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Old 02-03-2016, 02:39 PM   #1
dominik232
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Registered: Dec 2012
Posts: 16

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Lenovo Z51-70 - GPU switching


Hi.
I own laptop Lenovo Z51-70. It has both integrated and dedicated graphics card. It's Intel HD 5500 (Broadwell) and AMD Radeon R9 M375 duet. First is of course more energy saving, the second one is more powerful. My goal is to enable second, fastest graphics.

What I tried
I tried fglrx drivers, but it sucked. X'org starts, but it's unusable - even on some light window (without accelerated compositor). When I work on Intel computer is always quiet and cold. On proprietary drivers fan is crazy and everything lags. Maybe other time there will be usable release of Catalyst.

There still is "radeon" kernel module.
When I enable "Switchable graphics" on computer's firmware, lspci says
Code:
04:00.0 Display controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Venus XTX [Radeon HD 8890M / R9 M275X/M375X] (rev ff)
Also "radeon" module is present and loaded
Code:
[dominik@Arch ~]$ lsmod | grep radeon
radeon               1470464  1
ttm                    77824  1 radeon
i2c_algo_bit           16384  2 i915,radeon
drm_kms_helper        106496  2 i915,radeon
drm                   286720  14 ttm,i915,drm_kms_helper,radeon
Seems it loaded with no problems and has firmware files needed (or am I wrong?)
Code:
[dominik@Arch ~]$ dmesg | grep radeon
[    2.647269] [drm] radeon kernel modesetting enabled.
[    2.656701] radeon 0000:04:00.0: enabling device (0106 -> 0107)
[    2.674174] radeon 0000:04:00.0: VRAM: 4096M 0x0000000000000000 - 0x00000000FFFFFFFF (4096M used)
[    2.674178] radeon 0000:04:00.0: GTT: 2048M 0x0000000100000000 - 0x000000017FFFFFFF
[    2.674255] [drm] radeon: 4096M of VRAM memory ready
[    2.674256] [drm] radeon: 2048M of GTT memory ready.
[    2.687065] [drm] radeon: dpm initialized
[    2.697038] radeon 0000:04:00.0: WB enabled
[    2.697041] radeon 0000:04:00.0: fence driver on ring 0 use gpu addr 0x0000000100000c00 and cpu addr 0xffff88044a8cac00
[    2.697042] radeon 0000:04:00.0: fence driver on ring 1 use gpu addr 0x0000000100000c04 and cpu addr 0xffff88044a8cac04
[    2.697043] radeon 0000:04:00.0: fence driver on ring 2 use gpu addr 0x0000000100000c08 and cpu addr 0xffff88044a8cac08
[    2.697045] radeon 0000:04:00.0: fence driver on ring 3 use gpu addr 0x0000000100000c0c and cpu addr 0xffff88044a8cac0c
[    2.697046] radeon 0000:04:00.0: fence driver on ring 4 use gpu addr 0x0000000100000c10 and cpu addr 0xffff88044a8cac10
[    2.698582] radeon 0000:04:00.0: fence driver on ring 5 use gpu addr 0x0000000000075a18 and cpu addr 0xffffc90002c35a18
[    2.720825] radeon 0000:04:00.0: fence driver on ring 6 use gpu addr 0x0000000100000c18 and cpu addr 0xffff88044a8cac18
[    2.720829] radeon 0000:04:00.0: fence driver on ring 7 use gpu addr 0x0000000100000c1c and cpu addr 0xffff88044a8cac1c
[    2.720834] radeon 0000:04:00.0: radeon: MSI limited to 32-bit
[    2.720929] radeon 0000:04:00.0: radeon: using MSI.
[    2.720982] [drm] radeon: irq initialized.
[    5.288358] radeon 0000:04:00.0: No connectors reported connected with modes
[    5.290566] radeon 0000:04:00.0: fb1: radeondrmfb frame buffer device
[    5.290638] [drm] Initialized radeon 2.43.0 20080528 for 0000:04:00.0 on minor 1
[   12.129043] radeon 0000:04:00.0: WB enabled
[   12.129046] radeon 0000:04:00.0: fence driver on ring 0 use gpu addr 0x0000000100000c00 and cpu addr 0xffff88044a8cac00
[   12.129047] radeon 0000:04:00.0: fence driver on ring 1 use gpu addr 0x0000000100000c04 and cpu addr 0xffff88044a8cac04
[   12.129048] radeon 0000:04:00.0: fence driver on ring 2 use gpu addr 0x0000000100000c08 and cpu addr 0xffff88044a8cac08
[   12.129050] radeon 0000:04:00.0: fence driver on ring 3 use gpu addr 0x0000000100000c0c and cpu addr 0xffff88044a8cac0c
[   12.129051] radeon 0000:04:00.0: fence driver on ring 4 use gpu addr 0x0000000100000c10 and cpu addr 0xffff88044a8cac10
[   12.130606] radeon 0000:04:00.0: fence driver on ring 5 use gpu addr 0x0000000000075a18 and cpu addr 0xffffc90002c35a18
[   12.150969] radeon 0000:04:00.0: fence driver on ring 6 use gpu addr 0x0000000100000c18 and cpu addr 0xffff88044a8cac18
[   12.150971] radeon 0000:04:00.0: fence driver on ring 7 use gpu addr 0x0000000100000c1c and cpu addr 0xffff88044a8cac1c
A read a little about vga_switcheroo - as it seem to be kernel mechanism to switch between these GPUs. So I have file
Code:
[root@Arch dominik]# cat /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch 
0:IGD:+:Pwr:0000:00:02.0
1:DIS: :DynOff:0000:04:00.0
To me it looks like there's possible switch and currently integrated graphics is in use. Just to confirm:
Code:
[root@Arch dominik]# glxinfo | grep -i opengl
OpenGL vendor string: Intel Open Source Technology Center
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa DRI Intel(R) HD Graphics 5500 (Broadwell GT2)
Ok, so as I read there's no way to switch while running xserver. So I exit this with
Code:
systemctl stop gdm
and on TTY i login and type
Code:
echo DIS > /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch
As result I have only
Code:
vga_switchero: client 0 refused switch
There's nothing more in dmesg.
Couldn't find anything more to try ;(
Currently I'm using ArchLinux. All packages are up to date. My kernel version is 4.4.1-2-ARCH. I tried other distros and kernel versions/configs as well.
Any ideas? Thanks!
 
Old 02-04-2016, 11:17 PM   #2
rokytnji
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Just curious about the kernel used.

Does Arch have "inxi" ? Mine for example

Code:
harry@tramp:~
$ inxi -Fxx
System:    Host: tramp Kernel: 4.2.1-gnu-antix.1-486-smp i686 (32 bit gcc: 4.9.2)
           Desktop: IceWM 1.3.8 dm: slim
           Distro: antiX-15-beta2-V_386-full Killah P 11 April 2015
Machine:   System: Dell product: Precision WorkStation T3400 Chassis: type: 7
           Mobo: Dell model: 0TP412 Bios: Dell v: A09 date: 06/04/2009
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core2 Duo E7400 (-MCP-) cache: 3072 KB
           flags: (lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 ssse3) bmips: 11164
           clock speeds: max: 2790 MHz 1: 2790 MHz 2: 2790 MHz
Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA G71 [GeForce 7900 GS]
           bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:0292
           Display Server: X.Org 1.16.4 driver: nouveau
           Resolution: 1920x1080@60.00hz
           GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on NV49
           GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 10.3.2 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card Intel 82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 chip-ID: 8086:293e
           Sound: ALSA v: k4.2.1-gnu-antix.1-486-smp
Network:   Card: Broadcom NetXtreme BCM5754 Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express
           driver: tg3 v: 3.137 bus-ID: 04:00.0 chip-ID: 14e4:167a
           IF: eth0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full
           mac: 00:24:e8:41:75:98
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 160.0GB (29.1 used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: ST3160812AS size: 160.0GB serial: 5LSEMKYE
Partition: ID-1: / size: 7.6G used: 4.9G (68) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda5
           ID-2: /home size: 16G used: 1.7G (12%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda6
           ID-3: swap-1 size: 4.19GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda8
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 34.0C mobo: N/A gpu: 50.0
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 119 Uptime: 1:01 Memory: 304.3/3285.2MB
           Init: SysVinit v: 2.88 runlevel: 5 default: 5 Gcc sys: 4.9.2
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.301 running in roxterm) inxi: 2.2.31
also wondering about if when you did your

Quote:
I tried fglrx drivers, but it sucked. X'org starts, but it's unusable - even on some light window (without accelerated compositor)
if a xorg.conf was made when you did that install. So what is the contents of

Code:
harry@tramp:~
$ cd /etc/X11
harry@tramp:/etc/X11
$ ls
app-defaults  xorg.conf                         Xresources
fluxbox       xorg.confbk                       Xsession
fonts         xorg.conf-bu-2016-01-27-19:51:03  Xsession.d
icewm         xorg.conf.d                       Xsession.options
rgb.txt       xorg.conf.dbk                     xsm
X             xorg.conf.in                      XvMCConfig
xinit         xorg.conf.inbk                    Xwrapper.config
xkb           Xreset
Xloadimage    Xreset.d
as you can see. I had to diddle with my nvidia a bit after borking things with a 4.4 kernel install.

Procrastination is a fault of mine on computers. Hence why I am still on a Beta 2 on this rig.

Last edited by rokytnji; 02-04-2016 at 11:19 PM.
 
Old 02-06-2016, 04:58 AM   #3
dominik232
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Dec 2012
Posts: 16

Original Poster
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Sure it does
Code:
System:    Host: Arch Kernel: 4.4.1-2-ARCH x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.3.0)
           Desktop: Gnome 3.18.3 (Gtk 3.18.7) dm: gdm Distro: Antergos Linux
Machine:   System: LENOVO product: 80K6 v: Lenovo Z51-70 Chassis: type: 10 v: Lenovo Z51-70
           Mobo: LENOVO model: Lenovo Z51-70 v: No DPK Bios: LENOVO v: C2CN17WW(V1.03) date: 03/19/2015
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core i7-5500U (-HT-MCP-) cache: 4096 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 9581
           clock speeds: min/max: 500/3000 MHz 1: 2541 MHz 2: 801 MHz 3: 950 MHz 4: 817 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Intel Broadwell-U Integrated Graphics bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:1616
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.0 driver: intel Resolution: 1920x1080@60.00hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics 5500 (Broadwell GT2)
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 11.1.1 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card-1 Intel Wildcat Point-LP High Definition Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 chip-ID: 8086:9ca0
           Card-2 Intel Broadwell-U Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:03.0 chip-ID: 8086:160c
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.4.1-2-ARCH
Network:   Card-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
           driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: 3000 bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8168
           IF: enp2s0 state: down mac: f0:76:1c:d5:d6:05
           Card-2: Intel Wireless 3160 driver: iwlwifi bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:08b4
           IF: wlp3s0 state: up mac: 34:e6:ad:e4:30:ef
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 253.4GB (26.1 used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: Intenso_SSD_Sat size: 253.4GB serial: AA000000000000001781
Partition: ID-1: / size: 25G used: 9.8G (40%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2
           ID-2: /home size: 154G used: 52G (36%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda3
Sensors:   None detected - is lm-sensors installed and configured?
Info:      Processes: 236 Uptime: 21 min Memory: 1699.4/15966.5MB Init: systemd v: 228 Gcc sys: 5.3.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.421 running in gnome-terminal-) inxi: 2.2.32
X.Org config was done with
Code:
aticonfig --initial
I didn't try a lot of hacking xorg.conf file with some options specific for my graphics, because I couldn't google such.

Currently I don't have these drivers - instalation of fglrx makes a lot of mess in filesystem which I don't want to have.
 
Old 02-07-2016, 03:12 PM   #4
rokytnji
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Well I read this and thought of you.

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/har...tml#post975151

Probably not relevant but posting it any ways.
 
Old 02-07-2016, 03:21 PM   #5
dominik232
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Registered: Dec 2012
Posts: 16

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: Disabled
That's cute you thought about me, thanks ... But now I need some kernel hacker to tell me IF VGA_switcheroo may depend on firmware.

Anyway I don't even have these issues and as it is on my dmesg - firmware seems to be loaded just fine...
 
  


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