Recent benchmarks show Intel's newer Xe driver surpassing the veteran i915 driver in performance on Arc Alchemist GPUs under Linux kernel 6.19. Tests conducted by Phoronix on an Intel Arc A770 reveal significant gains in compute tasks and mixed results in graphics applications. This shift highlights Intel's efforts to enhance open-source graphics support for discrete hardware.
Intel has long relied on the i915 driver for its integrated graphics, but the introduction of the Xe driver marks a significant evolution, especially for discrete GPUs like the Arc Alchemist series. In evaluations using Linux kernel 6.19, the Xe driver demonstrated clear advantages over i915, particularly in demanding workloads.
Phoronix's tests on an Intel Arc A770 GPU focused on both graphics and compute benchmarks. In compute scenarios, such as LuxCoreRender and Blender, the Xe driver achieved improvements of 20-50%, attributed to better integration with Intel's Compute Runtime. OpenCL tests via Geekbench showed scores up to 40% higher, thanks to enhanced kernel scheduling. Graphics performance was more varied: the Xe driver led in Vulkan-based applications and delivered 5-10% higher frame rates in the Unigine Heaven benchmark at 1080p, though OpenGL results were inconsistent, with some legacy applications running slightly slower on Xe.
Switching to the Xe driver on Arc Alchemist cards requires manual configuration, such as kernel parameters, as these GPUs default to i915. Despite its experimental status for discrete GPUs, user feedback on platforms like X indicates smoother operation and reduced stuttering in games. One developer shared, “Switching to Xe on my Arc setup turned sluggish ML training into a breeze—kernel 6.19 is a game-changer.” Another noted, “With 6.19, Intel’s finally giving Linux gamers what they’ve waited for—competitive Arc performance without hacks.”
Across over 50 tests, the Xe driver averaged 15% faster performance, with notable reductions in rendering times for SPECViewperf's medical dataset and 25% quicker Blender cycles. These gains stem from Xe’s modern codebase, which improves memory management and supports features like the Graphics micro Controller for offloading tasks. While challenges like occasional instability and higher idle power consumption persist, ongoing kernel updates address these issues.
This transition mirrors AMD's move from Radeon to AMDGPU drivers, where similar boosts of up to 30% were observed. For Linux users in AI, scientific computing, and gaming, the Xe driver's advancements signal stronger competition in open-source graphics ecosystems.
