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LaptopDev

Member

Registered: 2024-09-24

Posts: 54

[SOLVED] AMD APU's support X11 VT switching... but do discrete GPU's?

[SOLVED in 311755]

[update]
  This post initially scoped to nvidia but it's not reductively nvidia vs amd. I have since installed an intel arc b570 as well as an amd 5600 xt recently and shot down that presumption. The problem persists on the amdgpu I got.

  I want to launch 1 X-session per virtual terminal with unique startx configurations and switch between the virtual terminals as you do with the kernel bindings (ctrl+alt+[fn]) and chvt.

The fvwm3 irc suggested I provide the contents of Xorg.0.log: https://0x0.st/P82A.txt .

My kernel is

Linux rog 6.12.65-1-lts #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Sun, 11 Jan 2026 17:06:24 +0000 x86_64 GNU/Linux

GPU: nvidia 3090 founders edition

I have ly installed on vt2 where X+fvwm3 launches.
When fvwm3 is up on vt2, I switch to other vt's and they function like normal.
When I spawn X itself, such as with `X vt7`, I believe I am getting X on vt7, no cursor shows up or is visible but my system is accessible via SSH.
When I switch back to x+fvwm3 on vt2, my display freezes, requiring a hard reset.

Last edited by LaptopDev (2026-02-02 04:24:55)

LaptopDev

Member

Registered: 2024-09-24

Posts: 54

Re: [SOLVED] AMD APU's support X11 VT switching... but do discrete GPU's?

I currently have ly launched via a systemd service:

# /usr/lib/systemd/system/ly@.service
[Unit]
Description=TUI display manager
After=systemd-user-sessions.service plymouth-quit-wait.service
After=getty@%i.service
Conflicts=getty@%i.service

[Service]
Type=idle
ExecStart=/usr/bin/ly
StandardInput=tty
TTYPath=/dev/%I
TTYReset=yes
TTYVHangup=yes

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
rog:/usr/share/xsessions$ 

LaptopDev

Member

Registered: 2024-09-24

Posts: 54

Re: [SOLVED] AMD APU's support X11 VT switching... but do discrete GPU's?

I am not sure that ly is the problem specifically though. If I use startx with .xinitrc as such:

# ~/.xinitrc
export XDG_SESSION_TYPE=x11
export XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP=dwm
#picom --fade-in-step=1 --fade-out-step=1 --fade-delta=0 --inactive-dim=0 &
xrandr --output HDMI-0 --mode 1920x1080 --rate 100
xset -dpms #disable display power management
xset s off #disable screensaver
kdeconnectd &
playerctld &
xbindkeys &
dunst &
#exec /usr/local/bin/dwm
exec /usr/local/bin/fvwm3 -f /home/user/.fvwm/config

It launches into fvwm3 and will also, after switching from it to a virtual terminal and then back with ctrl+alt+[fn] or using chvt [vt], replicates the graphical freeze.

I don't know how to troubleshoot this and would like advice. My goal is to run startx on separate virtual terminals and switch between the sessions with the vt switching.

Last edited by LaptopDev (2026-01-15 11:07:29)

LaptopDev

Member

Registered: 2024-09-24

Posts: 54

Re: [SOLVED] AMD APU's support X11 VT switching... but do discrete GPU's?

fvmw3 friend says his amd apu and discrete amd gpu both can switch between x11 virtual terminals. He only has provided me his apu model and kernel for his laptop. But he says it works fine on his home pc.

Kernel
Linux kernel 6.12.63-gentoo-dist #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC
Thu Dec 18 19:15:56 -00 2025 x86_64 GNU/Linux

GPU
AMDGPU
AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U w/ Radeon Vega Mobile Gfx
Integrated AMDGPU (laptop)
Dedicated AMDGPU (@home)

"both work the same, and the linux kernel used is stock LTS on both machines"

An AI tells me amd apu's get more love. Being a noob linux user, it would be a rather humongous feature to be able to have functional x sessions per virtual terminal, especially for my desktop.

Last edited by LaptopDev (2026-01-15 13:46:41)