I've been wondering whether or not the linux drivers for the Intel GMA 900 IGP are open source. Does anyone know anything about this? The reason I want to know, is that I'd like to know if any work is being done on improving the OpenGL implementation for that hardware under linux, and if the up and coming XGL X servers work with or are being optimized to work with this graphics chip. Any information would be helpful. Hate has a way of closing the eyes, the ears, and the hearts of men.

For a list of supported cards: http://gentoo-wiki.com/HARDWARE_Video_Card_Support_Under_XGL

Much appreciated 3Dave! Would you happen to know anything about the driver source? Hate has a way of closing the eyes, the ears, and the hearts of men.

Sorry, only really had experience with 3D and nvidia. I know ATI opened the source to their drivers, I sure parts of the nvidia kernel/glx are still closed source. Intel's GMA900 is used in several graphics cards (http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/intel915g/sb/CS-012574.htm), I think you probably want to see exactly what you have with "lspci" or "cat /proc/pci"....saying that, for XGL you are really better off with an nvidia/ati card. Download the Kororaa live CD and see if the XGL works (http://kororaa.org/).

Heck yeah it's open source and no, you aren't better off with nvidia/ati for XGL. My i945 works dyn-o-mite with the Kororaa livecd using the i810 DRI driver. In my experience the binary ATI junk isn't stable at all with XGL - go Intel for sure.