Question about mkinitcpio, dracut and Intel

[Jernvrede]

Not really an “Issue” more of a noob question. I have found this in the forum (from 2021):

How to fully use Intel hardware (guide)

I recommend continue only if you have Intel Gen 7 and higher (Ivy Bridge, Valley View.) Note: See Gentoo:Intel#Feature support for an overview of Intel processor generations. Reading Arch Wiki is recommended also: Intel graphics - ArchWiki Do you know about something called GuC / HuC firmware and Framebuffer compression? GuC / HuC firmware: GuC is an engine for workload scheduling of the parallel graphics engines. … HuC appears to be a firmware blob responsible High Efficiency Video Coding…

1. Is this an outdated concept? Like integrated now somewhere, somehow?
2. Since Garuda, now, uses dracut . mkinitcpio clashes with garuda-dracut-support, which I very much want to keep. Is there a different approach to implementing the above?

I can enabled the kernel parameter in /etc/modprobe.d/i915.conf. Then what?!
Regenerating initramfs in the Archwiki refers to mkinitcpio. Trying to grasp dracut in the Archwiki I figure I should make my own .conf –>/etc/dracut.conf.d/myfakkinfantasticsetup.conf and maybe add something like add_drivers+=" i915 "?

There is a gap, somewhere in this, and I wouldn´t know where to start when it comes to dracut . And I´m not going to start shooting from the hip with dracut -modules and initramfs.

All guidance appreciated.

(Sorry about the garuda-inix… THIS I have actually done before. Edited 5 times but it still wont behave.)

╭─hanabiko@roninin ~ took0s
╰─λ garuda-inxi
System:
Kernel:6.16.4-zen1-1.1-zenarch:x86_64bits:64compiler:gccv: 15.2.1
clocksource:tscavail: acpi_pm
parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/@/boot/vmlinuz-linux-zen
root=UUID=7c153db5-5bbd-4114-858f-81e0a05ee286 rw rootflags=subvol=@
quiet loglevel=3
Desktop:KDE Plasmav:6.4.4tk:Qtv:N/Ainfo:frameworksv: 6.17.0
wm:kwin_waylandvt:1dm:SDDMDistro:Garudabase: Arch Linux
Machine:
Type:DesktopSystem:ASUSproduct:N/Av:N/Aserial:
Mobo:ASUSTeKmodel:PRIME H610M-R D4v: Rev 1.xx
serial: part-nu:SKUuuid:
UEFI:American Megatrendsv:3801date: 05/14/2025
CPU:
Info: model:13th Gen Intel Core i5-13500bits:64type: MST AMCP
arch:Raptor Lakegen:core 13level:v3note:checkbuilt: 2022+
process:Intel 7 (10nm)family:6model-id:0xBF (191)stepping: 2
microcode: 0x3A
Topology: cpus:1xdies:1clusters:8cores:14threads:20mt:6tpc: 2
st:8smt:enabledcache: L1:1.2 MiBdesc: d-8x32 KiB, 6x48 KiB; i-6x32
KiB, 8x64 KiB L2:11.5 MiBdesc:6x1.2 MiB, 2x2 MiBL3: 24 MiB
desc: 1x24 MiB
Speed (MHz): avg:801min/max:800/4800:3500scaling: driver: intel_pstate
governor:powersavecores: 1:8012:8013:8014:8015:8016:8017: 801
8:8019:80110:80111:80112:80113:80114:80115:80116: 801
17:80118:80119:80120:801bogomips: 99840
Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
Vulnerabilities:
Graphics:
Device-1:NVIDIA AD107 [GeForce RTX 4060]vendor:Gigabytedriver: nvidia
v:580.76.05alternate:nouveau,nvidia_drmnon-free: 550-570.xx+
status:current (as of 2025-04)arch:Lovelacecode: AD1xx
process:TSMC n4 (5nm)built:2022+pcie: gen:4speed:16 GT/slanes: 8
ports: active:noneoff:DP-1empty: DP-2,HDMI-A-1,HDMI-A-2
bus-ID:01:00.0chip-ID:10de:2882class-ID: 0300
Display:waylandserver:``X.org``v:1.21.1.18with:Xwaylandv: 24.1.8
compositor:kwin_waylanddriver: X: loaded:nvidiaunloaded: modesetting
alternate:fbdev,nouveau,nv,vesagpu: nv_platform,nvidia,nvidia-nvswitch
display-ID: 0
Monitor-1:DP-1model:Samsung LC34G55Tserial: built:2022res:
mode:3440x1440hz:165scale:100% (1)dpi:109gamma: 1.2
size:798x334mm (31.42x13.15")diag:869mm (34.2")modes: max: 3440x1440
min: 640x480
API:EGLv:1.5hw: drv:nvidiaplatforms: device:0drv:nvidiadevice: 2
drv:swrastgbm: drv:nvidiasurfaceless: drv:nvidiawayland: drv: nvidia
x11: drv:nvidiainactive: device-1
API:OpenGLv:4.6.0compat-v:4.5vendor:nvidia mesav: 580.76.05
glx-v:1.4direct-render:yesrenderer: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060/PCIe/SSE2
memory:7.81 GiBdisplay-ID: :1.0
API:Vulkanv:1.4.321layers:15device:0type: discrete-gpu
name:NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060driver:nvidiav: 580.76.05
device-ID:10de:2882surfaces:N/Adevice:1type:cpuname: llvmpipe
(LLVM 20.1.8 256 bits) driver:mesa llvmpipev: 25.2.1-arch1.5.1 (LLVM
20.1.8) device-ID:10005:0000surfaces: N/A
Info: Tools: api: clinfo, eglinfo, glxinfo, vulkaninfo
de:kscreen-console,kscreen-doctorgpu: corectrl, nvidia-settings,
nvidia-smi wl:wayland-infox11: xdpyinfo, xprop, xrandr
Audio:
Device-1:Intel Alder Lake-S HD Audiovendor:ASUSTeKdriver: snd_hda_intel
v:kernelalternate:snd_soc_avs,snd_sof_pci_intel_tglbus-ID: 00:1f.3
chip-ID:8086:7ad0class-ID: 0403
Device-2:NVIDIA AD107 High Definition Audiovendor: Gigabyte
driver:snd_hda_intelv:kernelpcie: gen:4speed:16 GT/slanes: 8
bus-ID:01:00.1chip-ID:10de:22beclass-ID: 0403
API:ALSAv:k6.16.4-zen1-1.1-zenstatus:kernel-apiwith: aoss
type:oss-emulatortools: N/A
Server-1:PipeWirev:1.4.7status:activewith: 1: pipewire-pulse
status:active2:wireplumberstatus:active3:pipewire-alsatype: plugin
4:pw-jacktype:plugintools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
Device-1:Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200driver:iwlwifiv:kernelpcie: gen: 2
speed:5 GT/slanes:1bus-ID:02:00.0chip-ID:8086:2723class-ID: 0280
IF:wlp2s0state:upmac:
Device-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8211/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet
vendor:ASUSTeK RTL8111Hdriver:r8169v:kernelpcie: gen: 1
speed:2.5 GT/slanes:1port:3000bus-ID:03:00.0chip-ID: 10ec:8168
class-ID: 0200
IF:enp3s0state:downmac:
IF-ID-1:nordlynxstate:unknownspeed:N/Aduplex:N/Amac: N/A
Info: services: NetworkManager, systemd-timesyncd, wpa_supplicant
Bluetooth:
Device-1:Intel AX200 Bluetoothdriver:btusbv:0.8type:USBrev: 2.0
speed:12 Mb/slanes:1mode:1.1bus-ID:1-8:4chip-ID: 8087:0029
class-ID: e001
Report:btmgmtID:hci0rfk-id:0state:downbt-service: enabled,running
rfk-block: hardware:nosoftware:yesaddress: N/A
RAID:
Hardware-1:Intel Volume Management Device NVMe RAID Controllerdriver: vmd
v:0.6port:N/Abus-ID:00:0e.0chip-ID:8086:467frev: class-ID: 0104
Drives:
Local Storage: total:4.09 TiBused: 1.57 TiB (38.3%)
SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
ID-1:/dev/nvme0n1maj-min:259:0vendor:Kingstonmodel: SNV3S500G
size:465.76 GiBblock-size: physical:512 Blogical:512 Bspeed: 63.2 Gb/s
lanes:4tech:SSDserial: fw-rev:SDS00101temp: 40.9 C
scheme: GPT
ID-2:/dev/sdamaj-min:8:0vendor: Western Digital
model:WD20EZRZ-00Z5HB0size:1.82 TiBblock-size: physical: 4096 B
logical:512 Bspeed:6.0 Gb/stech:HDDrpm:5400serial:
fw-rev:0A80scheme: GPT
ID-3:/dev/sdbmaj-min:8:16vendor:Samsungmodel: SSD 860 QVO 1TB
size:931.51 GiBblock-size: physical:512 Blogical:512 Bspeed: 6.0 Gb/s
tech:SSDserial: fw-rev: 2B6Q
ID-4:/dev/sdcmaj-min:8:32vendor:Samsungmodel: SSD 870 QVO 1TB
size:931.51 GiBblock-size: physical:512 Blogical:512 Bspeed: 6.0 Gb/s
tech:SSDserial: fw-rev: 1B6Q
Partition:
ID-1:/raw-size:465.47 GiBsize: 465.47 GiB (100.00%)
used:179.93 GiB (38.7%)fs:btrfsdev:/dev/nvme0n1p2maj-min: 259:2
ID-2:/boot/efiraw-size:300 MiBsize: 299.4 MiB (99.80%)
used:616 KiB (0.2%)fs:vfatdev:/dev/nvme0n1p1maj-min: 259:1
ID-3:/homeraw-size:465.47 GiBsize: 465.47 GiB (100.00%)
used:179.93 GiB (38.7%)fs:btrfsdev:/dev/nvme0n1p2maj-min: 259:2
ID-4:/var/lograw-size:465.47 GiBsize: 465.47 GiB (100.00%)
used:179.93 GiB (38.7%)fs:btrfsdev:/dev/nvme0n1p2maj-min: 259:2
ID-5:/var/tmpraw-size:465.47 GiBsize: 465.47 GiB (100.00%)
used:179.93 GiB (38.7%)fs:btrfsdev:/dev/nvme0n1p2maj-min: 259:2
Swap:
Kernel: swappiness:133 (default 60)cache-pressure:100 (default)zswap: no
ID-1:swap-1type:zramsize:31.08 GiBused: 10.8 MiB (0.0%)
priority:100comp:zstdavail: lzo-rle,lzo,lz4,lz4hc,deflate,842
dev: /dev/zram0
Sensors:
System Temperatures: cpu:41.5 Cmobo: 40.0 C
Fan Speeds (rpm): fan-1:0fan-2:1577fan-4:0fan-6:0fan-7: 0
Info:
Memory: total:32 GiBnote:est.available:31.08 GiBused: 4.33 GiB (13.9%)
Processes:461Power: uptime:15mstates:freeze,mem,disksuspend: deep
avail:s2idlewakeups:0hibernate:platformavail: shutdown, reboot,
suspend, test_resume image:12.37 GiBservices: org_kde_powerdevil,
power-profiles-daemon, upowerd Init:systemdv:257default: graphical
tool: systemctl
Packages: pm:pacmanpkgs:1889libs:556tools:octopi,paruCompilers:
clang:20.1.8gcc:15.2.1Shell:Bashv:5.3.3default:fishv: 4.0.2
running-in:konsoleinxi: 3.3.38
Garuda (2.8.2-2):
System install date: 2025-08-27
Last full system update: 2025-09-01
Is partially upgraded: No
Relevant software: snapper NetworkManager dracut
Windows dual boot: No/Undetected
Failed units:
— System Health Check Report —
22/23 checks run in 0.64 seconds ⌛
Powered by garuda-health 🦅

[gampel]

model: 13th Gen Intel Core i5-13500
Gen 13 CPU with uhd 770 gpu.
You have disabled the igpu in bios. (a more then good decision my mind)
Do you mean it make sense that you install then a optional firmware and / or entries for
the early kernel boot load ? Sorry =

@Jernvrede

Device-1: NVIDIA AD107 [GeForce RTX 4060]

Your dgpu is faster, better, etc.
Except: VP8: Decode VP9: Decode but no encode vs uhd770 (this is not important)

Sorry, btw, leave it as it is, your current system is faster, less on power usage etc.
You have a desktop pc not a laptop.

[Jernvrede]

Hpfhrrrgghh… Yes you are, of course, absolutely right. I had in my twisted little mind somehow misunderstood the potential gain.

My apologies for the confusion and my thanks for the clarification.

[gampel]

no prob

[TNE]

@Jernvrede

Regenerating initramfs in the Archwiki refers to mkinitcpio.

Garuda Linux has a convenience script called dracut-rebuild which will rebuild dracut Images for all pacman recognized kernels automatically.

@Jernvrede

Trying to grasp dracut in the Archwiki I figure I should make my own .conf –>/etc/dracut.conf.d/myfakkinfantasticsetup.conf and maybe add something like add_drivers+=" i915 "?

I would be very careful about this. Dracut in general automates almost everything we used to have to do manually in mkinitcpio. Unless you have a reason to suspect something might be necessary, I would stray away from messing with dracut’s judgement.

Remember: Nothing stops your system from loading kernel modules normally. The initramfs allows for early loading, but ask yourself, are you sure you need that? In the vast vast majority of cases (even Nvidia), the answer is no.

[Jernvrede]

Thanks for the reply and the info.

I will stay clear from messing about with my dracut. Duly noted. Especially since I no longer have any reason to fudge things up.