how can I setup the amd GPU as a default gpu instead of intel graphics?

divinefishersmith · 08-20-2015, 05:13 PM

hi my name is divine in this is my first time in this forum. I'm using arch(manjaro). Ive been searching for a way to setup amd GPU as the default gpu to be used by my laptop instead of the intel graphics. there are several article and post regarding this so I tried following some of it. theres few article saying I need catalyst control center., and its a pain to install this thing. I did install though its giving me an error.

Quote:

There was a problem initializing Catalyst Control Center Linux edition. It could be caused by the following.

No AMD graphics driver is installed, or the AMD driver is not functioning properly.
Please install the AMD driver appropriate for you AMD hardware, or configure using aticonfig.

All I want is to use my graphics card and not the intel graphcs. And also how could I know what gpu my laptop is using? whenever I run screenfetch or archey its always showing the intel graphics and not the amd. hope you can help me guys I'm a noob so forgive me. I'm still looking/searching the web for the same issue already being resolved, while waiting for your help guys

Code:

 ██████████████████  ████████     pao@lenovo
 ██████████████████  ████████     OS: Manjaro 0.8.13.1 Ascella
 ██████████████████  ████████     Kernel: x86_64 Linux 3.18.20-1-MANJARO
 ██████████████████  ████████     Uptime: 41m
 ████████            ████████     Packages: 1067
 ████████  ████████  ████████     Shell: bash 4.3.39
 ████████  ████████  ████████     Resolution: 1366x768
           ████████  ████████     DE: XFCE4
 ████████  ████████  ████████     WM: Emerald
 ████████  ████████  ████████     WM Theme: SWAN
 ████████  ████████  ████████     GTK Theme: Xfce-dusk [GTK2]
 ████████  ████████  ████████     Icon Theme: Menda-Circle
 ████████  ████████  ████████     Font: Cantarell 10
 ████████  ████████  ████████     CPU: Intel Core i3-4030U CPU @ 1.9GHz
 ████████  ████████  ████████     GPU: Mesa DRI Intel(R) Haswell Mobile 
 ████████  ████████  ████████     RAM: 746MiB / 1831MiB
 ████████  ████████  ████████

Code:

System:    Host: lenovo Kernel: 3.18.20-1-MANJARO x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.2.0)
           Desktop: Xfce 4.12.3 (Gtk 2.24.28)
           Distro: ManjaroLinux 0.8.13.1 Ascella
Machine:   System: LENOVO product: 20369 v: Lenovo G40-70
           Mobo: LENOVO model: Lancer 4A2 v: 31900059WIN
           Bios: LENOVO v: 9ACN29WW date: 10/20/2014
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core i3-4030U (-HT-MCP-) cache: 3072 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 7585
           clock speeds: max: 1900 MHz 1: 1900 MHz 2: 1900 MHz 3: 1899 MHz
           4: 1899 MHz
Graphics:  Card-1: Intel Haswell-ULT Integrated Graphics Controller
           bus-ID: 00:02.0
           Card-2: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Sun LE [Radeon HD 8550M / R5 M230]
           bus-ID: 03:00.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.17.2 driver: intel
           Resolution: 1366x768@60.00hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Haswell Mobile
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 10.6.4 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card-1 Intel 8 Series HD Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
           Card-2 Intel Haswell-ULT HD Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:03.0
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k3.18.20-1-MANJARO
Network:   Card-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
           driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: 4000 bus-ID: 01:00.0
           IF: enp1s0 state: down mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Intel Wireless 3160
           driver: iwlwifi v: in-tree: bus-ID: 02:00.0
           IF: wlp2s0 state: up mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 500.1GB (2.2% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: WDC_WD5000LPCX size: 500.1GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 455G used: 6.9G (2%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda3
           ID-2: /boot size: 248M used: 42M (18%) fs: ext2 dev: /dev/sda2
           ID-3: swap-1 size: 3.84GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda4
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 46.0C mobo: N/A
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: 0
Info:      Processes: 164 Uptime: 55 min Memory: 764.6/1831.4MB
           Init: systemd Gcc sys: 5.2.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.391) inxi: 2.2.27

Ztcoracat · 08-20-2015, 06:56 PM

Hi:

Maybe this Arch WiKi will help.
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Hybrid_graphics

From reading this thread it is possible to switch between graphics cards with Bumblebee but from what I understand Bumblebee is for the distribution Ubuntu. I'm not sure if Bumblebee would work with Arch Linux.
http://askubuntu.com/questions/24854...hics-in-ubuntu

When I installed the AMD driver for my ATI/AMD Radeon Graphics card it was buggy and my graphics would flash a lot on the screen and I had trouble with my screen freezing.

http://wiki.playonlinux.com/index.ph...s_Card_Drivers
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/ATI

Sorry I don't know more about graphics.

Maybe another member running Arch (manjaro) will chime in.

divinefishersmith · 08-20-2015, 07:34 PM

thanks for the reply,. I really appreciate it. I did already see few of those links. I really need to know how to make my GPU works on linux,. for Im already losing hope on completely switching to linux. But I still love it so I hope theres a way to do this. still lookin out there by the way.

Ztcoracat · 08-20-2015, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by divinefishersmith

thanks for the reply,. I really appreciate it. I did already see few of those links. I really need to know how to make my GPU works on linux,. for Im already losing hope on completely switching to linux. But I still love it so I hope theres a way to do this. still lookin out there by the way.

Your Welcome.

If there is a way I'm sure a member will chime in and tell you.

You could try disabling the card that you don't want to use in the BIOS possibly-
Blacklist it in the /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf file then log out and log back in.

http://superuser.com/questions/45072...f-the-computer

Here's an example of how to blacklist- (I've never tried it)
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=131740

Hope that helps-

colorpurple21859 · 08-20-2015, 09:08 PM

maybe with /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo. Here is some info on it;:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...8/#post4830372 If it works you can mount the /sys/kernel/debug startup by an entry in /etc/fstab and the other commands in the /etc/rc.d/rc.local

divinefishersmith · 08-21-2015, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colorpurple21859

maybe with /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo. Here is some info on it;:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...8/#post4830372 If it works you can mount the /sys/kernel/debug startup by an entry in /etc/fstab and the other commands in the /etc/rc.d/rc.local

thank you for your reply. on the article says that if you want to know if your laptop does have hybrid graphics you need to type this terminal command.

Code:

lspci -vnn | grep '\''[030[02]\]'

though I do know that my laptop does have hybrid graphics I still run the command. and it gives me this.

Code:

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Haswell-ULT Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:0a16] (rev 0b) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])

its only viewing the intel grahpicscard... ???
it is also stated in the article that if It only shows 1 graphics card then I cant proceed any further.
why is this happening? I mean the ATI/AMD GPU is showing in

Code:

inxi -Fxz

Code:

Graphics:  Card-1: Intel Haswell-ULT Integrated Graphics Controller
           bus-ID: 00:02.0
           Card-2: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Sun LE [Radeon HD 8550M / R5 M230]
           bus-ID: 03:00.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.17.2 driver: intel
           Resolution: 1366x768@60.00hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Haswell Mobile
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 10.6.4 Direct Rendering: Yes

and also in

Code:

'lspci'

Or I guess I just really need to get the Catalyst control center working. PLEASE HELP

colorpurple21859 · 08-21-2015, 05:31 AM

Run the following to see if the two cards are listed.

Code:

mount -t debugfs debugfs /sys/kernel/debug
cat /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch

If so then run one of the commands as mentioned on the link. Will be something like this:

Code:

echo DDIS > /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch

restart X to switch cards or

Code:

echo DIS > /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch

before starting X
then:

Code:

echo OFF > /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch

to turn pwr off the card not being used. BE warned if you have a system similar to mine where the discreet card only hooked to the hdmi port, your display will go black.

divinefishersmith · 08-21-2015, 12:57 PM

thanks for the reply. I tried it, and it looks like the dedicated GPU is turned off or maybe not I'm not sure?. it gives me this eh

Code:

[root@lenovo pao]# mount -t debugfs debugfs /sys/kernel/debug
mount: debugfs is already mounted or /sys/kernel/debug busy
       debugfs is already mounted on /sys/kernel/debug
[root@lenovo pao]# cat /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch
0:DIS: :DynOff:0000:03:00.0
1:IGD:+:Pwr:0000:00:02.0

colorpurple21859 · 08-21-2015, 01:16 PM

run

Code:

echo ON > /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch

This should turn on pwr to the discreet card, verify with

Code:

cat /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch

then to use the discreet card run the echo ddis or echo dis as mentioned in previous post depending if X needs to be stopped and restarted or just started.

Another option might be to add an entry to /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf to blacklist the intel module at boot up.

divinefishersmith · 08-21-2015, 01:42 PM

I really want to thank you for givin an effort to help.
the GPU is still off,. this is a brand new lenovo 40-70 I just hope the card is not broken

Code:

[pao@lenovo ~]$ su
Password: 
[root@lenovo pao]# cat /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch
0:IGD:+:Pwr:0000:00:02.0
1:DIS: :DynOff:0000:03:00.0
[root@lenovo pao]# ls /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf 
ls: cannot access /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf: No such file or directory
[root@lenovo pao]#

colorpurple21859 · 08-21-2015, 02:00 PM

create a /etc/modprobe.d/intel-blacklist.conf with the following line;

Code:

blacklist intel

divinefishersmith · 08-21-2015, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colorpurple21859

create a /etc/modprobe.d/intel-blacklist.conf with the following line;

Code:

blacklist intel

but then if I'm goin to do that and the ati/amd GPU is turned off then I will have no display?

divinefishersmith · 08-21-2015, 03:45 PM

nah nothing happens.

camelrider · 08-21-2015, 04:10 PM

Have you tried making the switch in the BIOS? Just be sure you have one card turned on before exiting BIOS.

divinefishersmith · 08-21-2015, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camelrider

Have you tried making the switch in the BIOS? Just be sure you have one card turned on before exiting BIOS.

yah theres two options in my bios. "UMA" and "discrete"
discrete runs gpu depending on the user activities.
UMA only runs intel.

I can see that when I choose UMA. and run the code inxi -Fxz the ATI card is not visible and it shows up again when I choose "Discrete" so I believe it is working,.

I'm now reformatting the whole computer to xubuntu
apparently I'm havin the same issue. well, I notice one thing when I type in. lspci | grep VGA
when it says,. !!!unknown header type

Code:

...

03:00.0 Display controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Sun LE [Radeon HD 8550M] (rev ff) (prog-if ff)
	!!! Unknown header type 7f
	Kernel driver in use: radeon