I don't mean to be somewhat off-topic, but I would like to address this post.
>Intel is the only major company supporting an acceptable free software driver which supports 3d acceleration.
This is true, but it doesn't excuse Intel's thorough history of anti-competitiveness and patent hoarding.
Not to mention Intel has started implementing hardware DRM in some of their mobile CPUs, a truly scary development. And they have been very unhelpful with Coreboot, even going to the effort of purposefully slowing its development.
Intel may respect your essential freedoms, and I applaud them for that, but you must always consider the other nasty behavior Intel is known for in the high technology industry.
Nvidia, of course, is also well known for dirty (but legal) business practices. While this is unacceptable, I view this particular chip manufacturer as the lesser 'evil' between these two companies.
In the end, I think the most ethical system with usable 3D acceleration is an AMD processor with a older Nvidia graphics card running nouveau.
While AMD also needs improvement in the freedom dimension, they have been of assistance with the Coreboot project, and, at least provide some documentation for their graphics chips.
Ultimately, the best freedom respecting system with 3D acceleration would be an AMD CPU + AMD GPU, but in the latter case because of its reliance on non-free firmware, a Nvidia GPU with a workable, liberated driver is the next best option.
