How to get my videocard working properly?

sajansen · 01-26-2018, 02:59 AM

Hey,

Im having some problems with my laptops graphics. At the moment it uses the intel graphics witch work fine for normal use but my nvidia 950m is not doing anything.

Fedora 27: 4.14.14-300.fc27.x86_64

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation HD Graphics 5500 (rev 09)
04:00.0 3D controller: NVIDIA Corporation GM107M [GeForce GTX 950M] (rev a2)

[root@localhost sander]# lshw -c video
*-display
description: VGA compatible controller
product: HD Graphics 5500
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 2
bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
version: 09
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
configuration: driver=i915 latency=0
resources: irq:50 memory:a1000000-a1ffffff memory:b0000000-bfffffff ioport:5000(size=64) memory:c0000-dffff
*-display
description: 3D controller
product: GM107M [GeForce GTX 950M]
vendor: NVIDIA Corporation
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:04:00.0
version: a2
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list rom
configuration: driver=nouveau latency=0
resources: irq:49 memory:a2000000-a2ffffff memory:c0000000-cfffffff memory:d0000000-d1ffffff ioport:3000(size=128) memory:a3000000-a307ffff

From what i can tell its using nouveau drivers. Now i have tried to install the nvidia one from teh website (.run file) and it ran and installed drivers bt after that, all i had was a black screen with the mouse cursor on it. now i have seen that its somewhat common to have this problem but i havent been able to fix it with what i found in forums so i deleted it again to have at least a working computer. What i like to do it get it running but i dont know how. Most of the guides are for desktop pc and not laptop with "shared video things" because it still needs to run on the intel chip but the 3d stuff needs to go to the 950m. at least i dont know if its possible to skip the intel chip and only use the 950m ... im guessing it would use more power to have it on at all times but if it works i dont care.

Sorry for rambling, ive been trieing for days now without results.
Thanks anyway,
Sander

Brains · 01-26-2018, 04:05 AM

The .run installer requires you to modify a few files. If you can install from Fedora repositories it is the preferred method.
For now, hit the "e" key at the grub screen to add a kernel argument, you need to add:

Code:

modeset nouveau.modeset=0

You will need to do this every time you boot with Nvidia graphics till you install proprietary graphics drivers or edit /etc/default/grub file to include that argument, then run command:

Code:

update-grub

After that it should boot fine with nouveau.
If you want or need to use the .run installer from Nvidia site, let me know and I will give you the scoop.

Brains · 01-26-2018, 04:15 AM

Do you have a hardware switch to select either Intel or Nvidia?
Typical optimus systems don't, and you usually can't boot to a desktop without the modesetting argument if you can't select the graphics device.
My MSI has a hardware switch, I boot to one or the other, I do not have optimus capabilities even though I have Nvidia optimus chip. As such, I do not need to install bumblebee or primus in Linux. If your system switches between the two in Windows, then you will need bumblebee, which is why you likely need to go with Fedora pre-compiled Nvidia drivers...if they have such, I imagine they do.

sajansen · 01-26-2018, 04:21 AM

I just tried the change in teh grub menu and it didnt do anything?

Yes, windows switches betwean the intel and nvidia card. So i guess i need bumblebee? For as far as i know i dont have a hardware switch ... i can look ik the bios but i dont remember comming across it... although ive not been looking for it specifically... ill do that now

EDIT:

I just went through the bios and i have no options whatsoever, the only graphics related thing i can change is the memory the intel chip uses off my ram.

Brains · 01-26-2018, 04:37 AM

I'm currently using the intel, in /var/log/Xorg.0.log file at line 214 215 shows I'm using the Intel driver, part of the log file shows this below.

Code:

[     6.197] (II) modeset(0): [DRI2]   DRI driver: i965
[     6.197] (II) modeset(0): [DRI2]   VDPAU driver: i965
[     6.197] (--) RandR disabled

Anyway, update your installation and check this page

sajansen · 01-26-2018, 04:43 AM

Mine shows this:

Code:

[    16.440] (II) modeset(0): [DRI2]   DRI driver: i965
[    16.440] (II) modeset(0): [DRI2]   VDPAU driver: va_gl
[    16.236] (II) modeset(G0): RandR 1.2 enabled, ignore the following RandR disabled message.
[    16.377] (II) modeset(0): RandR 1.2 enabled, ignore the following RandR disabled message.
[    16.440] (--) RandR disabled

Ill have a look, the link isnt working but i guess i can find something on google

at least now i know where to start looking

Brains · 01-26-2018, 04:43 AM

Below is what I did upon original installation to boot to the Nvidia graphics, this is the /etc/default/grub file that needs to be edited if required, run command update-grub as root or sudo after editing this file if you choose to do so.

Code:

GRUB_DEFAULT=0
GRUB_TIMEOUT=5
GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian`
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet modeset nouveau.modeset=0"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""

The link works for me after I changed it to proper one

sajansen · 01-26-2018, 05:05 AM

This timeit seems to have worked...

Code:

[root@localhost sander]# lshw -c video
  *-display                 
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: HD Graphics 5500
       vendor: Intel Corporation
       physical id: 2
       bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
       version: 09
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
       configuration: driver=i915 latency=0
       resources: irq:49 memory:a1000000-a1ffffff memory:b0000000-bfffffff ioport:5000(size=64) memory:c0000-dffff
  *-display
       description: 3D controller
       product: GM107M [GeForce GTX 950M]
       vendor: NVIDIA Corporation
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:04:00.0
       version: a2
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list rom
       configuration: driver=nvidia latency=0
       resources: irq:16 memory:a2000000-a2ffffff memory:c0000000-cfffffff memory:d0000000-d1ffffff ioport:3000(size=128) memory:a3000000-a307ffff

now is there a god way to test if it uses the card correctly? i have xsensors that showed the temps and voltage but not anymore with this driver. but is there a good stresstest like furmark on windows?

I tried glmark2 but that states that its still using the intel chip for graphics?

Code:

    OpenGL Information
    GL_VENDOR:     Intel Open Source Technology Center
    GL_RENDERER:   Mesa DRI Intel(R) HD Graphics 5500 (Broadwell GT2) 
    GL_VERSION:    3.0 Mesa 17.2.4
=====================================

EDIT:
i found GpuTest with gives some more info. but i cant get it to run on my nvidia card. when i try and do this, it fails:

Code:

[root@localhost GpuTest_Linux_x64_0.7.0]# DRI_PRIME=2 ./GpuTest /test=fur
[root@localhost GpuTest_Linux_x64_0.7.0]# DRI_PRIME=1 ./GpuTest /test=fur
libGL error: failed to create dri screen
libGL error: failed to load driver: nouveau
libGL error: failed to create dri screen
libGL error: failed to load driver: nouveau

The PRIME=2 one succeded (is its my intel chip) and the PRIME=1 fails (my nvidia chip)

Brains · 01-26-2018, 12:14 PM

Quote:

The PRIME=2 one succeded (is its my intel chip) and the PRIME=1 fails (my nvidia chip)

Sounds like you got it I'm guessing.

From what little I read a year ago, everything is displayed via the Intel graphics, even when the Nvidia does the rendering.

I need to stop advising folks to use the nouveau modesetting. When I got my first Nvidia graphics in 2005, if one were to install proprietary graphics, up until recently that was the only driver one could use, even when I installed Debian last year if I used the Nvidia chip I got nothing, black screen till we added the nouveau modesetting. It was the same for those with a true optimus system also. I had to have two Debian installations if I wanted to use Intel for power saving graphics, one with and one without Nvidia proprietary installed, because my unit is a high end gaming laptop and that is the reason MSI put the hardware switch, disabling optimus but still giving the best of both worlds.

Recently I noticed AMD has followed suit and is pumping out laptops with the dual graphics also, and I was thinking to myself that something has to change, we need to allow the use of both proprietary and open source graphics drivers on the same installation. Because there is likely to be more units like mine in the future with optimus disabled.

Not sure when it happened, but a week ago I accidentally booted the Nvidia installation with the Intel graphics and it came up with the same good looking desktop consistent with Nvidia drivers. So it looks like the day I wanted to see since 2005 finally arrived. And both Xorg and Nvidia software components are being used.

Code:

jo@debian:~$ lspci -vnn | grep '\''[030[02]\]'
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation HD Graphics 530 [8086:191b] (rev 06) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
jo@debian:~$

The code above is what shows up when in the Debian installation without Nvidia installed while using the Intel graphics, the Nvidia is non-existent. I'll reboot to the installation with Nvidia installed and post the output while still using the Intel graphics.
EDIT: Just booted to the installation with Nvidia installed and using the Intel graphics and the results posted:

Code:

jo@debian:~$ lspci -vnn | grep '\''[030[02]\]'
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation HD Graphics 530 [8086:191b] (rev 06) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
jo@debian:~$

Up until recently, this was impossible, being able to boot with graphics other than Nvidia while the Nvidia proprietary drivers were installed.

Which explains why you got a desktop and it was using i985 Intel driver, which is still hard to remember is finally possible after an eternity of wanting this capability for using a partition image with Nvidia installed on any computer with any other graphics, probably also can use an image with Nvidia on a machine with AMD proprietary graphics. That also was a no-no in the past.

sajansen · 01-27-2018, 07:47 PM

hmm... is there a way to check its actually using it? is there a tool to monitor usage or temps of the card? with the nvidia driver i cant monitor it with xsensors and in the GpuTest thing where i use the test from furmark, 12 fps isnt really wat i was expacting for a 950m? or is teh optimalization that bad?

Brains · 01-28-2018, 03:58 AM

Unfortunately, since I can't use this technology, it's out of my league so to speak. But I did search a little and this link here has a troubleshooting section with some tests. Best I can do, hopefully I bumped this thread so others can chime in.

////// · 01-28-2018, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sajansen

hmm... is there a way to check its actually using it? is there a tool to monitor usage or temps of the card? with the nvidia driver i cant monitor it with xsensors and in the GpuTest thing where i use the test from furmark, 12 fps isnt really wat i was expacting for a 950m? or is teh optimalization that bad?

fedora 27 has conky, you can check nvidia driver, temps, clocks using it. im not sure if it is built with nvidia support yet, i had to compile conky myself to get nvidia support on it.

these settings are for conky 1.10 and nvidia:

Code:

conky.config = {
    own_window = true,
    own_window_type = 'normal',
    own_window_transparent = true,
    own_window_argb_visual = true,
    own_window_hints = 'sticky,undecorated,skip_taskbar,skip_pager,below',
    double_buffer = true, 
    use_spacer = 'right',
    
	use_xft = true,
    override_utf8_locale = true,
    
    alignment = 'bottom_right', 
    gap_x = 20, 
    gap_y = 20, 
    update_interval = 2, 
    minimum_width = 300, 
    maximum_width = 345, 
    stippled_borders = 3, 
    border_width = 1, 
    default_color = 'c4d5e5', 
    draw_outline = yes, 
    draw_borders = yes, 
    font = 'Terminus:size=10:style=bold', 
    uppercase = no, 
    draw_shades = yes,
} 

conky.text = [[ 
${hr 2}
${color grey}NVIDIA GPU {color grey}${alignr}${execi 6 nvidia-smi | grep -i 'driver' | awk '{print $4, $6}'}
${color grey}TEMP: ${color green}${nvidia temp}°C ${color grey}  GPU Clocks ${color c4d5e5}${nvidia gpufreq}${color grey}/${color c4d5e5}${nvidia memfreq}${color grey} Mhz
${hr 2}
]]

sajansen · 01-29-2018, 03:10 PM

sorry it took me so long to get back to this. I tested with the "modeset nouveau" thing and in glmakr2 it scored 1171 witch isnt even high enough for my inter hd 5500 graphics and when i removed the boot line and booted with nouveau active, it scored 1299 witch is slightly better but still lower then the hd5500 score but its close there so... yes its only using my internal graphics and not the 950 card. i wanted to try and install the nvidia graphics again but didnt want to risk having to try and fix everything again if it gave me just a black screen. but are there any tips on installing the original driver and would it make a differance if i could get it to load properly? or is linux just this unstable with my kind of setup?

Brains · 01-30-2018, 03:06 AM

Actually, the nouveau driver doesn't come into play once the Nvidia drivers are installed, because as part of the Nvidia driver installation, nouveau gets blacklisted. The link I supplied has a troubleshooting section, I narrowed it down for you here. Check this page out, and do look at the suggestions in post #12 also.

Keep in mind, with optimus technology, the Nvidia graphics are only used when required, typically most applications don't need 3D rendering therefore the Intel graphics will be used in such scenarios by default to avoid draining your laptop's battery too fast. 3D gaming however, does require rendering which both graphics devices can do, and will drain battery life faster, the Nvidia is the better and this is where it will come to life and do the 3D rendering, yet this rendering will still be piped through the Intel graphics for display to the monitor.

So look at the link supplied in this post and the suggestions in post #12. Optimus technology is all about getting better battery life compared to using just Nvidia graphics which would drain the battery faster. Typically optimus is not used in desktop computers that are plugged into a wall outlet, they don't have batteries and therefore optimus is not required.

sajansen · 01-30-2018, 05:55 AM

bumblebee seems not supported anymore? it advises to go to https://nouveau.freedesktop.org/wiki/Optimus/ and use PRIME... i followed the steps and everything seemes ok.

the only thing is that my provider listings both are named modesettings instead of Intel and nouveau but the rest of the steps seem to be ok... not that its helping with preformance though

I tested with the witcher 2 on 1080@low settings witch sould be around 70 FPS in the main menu and around 25/30 in game and i got 110 FPS in the menu and 4 FPS in game. when i turned on vsync it all went to shit and even the main menu was around 6 FPS

so somewhere something isnt right...i dont know what to look for anymore