Intel Extreme Graphics 2
Intel Extreme Graphics 2This is an Intel video adapter Features
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Intel video driver
The Intel opensource videodriver is maintained by Intel at intellinuxgraphics.org. Intel releases a new driver once per quarter. The latest stable release is 2.8.
Kernel mode setting (KMS)
KMS (Kernel Mode Setting) as the name suggests moves some video setup functions to the kernel. This should have the following benefits over legacy mode setting
- increased stability, because it removes the current contention between the X server and the kernel
- ability to show kernel dump screens even when the X server was running
- rapid mode switching
- in theory should not allow the X video driver to hang the system
- early graphical boot display with seamless login
- should in the future allow for the X server to run without root privileges
Note that KMS does not eliminate the need for the Intel Xorg driver, it just frees that driver from the hardware setup functions.
Status
Right now KMS is still in heavy development, and officially requires at least kernel 2.6.30 with version 2.7 of the Intel Xorg driver. But in reality you should really be running at least the 2.6.31 kernel and version 2.8 of the Intel driver.
Configuration
In this mode, ideally you do not configure any settings through xorg.conf but by using xrandr, or a graphical front-end to RandR such as gnome-display-settings.
Disabling KMS
If KMS causes you problems, you can disable it and return to legacy mode setting by booting with the nomodeset kernel boot option. But note that starting with the Intel Xorg driver version 2.10 legacy UMS mode is no longer supported.
Legacy mode setting
Legacy mode setting means the Intel Xorg driver does the mode setting. This is no longer supported as of version 2.10 of the Intel Xorg driver.
ThinkPad LCD
Display on the internal LCD works fine, and is automatically detected.
External VGA port
SVideo port
You should be able to activate Svideo using xrandr, similar to this How to get TV-Out working on ATI graphic cards
DVI port
DVI Pass-through to a Dock or Port Replicator is not supported on any ThinkPad with this chipset.
Linux kernel Framebuffer driver
This chip will work with either the 'vesafb' or 'intelfb' driver. Note that these framebuffers cannot be used in combination with KMS as that provides its own framebuffer.
