Dual Graphics ***AMD***& Nvidia best setup?

Newbie Corner
#1

So.. I've recently purchased a new laptop that has a ryzen 7 processor and nvidia 1660ti gpu. I've had zero issues with my fresh manjaro install graphically but am unfamiliar with the best way to utilize the switching of which gpu, discrete/integrated, the system uses for different applications as I do intend to do some gaming.
For optimus machines which i've used a while back, every post references intel systems with nvidia not amd ...
So what is the best method of switching gpus with amd/nvidia combo ?
I'm hoping to have any solution that will allow me some form of control over which gpu is used and when. I'm not bothered by having to logout and back in if necessary but I'd like the ability to have less power consumption and use integrated when i need to and be able to utilize nvidia (WITH VULKAN) if possible; when i want to game..
Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Not sure what all info to post so Hope i did the appropriate inxi...

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#2

AMD 🡘 nVidia hybrid drivers are currently shaky, so don't go down that road yet.

If your BIOS would allow you to disable the nVidia card, you can install both nVidia and AMD drivers and then a reboot would indeed allow you to have the best of both worlds: long battery life and gaming, but it's a feature of your BIOS.

If you end up trying AMD 🡘 nVidia Hybrid drivers, take a Crash-proof Backup before you end up with an unstable system...

:innocent:

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#3

I'd be amazed if it works at all quite frankly.

@Tandrias - the nvidia 1660ti mobile GPU should have decent enough power scaling to negate the issue anyway, just make sure you have the latest nvidia driver installed (which you do)

modern nvidia GPU are very power efficient when not under load, I have two, a GTX960 and a GTX1080ti currently, neither spin their fans up unless I am gaming for a long time. heat (or lack of to dispel) is the giveaway with regards power consumption

#4

Guy, guys, hold on. I know that dreaming is nice but the OP was asking about AMD CPU + Nvidia GPU setup, not two GPUs :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye: .

I personally don't have any experience with AMD hardware, but @dglt should know something about this. Probably the current hybrid setups with nvidia 440 should work and no switching will be needed but I'm not sure.

Here is some entry, a bit dated but may still be correct, @dglt must confirm this:

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#5

I'm well aware of that, I'm still not sure how stable it would be given nvidia+intel handoff is complicated enough to support in laptops still but if it is possible then great :slight_smile:

The comments regarding nvidia power scaling still stand, it may not really be necessary to switch GPU at all.

Thankfully new generation AMD laptops are available with AMD APU+AMD Discrete GPU now too. If I get a Ryzen laptop it would be one of those.

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#6

that should work but for amd/nvidia "optimus like" setups it might be easier to just use the prime package from MHWD which should work for both amd and intel systems since it uses the modesetting driver as default which works with both amd/intel.

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#7

So basically: video-hybrid-intel-nvidia-440xx-prime + video-modesetting = Works also on AMD CPU (NOT GPU!)

This humble padawan ask his Jedi master to confirm his assumption is correct...

:innocent: :grin:

#8

just this one, uninstall any others first

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#9

modesetting works on amd apu's, not sure how well it works on amd dgpu's though. both modesetting and amdgpu can work with render offload depending on how you set it up.

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#10

So do I get it right that modestting driver works for Intel and AMD CPUs?

That would make sense then since as I suspect, modesetting is used for hybrid setup and currently no other CPU driver can be used for it.

#11

you can use the intel driver with render-offload if you wanted to, same with amdgpu but i doubt either of them would work better than modesetting :man_shrugging:

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#13

Can I not use something like this so that I have the option to switch?

Reason I ask is it says " If you already use video-hybrid-intel-nvidia-440xx-prime configuration, this guide is also for you." and as the 440xx driver is one of the available for this card of mine I was thinking this was what I was looking for..?
Thank you to any who have and all who can assist. Communities always great over here :slight_smile:

#14

Well, that didn't work.. Ok so if it's easier to scrapthe idea of using the igpu, and only the nvidia card for everything, which I think I canwork around, how do I go about it?

#15

Optimus-manager is for INTEL-NVIDIA combo. For AMD-NVIDIA just use the default video-hybrid-intel-nvidia-440xx-prime (uninstall and undo any changes done by optimus-manager) and then start programs with:

prime-run

so like

prime-run steam

That is all. There is no switching between modes in AMD-NVIDIA, all works only as a Hybrid mode.

#16

it can be used in modes but with amd/nvidia combo it doesnt make much sense since prime synchronization doesnt work with it. i put together a modified optimus-switch for amd/nvidia for use with lightdm and both amd only and nvidia prime modes work but no prime sync which is why i didnt bother pursuing it further. so render offload prime seems to be the only suitable solution for it :man_shrugging:

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#17

What do you mean by "prime sync"?

#18

when using PRIME (not render offload prime), prime synchronization is what syncs the nvidia gpu to the intel gpu, without it you get severe tearing. the good thing about prime sync for gaming is that you dont need in-game vsync at all and doesnt give you the input lag associated with it. it's what the nvidia_drm.modeset=1 does.

i was able to get the amd/nvidia combo working with modesetting/nvidia and with amdgpu/nvidia but no prime sync :frowning_face:

from mine, using prime intel/nvidia

~ >>> xrandr --prop                                                                                     
Screen 0: minimum 8 x 8, current 1920 x 1080, maximum 16384 x 16384
eDP-1-1 connected 1920x1080+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 500mm x 281mm
	EDID: 
		00ffffffffffff0031d8000000000000
		051601036d321c78ea5ec0a4594a9825
		205054000000d1c00101010101010101
		010101010101023a801871382d40582c
		4500f4191100001e000000ff004c696e
		75782023300a20202020000000fd003b
		3d42440f000a202020202020000000fc
		004c696e7578204648440a2020200005
	PRIME Synchronization: 1

with amd/nvidia it's always a 0 (not working)

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#19

so when I mhwd -l I don't see that "prime" driver listed as an option

#20

How so? There should be two prime options:

video-hybrid-intel-nvidia-440xx-prime
video-hybrid-intel-nvidia-435xx-prime

#21

I think I've discovered that I'm just a lil special.. installed the nvidia-440xx "default/nonprime"... installed nvidia-prime from community.. restored default xconfigs for amd chip. use prime-run for everything i want to run on my nvidia card... seems to be working?!?

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