/nvidia-graphics-on-linux

It can be such a pain

nvidia-graphics-on-linux

It can be such a pain

Laptops with Hybrid Graphics (NVIDIA and Intel)

Fedora

Forcing NVIDIA to be the default GPU for X11

  1. Follow instructions from https://github.com/gridhead/nvidia-auto-installer-for-fedora-linux
  2. Use envycontrol (dnf install python3-envycontrol): sudo envycontrol --use-nvidia-current -s hybrid --force-comp

If using SDDM:

  1. Edit /etc/sddm.conf and set line DisplayServer to x11 (If you want to avoid using wayland)
  2. Edit /etc/sddm/Xsetup and append lines xrandr --setprovideroutputsource modesetting NVIDIA-0 (it could be also called NVIDIA-G0) and xrandr --auto
  3. Reboot
  • Note: Make sure PRIME offloading is enabled, else X11 on an external display really lags ~1FPS
  • Use glmark2 to check the default GPU Known issues:
  • SDDM on external monitor may look a bit funny, like duplicate wallpapers at different sizes, just a cosmetic issue

Using the Hybrid model under Wayland [Intel HD/NVIDIA]

  1. Allow your login manager to start with wayland
  2. Login into your wayland based DE
  3. for your shell create a prime-run alias: alias prime-run="__NV_PRIME_RENDER_OFFLOAD=1 __GLX_VENDOR_LIBRARY_NAME=nvidia"
  4. By default apps will render to Intel, run the app with prime-run to use the NVIDIA GPU instead (tested this works under wayland)

Known issues:

  • Wayland rendering on Intel to an external display feels less responsive than X11 on NVIDIA, this could be a sync issue since the HDMI port is probably only wired to the NVIDIA GPU.
  • WineD3D has an issue with wayland, such as the D3DERR_CONFLICTINGRENDERSTATE error, at least with D3D7, with D3D8/9/10/11/12, one can simply use a vulkan wrapper

Ubuntu

  1. sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa
  2. sudo apt update
  3. sudo apt install nvidia-drivers-XXX
  4. Go to the nvidia settings panel, make NVIDIA the default under power settings, then reboot