switch VGA controller

MarsTeam · #1 11th February 2011, 09:41 PM

Hello, first of all, Id like to apologize if I'm asking stupid question, but I am very new to linux.

My question is, I encountered this problem (flickering screen on VGA output of my dell notebook):
https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=28306

but thing is if I exec lspci

Code:

# lspci | grep VGA
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Core Processor Integrated
Graphics Controller (rev 18)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation GT218 [GeForce 310M] (rev
a2)

There are two controllers. So how do I know which controller is used for external monitor ? Maybe if I switch it it would fix the problem? Or am I completely wrong ?

stevea · #2 11th February 2011, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarsTeam

Code:

# lspci | grep VGA
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Core Processor Integrated
Graphics Controller (rev 18)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation GT218 [GeForce 310M] (rev
a2)

There are two controllers. So how do I know which controller is used for external monitor ? Maybe if I switch it it would fix the problem? Or am I completely wrong ?

You will find a line like ths in the output of "lsmod"
video 13188 1 i915

So my system is using th i915 driver for the intel GPU. For the nvidea you might get
video 13188 1 nouveau
or similar.

You can probably control which is used from the BIOS.

MarsTeam · #3 11th February 2011, 11:13 PM

Even when I install it exactly accordingly to tutorial It hangs out after "Starting atd:". I tried kmod, akmod.
I can get into other terminals though. My lsmod displays nvidia in i2c_core, and there is no nouveau. Any ideas ?

leigh123linux · #4 11th February 2011, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarsTeam

Even when I install it exactly accordingly to tutorial It hangs out after "Starting atd:". I tried kmod, akmod.
I can get into other terminals though. My lsmod displays nvidia in i2c_core, and there is no nouveau. Any ideas ?

post

Code:

cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log

Code:

rpm -qa |grep nvidia |sort

and

Code:

dmesg

MarsTeam · #5 11th February 2011, 11:14 PM

I have both i915 and nouveau there.

I've read that the flickering bug happens on i915, so I want to enforce my all my vga to be rendered by my Geforce 310M. Is it possible ? That would maybe help me with problem.

stevea · #6 11th February 2011, 11:33 PM

1/ BIOS ?

2/ You can probably blacklist the i915 drver like
siu -
<passwd>
echo "blacklist i915" >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
^D

reboot

MarsTeam · #7 11th February 2011, 11:49 PM

1/ There's no such option in bios.
2/ I added blacklist i915 to the end of blacklist.conf file but it is still listed in lsmod.

MarsTeam · #8 12th February 2011, 12:07 AM

cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log

rpm -qa |grep nvidia |sortg

dmesg
additional info:
My gfx is Geforce 310M, I'm running 64b system.

leigh123linux · #9 12th February 2011, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarsTeam

cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log

rpm -qa |grep nvidia |sortg

dmesg
additional info:
My gfx is Geforce 310M, I'm running 64b system.

Try running

Code:

su
cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup
nvidia-xconfig

It looks like the monitor isn't being detected.

.

MarsTeam · #10 12th February 2011, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leigh123linux

Try running

Code:

su
cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup
nvidia-xconfig

It looks like the monitor isn't being detected.

.

Tried, still no help - still system hangs at startup (I can only switch to other terminal).

By the way maybe this could help ? I have no idea though.

Code:

# lspci | grep VGA
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Core Processor Integrated
Graphics Controller (rev 18)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation GT218 [GeForce 310M] (rev
a2)

leigh123linux · #11 12th February 2011, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarsTeam

Tried, still no help - still system hangs at startup (I can only switch to other terminal).

By the way maybe this could help ? I have no idea though.

Code:

# lspci | grep VGA
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Core Processor Integrated
Graphics Controller (rev 18)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation GT218 [GeForce 310M] (rev
a2)

You need to disable the intel card if possible in the mobo bios.

MarsTeam · #12 12th February 2011, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leigh123linux

You need to disable the intel card if possible in the mobo bios.

Hi, I can't disable in in bios because:
1/ There is no such option.
2/ I dual boot with windows, and I'd like to have it there (I guess)

I tried to disable it by appending "blacklist i915" >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf , but it still is in my lsmod.
So is there some other way how to disable it, or have I done something wrong ?

I have very good reason why I am installing proprietary drivers, I have bug with external monitor flickering on VGA output and I'm hoping this would fix it.

---------- Post added at 11:49 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:06 AM ----------

Hi, I tried to disable it by adding to grub:
agp=off
now when I write 'lsmod'
in 'video' there is nothing (not even i915, not noveau). Maybe there should be nvidia ?

Before installing akmod
lsmod

Code:

video 21637 2 i915, nouveau

After installing akmod
lsmod

Code:

video 21637 1 i915

After adding the agp=off to grub
lsmod

Code:

video 21637 0

Maybe that helps ?

leigh123linux · #13 12th February 2011, 11:16 AM

Threads merged.

It looks like your stuck with the intel card

http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/show...=153321&page=2

http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showth...Alienware+M11X

MarsTeam · #14 12th February 2011, 11:41 AM

I use Dell Vostro 3300, I believe it has no Optimus technology implemented, so I should be able to switch between GFX... or not ?

Edit: Thanks for merge. I'm new to this forum wasn't sure whether to post it as separate issues or no, and where to post it.

leigh123linux · #15 12th February 2011, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarsTeam

I use Dell Vostro 3300, I believe it has no Optimus technology implemented, so I should be able to switch between GFX... or not ?

Edit: Thanks for merge. I'm new to this forum wasn't sure whether to post it as separate issues or no, and where to post it.

Try this post.

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=104788