[SOLVED] Debian 11 Bullseye on Optimus laptop not detecting external screen

generic_person · 02-13-2021, 08:10 AM

Hi, I have a problem with my Debian Bullseye laptop (using the KDE Plasma desktop envirnoment) connecting to an external screen.

I am on a Lenovo laptop with Optimus (CPU intel i7 and GPU Nvidia gtx 1650ti). I have installed the Nvidia proprietary drivers and they seem to work fine (launching applications with the GPU using Prime render offload works well). The problem is that when I plug in my ViewSonic external screen through my hdmi port, the laptop doesn't detect it. KDE Plasma display settings only detects my laptop screen, xrandr doesn't seem to detect the hdmi port. The only program that seems to know about the screen is nvidia-settings, which under the GPU says HDMI-1-0 - (ViewSonic VA2405-FHD).
To me it seems like the hdmi port is connected to the GPU and because of that the system is unable to use it, but I don't know how to solve it.

xrandr output:

Code:

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1920 x 1080, maximum 16384 x 16384
eDP-1 connected primary 1920x1080+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 344mm x 193mm
   1920x1080    120.21*+  59.97    59.96    59.93  
   1680x1050     84.94    74.89    69.88    59.95    59.88  
   1600x1024     60.17  
   1400x1050     85.00    74.76    70.00    59.98  
   1600x900      59.99    59.94    59.95    59.82  
   1280x1024     85.02    75.02    60.02  
   1440x900      59.89  
   1400x900      59.96    59.88  
   1280x960      85.00    60.00  
   1440x810      60.00    59.97  
   1368x768      59.88    59.85  
   1360x768      59.80    59.96  
   1280x800      59.99    59.97    59.81    59.91  
   1152x864     100.00    85.06    85.00    75.00    75.00    70.00    60.00  
   1280x720      60.00    59.99    59.86    59.74  
   1024x768      85.00    75.05    60.04    85.00    75.03    70.07    60.00  
   1024x768i     86.96  
   960x720       85.00    75.00    60.00  
   928x696       75.00    60.05  
   896x672       75.05    60.01  
   1024x576      59.95    59.96    59.90    59.82  
   960x600       59.93    60.00  
   832x624       74.55  
   960x540       59.96    59.99    59.63    59.82  
   800x600       85.00    75.00    70.00    65.00    60.00    85.14    72.19    75.00    60.32    56.25  
   840x525       85.02    74.96    69.88    60.01    59.88  
   864x486       59.92    59.57  
   800x512       60.17  
   700x525       85.08    74.76    70.06    59.98  
   800x450       59.95    59.82  
   640x512       85.02    75.02    60.02  
   720x450       59.89  
   700x450       59.96    59.88  
   640x480       85.09    60.00    85.01    72.81    75.00    59.94  
   720x405       59.51    58.99  
   720x400       85.04  
   684x384       59.88    59.85  
   680x384       59.80    59.96  
   640x400       59.88    59.98    85.08  
   576x432      100.11    85.15    85.09    75.00    75.00    70.00    60.06  
   640x360       59.86    59.83    59.84    59.32  
   640x350       85.08  
   512x384       85.00    75.03    70.07    60.00  
   512x384i      87.06  
   512x288       60.00    59.92  
   416x312       74.66  
   480x270       59.63    59.82  
   400x300       85.27    72.19    75.12    60.32    56.34  
   432x243       59.92    59.57  
   320x240       85.18    72.81    75.00    60.05  
   360x202       59.51    59.13  
   360x200       85.04  
   320x200       85.27  
   320x180       59.84    59.32  
   320x175       85.27

lspci | grep -E "VGA|3D" output:

Code:

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation CometLake-H GT2 [UHD Graphics] (rev 05)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation TU117M [GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Mobile] (rev a1)

uname -a output:

Code:

Linux g3deb 5.10.0-3-amd64 #1 SMP Debian 5.10.12-1 (2021-01-30) x86_64 GNU/Linux

I've searched for a solution but haven't found anything that would seem relevant so far. Tell me if you need any more information, and thanks in advance for any help.

jamison20000e · 02-16-2021, 06:02 AM

Hi.

If it helps, mine shows:

Code:

xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1366 x 768, maximum 8192 x 8192
LVDS-1 connected primary 1366x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 309mm x 173mm
   1366x768      60.10*+
   1360x768      59.80    59.96  
   1280x720      60.00    59.99    59.86    59.74  
   1024x768      60.04    60.00  
   960x720       60.00  
   928x696       60.05  
   896x672       60.01  
   1024x576      59.95    59.96    59.90    59.82  
   960x600       59.93    60.00  
   960x540       59.96    59.99    59.63    59.82  
   800x600       60.00    60.32    56.25  
   840x525       60.01    59.88  
   864x486       59.92    59.57  
   800x512       60.17  
   700x525       59.98  
   800x450       59.95    59.82  
   640x512       60.02  
   720x450       59.89  
   700x450       59.96    59.88  
   640x480       60.00    59.94  
   720x405       59.51    58.99  
   684x384       59.88    59.85  
   680x384       59.80    59.96  
   640x400       59.88    59.98  
   576x432       60.06  
   640x360       59.86    59.83    59.84    59.32  
   512x384       60.00  
   512x288       60.00    59.92  
   480x270       59.63    59.82  
   400x300       60.32    56.34  
   432x243       59.92    59.57  
   320x240       60.05  
   360x202       59.51    59.13  
   320x180       59.84    59.32  
VGA-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI-2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI-3 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP-2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP-3 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

uname -a
Linux .... 5.10.0-3-amd64 #1 SMP Debian 5.10.13-1 (2021-02-06) x86_64 GNU/Linux

...what dose:

Code:

cat /etc/apt/sources.list

look like?

"external HDMI not showing Linux"
https://www.dell.com/community/Preci.../7286631#M1634

generic_person · 02-16-2021, 08:10 AM

Hi, thanks for the reply.

cat /etc/apt/sources.list outputs:

Code:

# 

# deb cdrom:[Debian GNU/Linux bullseye-DI-alpha3 _Bullseye_ - Official Snapshot amd64 NETINST 20201203-12:50]/ bullseye main

#deb cdrom:[Debian GNU/Linux bullseye-DI-alpha3 _Bullseye_ - Official Snapshot amd64 NETINST 20201203-12:50]/ bullseye main

deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ bullseye main contrib non-free
deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian/ bullseye main

deb http://security.debian.org/debian-security bullseye-security main
deb-src http://security.debian.org/debian-security bullseye-security main

# This system was installed using small removable media
# (e.g. netinst, live or single CD). The matching "deb cdrom"
# entries were disabled at the end of the installation process.
# For information about how to configure apt package sources,
# see the sources.list(5) manual.

I checked the link you mentioned, but I'm not sure how to use the solution, because I don't use nvidia-prime (I use prime render offload, as mentioned on this page of the wiki: https://wiki.debian.org/NVIDIA%20Opt...Render_Offload) and the file mentioned in the solution /lib/modprobe.d/nvidia-kms.conf doesn't exist.

From seeing your xrandr output, to me it seems like my xrandr doesn't detect the HDMI port, which I suspect is wired directly to the Nvidia GPU, but I'm not sure what to do to make xrandr see the port.

jamison20000e · 02-16-2021, 11:03 AM

I noticed that too, why I was thinking non-free drivers other than just Nvidia?

I searched: external HDMI not showing Linux
to find that link I just shot in the dark but others there may help? :fingerscrossed:
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=external+H...=b&t=hc&ia=web

generic_person · 02-16-2021, 03:44 PM

Thanks for the help,
so far I haven't found anything yet, but I'll keep looking and if I find something I'll update the post with the solution.

jamison20000e · 02-16-2021, 11:21 PM

I never had that hardware to play with.

How about:

Code:

inxi -SMCGx

and, maybe:

Code:

prime-select query

from searching: no hdmi kde nvidia Prime render?

Brains · 02-18-2021, 12:22 AM

My Laptop has a hardware switch to toggle between Intel and Nvidia graphics and has to be toggled in Windows through software not through the firmware interface. When I link it to the TV via HDMI it works with either graphics device with my Debian Bullseye.

Quote:

From seeing your xrandr output, to me it seems like my xrandr doesn't detect the HDMI port, which I suspect is wired directly to the Nvidia GPU

I may be wrong but from what I gather, with Optimus machines, everything goes through the Intel graphics. Anyway, this article mentions enabling HDMI through Nvidia settings, which should be installed in Bullseye by default with nvidia-driver Debian binaries.
Perhaps your laptop has a way of enabling/disabling the HDMI via computer settings or a function key combination, external switch?.

jamison20000e · 02-18-2021, 06:21 AM

"Function key" is a good thought, on my keyboard is the blue keys?

generic_person · 02-18-2021, 02:40 PM

Hello,

output from inxi -SMCGx:

Code:

System:    Host: g3deb Kernel: 5.10.0-3-amd64 x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 10.2.1 Desktop: KDE Plasma 5.20.5 
           Distro: Debian GNU/Linux bullseye/sid 
Machine:   Type: Laptop System: LENOVO product: 81Y4 v: IdeaPad Gaming 3 15IMH05 serial: <superuser required> 
           Mobo: LENOVO model: LNVNB161216 v: NO DPK serial: <superuser required> UEFI [Legacy]: LENOVO v: EGCN29WW 
           date: 09/03/2020 
CPU:       Info: 6-Core model: Intel Core i7-10750H bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Comet Lake rev: 2 L2 cache: 12 MiB 
           flags: avx avx2 lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 62399 
           Speed: 1674 MHz min/max: 800/5000 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 1674 2: 2240 3: 1571 4: 1301 5: 1804 6: 2255 7: 2298 
           8: 2682 9: 1834 10: 1696 11: 2378 12: 1568 
Graphics:  Device-1: Intel CometLake-H GT2 [UHD Graphics] vendor: Lenovo driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 
           Device-2: NVIDIA TU117M [GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Mobile] vendor: Lenovo driver: nvidia v: 460.39 bus ID: 01:00.0 
           Device-3: Syntek Integrated Camera type: USB driver: uvcvideo bus ID: 1-6:2 
           Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.10 driver: loaded: modesetting,nvidia unloaded: fbdev,nouveau,vesa 
           resolution: 1920x1080~120Hz 
           OpenGL: renderer: Mesa Intel UHD Graphics (CML GT2) v: 4.6 Mesa 20.3.4 direct render: Yes

I sadly can't show output to prime-select query, because Debian so far doesn't use prime-select, so the command isn't recognised.

In the Nvidia settings, it shows the HDMI, but there's no way to turn it on, the most I can do is change color controls or dithering controls and get the EDID, but nothing to turn the port on.

I have tried looking for a hardware switch, but I haven't found any key that would change anything.

I have found something that helps though, the command "xrandr --setprovideroutputsource NVIDIA-G0 modesetting" changes my xrandr output, now it sucessfuly detects the HDMI, and even the screen if it's connected! The only problem is that still, nothing shows up on the screen (it says no signal), even when I switch the mode to extend to the screen or to duplicate outputs.

New xrandr output looks like this when the screen is disconnected:

Code:

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1920 x 1080, maximum 16384 x 16384
eDP-1 connected primary 1920x1080+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 344mm x 193mm
   1920x1080    120.21*+  59.97    59.96    59.93  
   1680x1050     84.94    74.89    69.88    59.95    59.88  
   1600x1024     60.17  
   1400x1050     85.00    74.76    70.00    59.98  
   1600x900      59.99    59.94    59.95    59.82  
   1280x1024     85.02    75.02    60.02  
   1440x900      59.89  
   1400x900      59.96    59.88  
   1280x960      85.00    60.00  
   1440x810      60.00    59.97  
   1368x768      59.88    59.85  
   1360x768      59.80    59.96  
   1280x800      59.99    59.97    59.81    59.91  
   1152x864     100.00    85.06    85.00    75.00    75.00    70.00    60.00  
   1280x720      60.00    59.99    59.86    59.74  
   1024x768      85.00    75.05    60.04    85.00    75.03    70.07    60.00  
   1024x768i     86.96  
   960x720       85.00    75.00    60.00  
   928x696       75.00    60.05  
   896x672       75.05    60.01  
   1024x576      59.95    59.96    59.90    59.82  
   960x600       59.93    60.00  
   832x624       74.55  
   960x540       59.96    59.99    59.63    59.82  
   800x600       85.00    75.00    70.00    65.00    60.00    85.14    72.19    75.00    60.32    56.25  
   840x525       85.02    74.96    69.88    60.01    59.88  
   864x486       59.92    59.57  
   800x512       60.17  
   700x525       85.08    74.76    70.06    59.98  
   800x450       59.95    59.82  
   640x512       85.02    75.02    60.02  
   720x450       59.89  
   700x450       59.96    59.88  
   640x480       85.09    60.00    85.01    72.81    75.00    59.94  
   720x405       59.51    58.99  
   720x400       85.04  
   684x384       59.88    59.85  
   680x384       59.80    59.96  
   640x400       59.88    59.98    85.08  
   576x432      100.11    85.15    85.09    75.00    75.00    70.00    60.06  
   640x360       59.86    59.83    59.84    59.32  
   640x350       85.08  
   512x384       85.00    75.03    70.07    60.00  
   512x384i      87.06  
   512x288       60.00    59.92  
   416x312       74.66  
   480x270       59.63    59.82  
   400x300       85.27    72.19    75.12    60.32    56.34  
   432x243       59.92    59.57  
   320x240       85.18    72.81    75.00    60.05  
   360x202       59.51    59.13  
   360x200       85.04  
   320x200       85.27  
   320x180       59.84    59.32  
   320x175       85.27  
HDMI-1-0 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP-1-0 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

And the output looks like this when the screen is plugged in:

Code:

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1920 x 1080, maximum 16384 x 16384
eDP-1 connected primary 1920x1080+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 344mm x 193mm
   1920x1080    120.21*+  59.97    59.96    59.93  
   1680x1050     84.94    74.89    69.88    59.95    59.88  
   1600x1024     60.17  
   1400x1050     85.00    74.76    70.00    59.98  
   1600x900      59.99    59.94    59.95    59.82  
   1280x1024     85.02    75.02    60.02  
   1440x900      59.89  
   1400x900      59.96    59.88  
   1280x960      85.00    60.00  
   1440x810      60.00    59.97  
   1368x768      59.88    59.85  
   1360x768      59.80    59.96  
   1280x800      59.99    59.97    59.81    59.91  
   1152x864     100.00    85.06    85.00    75.00    75.00    70.00    60.00  
   1280x720      60.00    59.99    59.86    59.74  
   1024x768      85.00    75.05    60.04    85.00    75.03    70.07    60.00  
   1024x768i     86.96  
   960x720       85.00    75.00    60.00  
   928x696       75.00    60.05  
   896x672       75.05    60.01  
   1024x576      59.95    59.96    59.90    59.82  
   960x600       59.93    60.00  
   832x624       74.55  
   960x540       59.96    59.99    59.63    59.82  
   800x600       85.00    75.00    70.00    65.00    60.00    85.14    72.19    75.00    60.32    56.25  
   840x525       85.02    74.96    69.88    60.01    59.88  
   864x486       59.92    59.57  
   800x512       60.17  
   700x525       85.08    74.76    70.06    59.98  
   800x450       59.95    59.82  
   640x512       85.02    75.02    60.02  
   720x450       59.89  
   700x450       59.96    59.88  
   640x480       85.09    60.00    85.01    72.81    75.00    59.94  
   720x405       59.51    58.99  
   720x400       85.04  
   684x384       59.88    59.85  
   680x384       59.80    59.96  
   640x400       59.88    59.98    85.08  
   576x432      100.11    85.15    85.09    75.00    75.00    70.00    60.06  
   640x360       59.86    59.83    59.84    59.32  
   640x350       85.08  
   512x384       85.00    75.03    70.07    60.00  
   512x384i      87.06  
   512x288       60.00    59.92  
   416x312       74.66  
   480x270       59.63    59.82  
   400x300       85.27    72.19    75.12    60.32    56.34  
   432x243       59.92    59.57  
   320x240       85.18    72.81    75.00    60.05  
   360x202       59.51    59.13  
   360x200       85.04  
   320x200       85.27  
   320x180       59.84    59.32  
   320x175       85.27  
HDMI-1-0 connected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
   1920x1080     60.00 +  74.97    59.94    50.00  
   1680x1050     59.95  
   1600x1200     60.00  
   1600x900      60.00  
   1440x900      59.89  
   1440x576      50.00  
   1400x1050     59.98  
   1280x1024     75.02    60.02  
   1280x960      60.00  
   1280x720      60.00    59.94    50.00  
   1024x768      75.03    70.07    60.00  
   800x600       75.00    72.19    60.32    56.25  
   720x576       50.00  
   720x480       59.94  
   640x480       75.00    72.81    59.94    59.93  
DP-1-0 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
  1680x1050 (0x4b) 146.250MHz -HSync +VSync
        h: width  1680 start 1784 end 1960 total 2240 skew    0 clock  65.29KHz
        v: height 1050 start 1053 end 1059 total 1089           clock  59.95Hz
  1440x900 (0x59) 106.500MHz -HSync +VSync
        h: width  1440 start 1520 end 1672 total 1904 skew    0 clock  55.93KHz
        v: height  900 start  903 end  909 total  934           clock  59.89Hz
  1280x1024 (0x57) 135.000MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width  1280 start 1296 end 1440 total 1688 skew    0 clock  79.98KHz
        v: height 1024 start 1025 end 1028 total 1066           clock  75.02Hz
  1280x1024 (0x58) 108.000MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width  1280 start 1328 end 1440 total 1688 skew    0 clock  63.98KHz
        v: height 1024 start 1025 end 1028 total 1066           clock  60.02Hz
  1280x960 (0x5d) 108.000MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width  1280 start 1376 end 1488 total 1800 skew    0 clock  60.00KHz
        v: height  960 start  961 end  964 total 1000           clock  60.00Hz
  1024x768 (0x77) 78.750MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width  1024 start 1040 end 1136 total 1312 skew    0 clock  60.02KHz
        v: height  768 start  769 end  772 total  800           clock  75.03Hz
  1024x768 (0x78) 75.000MHz -HSync -VSync
        h: width  1024 start 1048 end 1184 total 1328 skew    0 clock  56.48KHz
        v: height  768 start  771 end  777 total  806           clock  70.07Hz
  1024x768 (0x79) 65.000MHz -HSync -VSync
        h: width  1024 start 1048 end 1184 total 1344 skew    0 clock  48.36KHz
        v: height  768 start  771 end  777 total  806           clock  60.00Hz
  800x600 (0x94) 49.500MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width   800 start  816 end  896 total 1056 skew    0 clock  46.88KHz
        v: height  600 start  601 end  604 total  625           clock  75.00Hz
  800x600 (0x93) 50.000MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width   800 start  856 end  976 total 1040 skew    0 clock  48.08KHz
        v: height  600 start  637 end  643 total  666           clock  72.19Hz
  800x600 (0x95) 40.000MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width   800 start  840 end  968 total 1056 skew    0 clock  37.88KHz
        v: height  600 start  601 end  605 total  628           clock  60.32Hz
  800x600 (0x96) 36.000MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width   800 start  824 end  896 total 1024 skew    0 clock  35.16KHz
        v: height  600 start  601 end  603 total  625           clock  56.25Hz
  640x480 (0xaf) 31.500MHz -HSync -VSync
        h: width   640 start  656 end  720 total  840 skew    0 clock  37.50KHz
        v: height  480 start  481 end  484 total  500           clock  75.00Hz
  640x480 (0xb0) 25.175MHz -HSync -VSync
        h: width   640 start  656 end  752 total  800 skew    0 clock  31.47KHz
        v: height  480 start  490 end  492 total  525           clock  59.94Hz

Sorry for the late reply and thanks for any help!

generic_person · 02-18-2021, 04:11 PM

Hello again,
Good news, thanks to the discovery I wrote about in my last reply, I now managed to solve the problem and get it to work!

As I mentioned in the last post, even when xrandr finally detected the HDMI port, it still didn't actually output anything to the screen.
Well, after some experiments, I found out that all I had to do to get it to output to the screen was the command "xrandr --auto" to enable the output.

I think that the problem originally was that xrandr wasn't properly instructed to use the nvidia GPU and its ports, but it had access to it, because in my normal xrandr output, it didn't mention the HDMI port, but the command "xrandr --listproviders" actually did list the Nvidia card as a possible provider:

Code:

Providers: number : 2
Provider 0: id: 0x43 cap: 0xf, Source Output, Sink Output, Source Offload, Sink Offload crtcs: 3 outputs: 1 associated providers: 1 name:modesetting
Provider 1: id: 0x28b cap: 0x2, Sink Output crtcs: 4 outputs: 2 associated providers: 1 name:NVIDIA-G0

And it seems like the way to make xrandr use the nvidia GPU and its ports as well as the integrated one is the command "xrandr --setprovideroutputsource NVIDIA-G0(or whatever the name of the card is in the providers list) modesetting".
After this, the screen still didn't work, but I think that was because in xrandr the output to the HDMI was disabled, because just the simple command "xrandr --auto" to auto enable connected but disabled outputs fixed that. Now with these commands, the screen and the HDMI port in general seem to work!

I'm glad that it works now, thanks for the help guys.