What is the status of integrated graphics (iGPU) support for Qubes? I was thinking about buying a new x86 laptop with a strong iGPU. When browsing the forum threads, it sounds like an iGPU can be applied only to one VM at a time (or to dom0), just as dedicated graphics cards. If so, this changes what I plan to buy.
A GPU (integrated or not) can only be used by a single system at a time. So if dom0 is using the integrated GPU and there are no other GPU, you can’t pass a GPU to a qube.
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I think dom0 is always using the iGPU, am I right? Considering the default QubesOS setup.
I think dom0 is always using the iGPU, am I right? Considering the default QubesOS setup.
I’ve checked it. Qubes seems don’t work with pci.hide_pci with integrated GPU, i think second GPU is required for passthrough
This depends what the primary display is in the bios maybe. If you don’t have an iGPU and multiple GPus, one is picked.
Consider a vanilla QubesOS setup on @novacustom NV41 hardware.
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This thread has been quite informative! My assumption is dom0 having access to an iGPU wouldn’t improve system performance that much. I don’t plan to use dom0 for anything other than system administration. So all the apps that would benefit from a GPU are in VMs.
One option is to concentrate all graphics heavy applications into one VM that gets GPU access. Given how I want to separate my VMs, this isn’t that great of an option for me. The other option is to minimize iGPU spend, and just know some programs will run slow.
I like Novacustom in general, but I worry about Intel chips these days. I was thinking of picking up a new AMD based system instead. The rumor is their 395 Max chip will come out early 2025 (strong iGPU), along with their new X3D laptop chips (essentially no iGPU, but with extra cache). Given that I don’t want to switch which VM has access to a GPU all the time, I might just go with the X3D option. This is of course if I can find a manufacturer that sells it without a dedicated GPU (or with a removable GPU that I could sell to reduce the total laptop cost anyways). I guess it also depends on CPU core count for the X3D chips. If it’s comparable to the 395 Max, then that makes the decision pretty easy.
As an aside, I’m aware Qubes might not work on new hardware right when it comes out. But I’m confident it will work eventually. And I might be able to make a contribution to the hardware compatibility chart this way.
Just to be clear, an integrated GPU is a graphic card builtin the processor, it is required to display stuff on the screen. dom0 requires a graphic card to display your desktop, hence the graphic card can’t be shared to a qube.
Yes. The X3D chips have a very minimal iGPU, but they do have one.
There are systems without GPU, usually routers or embedded devices on which there is a serial console to get a “text display” to operate them.