Hybrid Intel/ATI graphics - use ATI video card

[ShivaS]

Hi all,

I have a HP ProBook 4740s that has hybrid graphics

# lspci | grep VGA                                        
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller (rev 09)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Thames [Radeon HD 7550M/7570M/7650M] (rev ff)

I've been ok using the integrated video card with the mesa drivers so far but I'm having issues running GOG.com games so I want to switch to the dedicated video card with the radeon driver. The only way to do this is by the VGA switcheroo (here and here and here).

# glxinfo | grep renderer
    GLX_MESA_multithread_makecurrent, GLX_MESA_query_renderer, 
    GLX_MESA_multithread_makecurrent, GLX_MESA_query_renderer, 
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa DRI Intel(R) Ivybridge Mobile 
[root@devlnx ~]# cat /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch
0:IGD:+:Pwr:0000:00:02.0
1:DIS: :DynOff:0000:01:00.0
[root@devlnx ~]# grep switcheroo /var/log/messages
Mar 26 10:31:07 devlnx kernel: [    4.811870] VGA switcheroo: detected switching method \_SB_.PCI0.GFX0.ATPX handle
Mar 26 10:31:07 devlnx kernel: [    5.589992] vga_switcheroo: enabled
Mar 26 10:30:28 devlnx kernel: VGA switcheroo: detected switching method \_SB_.PCI0.GFX0.ATPX handle
Mar 26 10:30:29 devlnx kernel: vga_switcheroo: enabled
Mar 26 22:58:22 devlnx kernel: [    4.311562] VGA switcheroo: detected switching method \_SB_.PCI0.GFX0.ATPX handle
Mar 26 22:58:22 devlnx kernel: [    5.125514] vga_switcheroo: enabled
Mar 26 22:57:40 devlnx kernel: VGA switcheroo: detected switching method \_SB_.PCI0.GFX0.ATPX handle
Mar 26 22:57:41 devlnx kernel: vga_switcheroo: enabled
Mar 27 08:30:29 devlnx kernel: [    4.526808] VGA switcheroo: detected switching method \_SB_.PCI0.GFX0.ATPX handle
Mar 27 08:30:29 devlnx kernel: [    5.242497] vga_switcheroo: enabled
Mar 27 08:29:57 devlnx kernel: VGA switcheroo: detected switching method \_SB_.PCI0.GFX0.ATPX handle
Mar 27 08:29:58 devlnx kernel: vga_switcheroo: enabled
Mar 27 15:36:04 devlnx kernel: [    3.486395] VGA switcheroo: detected switching method \_SB_.PCI0.GFX0.ATPX handle
Mar 27 15:36:04 devlnx kernel: [    4.297921] vga_switcheroo: enabled
Mar 27 08:29:57 devlnx kernel: VGA switcheroo: detected switching method \_SB_.PCI0.GFX0.ATPX handle
Mar 27 08:29:58 devlnx kernel: vga_switcheroo: enabled
Mar 27 15:35:18 devlnx kernel: VGA switcheroo: detected switching method \_SB_.PCI0.GFX0.ATPX handle
Mar 27 15:35:19 devlnx kernel: vga_switcheroo: enabled
Mar 28 09:53:33 devlnx kernel: [    4.278453] VGA switcheroo: detected switching method \_SB_.PCI0.GFX0.ATPX handle
Mar 28 09:53:33 devlnx kernel: [    5.046850] vga_switcheroo: enabled
Mar 28 09:52:55 devlnx kernel: VGA switcheroo: detected switching method \_SB_.PCI0.GFX0.ATPX handle
Mar 28 09:52:56 devlnx kernel: vga_switcheroo: enabled
Mar 28 12:24:06 devlnx kernel: [    3.488914] VGA switcheroo: detected switching method \_SB_.PCI0.GFX0.ATPX handle
Mar 28 12:24:06 devlnx kernel: [    4.212899] vga_switcheroo: enabled
Mar 28 12:23:30 devlnx kernel: VGA switcheroo: detected switching method \_SB_.PCI0.GFX0.ATPX handle
Mar 28 12:23:30 devlnx kernel: vga_switcheroo: enabled

I took the following steps:
1. turn on unused video card
#echo ON > /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch
2. delay start of the discrete video card
#echo DDIS > /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch
3. logged out
- received a blank, black screen
4. forced reboot
5. logged into the sistem
6. check vhat driver and video card the sistem is using
# glxinfo | grep renderer
GLX_MESA_multithread_makecurrent, GLX_MESA_query_renderer,
GLX_MESA_multithread_makecurrent, GLX_MESA_query_renderer,
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa DRI Intel(R) Ivybridge Mobile
# cat /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch
0:IGD:+:Pwr:0000:00:02.0
1IS: ynOff:0000:01:00.0

DynOff means the video card was shut down by radeon driver. I've looked into /boot/grub2/grub.cfg for the radeon.dpm=1 setting but it's not there and I don't know if they are related. There's also a radeon.audio setting for enabling? HDMI audio (which my Fedora box currently lacks - outputs video on HDMI but no audio).

I also tried to install the official AMD beta drivers 14.3 but it fails stating that is not compatible with my video card (wtf!?!).

So, here I am - wanting to use my ATI card and not beeing able to.

[Skull One]

Since kernel 3.13, the discrete card can be dynamically powered and used by setting DRI_PRIME=1.
For instance:

DRI_PRIME=1 glxinfo |grep renderer

You can use the discrete card with your application by starting it from a terminal in the same way:

DRI_PRIME=1  my_application

If you get a black window, install and start xcompmgr before.

[ShivaS]

Oh, you're talking about PRIME ...

[root@devlnx ~]# cat /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch
0:IGD:+:Pwr:0000:00:02.0
1:DIS: :DynOff:0000:01:00.0
[root@devlnx ~]# xrandr --listproviders
Providers: number : 3
Provider 0: id: 0x7d cap: 0xb, Source Output, Sink Output, Sink Offload crtcs: 3 outputs: 4 associated providers: 2 name:Intel
Provider 1: id: 0x56 cap: 0xf, Source Output, Sink Output, Source Offload, Sink Offload crtcs: 6 outputs: 1 associated providers: 2 name:radeon
Provider 2: id: 0x56 cap: 0xf, Source Output, Sink Output, Source Offload, Sink Offload crtcs: 6 outputs: 1 associated providers: 2 name:radeon
[root@devlnx ~]# xrandr --setprovideroffloadsink radeon Intel
[root@devlnx ~]# DRI_PRIME=1 glxinfo | grep OpenGL
OpenGL vendor string: X.Org
OpenGL renderer string: Gallium 0.4 on AMD TURKS
OpenGL core profile version string: 3.1 (Core Profile) Mesa 10.0.4
OpenGL core profile shading language version string: 1.40
OpenGL core profile context flags: (none)
OpenGL core profile extensions:
OpenGL version string: 3.0 Mesa 10.0.4
OpenGL shading language version string: 1.30
OpenGL context flags: (none)
OpenGL extensions:
[root@devlnx ~]# cat /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch
0:IGD:+:Pwr:0000:00:02.0
1:DIS: :DynOff:0000:01:00.0
[root@devlnx ~]# glxinfo | grep OpenGL
OpenGL vendor string: Intel Open Source Technology Center
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa DRI Intel(R) Ivybridge Mobile 
OpenGL core profile version string: 3.3 (Core Profile) Mesa 10.0.4
OpenGL core profile shading language version string: 3.30
OpenGL core profile context flags: (none)
OpenGL core profile profile mask: core profile
OpenGL core profile extensions:
OpenGL version string: 3.0 Mesa 10.0.4
OpenGL shading language version string: 1.30
OpenGL context flags: (none)
OpenGL extensions:

So I tried running a game as simple user, with:

$ DRI_PRIME=1 playonlinux --run "Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone"

The game launcher identified the video card as AMD Radeon HD 6600 series (wtf?) but got only a black window for the game. No graphics, just sound.
demon_stone_graphic2.png
Tried Baldur's Gate, which works fine with the Intel driver but the Xserver rebooted (I was taken back to the login screen)

Regarding xcompmgr, I get an error when starting it, most probably because of some KDE features (I have no ideea which ones)

$ xcompmgr -c
Another composite manager is already running (0x180001b)

Is there any way to always use the discrete video card? In BIOS I can only disable it.

[Skull One]

Does it work using only the server side (it works for me):

xcompmgr -a

[ShivaS]

As simple user I get the same error message. Should it be run as root?

[Skull One]

No, it is a user command. Since kde is interferring, you should try to disable its compositing before. The shortcut is 'Alt+F10' if I remember well. Then wait a second, and xcompmgr should run.

[ShivaS]

Alt+Shift+F12
Yeah, the game started with the right graphics (The NPCs still have no body but that's a different issue).
Baldur's Gate continues to crash thw XServer.

[Skull One]

Alt+Shift+F12

I guess that I have changed the default one...

Baldur's Gate continues to crash thw XServer.

Probably a bug in the driver. Check the log for a backtrace, maybe:

journalctl --since -2h |grep radeon

[ShivaS]

Hi all,

Is there a way to configure my F20 to always use the discrete video card when it's plugged in?

I've also tried to fire up Virtual Box using the following command:
$DRI_PRIME=1 vbox

and after asking me for a username and password (tried both my limited account and root) it says:
vbox: can't get service 'vboxd/tcp' - please read the manual.