Intel seems serious, it seems, with implementing multi-GPU systems with its incoming graphics cards. Another emerging clue from the Linux world shows that support for using a discrete GPU with an integrated solution is ongoing.
As Phoronix pointed out, the changes made by Intel to the Linux 5.5 kernel include a section of code to manage the combination of a separate graphics card and an integrated GPU built into an Intel processor.
In other words, if you have a graphics processor and an Intel processor, this graphics card might depend on the CPU processor, otherwise idle, the processor to help you whatever the task at hand.
You might be tempted to dismiss this early on as irrelevant as the integrated graphics will likely have no impact due to a lack of power, but the truth is that Intel does. Great progress with its iGPUs, especially with the latest generation. of processors. So that could be a really useful thing.
Ensuring that these two graphics elements work together shouldn't be too much of a hassle, as the discrete Xe video cards are essentially built from the same basic fundamentals (Gen12) as Intel's integrated graphics.
Underlying motive
Of course, in the end, we do not know what is behind this change: it could be, for example, a simple incentive to use Linux to take advantage of the additional power for computing loads. Basic and long-term implementation of multi-GPU support with games.
Nvidia and AMD have always struggled to use multiple GPUs, and neither of these companies seem to be as tech-savvy as they are today, raising the thorny issues of getting two or more GPUs to run smoothly. transparently problems and inefficiencies.
But we've already heard that Intel is seriously advocating for multiple GPUs, and more specifically an implementation that really works to properly resize the power of two graphics cards.
That makes sense in a way, because if Intel's first graphics card had trouble competing directly with Nvidia or AMD in power, it wasn't an unimaginable scenario, another form of attack would be the ability to duplicate a second GPU.
It would also be a less painful upgrade path for consumers: Buy an Intel Xe graphics card to begin with, then buy another to further empower your platform, spreading costs and making them more enjoyable as you go. weather. .
Of course, these developments, if they occur, could be much more distant than we would like. And indeed, as we recently pointed out, it is possible that the first Intel Xe graphics card, which would arrive in mid-2020, is intended for the data center rather than for consumers or gamers.
As always, we'll have to see how this all works out, but for now, all the rumors circulating suggest that Intel is more focused on multi-GPU processors, which can take advantage of that and be a potential benefit. . AMD and Nvidia.
Via PC GamesN