Intel open sources graphics drivers

CHIPZILLA'S Open Source Technology Center graphics team has open sourced the software drivers for the Intel 965 Express Chipset family of graphics controllers.

These drivers include support for 2D and 3D graphics features for the newest generation Intel graphics architecture.

According to Intel's press release, the notion is part of a long term effort by Intel to work with the X.org and Mesa communities to improve the drivers.

A spokesIntel said that Chipzilla's big idea in outsourcing the drivers was that it would enable the open source community to experiment, develop, and contribute to the continuing advancement of open source 3D graphics.

The drivers are the first release of the code and need significant testing, tuning and bug fixing before they'll be ready for production use, Intel says.

"We're releasing them now to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to providing free software drivers for Intel hardware," the statement said.

The Intel 965 Express Chipset family uses Chipzilla's fourth generation Intel graphics architecture. Apparently it can support advanced rendering features in graphics APIs and includes support for programmable vertex, geometry, and fragment shaders.

The project can be found here. µ