NVidia Optimus Second monitor not found if NVidia is installed

altermetax · 2019-12-17 23:24:54

Hello. I have an NVidia Optimus laptop with a second monitor attached to it.
When the NVidia drivers are not installed, everything works, but of course the NVidia card is not used.
When the NVidia drivers are installed and I follow this guide to only use the NVidia card, it works.
When the NVidia drivers are installed and I don't follow that guide, only the laptop main monitor works, with the Intel driver. If I then install nvidia-prime, the prime-run script included in that package successfully runs programs using the NVidia card.

I would like to achieve the last configuration, but with also the second monitor working. Running xrandr in that state returns:

eDP-1 connected primary 1920x1080+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 344mm x 193mm
   1920x1080     60.01 +  60.01*   59.97    59.96    59.93    40.00  
   1680x1050     59.95    59.88  
   1400x1050     59.98  
   1600x900      59.99    59.94    59.95    59.82  
   1280x1024     60.02  
   1400x900      59.96    59.88  
   1280x960      60.00  
   1440x810      60.00    59.97  
   1368x768      59.88    59.85  
   1280x800      59.99    59.97    59.81    59.91  
   1280x720      60.00    59.99    59.86    59.74  
   1024x768      60.04    60.00  
   960x720       60.00  
   928x696       60.05  
   896x672       60.01  
   1024x576      59.95    59.96    59.90    59.82  
   960x600       59.93    60.00  
   960x540       59.96    59.99    59.63    59.82  
   800x600       60.00    60.32    56.25  
   840x525       60.01    59.88  
   864x486       59.92    59.57  
   700x525       59.98  
   800x450       59.95    59.82  
   640x512       60.02  
   700x450       59.96    59.88  
   640x480       60.00    59.94  
   720x405       59.51    58.99  
   684x384       59.88    59.85  
   640x400       59.88    59.98  
   640x360       59.86    59.83    59.84    59.32  
   512x384       60.00  
   512x288       60.00    59.92  
   480x270       59.63    59.82  
   400x300       60.32    56.34  
   432x243       59.92    59.57  
   320x240       60.05  
   360x202       59.51    59.13  
   320x180       59.84    59.32  
HDMI-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

Even though I am sure the HDMI cable is connected.

Scorpick · 2019-12-18 11:56:41

I have an optimus laptop with external monitor attached. I got it working by following this guide: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/PR … er_offload
But I had to also install xf86-video-intel and additionally remove the first section (about intel) from /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-nvidia-drm-outputclass.conf
Sometimes I need to reconnect the HDMI cable after logging in or launching games, but apart from that it's working well.

altermetax · 2019-12-18 12:10:40

Nope, still seems to not be working. The xrandr output has changed a bit (it has a "VIRTUAL" provider now):

Screen 0: minimum 8 x 8, current 1920 x 1080, maximum 32767 x 32767
eDP1 connected primary 1920x1080+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 340mm x 190mm
   1920x1080     60.01*+  59.93    40.00  
   1680x1050     59.95    59.88  
   1400x1050     59.98  
   1600x900      60.00    59.95    59.82  
   1280x1024     60.02  
   1400x900      59.96    59.88  
   1280x960      60.00  
   1368x768      60.00    59.88    59.85  
   1280x800      59.81    59.91  
   1280x720      59.86    60.00    59.74  
   1024x768      60.00  
   1024x576      60.00    59.90    59.82  
   960x540       60.00    59.63    59.82  
   800x600       60.32    56.25  
   864x486       60.00    59.92    59.57  
   640x480       59.94  
   720x405       59.51    60.00    58.99  
   640x360       59.84    59.32    60.00  
HDMI1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
VIRTUAL1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

This is my current /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-nvidia-drm-outputclass.conf:

Section "OutputClass"
    Identifier "nvidia"
    MatchDriver "nvidia-drm"
    Driver "nvidia"
    Option "AllowEmptyInitialConfiguration"
    ModulePath "/usr/lib/nvidia/xorg"
    ModulePath "/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
EndSection

xf86-video-intel, nvidia and nvidia-prime are all installed.

Last edited by altermetax (2019-12-18 12:12:37)

theodore · 2019-12-18 13:06:27

@altermetax you cannot have the last configuration working since the nvidia driver still does not support offloading graphics (or Source Output capability as it is called, i.e. to be used as an output sink) see here (check the third bullet on the caveats section). The only way to have the external screen running at the moment is either by using only the nvidia driver or by setting up the nvidia graphics as primary which is also described in the link that I have attached. I guess this is what @Scorpick has done.

seth · 2019-12-18 13:42:03

If you don't insist in prime you can use https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Bu … VIDIA_chip - also see the linked https://github.com/Bumblebee-Project/Bu … itor-setup

nb. that however you want to use the output wired to the nvidia chip, this implies that the chip cannot be powered down - not even through prime (and w/ a Turing chip or newer)

dglt · 2019-12-18 14:10:30

the only way you get external display functionality when using render offload is if the external hdmi/dp/usbc ports are wired to the intel integrated graphics, this however is the exception and not the rule. most optimus laptops have video outputs wired to the nvidia gpu.

otavioschwanck · 2019-12-18 15:38:55

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=251491 i wrote a guide about this.

altermetax · 2019-12-18 15:59:41

seth wrote:

If you don't insist in prime you can use https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Bu … VIDIA_chip - also see the linked https://github.com/Bumblebee-Project/Bu … itor-setup
nb. that however you want to use the output wired to the nvidia chip, this implies that the chip cannot be powered down - not even through prime (and w/ a Turing chip or newer)

I used to use Bumblebee, but that has performance issues and it's not compatible with DXVK, which I'd like to be able to use.

otavioschwanck wrote:

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=251491 i wrote a guide about this.

That's the second configuration among the three I listed in the original post. I'm fully able to achieve it, but I'd like to use Intel by default and NVidia for certain applications.

dglt wrote:

the only way you get external display functionality when using render offload is if the external hdmi/dp/usbc ports are wired to the intel integrated graphics, this however is the exception and not the rule. most optimus laptops have video outputs wired to the nvidia gpu.

That's unfortunate. It bugs me, though, because if I only use the Intel card and I fully uninstall the NVidia drivers, the second monitor will work with Intel. Maybe there's something I don't understand.

seth · 2019-12-18 16:09:28

because if I only use the Intel card and I fully uninstall the NVidia drivers, the second monitor will work with Intel. Maybe there's something I don't understand.

The nvidia chip likely is used, but through nouveau & prime? (logs, lspci)

altermetax · 2019-12-18 20:52:43

seth wrote:

because if I only use the Intel card and I fully uninstall the NVidia drivers, the second monitor will work with Intel. Maybe there's something I don't understand.
The nvidia chip likely is used, but through nouveau & prime? (logs, lspci)

So you mean the Intel chip does the rendering, and the NVidia chip sends it over to the external monitor (glxinfo says Intel is being used)? That kind of makes sense. But then, can't I just achieve the same thing, but with the additional ability to render a specific application with NVidia itself?

Last edited by altermetax (2019-12-18 20:55:12)

seth · 2019-12-18 21:10:50

Yes of course, that's what bumblebee and prime (render offload) do, just the prime graphics offload as by theodores link doesn't provide an output sink (yet?!)

If the purpose is to play Super Turbo Turkey Puncher 3™ on nvidia and the HDMI output, you can also run a dedicated X11 server on that GPU and output (while checking the cheatcodes on the intel chip and the internal display)

altermetax · 2019-12-21 02:02:37

(Sorry for the late response)
I read somewhere about something called "intel-virtual-output" included in xf86-video-intel which is supposed to do what I'm trying to do, but in my case it just outputs:

No VIRTUAL outputs on ":0".

And I don't understand how to fix it.

seth wrote:

you can also run a dedicated X11 server on that GPU and output (while checking the cheatcodes on the intel chip and the internal display)

Well, since there's really no way to have Intel as default & Nvidia for certain programs, I guess this is the only solution. Could you explain me how to do it? I've tried nvidia-xrun but it fails saying it can't find the nvidia module, although nvidia is installed and it works if I modprobe -r it.

seth · 2019-12-21 08:34:58

I read somewhere about something called "intel-virtual-output"

That's https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Bu … VIDIA_chip

there's really no way to have Intel as default & Nvidia for certain programs

There's nothing to indicate that statement would be true. As a matter of fact, you actually stated that

I used to use Bumblebee

I've tried nvidia-xrun

Did you follow https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Nvidia-xrun

saying it can't find the nvidia module

Leaving aside that you should probably not be calling nvidia-xrun while the module is already loaded (and likely in use), please post the actual I/O, no paraphrases.

altermetax · 2019-12-21 13:53:16

I managed to make nvidia-xrun work. Now I have KDE Plasma on the first display (:0) with Intel and Openbox on the fourth with NVidia, because I ran nvidia-xrun from there. When I'm on the fourth display, both monitors are running, but when I'm on the first, only the laptop one does. That's for the same reason as specified in the original post: if nvidia is installed but not configured in xorg.conf, the external monitor won't work.

seth · 2019-12-21 14:33:44

Yes, of course not…

If you want an actual multiscreen setup (I was speculating on the purpose of this task)you will HAVE to use both GPUs on the same server.
a) https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/NV … phics_only
b) bumblebee and virtual output
c) configure two screens on the same X11 server, one for the intel, one for the nvidia device (though I assume that's hardly better than "a")

Pick your poison.

altermetax · 2019-12-21 14:48:53

seth wrote:

If you want an actual multiscreen setup (I was speculating on the purpose of this task)

I don't necessarily want a multiscreen setup, just having the external monitor working with the laptop one off would be enough.

Anyway, then I guess I'll have to choose A (B has limitations and C is not what I want), but the NVidia driver is kind of laggy with my graphics card and I'd prefer to only use it for graphically intensive applications, so that makes me sad.

Still, thank you for your support!

Arch Linux

#1 2019-12-17 23:24:54

NVidia Optimus Second monitor not found if NVidia is installed

#2 2019-12-18 11:56:41

Re: NVidia Optimus Second monitor not found if NVidia is installed

#3 2019-12-18 12:10:40

Re: NVidia Optimus Second monitor not found if NVidia is installed

#4 2019-12-18 13:06:27

Re: NVidia Optimus Second monitor not found if NVidia is installed

#5 2019-12-18 13:42:03

Re: NVidia Optimus Second monitor not found if NVidia is installed

#6 2019-12-18 14:10:30

Re: NVidia Optimus Second monitor not found if NVidia is installed

#7 2019-12-18 15:38:55

Re: NVidia Optimus Second monitor not found if NVidia is installed

#8 2019-12-18 15:59:41

Re: NVidia Optimus Second monitor not found if NVidia is installed

#9 2019-12-18 16:09:28

Re: NVidia Optimus Second monitor not found if NVidia is installed

#10 2019-12-18 20:52:43

Re: NVidia Optimus Second monitor not found if NVidia is installed

#11 2019-12-18 21:10:50

Re: NVidia Optimus Second monitor not found if NVidia is installed

#12 2019-12-21 02:02:37

Re: NVidia Optimus Second monitor not found if NVidia is installed

#13 2019-12-21 08:34:58

Re: NVidia Optimus Second monitor not found if NVidia is installed

#14 2019-12-21 13:53:16

Re: NVidia Optimus Second monitor not found if NVidia is installed

#15 2019-12-21 14:33:44

Re: NVidia Optimus Second monitor not found if NVidia is installed

#16 2019-12-21 14:48:53

Re: NVidia Optimus Second monitor not found if NVidia is installed

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