[solved] Intel/AMD 8870m Switchable, Can Not Disable Discrete Card

jaythespacehound · 2013-05-29 04:23:36

EDIT: Solved, the acpi_call-git example script has been updated with a new call for the 8870m
For people with similar problems, reading through this thread may help clarify.

Hi all, thank you for looking.
I'm running on a Samsung Chronos 7 series with switchable graphics, intel hd 4000 and amd 8870m.
I can not get the discrete graphics to turn off, leaving battery life very low.

Info:
lspci:

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller (rev 09)
01:00.0 Display controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Venus XT [Radeon HD 8800M Series]

I have tried:
vgaswitcheroo:
I have both xf86-video-ati and xf86-video-intel installed. radeon is blacklisted on startup.
fstab includes:

none		/sys/kernel/debug debugfs defaults 0 0

modprobe radeon works fine, both cards appear to have kms enabled but I have no vgaswitcheroo in /sys/kernel/debug:

cat /sys/module/i915/parameters/modeset 
1
cat /sys/module/radeon/parameters/modeset 
1

ls /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo
ls: cannot access /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo: No such file or directory

ATI Catalyst Proprietary drivers
I get to:

aticonfig --initial
aticonfig: No supported adapters detected

acpi_call-git
I installled the acpi_call-git package from AUR, but it does not find the card:

turn_off_gpu.sh                           
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P1.VGA._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P2.VGA._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB_.PCI0.OVGA.ATPX: failed
Trying \_SB_.PCI0.OVGA.XTPX: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P3.PEGP._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P2.PEGP._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P1.PEGP._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.MXR0.MXM0._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.PEG1.GFX0._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.GFX0.DOFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.PEG1.GFX0.DOFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.XVR0.Z01I.DGOF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.PEGR.GFX0._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.PEG.VID._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.VID._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P2.DGPU._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P4.DGPU.DOFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.IXVE.IGPU.DGOF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.RP00.VGA._PS3: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.RP00.VGA.P3MO: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.GFX0.DSM._T_0: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.LPC.EC.PUBS._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P2.NVID._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P2.VGA.PX02: failed
Trying \_SB_.PCI0.PEGP.DGFX._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB_.PCI0.VGA.PX02: failed

I'm out of ideas at this point any help would be muchly appreciated.
Thanks,
Jay

Last edited by jaythespacehound (2013-07-04 10:17:42)

WonderWoofy · 2013-05-29 04:37:08

Sometimes I have neard that you can turn the discrete card off in the BIOS. Have you tried that?

jaythespacehound · 2013-05-29 04:46:26

There are no GPU related options in my BIOS at all
Thanks for the suggestion though.

pam · 2013-05-29 05:08:12

Dont use opensource drivers. Download the latest prop drivers.
Dont use vgaswitcheroo, it only works with open-source.

After installing prop drivers, Reboot.

Then open terminal and do what you did...

sudo aticonfig --initial

Reboot.

If you get the same error reboot again and then try...

jaythespacehound · 2013-05-29 07:44:20

Thanks for you post, I don't see why rebooting should be any different than modprobing the driver but I did it anyway. Twice. Still getting:

aticonfig --initial
aticonfig: No supported adapters detected

I then tried to add the adaptor manually in xorg.conf.d/
But with no luck, checked the logs and found this:

[  1811.893] (II) Loading PCS database from /etc/ati/amdpcsdb /etc/ati/amdpcsdb.default
[  1811.894] ukiDynamicMajor: found major device number 251
[  1811.895] (WW) fglrx: No matching Device section for instance (BusID PCI:0@1:0:0) found
[  1811.895] (EE) No devices detected.

For the record PCI:0@1:0:0 is the ati card.
I don't think these drivers recognise the 8870m, considering that even the windows drivers for this card are beta only.

Last edited by jaythespacehound (2013-05-29 07:52:23)

pam · 2013-05-29 08:45:22

if my guess is correct the radeon 8000 series are a rebadge of 7000 with substantial performance perks........

Are you using catalyst 13.4

Hyugga · 2013-06-04 19:12:47

Hi, a have an AMD 8750M and have the same problem... Downloading the propietary drivers from AMD (catalyst 13.4) doesn't work either. In here http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/l … linux.aspx you can find the prop driver (13.4). In the release notes, there's not any HD 8xxx series card supported... The card isn't supported yet???

By the way, googling a little, it seems that you can't deactivate the discrete card. You can do that only on muxed card systems or something. There's a "switch" on the bios to do that. Modern hardware doesn't have that option to delegate that control to the software.

Good luck!

Last edited by Hyugga (2013-06-04 19:22:44)

surion · 2013-06-21 17:15:28

Hi all!

I also have a very similar laptop (it's a Samsung Chronos Series 7 with the same AMD GPU), and I've looking into this.
After checking DSDT and similar stuff, I've come across 2 "functions".

_SB_.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP.SGOF
_SB_.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP.SGON

With acpi-call, we can pass this instructions like this:

echo '\_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP.SGOF' > /proc/acpi/call
echo '\_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP.SGON' > /proc/acpi/call

After each command we can do:

cat /proc/acpi/call

The first one returns 0x0 and the second 0x1.

Now I've read here, that these functions are used to turn on (SGON) and off (SGOF) the GPU, although, in this example, it's a NVIDIA GPU.

I don't know if this means something, but maybe someone else can shed some light on this.

EDIT: SUCCESS!!! Or so it seems. After running each command and viewing the estimated battery remaining, I can see a difference of 1h45m, or so, between states.

Last edited by surion (2013-06-21 17:37:05)

Metroid_III · 2013-06-22 04:55:00

Hello,

I've been facing the same problem on my Samsung Series 7 Chronos w/ an 8770M GPU. Now running

echo '\_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP.SGOF' > /proc/acpi/call

or using acpi_call_GUI successfully turns off the dedicated GPU (as reported in acpi_call_gui at least), however my computer shuts down within two seconds of the command, on its own? Any idea what's going on?

EDIT:
Examining closer, I can run

echo '\_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP.SGON' > /proc/acpi/call

and I get a return value of 0x1 from /proc/acpi/call, which is also displayed in acpi_call_GUI. The computer does not crash. But when I run

echo '\_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP.SGOF' > /proc/acpi/call

I don't get a return value at all, even though acpi_call_GUI states that the dedicated card is deactivated. And then the computer shuts off. Interesting...

Last edited by Metroid_III (2013-06-22 05:08:11)

surion · 2013-06-22 21:43:38

When you make the call to turn off the GPU, you should get a return value of 0x0.

Have you seen if the BIOS is the latest version?

Metroid_III · 2013-06-23 06:51:51

surion wrote:

When you make the call to turn off the GPU, you should get a return value of 0x0.
Have you seen if the BIOS is the latest version?

I'm on BIOS P03ABU which is the latest pushed through Software Update so far

surion · 2013-06-23 09:47:12

My BIOS version is P03ABZ... Maybe it's not the same model (mine is NP770Z7E-S01PT)?

Metroid_III · 2013-06-24 04:00:07

Yea our models are slightly different but I assume the BIOS is the same, just different numbering schemes to differentiate the different GPU's. I extract and decompiled the SSDT4 for my computer and confirmed the presence of the SGON "method" so tbh idk what to do now.

surion · 2013-06-24 14:05:06

Is the radeon module loaded when you try to make the call?

Metroid_III · 2013-06-24 23:52:16

Yep should I remove it?

Last edited by Metroid_III (2013-06-24 23:53:11)

surion · 2013-06-25 00:34:25

Yeah. Try blacklisting the module. Or do a rmmod radeon and try again. But just to be safe you should blacklist it.

Metroid_III · 2013-06-25 02:21:31

ok I tried blacklisting the module both in modprobe.d and from the kernel command line, but still no dice. Computer shuts off within seconds on its own and no return value from acpi_call.

Gotta say I really appreciate the help though, surion. It's literally made my week even if I still haven't fixed this LAST issue with Linux on this computer If you've got more suggestions let me know and I'll keep doing my best to look into it as well

Last edited by Metroid_III (2013-06-25 02:22:41)

surion · 2013-06-25 08:01:30

You're welcome!
It's always great trying to help.

Have you tried running the call without Xorg running (we got to try everything... )?

MarcoDallas · 2013-06-26 18:34:19

Metroid_III wrote:

Hello,
I've been facing the same problem on my Samsung Series 7 Chronos w/ an 8770M GPU. Now running
echo '\_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP.SGOF' > /proc/acpi/call
or using acpi_call_GUI successfully turns off the dedicated GPU (as reported in acpi_call_gui at least), however my computer shuts down within two seconds of the command, on its own? Any idea what's going on?
EDIT:
Examining closer, I can run
echo '\_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP.SGON' > /proc/acpi/call
and I get a return value of 0x1 from /proc/acpi/call, which is also displayed in acpi_call_GUI. The computer does not crash. But when I run
echo '\_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP.SGOF' > /proc/acpi/call
I don't get a return value at all, even though acpi_call_GUI states that the dedicated card is deactivated. And then the computer shuts off. Interesting...

Hi,

as you can read in changelogs of acpi_call_GUI: "Now the "Turn off discrete GPU" log window tells "Discrete GPU correctly deactivated" or reports the occurred error"
it says "Discrete GPU correctly deactivated" if the call to /proc/acpi/call retured 0x0. source: I'm the creator

The shutdown problem is made by acpi_call module. 3 days ago Michal Kottman added a call for AMD HD8870 in his example script, maybe it added the support for graphic cards like yours. If not, you should contact him to report the bug

Bye!

Last edited by MarcoDallas (2013-06-26 18:53:43)

surion · 2013-06-26 18:42:24

I raised the issue that got the card added to the script, so it works.
My card is exactly like his and my laptop doesn't shut down.

MarcoDallas · 2013-06-26 18:56:55

Strange!

btw, have you encountered any problems or bugs using acpi_call_GUI with archlinux? as far as i know, archlinux doesn't support initscripts, so acpi_call_GUI theoretically won't be able to "automate disabling discrete GPU on every boot"! For this function to work your system must have an /etc/rc.local file with execute permission and with "exit 0" at his end (acpi_call_GUI_Fedora creates an /etc/rc.d/rc.local automatically, in Ubuntu it's not necessary cause /etc/rc.local already exists)

Thanks for your feedback

Last edited by MarcoDallas (2013-06-26 18:58:39)

surion · 2013-06-26 20:14:01

I just created a script of my own, with just my acpi_call... call...
Then created a systemd service unit.

Metroid_III · 2013-06-27 02:00:55

@surion

Thanks I tried without X running but the same thing happens

@MarcoDallas

First thank you for the great software which has helped many in this situation with hybrid gpu's

But yes my acpi_call_GUI does report "GPU correctly deactivated" but that's wierd since running through terminal I don't see 0x0 at all. And since I've looked through the DDST and SSDT's I know this command should be the right one for 8770M models as well. Maybe I should wait to see if other NP780 owners manage to get the 8770M card off in Linux, maybe Samsung needs to release a BIOS update for this particular model.

Last edited by Metroid_III (2013-06-27 02:10:25)

surion · 2013-06-27 08:14:47

Now that I read it right, my card is slightly different from yours (mine is a 8870).
Nevertheless it should work.

BTW, you only see the "0x0" when you do "cat /proc/acpi/call", right after you make the call.

MarcoDallas · 2013-06-27 11:15:07

surion wrote:

Now that I read it right, my card is slightly different from yours (mine is a 8870).
Nevertheless it should work.

I repeat, in my opinion Metroid_III should contact Michal Kottman to report this bug, or at least for asking help

surion wrote:

BTW, you only see the "0x0" when you do "cat /proc/acpi/call", right after you make the call.

quote

p.s.

I just started to work on a version that uses systemd, maybe (if it works) it will replace acpi_call_Fedora.. so it will work in every system that uses systemd Stay tuned and BTW I will tell you if I succeed

Last edited by MarcoDallas (2013-06-27 12:05:47)

Arch Linux

#1 2013-05-29 04:23:36

[solved] Intel/AMD 8870m Switchable, Can Not Disable Discrete Card

#2 2013-05-29 04:37:08

Re: [solved] Intel/AMD 8870m Switchable, Can Not Disable Discrete Card

#3 2013-05-29 04:46:26

Re: [solved] Intel/AMD 8870m Switchable, Can Not Disable Discrete Card

#4 2013-05-29 05:08:12

Re: [solved] Intel/AMD 8870m Switchable, Can Not Disable Discrete Card

#5 2013-05-29 07:44:20

Re: [solved] Intel/AMD 8870m Switchable, Can Not Disable Discrete Card

#6 2013-05-29 08:45:22

Re: [solved] Intel/AMD 8870m Switchable, Can Not Disable Discrete Card

#7 2013-06-04 19:12:47

Re: [solved] Intel/AMD 8870m Switchable, Can Not Disable Discrete Card

#8 2013-06-21 17:15:28

Re: [solved] Intel/AMD 8870m Switchable, Can Not Disable Discrete Card

#9 2013-06-22 04:55:00

Re: [solved] Intel/AMD 8870m Switchable, Can Not Disable Discrete Card

#10 2013-06-22 21:43:38

Re: [solved] Intel/AMD 8870m Switchable, Can Not Disable Discrete Card

#11 2013-06-23 06:51:51

Re: [solved] Intel/AMD 8870m Switchable, Can Not Disable Discrete Card

#12 2013-06-23 09:47:12

Re: [solved] Intel/AMD 8870m Switchable, Can Not Disable Discrete Card

#13 2013-06-24 04:00:07

Re: [solved] Intel/AMD 8870m Switchable, Can Not Disable Discrete Card

#14 2013-06-24 14:05:06

Re: [solved] Intel/AMD 8870m Switchable, Can Not Disable Discrete Card

#15 2013-06-24 23:52:16

Re: [solved] Intel/AMD 8870m Switchable, Can Not Disable Discrete Card

#16 2013-06-25 00:34:25

Re: [solved] Intel/AMD 8870m Switchable, Can Not Disable Discrete Card

#17 2013-06-25 02:21:31

Re: [solved] Intel/AMD 8870m Switchable, Can Not Disable Discrete Card

#18 2013-06-25 08:01:30

Re: [solved] Intel/AMD 8870m Switchable, Can Not Disable Discrete Card

#19 2013-06-26 18:34:19

Re: [solved] Intel/AMD 8870m Switchable, Can Not Disable Discrete Card

#20 2013-06-26 18:42:24

Re: [solved] Intel/AMD 8870m Switchable, Can Not Disable Discrete Card

#21 2013-06-26 18:56:55

Re: [solved] Intel/AMD 8870m Switchable, Can Not Disable Discrete Card

#22 2013-06-26 20:14:01

Re: [solved] Intel/AMD 8870m Switchable, Can Not Disable Discrete Card

#23 2013-06-27 02:00:55

Re: [solved] Intel/AMD 8870m Switchable, Can Not Disable Discrete Card

#24 2013-06-27 08:14:47

Re: [solved] Intel/AMD 8870m Switchable, Can Not Disable Discrete Card

#25 2013-06-27 11:15:07

Re: [solved] Intel/AMD 8870m Switchable, Can Not Disable Discrete Card

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