For those still clinging to aging laptops with integrated Intel graphics, the recently released KDE Plasma6.1 desktop environment offers a much-needed performance boost. KWin, the window manager at the heart of Plasma, has received significant improvements, makingthe experience on older hardware smoother than ever.
The key to this performance leap lies in the implementation of dynamic triple buffering. This feature, explained indetail by KWin lead developer Xaver Hugl on his blog, intelligently activates triple buffering only when necessary, preventing unnecessary latency while maximizing performance.
Imagine a laptop struggling to maintain a smooth 30-40 frames per second(fps) suddenly jumping to a solid 60fps. This is the reality for many users with older Intel integrated graphics, thanks to Plasma 6.1’s dynamic triple buffering. Xaver himself reports seeing a dramatic improvementon his older Intel laptop, describing the experience as like having a brand new laptop.
The benefits extend beyond just older processors. Even on laptops with dedicated GPUs, triple buffering can help alleviate performance bottlenecks caused by driver issues. Xaver notes that on his laptop with both an integrated Intel and a dedicated NVidia GPU, triple buffering helped achieve a smoother 100-120fps on an external monitor, despite limitations in the NVidia driver.
This improvement is a testament to the ongoing commitment of the KDE development team to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for all users, regardless of their hardware. For thosewith older Intel integrated graphics, Plasma 6.1 is a welcome upgrade, breathing new life into aging machines and offering a much-needed performance boost.
To learn more about the technical details of this improvement and other enhancements in Plasma 6.1, visit Xaver Hugl’s blog: https://zamundaaa.github.io/wayland/2024/06/25/fixing-kwin-perf-on-old-hardware.html
This article is based on information from:
- KDE Plasma 6.1 Performing Much Better On Older Intel Integrated Graphics – Phoronix
- Xaver Hugl’s blog
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