Arch Linux

Kaspers

Member

From: the Netherlands

Registered: 2019-06-18

Posts: 4

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Apple Studio Display (thunderbolt) flickers when running native

This is the issue I'm facing:

I would describe this as 'flickering'.

I have an Apple Studio Display, connected via Thunderbolt:

boltctl list                                                                                                               
 ● Apple Inc. Studio Display #2
   ├─ type:          peripheral
   ├─ name:          Studio Display
   ├─ vendor:        Apple Inc.
   ├─ uuid:          bb030000-0072-7c1e-03af-bfd824e38808
   ├─ generation:    Thunderbolt 3
   ├─ status:        authorized
   │  ├─ domain:     b8030000-0090-941e-8350-c83322114927
   │  ├─ rx speed:   40 Gb/s = 2 lanes * 20 Gb/s
   │  ├─ tx speed:   40 Gb/s = 2 lanes * 20 Gb/s
   │  └─ authflags:  none
   ├─ authorized:    za 17 aug 2024 11:19:02 UTC
   ├─ connected:     za 17 aug 2024 11:19:02 UTC
   └─ stored:        za 17 aug 2024 10:35:56 UTC
      ├─ policy:     auto
      └─ key:        no

I'm running this kernel:

uname -a                                                                                                                  
Linux macbookpro 6.10.3-arch1-Adashima-T2-1-t2 #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Sun, 11 Aug 2024 07:17:42 +0000 x86_64 GNU/Linux

This is my graphics configuration:

inxi -G --display                                                                                                         
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel CoffeeLake-H GT2 [UHD Graphics 630] driver: i915 v: kernel
  Device-2: AMD Navi 14 [Radeon RX 5500/5500M / Pro 5500M] driver: amdgpu
    v: kernel
  Device-3: Apple FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in) driver: uvcvideo type: USB
  Device-4: Apple Touch Bar Display driver: appletbdrm,hid-multitouch,usbhid
    type: USB
  Device-5: Apple Studio Display
    driver: hid-generic,hid-sensor-hub,snd-usb-audio,usbhid,uvcvideo type: USB
  Display: wayland server: X.org v: 1.21.1.13 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.2
    compositor: Hyprland v: 0.42.0 driver: X: loaded: modesetting
    dri: radeonsi,iris gpu: amdgpu,appletbdrm resolution: 1: 5120x2880~60Hz
    2: 3072x1920~60Hz
  API: EGL v: 1.5 drivers: iris,radeonsi,swrast
    platforms: gbm,wayland,x11,surfaceless,device
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: amd mesa v: 24.1.6-arch1.1
    renderer: AMD Radeon Graphics (radeonsi navi14 LLVM 18.1.8 DRM 3.57
    6.10.3-arch1-Adashima-T2-1-t2)

As you can see, I've two options regarding graphics:

 Device-1: Intel CoffeeLake-H GT2 [UHD Graphics 630] driver: i915 v: kernel
 Device-2: AMD Navi 14 [Radeon RX 5500/5500M / Pro 5500M] driver: amdgpu

I'm currently on the amdgpu:

glxinfo | grep "OpenGL renderer"                                                                                           
OpenGL renderer string: AMD Radeon Graphics (radeonsi, navi14, LLVM 18.1.8, DRM 3.57, 6.10.3-arch1-Adashima-T2-1-t2)

What I already have tried to solve this issue, and to no avail:
1. Swapping the screen for a new one
2. Swapping the thunderbolt cable
3. Running Ubuntu Live iso (ubuntu-24.04-6.9.9-t2-noble.iso)
4. Running integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630) instead of amdgpu
5. Installing the correct color profile ('P3-600 nits')
6. X.org instead of Wayland

This issue does **not** occur when:
1. Running the same resolution connected to the same laptop (MacBookPro16,1), **but on Mac OS**
2. Connecting the screen to a Dell+Windows laptop
3. Running the screen with resolution **2560x1440~60Hz** instead of native (5120x2880~60Hz)
4. Trying some kernel settings:
- amdgpu.dcdebugmask=0x1
- amdgpu.dcdebugmask=0x10
- amdgpu.sg_display=0
- pcie_ports=native pci=realloc

I'd conclude it's a software thing. Screen seems fine. But I'm not sure whether its a display driver / kernel issue or a thunderbolt thing. Any kernel settings I could try? Or any other suggestions?

gromit

Package Maintainer (PM)

From: Germany

Registered: 2024-02-10

Posts: 846

Website

Re: Apple Studio Display (thunderbolt) flickers when running native

Do you also have the issue with the linux-lts package?

Also could you try to see if the issue also is present on the latest mainline kernel?

sudo pacman -U https://pkgbuild.com/\~gromit/linux-bisection-kernels/linux-mainline-6.11rc5-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst

Note that this installs a new kernel image next to the ones you currently have installed, so you'll have to teach your bootloader how to boot this new image (i.e. via grub-mkconfig, new systemd-boot loader entry or similar)

Kaspers

Member

From: the Netherlands

Registered: 2019-06-18

Posts: 4

Website

Re: Apple Studio Display (thunderbolt) flickers when running native

Do you also have the issue with the linux-lts package?

Also could you try to see if the issue also is present on the latest mainline kernel?

sudo pacman -U https://pkgbuild.com/\~gromit/linux-bisection-kernels/linux-mainline-6.11rc5-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst

Note that this installs a new kernel image next to the ones you currently have installed, so you'll have to teach your bootloader how to boot this new image (i.e. via grub-mkconfig, new systemd-boot loader entry or similar)

Thanks for helping out gromit!
Just installed the mainline kernel with the package you've provided:

sudo pacman -U https://pkgbuild.com/\~gromit/linux-bisection-kernels/linux-mainline-6.11rc5-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst

and created a systemd boot entry:

title   Arch Linux Mainline
linux   vmlinuz-linux-mainline
initrd  /intel-ucode.img
initrd  /initramfs-linux-mainline.img
options root=PARTUUID=479406d4-8fca-4daf-b146-a5dab03af194 quiet loglevel=3 rw intel_iommu=on iommu=pt pcie_ports=native apple-gmux.force_igd=n

I'll report back in a minute.

Kaspers

Member

From: the Netherlands

Registered: 2019-06-18

Posts: 4

Website

Re: Apple Studio Display (thunderbolt) flickers when running native

Do you also have the issue with the linux-lts package?

Also could you try to see if the issue also is present on the latest mainline kernel?

So I've tried both:

Linux-LTS 6.6.47-1
Linux Mainline 6.11rc5-1

With both kernels I'm facing the same issue, so I'd conclude it's not a specific Linux T2 issue. It's present in the regular kernel as well.

Kaspers

Member

From: the Netherlands

Registered: 2019-06-18

Posts: 4

Website

Re: Apple Studio Display (thunderbolt) flickers when running native

Are there any other kernel parameters I could try?