i915

The i915 kernel module is a graphics driver for Intel integrated graphics processors. It is part of the Linux kernel and is responsible for managing the display output, 2D and 3D acceleration, and power management features of Intel graphics hardware. The module supports a wide range of Intel chipsets, from older Atom processors to the latest Core i series CPUs.

The i915 driver utilizes the Kernel Mode Setting (KMS) framework, which allows the kernel to manage display modes and resolutions directly, bypassing the need for user-space drivers to handle these tasks. This approach improves stability and performance. It also supports various display technologies, including DisplayPort, HDMI, and VGA.

Key features of the i915 driver include hardware-accelerated video decoding and encoding, support for multiple monitors, and dynamic power management to conserve energy. It interfaces with user-space components like Mesa for 3D graphics rendering and FFmpeg for video processing. The development of the i915 driver is an ongoing process, with regular updates and improvements released with new kernel versions to support the latest Intel graphics hardware and add new features. It is a critical component for users running Linux on systems with Intel integrated graphics.