionality in future updates. Linux users and developers can look forward to testing and providing feedback on these new graphics solutions.

Intel's focus on power efficiency is evident in the features accompanying Battlemage support. The kernel will introduce Panel Replay functionality, a technology aimed at reducing display power consumption. This aligns with the growing demand for energy-efficient computing solutions, particularly in mobile and laptop segments. However, the work is far from complete. Intel's Linux graphics driver team continues to refine and optimize Battlemage support, with the goal of delivering a seamless experience by the time these GPUs hit the market later this year. The introduction of Battlemage support not only expands options for Linux users but also intensifies competition in the GPU market, potentially driving innovation across the industry. With promises of up to 1.5x over the previous generation Arc GPUs, we are in for a decent upgrade this year.



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[ZoneDymo]

Battlemage is perhaps the thing I look forward to most in de PC industry.

Nvidia...eh sure it will be faster, more of everything.
Radeon, same thing
Ryzen, same thing
I guess Intel's new line of cpu's, ditching hyperthreading, might be interesting.

But this for me is the biggest "wonder how it will turn out".

 

[_Flare]

If i observed correctly the biggest differences between Alchemist and the competition is in idle and partial load or capped framerate scenarios.
There alone is a big opportunity for 2x or higher efficiency, beside that, a 50% gain in efficiency at high to full load would bring Battlemage maybe infront of RDNA2, effiency wise, wich would be a big achievement in my eyes.

 

[GoldenX]

And the ANV Vulkan driver continues to be basically unusable...

 

[Daven]

Battlemage is perhaps the thing I look forward to most in de PC industry.

Nvidia...eh sure it will be faster, more of everything.
Radeon, same thing
Ryzen, same thing
I guess Intel's new line of cpu's, ditching hyperthreading, might be interesting.

But this for me is the biggest "wonder how it will turn out".

Are you trying to build a computer with as many components from one manufacturer? I tried to do the same thing with Corsair (case, keyboard, mouse, RAM, etc.) but there are little things that one manufacturer just doesn't get right. As much as I like certain companies like AMD, it never pays off to try and buy everything from one vendor. Apple users also suffer from the one vendor fits all curse. Diversity in technology is still the best way IMHO.

 

[kondamin]

Battlemage is perhaps the thing I look forward to most in de PC industry.

Nvidia...eh sure it will be faster, more of everything.
Radeon, same thing
Ryzen, same thing
I guess Intel's new line of cpu's, ditching hyperthreading, might be interesting.

But this for me is the biggest "wonder how it will turn out".

Yep, it would be really nice to see some competition return to the market.
So battlemage and intel foundry taking on some arm chips that could run windows are things that have my hopes up.

 

[persondb]

Battlemage is perhaps the thing I look forward to most in de PC industry.

Nvidia...eh sure it will be faster, more of everything.
Radeon, same thing
Ryzen, same thing
I guess Intel's new line of cpu's, ditching hyperthreading, might be interesting.

But this for me is the biggest "wonder how it will turn out".

They aren`t completely ditching HT. Only in some product line, in which it won't be disabled but removed completely permitting some optimization gains.

 

[kondamin]

They aren`t completely ditching HT. Only in some product line, in which it won't be disabled but removed completely permitting some optimization gains.

I think they are dumping it completely considering the security risk coming from the memory sharing

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

Are you trying to build a computer with as many components from one manufacturer? I tried to do the same thing with Corsair (case, keyboard, mouse, RAM, etc.) but there are little things that one manufacturer just doesn't get right. As much as I like certain companies like AMD, it never pays off to try and buy everything from one vendor. Apple users also suffer from the one vendor fits all curse. Diversity in technology is still the best way IMHO.

Except apple doesn't actually provide everything in their own configurations. They get their parts from others. What they do is make sure what they are getting is what works best with what they have. They are a horrible example to use here. And they sell peripherals from other vendors on their site and in their stores.

In your case part of what you did does make a ton of sense. With driver suites now it does make perfect sense to go all logitech, corsair, steelseries, razer, whatever for your keyboard/mouse/headset so you aren't running multiple driver suites. Even better. Say no to pc gaming products. Get a mechanical keyboard from a non gaming company with no driver suite. Get a proper USB driver less DAC and a set of cans from say Sennheiser. Get the MS Pro Mouse and it's minimal drivers built to be great with Windows. It's all vastly better because everything gamer is low end crud marked up and sold to fools with RGB or anime women slapped onto it with stupid names meant to sound badass.

 

[tfp]

I think they are dumping it completely considering the security risk coming from the memory sharing

I think they are following the same pattern they have in the past, they have dropped hyper treading before and had heat and fabbing issue (but not to the same scale).

P4 to Core2 for example, include the in-between chips in between like Pentium D, Pentium M Banias/Dothan, and finally getting back into with Core2. 14th gen, to me at least, is like Pentium D and Meteor Like a lot like the Pentium M phase before Core2 came out. I think the question is, is Lunar Lake and Arrow like like Dothan/Core1 or like Core2 or worse like Pentium D Pressler (which was just a die shrink when it came to performance with little in regards to power efficiency).

I expect hyperthreading to come back with time, when there is a call for it even if it's only an extreme addition.