I posted this on the forums but I want some more information. I have a bit of a dilemma. With these settings,
xf86-video-intel: 2.6.3-r1 xorg-server: 1.6.2-r1 and 1.6.3 kernel module: i830 kernel: gentoo 2.6.29-r5 and 2.6.30-r4 sometimes when stopping or starting X my computer would freeze and there would be no video output. However, other than that, inside Gnome Firefox ran pretty smoothly, not incredibly fast, but not sluggishly at all. With these settings, xf86-video-intel: 2.8.0 xorg-server: 1.6.3 kernel module: i915 kernel: vanilla 2.6.31_rc7 X starts and stops very smoothly without ever freezing, I think because of the KMS. But Firefox runs sluggishly and my whole machine freezes in Firefox frequently. According to this, http://www.x.org/wiki/IntelGraphicsDriver, the 2.8.0 driver drops support for XAA and EXA, but has no UXA support for my graphics card (865G), so I think I'm getting no 2D acceleration. Could that be the reason Firefox is so slow? As for the freezes, I think that's just because the newer driver is unstable. What are the optimum driver and kernel versions for my graphics card, the 865G? Also, the reason I'm using the 2.6.31 kernel is because that X.Org wiki page says it works best with the 2.8.0 intel driver. Oh, and what exactly is the kernel module for and what are the differences between the i830 and i915? Pappy told me I should use kernel .27, and that KMS support right now for my card is very unstable. Anyway, I just want to know the best options right now for my card which is the 865G.