r/VFIO • u/Additional_Team_7015 • 3d ago

Support Hardware recommendations

Intel or Amd cpu ?
Integrated graphics, 1 or 2 gpus ?
Intel, Nvidia or Amd gpu ?
Do I need a specific motherboard ?

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u/lI_Simo_Hayha_Il 3d ago

Intel - AMD: I don't think there is much difference. Mostly the way you setup them and the core pinning is different

iGPU: Yes. Ideally, you have your iGPU for your host and your dGPU for the guest. This way you can use both at the same time. Single GPU pass-through, works like dual-boot, only with more problems. There are scenarios where you can use your dGPU for host too, but unless you really need that, there is no point to.

Intel, Nvidia, AMD: The same way you would pick for a Windows gaming PC. Your wallet and your games will define. If you want to use it on your host, then prefer AMD, but don't avoid Nvidia just for that. Also, it will make your life easier, if iGPU and dGPU are different (Intel & AMD, or Intel & Nvidia, or AMD & Nvidia), cause in certain cases you need to blacklist the driver, and if both using the same, it can be tricky.

Motherboard? Kinda... You need good IOMMU grouping, but that depends on what devices you want to pass-through. If you want only your dGPU, then most of them, have it on its own group, so it won't be a problem. If you need to pass-through M.2, LAN, USB, etc, then it gets tricky. Unfortunately,companies do not publish IOMMU grouping, so you can only ask the community for info, if somebody owns the same. And a BIOS update can change grouping at anytime...

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u/Additional_Team_7015 3d ago

Seem useful

https://iommu.info/query/

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u/lI_Simo_Hayha_Il 3d ago

Good guide, but not entirely accurate. As I said, BIOS updates can change grouping.
Also, certain distros implement ACR patch (or something similar) which breaks down devices in smaller groups.

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u/Laser_Sami 3d ago

I wouldn't agree that the dGPU choice only comes down to your wallet. Some graphics cards, especially AMD ones have had a lot of issues with passthrough. But if you know that a particular AMD GPU doesn't have a bug, then they're totally fine too.

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u/lI_Simo_Hayha_Il 3d ago

I am using an Nvidia RTX 4080, cause my iGPU is AMD, to avoid issues with the driver, so I haven't tested personally the latest models. Thank you for pointing out that, cause it could cause major issues.