{"slug": "virtualization-workstation-with-the-intel-arc-pro-b50", "title": "Virtualization workstation with the Intel Arc Pro B50", "summary": "A forum poster documented running three active virtual functions (VFs) with simulated hardware-accelerated graphics on a single Intel Arc Pro B50 GPU, using driver 32.0.101.6979 (max 12 VFs, 4 configured) and kernel 7.2.9, with Wendell of Level1Techs viewing the setup through Looking Glass alongside Linux guests. The poster traced lag in rustdesk and remmina on Hyprland to a default capture chain that copies each frame roughly 3–4 times plus one full conversion — about 14.7 MB per pass, or 1.7 GB/s of memcpy at 30 fps on 2560×1440 — and removed the GStreamer stage to pass native Wayland screencopy directly to the encoder, cutting it to 0 copies and 0 conversions. The poster said the result does not match Looking Glass performance but meets the goal for productivity.", "body_md": "After my adventures on [local LLM hosting](https://forum.level1techs.com/t/poor-er-mans-local-ai/252071) and putting it to work with [OpenFromSource](https://forum.level1techs.com/t/openfromsource/259444), I finally got to come full circle.\n\nYou know, OpenFromSource has more overlap with the current thread than meets the eye.\n\nFirst and foremost, I saw it as a natural progression on the computer hygiene concept from the first post.\n\nIt also lowered the bar (for me) to apply the Hyprland mod from [@the_vgpu_supplier](https://forum.level1techs.com/u/the_vgpu_supplier). Probably too much to dive into here, but I did dedicate a [full tutorial](https://github.com/ingenerics/OpenFromSource.Tutorials/blob/main/tutorials/6_hyprland_from_source.md) on aligning a legacy version of Hyprland with Debian Trixie using OpenFromSource.\n\nBehold, 3 active VFs with (simulated) hardware accelerated graphics. Wendell through [looking-glass](https://looking-glass.io/) and a couple of linux guests with (light) action.\n\nA single B50 providing the juice\n\n``` php\nDriver 32.0.101.6979\n-> max VFs = 12\n-> num VFs = 4\nKernel 7.2.9\n-> (can be) used to cap VF max memory\n```\n\nWhen I first got `remmina` and `rustdesk` working with the headless VM, I was surprised by the lag (like when typing). Especially with the host and the guest being on the same box.\n\nAfter a brainstorming session with my [local DeepSeek](https://huggingface.co/deepseek-ai/DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731), turned out the default capture chain with `rustdesk` on wayland looks like this:\n\n```\nHyprland ──zwlr_screencopy──► xdph (portal backend)\n                                    │  PipeWire (Video/Source, DMA-BUF + SHM)\n                                    ▼\n                        pipewiresrc (gstreamer consumer)\n                                    │  videoconvert ! appsink(BGRx/RGBx)\n                                    ▼\n                          rustdesk encoder ──► viewer (direct IP)\n```\n\nIt’s generic, of course, which can definitely be a plus, but with direct IP access I just wanted to get the best performance on Hyprland (without a full rewrite). Decided to surgically remove the `gstreamer` part…\n\n… and directly throw the native wayland screencopy over the fence.\n\nPerformance benefit per frame, stock vs direct:\n\n```\nSTOCK      compositor → wlroots screencopy → xdph buffer\n           → memcpy → PipeWire buffer\n           → pipewiresrc (always-copy=true → memcpy → gstreamer)\n           → videoconvert (full conversion)\n           → appsink → encoder\n           ≈ 3–4 full-frame copies + 1 conversion/frame\n           ≈ 14.7 MB × ~4 passes ≈ 1.7 GB/s memcpy at 30 fps on 2560×1440\n\nDIRECT     compositor renders INTO our SHM buffer → encoder\n           = 0 copies, 0 conversion\n```\n\nI wouldn’t go as far as saying it now performs like looking-glass, but for productivity it’s definitely what I was hoping for.", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/virtualization-workstation-with-the-intel-arc-pro-b50", "canonical_source": "https://forum.level1techs.com/t/virtualization-workstation-with-the-intel-arc-pro-b50/243577?page=2#post_26", "published_at": "2026-11-11 18:57:40+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-11-11 19:20:37.618123+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-infrastructure", "ai-chips", "developer-tools"], "entities": ["Intel", "Intel Arc Pro B50", "Looking Glass", "Hyprland", "rustdesk", "remmina", "Level1Techs", "DeepSeek"], "also_reported_by": [], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/virtualization-workstation-with-the-intel-arc-pro-b50", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/virtualization-workstation-with-the-intel-arc-pro-b50.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/virtualization-workstation-with-the-intel-arc-pro-b50.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/virtualization-workstation-with-the-intel-arc-pro-b50.jsonld"}}