Arch Linux

seth

Member

From: Don't DM me only for attention

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 74,313

Re: Laptop always using discrete GPU even when idle

I was more curious whether you also set pcie_aspm=off
See whether the GPU enters D3 now.

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craftywiz

Member

Registered: 2023-06-25

Posts: 18

Re: Laptop always using discrete GPU even when idle

The GPU is still in D0. How do I turn pcie_aspm to "off"?

seth

Member

From: Don't DM me only for attention

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 74,313

Re: Laptop always using discrete GPU even when idle

You don't - it would not be helpful.

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craftywiz

Member

Registered: 2023-06-25

Posts: 18

Re: Laptop always using discrete GPU even when idle

Could the problem be related to the desktop environment or X11?
Shall I try installing gnome and see if that would help?

Lone_Wolf

Administrator

From: Netherlands, Europe

Registered: 2005-10-04

Posts: 14,893

Re: Laptop always using discrete GPU even when idle

Could the problem be related to the desktop environment or X11?
Shall I try installing gnome and see if that would help?

1. Possible
2. Not needed now, there are simpler/better methods to check.

Boot to multi-user.target to get to a textmode login .
login as root and verify the card* values.

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Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.

clean chroot building not flexible enough ?
Try clean chroot manager by graysky

craftywiz

Member

Registered: 2023-06-25

Posts: 18

Re: Laptop always using discrete GPU even when idle

In textmode, all the card values were set to auto. However, I don't think the problem is solved even then because power button light still remained orange instead of white and the power consumption from powertop was similar to the graphical mode.

The problem seems to be that the display is being rendered by the dGPU by default. I had exported DRI_PRIME = 1 before but I thought that gets reset between sessions.

seth

Member

From: Don't DM me only for attention

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 74,313

Re: Laptop always using discrete GPU even when idle

echo $DRI_PRIME

However see https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?pid=9#p9

More interesting than the auto setting would however be the state (D3 or D0)

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craftywiz

Member

Registered: 2023-06-25

Posts: 18

Re: Laptop always using discrete GPU even when idle

echo $DRI_PRIME is blank

How do I change the state to D3 or D0?

seth

Member

From: Don't DM me only for attention

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 74,313

Re: Laptop always using discrete GPU even when idle

You don't - the GPU is supposed to adapt the state to the workload.
Is it at D0 for both cards at the multi-user.target before you start a display server?

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How to upload text · How to boot w/o GUI · Disable Windows Fast-Start! · Fix your xinitrc

craftywiz

Member

Registered: 2023-06-25

Posts: 18

Re: Laptop always using discrete GPU even when idle

Yup, both cards are at D0 at the multi-user.target