intel_panel_fitter

intel_panel_fitter [-h]

-h, --help
    Displays a brief help message and exits.

The intel_panel_fitter command is a specialized diagnostic utility within the intel-gpu-tools suite. It is designed to inspect and dump the current configuration of the Display Panel Fitter (DPF) registers on Intel integrated graphics hardware. The DPF is responsible for scaling and fitting video output to the native resolution of an LCD panel. This tool provides low-level insights into how the graphics hardware is configured to display an image on a connected panel, including information about pipe source dimensions, panel dimensions, and scaling parameters. It's primarily used by developers or advanced users for debugging display issues, verifying driver behavior, or understanding hardware-level panel synchronization and scaling.

This command is a highly technical, low-level diagnostic tool primarily intended for developers and advanced users debugging Intel graphics drivers. It requires root privileges to access DRM device information. Incorrect interpretation of its output can lead to confusion. It is part of the intel-gpu-tools package and may not be installed by default on all Linux distributions. Its direct utility for everyday users is minimal, as it does not allow for interactive configuration or direct modification of display settings; it only dumps existing state.

Unlike general display configuration tools like xrandr, intel_panel_fitter does not allow you to change display modes or resolutions. Its sole purpose is to read and print the internal state of the panel fitter hardware. When executed, it typically outputs a detailed summary of the DPF configuration for active display pipes, including source and panel dimensions, scaling factors, and other relevant timing parameters. This information is invaluable for diagnosing problems such as incorrect scaling (e.g., 'black borders' or 'overscan'), aspect ratio issues, or non-native resolution display on panels connected via Intel integrated graphics.

The intel_panel_fitter utility has been developed as part of the broader intel-gpu-tools project, an open-source collection of tools for debugging and testing Intel graphics hardware and drivers on Linux. Its development is closely tied to the evolution of Intel's integrated graphics architecture and the open-source i915 kernel driver. It emerged as a necessary tool for understanding and troubleshooting the complex interactions between the graphics chip, the driver, and connected display panels, particularly concerning resolution scaling and panel fitting mechanisms.

modetest(1), intel_reg_dumper(1), xrandr(1)