Intel 9th Gen iGPU able to drive a G-sync panel, why?
by VulcanBin from LinuxQuestions.org on (#6PGNW)
Hello, I've been a Linux user on and off through the years but recent events brought me back to using Linux Mint.
My questions are:
1. Why is my intel iGPU able to drive my G-Sync panel on Linux and not windows.
2. nVIDIA Optimus isn't present in my laptop's BIOS, how is graphic switching possible on linux?
(As the debian wiki states: "This method (nvidia-prime) makes the most effective use of Optimus-capable hardware and is the recommended approach for any user who is willing to rely on the proprietary NVIDIA driver.")
Here are some outputs that might prove useful as I explain:
Code:
$ lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Linuxmint
Description: Linux Mint 21.3
Release: 21.3
Codename: virginia
--
$echo "$XDG_SESSION_TYPE"
x11Code:$lspci -k | grep -EA3 'VGA|3D|Display'
00:02.0 Display controller: Intel Corporation CoffeeLake-H GT2 [UHD Graphics 630]
DeviceName: Onboard - Video
Subsystem: Dell CoffeeLake-H GT2 [UHD Graphics 630]
Kernel driver in use: i915
--
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation GP106BM [GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile 6GB] (rev a1)
Subsystem: Dell GP106BM [GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile 6GB]
Kernel driver in use: nouveau
Kernel modules: nvidiafb, nouveau
My Laptop (the daily driver) is fairly old. An Alienware 17 R5 and recently my GTX1060 burned out. Took it to a technician who refused to work on it because the risk was too high (might render the whole computer unusable). As the power rail to the GPU core is not providing adequate power.
Checking my laptop with nVIDIA MATS did let me know beforehand that my memory banks were fine. But MODS would would only error out on all tests stating that the interrupt handler on the GPU did not respond.
On windows I can not switch to UHD 630 to take over as the primary display adapter ( Although I can run specific programs with it). The GTX1060 is 'said' to be hardwired for this job in the R5/R4/R3 models because the intel GPUs specifically before the 11th Gen ones, can't handle variable refresh rate.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Alienware/c...ienware_17_r5/
https://forums.tomshardware.com/thre...15-r3.3747600/
Code:My Laptop has a G-Sync display (60 Hz),
16 Gigs of RAM, an
Intel 8750H 6 Cores -12 Threads,
Intel iGPU UHD 630,
Discrete GPU Card: nVIDIA GTX1060 6GB.Yes, I did perform a fresh install for windows. DDU'd the drivers a bunch of times and and checked drivers all the way from Version 412 to 555.9. The weird thing was that disabling the UHD 630 did nothing to the display (the screen remained on a lower resolution). Even though the GTX 1060 couldn't handle greater loads, it was still driving my display but with the windows basic display adapter (hence the stretched res). Even weirder was the fact that disabling the GTX1060 from the Device Manager, did not do anything at all. The computer would continue using the GTX 1060 wile simultaneously showing that this device is disabled.
Installing the updated graphic drivers would cause a crash mid installation or if sometimes I was lucky a minute or two after the installation finished.
I did install bodhi at one time but the mistake I made was changing my display adapter from nouveau to 535. Bodhi would only be accessible with tty on the next boot.
Scraped that and went with Mint this time. I won't be changing the display driver. But what I did was install nvidia-prime. I was able to change my current GPU being utilized.
Code:$ prime-select query
intelFurther proof that it works is the fact that I ran Warframe using proton and intel_gpu_top gave this output:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17S8...ew?usp=sharing
Yes, the little icon at the far left on the taskbar does say Intel. Showing tha my iGPU is being used. Clicking on it, I do get the option to switch back to nVIDIA, but I won't be doing that right now.
The reason I am still trying to find answers is that using the UHD 630 is not an option. Sadly unscrewing the chassis reveals that the UDH630 is nowhere near a heat-sink, it was made to solely to act as a trophy and with load provided, the naked die will get hot with no place to vent out it's heat. Bad design choices or a middle finger to consumers? You decide.
I doubt there would be anyone out there still running an old Alienware machine but if you're out there, let this be stepping stone in your journey to finding answers. Oddly enough there are no posts that go through the same/similar process as I did. Or maybe no one posted it.
I'd be grateful if anyone could answer my questions.
Thank you.
My questions are:
1. Why is my intel iGPU able to drive my G-Sync panel on Linux and not windows.
2. nVIDIA Optimus isn't present in my laptop's BIOS, how is graphic switching possible on linux?
(As the debian wiki states: "This method (nvidia-prime) makes the most effective use of Optimus-capable hardware and is the recommended approach for any user who is willing to rely on the proprietary NVIDIA driver.")
Here are some outputs that might prove useful as I explain:
Code:
$ lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Linuxmint
Description: Linux Mint 21.3
Release: 21.3
Codename: virginia
--
$echo "$XDG_SESSION_TYPE"
x11Code:$lspci -k | grep -EA3 'VGA|3D|Display'
00:02.0 Display controller: Intel Corporation CoffeeLake-H GT2 [UHD Graphics 630]
DeviceName: Onboard - Video
Subsystem: Dell CoffeeLake-H GT2 [UHD Graphics 630]
Kernel driver in use: i915
--
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation GP106BM [GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile 6GB] (rev a1)
Subsystem: Dell GP106BM [GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile 6GB]
Kernel driver in use: nouveau
Kernel modules: nvidiafb, nouveau
My Laptop (the daily driver) is fairly old. An Alienware 17 R5 and recently my GTX1060 burned out. Took it to a technician who refused to work on it because the risk was too high (might render the whole computer unusable). As the power rail to the GPU core is not providing adequate power.
Checking my laptop with nVIDIA MATS did let me know beforehand that my memory banks were fine. But MODS would would only error out on all tests stating that the interrupt handler on the GPU did not respond.
On windows I can not switch to UHD 630 to take over as the primary display adapter ( Although I can run specific programs with it). The GTX1060 is 'said' to be hardwired for this job in the R5/R4/R3 models because the intel GPUs specifically before the 11th Gen ones, can't handle variable refresh rate.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Alienware/c...ienware_17_r5/
https://forums.tomshardware.com/thre...15-r3.3747600/
Code:My Laptop has a G-Sync display (60 Hz),
16 Gigs of RAM, an
Intel 8750H 6 Cores -12 Threads,
Intel iGPU UHD 630,
Discrete GPU Card: nVIDIA GTX1060 6GB.Yes, I did perform a fresh install for windows. DDU'd the drivers a bunch of times and and checked drivers all the way from Version 412 to 555.9. The weird thing was that disabling the UHD 630 did nothing to the display (the screen remained on a lower resolution). Even though the GTX 1060 couldn't handle greater loads, it was still driving my display but with the windows basic display adapter (hence the stretched res). Even weirder was the fact that disabling the GTX1060 from the Device Manager, did not do anything at all. The computer would continue using the GTX 1060 wile simultaneously showing that this device is disabled.
Installing the updated graphic drivers would cause a crash mid installation or if sometimes I was lucky a minute or two after the installation finished.
I did install bodhi at one time but the mistake I made was changing my display adapter from nouveau to 535. Bodhi would only be accessible with tty on the next boot.
Scraped that and went with Mint this time. I won't be changing the display driver. But what I did was install nvidia-prime. I was able to change my current GPU being utilized.
Code:$ prime-select query
intelFurther proof that it works is the fact that I ran Warframe using proton and intel_gpu_top gave this output:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17S8...ew?usp=sharing
Yes, the little icon at the far left on the taskbar does say Intel. Showing tha my iGPU is being used. Clicking on it, I do get the option to switch back to nVIDIA, but I won't be doing that right now.
The reason I am still trying to find answers is that using the UHD 630 is not an option. Sadly unscrewing the chassis reveals that the UDH630 is nowhere near a heat-sink, it was made to solely to act as a trophy and with load provided, the naked die will get hot with no place to vent out it's heat. Bad design choices or a middle finger to consumers? You decide.
I doubt there would be anyone out there still running an old Alienware machine but if you're out there, let this be stepping stone in your journey to finding answers. Oddly enough there are no posts that go through the same/similar process as I did. Or maybe no one posted it.
I'd be grateful if anyone could answer my questions.
Thank you.