Intel Alchemist Viable at All?

Has anyone actually tried to run a Free Software Operating System with an Intel Alchemist Graphic Card?

I am wanting to build a gaming desktop that is capable of modern graphics. I had great hope that the Intel Alchemist would finally provide that solution to the Free Software community. Then I read about the Non-Free Guc firmware that is needed to run the card.

Like, define "needed." If I were to try to boot an entirely Free Software OS with an Intel Alchemist Card, what exactly would happen? Would it

A: Simply not boot at all?

B: Not boot at first, but would be okay if I run under nomodeset?

C: Boot, but have no Hardware Acceleration?

D: Boot, have Hardware Acceleration, but be kind of wonky / not perform as well as it would if it had Guc?

I'm trying to understand if the Alchemist would be viable at all, or a total disaster that I would have to return. I'm too afraid to try it myself, for fear of having to return it if it's basically a brick. Returns are not fun to argue through.

Has anyone actually tried one of these cards on their own setup or on a friends? All you'd really need to do is run a Live OS off of a USB and see what happens. Maybe try to launch a 3D Hardware Accelerated game and see what happens.

Thank you all for your time.