Howto check if discrete laptop gpu is definitely broken

1uk · 2022-12-23 14:12:50

I have a macbook pro 15 inch mid 2012 running arch linux.
It has a discrete NVIDIA gpu:

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller (rev 09)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation GK107M [GeForce GT 650M Mac Edition] (rev a1)

The gpu "driver code" is NVE0.

There is the common issue, that the discrete gpu of these 2012 models don't work because of a manufacturing problem. I think it's because of the heat paste.
Anyway, I am using this method to disable the discrete nvidia gpu permanently: (using nvram from apple recovery): stackexchange thread.

Now... I have installed mesa and xf86-video-intel. This is the output of glxinfo

$ glxinfo | grep -e vendor -e render
direct rendering: Yes
server glx vendor string: SGI
client glx vendor string: Mesa Project and SGI
    GLX_MESA_copy_sub_buffer, GLX_MESA_query_renderer, GLX_MESA_swap_control,
    GLX_MESA_copy_sub_buffer, GLX_MESA_query_renderer, GLX_MESA_swap_control,
Extended renderer info (GLX_MESA_query_renderer):
OpenGL vendor string: nouveau
OpenGL renderer string: NVE7
    GL_ARB_compute_variable_group_size, GL_ARB_conditional_render_inverted,
    GL_NV_conditional_render, GL_NV_copy_image, GL_NV_depth_clamp,
    GL_ARB_compute_variable_group_size, GL_ARB_conditional_render_inverted,
    GL_NV_ES1_1_compatibility, GL_NV_blend_square, GL_NV_conditional_render,
    GL_EXT_render_snorm, GL_EXT_robustness, GL_EXT_sRGB_write_control,
    GL_NV_conditional_render, GL_NV_draw_buffers, GL_NV_fbo_color_attachments,
    GL_OES_element_index_uint, GL_OES_fbo_render_mipmap,

Which prints nouveau.

After that I installed the nvidia-470xx-dkms driver and bumblebee. Now when I boot. the screen freezes or goes black, I can't remember. But when I add nomodesetting to the kernel parameter line it will boot. When I now run

optirun startx

. I see my background wallpaper of my X homescreen for a short time and then it goes black.

Also when I just installed the nvidia driver without anything else like bumblebee and without configuring anything. but using the nvidia driver in the kernel with dkms, glxinfo would print NVIDIA as vendor string. While the system and graphics are working fine.

When I configured X to only use the discrete GPU it would give me a black screen, but I accidently run

nvidia-xconf

which I think messed it up.

I am using these articles as resources:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/NVIDIA
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/NVIDIA_Optimus

QUESTION:
I am really confused. I want to find a way to definitely proof my GPU has this heat paste or whatever issue, and I should give up on tinkering with NVIDIA Optimus.
What's the best way to do that? I want to find it out, because I might have just configured xorg/nvidia badly, and that's why it fails and I can maybe use the nvidia gpu.

cfr · 2022-12-24 02:35:53

Booting with nomodeset is not really a solution, so you probably shouldn't conclude much from misbehaviour when booted that way.

Did you consider just trying with nouveau rather than nvidia? If you just want to know whether it can work, it might be simpler than tangling with the proprietary drivers. If it turns out to be a live option, you can decide whether you want to tangle later.

seth · 2022-12-24 15:06:42

I am using this method to disable the discrete nvidia gpu permanently

OpenGL vendor string: nouveau
OpenGL renderer string: NVE7

To point out the obvious, you didn't disable the GPU.

Now when I boot. the screen freezes or goes black

That's probably because of the misconfigured optimus system.
Remove bumblebee, xf86-video-intel and (probably?) bbswitch.
Also

but I accidently run
nvidia-xconf
which I think messed it up.

remove /etc/X11/xorg.conf, try to boot the system withOUT "nomodeset" and post the last Xorg log, https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Xorg#General

Next up:
How do you intend to square

When I configured X to only use the discrete GPU it would give me a black screen

with

I am using this method to disable the discrete nvidia gpu permanently

?

Lone_Wolf · 2022-12-24 16:17:47

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller (rev 09)

This might be one of the systems where xf86-video-intel is necessary , don't remove it for now.

Arch Linux

#1 2022-12-23 14:12:50

Howto check if discrete laptop gpu is definitely broken

#2 2022-12-24 02:35:53

Re: Howto check if discrete laptop gpu is definitely broken

#3 2022-12-24 15:06:42

Re: Howto check if discrete laptop gpu is definitely broken

#4 2022-12-24 16:17:47

Re: Howto check if discrete laptop gpu is definitely broken

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