NVIDIA driver and tty resolution on UEFI system

Nikus · 2013-05-16 09:16:33

I managed to install archlinux on my new computer which has the UEFI system.
My first problem was the not display of the framebuffer (boot message) after the GRUB menu and before tty.
The problem was the framebuffer doesn't support higher resolution than 800x600x32. If I put an higher resolution I just have a black screen during the framebuffer phase.
Whatever the resolution I chose for the framebuffer, I get a tty with a 1280x1080 resolution. But I don't know why or how.
Then I installed X and the nvidia driver. After that the tty was not displayed (just a black screen). GRUB menu was well displayed and framebuffer was only displayed in 800x600 resolution.
I suspect the nvidia is not able to display tty in high resolution.
But I don't know how to lower the tty resolution to check that.

Here is my way to force GRUB menu and framebuffer to 800x600 resolution :
/etc/default/grub
GRUB_GFXMODE=800x600x32
GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=keep

Could someone explain to me why my tty resolution switch to 1280x1080 while the framebuffer is set to 800x600.
And if someone knows how to configure the nvidia driver to display high resolution in framebuffer and tty?

My desktop config:
* Motherboard ASUS P8Z77-V LX
* Graphic card MSI GeForce GTX 660 N660-2GD5/OC
* UEFI system
* SATA hard drive with GPT with first partiton: 512MiB FAT 32 UEFI system partition

Last edited by Nikus (2013-05-16 12:05:37)

srs5694 · 2013-05-16 17:21:47

I've found that if the computer uses DVI/HDMI connections, the resolution in the EFI is often locked to the monitor's native resolution, at least in the EFI. Once Linux drivers take over, they're often more flexible, but details depend on the driver. I don't know much about the proprietary nVidia driver (I try to avoid it), so I can't comment on that aspect of your problem, except to suggest that trying the Nouveau driver, and perhaps even the older nv driver, may be worthwhile. You might also consider trying rEFInd to boot the computer; it's got its own resolution-setting code, which might work differently from what GRUB 2 does. That might give you more flexibility when it comes to the EFI's framebuffer, although I doubt if it would affect things once the Linux drivers take over.

Mr.Elendig · 2013-05-18 11:25:20

Just run a TE in X instead of wasting time in tty, and ignore the res at boot, it is usually so fast that you won't really notice it anyway.

srs5694 · 2013-05-18 14:14:50

Mr.Elendig wrote:

Just run a TE in X instead of wasting time in tty, and ignore the res at boot, it is usually so fast that you won't really notice it anyway.

IMO, a working text-mode console should not be dismissed so easily. They're invaluable when debugging X problems or when X flakes out and you want to shut down cleanly.

thisoldman · 2013-05-18 15:21:03

My rather incomplete Nvidia notes from a recent installation tell me to keep grub's default resolution different from the X server's resolution. I also don't have the 'x32' (or 'x24') in the grub file. I kept 'auto' in the GFXMODE line as a fallback. http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manual … xmode.html

/etc/default/grub lines:

GRUB_GFXMODE=1024x768,auto
GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=keep

And the notes say to regenerate grub with

# grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Nvidia drivers are odd beasts: I go for months, through various versions, with no problems. Then along comes an update that breaks things. I am seriously considering switching to nouveau permanently the next time something breaks.

gonX · 2013-05-18 16:08:08

Are you using the (open-source) nouveau or the (proprietary) nvidia driver? I don't think the proprietary driver works that well with framebuffers

Nikus · 2013-05-18 17:16:48

Hello guys and thanks for your answers.
I thought that my problem was linked to UEFI, so I reinstalled the os with BIOS and MBR. Unfortunately I had the same problem, with one difference: the auto/default resolution of GRUB and FrameBuffer was 800x600 instead of 1920x1080 for UEFI.

About the nouveau driver, I need 3D acceleration to play games so I need the proprietary driver.

So I decided to test the X server to see if something got wrong.
I uninstalled the nvidia driver and reboot to have my framebuffer back.
Then I edit the ~/.xinitrc file :
xterm & sleep 10

I reinstalled the nvidia driver and reboot : GRUB, then framebuffer for 1 second, then a black screen.
I tried to log in: login + [Enter] + password + [Enter]
I waited 2s then I entered the "startx" command.
And the xterm window appeared. And the best is after the 10s the X server shuts down and the framebuffer was back !!! Unbelievable !!!
So I continued the installation : Gnome + Gdm.
After the reboot : Grub, then framebuffer for 1 second, then a black screen, then Gdm login screen !!!
So it seems to be a problem with nvidia driver and the framebuffer.
After the Gnome + Gdm installation I managed to display the framebuffer in tty2. But I don't know if tty2 was working before (when tty1 only display black screen).

My conclusion and installation tip is to not reboot after the nvidia driver installation and to install a desktop environment + a display manager and to pray to not have problem.

Nikus · 2013-05-18 17:21:29

Mr.Elendig wrote:

Just run a TE in X instead of wasting time in tty, and ignore the res at boot, it is usually so fast that you won't really notice it anyway.

At this time of my installation I don't have a Desktop Environnement.
My only way to interact with my computer is tty or a boot cd.

Nikus · 2013-05-18 17:26:32

srs5694 wrote:

IMO, a working text-mode console should not be dismissed so easily. They're invaluable when debugging X problems or when X flakes out and you want to shut down cleanly.

I completely agree with you, framebuffer displays data about the boot process and it's extremely valuable in case of problem.
So I'll keep trying to find out a way to make the nvidia driver displaying the framebuffer at boot.

Gusar · 2013-05-18 17:40:13

The nvidia driver does not provide a framebuffer console, it only handles X. So you need to use efifb if booting in EFI mode, or (u)vesafb if booting in BIOS mode. Well, BIOS mode also has the option of using a classic text console instead of a framebuffer. Also note that Nvidia does not guarantee their driver will work with a framebuffer present.

Last edited by Gusar (2013-05-18 17:41:14)

Padfoot · 2013-05-23 10:15:05

I am using refind and set my monitor's native resolution in there. I have found doing this, i have native resolution in UEFI, boot, console and desktop, even with nvidia drivers. My system from start up to shutdown is in 1920x1080.

Perhaps give refind a go?

ruffles001 · 2013-07-11 09:11:01

I also had a blank tty after installing the nvidia driver. I came across a note in the arch nvidia page mentioning a conflict between integrated Intel HD4000 graphics and the nvidia driver. I blacklisted the kernel modules for the Intel graphics and got my tty. The resolution is still an issue however. I'll give refind a try.

Last edited by ruffles001 (2013-07-11 09:12:55)

EvanPurkhiser · 2013-07-11 11:02:35

I've just recently configured rEFInd to my monitors native resolution of 1680x1050 whilst using the proprietary NVIDIA drivers for my GTX 760 and am very happy to report that my ttys are in native resolution. However, I am seeing corruption at the bottom of the screen in the tty if I switch from X11 to a tty.

ruffles001 · 2013-07-11 21:15:00

How did you set your resolution in rEFInd? I have an EVGA GTX 670 using the nvidia drivers I am unable to set any resolution above 1024x768 for tty. I've tried setting this with 'resolution 1920 1080' in /efi/EFI/refind.conf and got a message that available modes are 0, 1, 2 only.

srs5694 · 2013-07-11 23:20:10

Ruffles0001, the available resolutions vary from one computer or video card to another. In fact, they can even vary from one video output to another, or they may depend on firmware options like enabling or disabling CSM/BIOS/legacy boot support. Thus, if you can't get your desired resolution, it could be that there isn't a solution or that a solution depends on adjusting firmware options or changing your video hardware.

Arch Linux

#1 2013-05-16 09:16:33

NVIDIA driver and tty resolution on UEFI system

#2 2013-05-16 17:21:47

Re: NVIDIA driver and tty resolution on UEFI system

#3 2013-05-18 11:25:20

Re: NVIDIA driver and tty resolution on UEFI system

#4 2013-05-18 14:14:50

Re: NVIDIA driver and tty resolution on UEFI system

#5 2013-05-18 15:21:03

Re: NVIDIA driver and tty resolution on UEFI system

#6 2013-05-18 16:08:08

Re: NVIDIA driver and tty resolution on UEFI system

#7 2013-05-18 17:16:48

Re: NVIDIA driver and tty resolution on UEFI system

#8 2013-05-18 17:21:29

Re: NVIDIA driver and tty resolution on UEFI system

#9 2013-05-18 17:26:32

Re: NVIDIA driver and tty resolution on UEFI system

#10 2013-05-18 17:40:13

Re: NVIDIA driver and tty resolution on UEFI system

#11 2013-05-23 10:15:05

Re: NVIDIA driver and tty resolution on UEFI system

#12 2013-07-11 09:11:01

Re: NVIDIA driver and tty resolution on UEFI system

#13 2013-07-11 11:02:35

Re: NVIDIA driver and tty resolution on UEFI system

#14 2013-07-11 21:15:00

Re: NVIDIA driver and tty resolution on UEFI system

#15 2013-07-11 23:20:10

Re: NVIDIA driver and tty resolution on UEFI system

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