Disabling VT-d improves Intel Arc GPU Linux performance on Meteor Lake and newer SoCs

Improve Intel Arc GPU performance Linux VT-d disabled

In this post, I’ll check whether disabling VT-d virtualization support may improve the performance of the Intel Arc GPU in recent Meteor Lake or Lunar Lake SoC using a Khadas Mind Maker Kit with an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V CPU with Intel Arc 140V graphics running Ubuntu 24.10. A few days ago, I read a post on Phoronix about Intel publishing tips to improve the performance of Intel GPUs in Linux: Keep the system updated with the latest kernel and Mesa versions. Ensure SoC firmware is up-to-date. These firmware updates currently require installing the Windows graphics driver; firmware updates via fwupd are in progress. Use Wayland where possible, as it supports additional modifiers for better performance. For MTL (Meteor Lake) and newer integrated GPUs, disable VT-d if virtualization is not needed. For discrete GPUs: Enable ReBAR_ Enable ASPM_ I was especially curious about the line about disabling VT-d virtualization […]

Intel Core Ultra 200S/200U/200H-powered COM-HPC Client modules support up to 192GB DDR5 memory, PCIe Gen5

Portwell COM HPC client modules PCOM B887 and PCOM B886

Portwell PCOM-B887 and PCOM-B886 are two new COM-HPC client modules built around Intel Core Ultra 200S/200U/200H processors delivering high-performance computing and AI acceleration for industrial, edge, and AI-driven applications. The Portwell PCOM-B887 (Size C) module is built around the 200S Series, offers up to 36 TOPS, supports 192GB DDR5 memory, and features 42 PCIe lanes up to Gen5. The PCOM-B886 (Size B) module supports 200H/200U Series processors, which deliver up to 99 TOPS, support 96GB DDR5 memory, and include 24 PCIe lanes. Both modules feature various I/O options, including USB4, USB3.2 Gen2, and multiple display outputs. Portwell PCOM-B887 – COM-HPC Client Type Size C module The PCOM-B887 COM-HPC Client Type Size C module is powered by Intel Core Ultra 200S Series processors, which feature up to 36 TOPS of AI performance via an integrated neural processing unit (NPU). It supports up to 192GB of DDR5 memory at 4800MT/s with 42 […]

M.2 CAN FD adapter adds CAN Bus support to hosts with a spare M.2 Key-B socket

M.2 CAN FD Adapter

Designed by Universal Machine Intelligence, the M.2 CAN FD adapter is an M.2 to CAN FD converter board that brings two high-speed CAN FD interfaces to projects requiring reliable high-speed communication. It is an M.2 B-key card with a slim form factor and a breakaway design that supports slot lengths like 2242, 2252, 2260, and 2280. The adapter supports CAN FD and CAN 2.0B protocols with speeds up to 5Mbit/s and includes functional isolation between the host and CAN bus for additional safety. Additional features include a built-in network termination switch with split termination, ultra-low power consumption, and compatibility with 12V, 24V, and 48V systems. Designed for industrial environments, this adapter is ideal for applications like industrial monitoring and control, robotics, production line automation, hardware-in-the-loop testing, remote system access, data logging, and embedded computing. M.2 CAN FD adapter specifications: CAN Bus CAN channel – Dual-channel CAN interfaces that are independent […]

Siflower SF21H8898 is a quad-core 64-bit RISC-V SoC for industrial gateways, routers, and controllers

Siflower SF21H8898 system block diagram

Siflower SF21H8898 SoC features a quad-core 64-bit RISC-V processor clocked at up to 1.25 GHz and a network processing unit (NPU) for handling traffic and is designed for industrial-grade gateways, controllers, and routers. The chip supports up to 2GB DDR3, DDR3L, or DDR4 memory, offers QSGMII (quad GbE), SGMII/HSGMII (GbE/2.5GbE), and RGMII (GbE) networking interfaces, and USB 2.0, PCIE 2.0, SPI, UART, I2C, and PWM interfaces. Siflower SF21H8898 specifications: CPU – Quad-core 64-bit RISC-V processor at up to 1.25 GHz Cache 32KB L1 I-Cache and 32KB L1 D-Cache per core Shared 256 KB L2 cache Memory – Up to 2GB 16-bit DDR3/3L up to 2133Mbps or DDR4 up to 2666Mbps Storage – NAND and NOR SPI flash support Networking 1x QSGMII interface (Serdes 5Gbps rate) for 4x external Gigabit Ethernet PHYs 1x SGMII/HSGMII interface (Serdes1.25/3.125Gbps rate) supporting Gigabit and 2.5Gbps modes 1x RGMII interface for Gigabit Ethernet 1x MDIO interface […]

Jetway MTX-MTH1 thin Mini-ITX SBC features Intel Core Ultra 5/7 SoC, three 2.5GbE, four HDMI 2.1, PCIe Gen5 x8 slot

Jetway MTX MTH1 Mini ITX SBC

Jetway MTX-MTH1 is a thin industrial Mini-ITX SBC built around Intel Core Ultra 5/7 Meteor Lake processors with Intel Arc Graphics and support for up to 96GB of DDR5 memory. The most interesting features of this compact board are the three 2.5GbE jacks and four HDMI 2.1 video outputs for 4K and 8K displays. Additionally, it features multiple USB ports, a PCIe Gen 5 x8 slot, M.2 slots for storage and 4G LTE/5G, serial ports, and GPIO interfaces. With industrial environmental tolerance (-20°C to 60°C) this thin Mini-ITX motherboard is ideal for industrial automation, AI processing, edge computing, and embedded systems. Jetway MTX-MTH1 specifications: SoC (one or the other) Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor 155H (Meteor Lake, TDP 28W) with Intel Arc Graphics Intel Core Ultra 5 Processor 125H (Meteor Lake, TDP 28W) with Intel Arc Graphics System Memory – 2x DDR5 5600MHz SO-DIMM, up to 96GB Storage SATA III […]

SONOFF MINI-D Review – A Matter-enabled dry contact WiFi switch tested with eWeLink, Home Assistant, and Apple Home

SONOFF MINI-D Review

SONOFF sent us a sample of the MINI-D Wi-Fi smart switch with a dry contact design for review. If you’re familiar with the larger SONOFF 4CH Pro model, which features four channels, the MINI-D operates similarly but is smaller in size and comes with the latest software features. The principle of a dry contact is that the relay contacts are not directly connected to the device’s power supply circuit. Instead, the contacts are isolated and require an external power source to supply power to the load. Make it flexible to use the SONOFF Mini-D in various scenarios such as controlling garage doors, thermostats, or high-current electrical devices through a contactor, like water pumps. It can also manage low-power DC devices such as solenoid valves or small electric motors (<8W). Because the power supplied to the MINI-D and the power passed through its relay can come from different sources, it offers […]

OpenFlexture Microscope is an open-source, 3D-printed microscope based on Raspberry Pi 4 SBC and Camera Module v2

OpenFlexure Microscope

The OpenFlexture Microscope is a DIY, open-source, 3D-printed microscope built around the Raspberry Pi 4, a Raspberry Pi Camera Module v2, and a choice of optics or various qualities up to lab-grade optics. It can be motorized using low-cost geared stepper motors and can achieve a resolution of up to around 100 nanometers I found out about the OpenFlexture Microscope in one of the sessions at the upcoming FOSDEM 2025 event whose description partially reads: The OpenFlexure Microscope is an open-source laboratory-grade digital robotic microscope. As a robotic microscope, it is able to automatically scan microscope slides creating, enormous multi-gigapixel digital representations of samples. The microscope is already undergoing evaluation for malaria and cancer diagnosis in Tanzania, Rwanda, and the Philippines. As an open project, our key goal is to support local manufacturing of microscopes in low-resource settings. [..] high-quality consistent documentation has enabled thousands of microscopes to be built […]

IBASE INA1607 is a fanless uCPE/SD-WAN appliance powered by an Intel Atom x7405C Amston Lake SoC

Intel Atom x7405C Amston Lake Appliance

IBASE Technology’s INA1607 is a fanless uCPE (universal Customer Premises Equipment) and SD-WAN (Software-defined WAN) appliance powered by an Intel Atom x7405C Amston Lake processor coupled with up to 16GB ECC or non-EEC DDR5 memory. The embedded computer comes with offers up to 64GB eMMC flash, features a 2.5-inch SATA bay, offers four 2.5GbE RJ45 ports, two dual-function GbE ports (RJ45/SFP), and supports wireless expansion for WiFi 6 or 4G LTE/5G modules through mini PCIe and M.2 slots and up to six antennas. IBASE INA1607 specifications: SoC – Intel Atom X7405C quad-core Amston Lake processor @ up to 2.2GHz with 6MB cache; TDP: 12W System Memory – Up to 16GB DDR5 4800MHz ECC/Non-ECC via SODIMM socket Storage 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB eMMC flash M.2 2280 B-Key 3042/3080 socket for SATA III or PCIe SSD 2.5-inch SATA drive bay Networking 4x 2.5GbE RJ45 ports via Intel i226-V controllers 2x GbE RJ45 […]

UP 7000 x86 SBC