> Intel graphics card don't count if you're doing serious 3D work.
(I started work on the 3D driver team at Intel in July, but everything I say is my own opinion.)
Historically, I think you might be right. Lately (the last few years) I think Intel significantly improved both its hardware and drivers.
The i965 driver is the only free software driver that supports OpenGL 3.1. The team I'm on is responsible for a huge number of improvements to the 3D stack, including rewriting the GLSL compiler which benefits the Radeon and Nouveau drivers as well.
We've had engineers visit Valve in person and make sure that their stuff will work well on our drivers. I'd consider what Valve is doing to be "serious 3D work."
Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge are pretty respectable. Haswell will be even better. You should reconsider your position.
> The i965 driver is the only free software driver that supports OpenGL 3.1
And how does it perform in regards to ATI and NVidia cards?
Valve is surely doing serious 3D work, that is why on their Linux blog, they talk about a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680, not Intel graphics card.
And let's not forget that L4D is a DirectX 9 game level, so the requirements are pretty low in today's hardware terms.
> Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge are pretty respectable.
Not if you're blasting polygons. I have a dual core system that beats a Sandy Bridge system with the hands down, thanks to a NVidia GeForce GT 240M.
> You should reconsider your position.
Does the Intel's GPA finally support OpenGL?
Back in 2009 at Games Developer Conference Europe, I had the pleasure to talk with someone from Intel, stating that OpenGL support was important. This after hearing the guy spending one hour talking how to analyse DirectX with GPA.
(I started work on the 3D driver team at Intel in July, but everything I say is my own opinion.)
Historically, I think you might be right. Lately (the last few years) I think Intel significantly improved both its hardware and drivers.
The i965 driver is the only free software driver that supports OpenGL 3.1. The team I'm on is responsible for a huge number of improvements to the 3D stack, including rewriting the GLSL compiler which benefits the Radeon and Nouveau drivers as well.
We've had engineers visit Valve in person and make sure that their stuff will work well on our drivers. I'd consider what Valve is doing to be "serious 3D work."
Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge are pretty respectable. Haswell will be even better. You should reconsider your position.