Blank screen unresponsive cursor on laptop while external display is fine for NVIDIA with Optimus, Xorg

freebsd_user · Sep 30, 2023

My laptop is an Optimus capable and there is no way to disable Intel graphics from the BIOS (I am also willing to use both whenever suits). I followed the handbook and also tried all relevant posts for this issue with NVIDIA, but nothing worked. I was only able to reach to a blank screen with a white unresponsive cursor when I used nvidia-xconfig and that is all. The generated /etc/X11/xorg.conf is as follows,

Code:

# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig:  version 525.116.04

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Layout0"
    Screen      0  "Screen0"
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Mouse0"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "Protocol" "auto"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/sysmouse"
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Keyboard0"
    Driver         "keyboard"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor0"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "Unknown"
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BusID          "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Device0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Any help would be highly appreciated. Thank you.

Update: Intel graphics also did not work until I added the following to /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/i915.conf,

Code:

Section "Device"
        Identifier  "Card0"
        Driver      "modesetting"
        BusID       "PCI:0:2:0"

        Option      "AccelMethod" "glamor"
EndSection

Section "Module"
       Load "dri2"
       Load "glamoregl"
EndSection

So, Is there some modules also needs to be loaded with NVIDIA?

YYY__ · Sep 30, 2023

Just a note. I think it works anyway but it should be /usr/local/etc/X11.

EDIT:

Yes, I mean /usr/local is the convention, but other paths can be used.
xorg.conf() - See Description.

I'm sorry. I don't want to add more noise.

Is "PCI:1:0:0" the true nvidia?

FreeBSD and Nvidia Optimus

This post is a “step by step” tutorial to describe how I can use my Nvidia GeForce GT540M graphic card of my FreeBSD laptop, screenshot.

alfix.gitlab.io

Phishfry · Sep 30, 2023

CuatroTorres said:
but it should be /usr/local/etc/X11.

Config files should go here: /usr/local/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/

Chapter 5. The X Window System

This chapter describes how to install and configure Xorg on FreeBSD, which provides the open source X Window System used to provide a graphical environment

docs.freebsd.org

mer · Sep 30, 2023

In theory all you should need is a "snippet" file pointing at the nvidia card. Basically, all you should need is the Device section from what you posted. I've had mixed results over the years with the nvidia-xconfig it may not add all the right sections that normally get autodetected. By creating /etc/X11/xorg.conf I think you override all the autodetect things.

You say the laptop has Intel and Nvidia Optimus. Is the Nvidia tied to driving an external monitor or can it drive the internal display?
What nvidia drivers do you have loaded/installed? if you do pkg search nvidia you get a bunch of things, one is nvidia-hybrid-graphics-390-0.5 th at specifically says "Optimus Technology support".
I would start by not using that xorg.conf (you can rename it), then in /usr/local/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d create a snippet file, call it something like driver-nvidia.conf with the following:

Code:

Section "Device"
#    Identifier     "Device0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BusID          "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Then provide the output of kldlist, pkg info | grep -i nvidia Someone may also want to look at the Xorg.log file.

freebsd_user · Sep 30, 2023

CuatroTorres said:
Just a note. I think it works anyway but it should be /usr/local/etc/X11.

EDIT:

Yes, I mean /usr/local is the convention, but other paths can be used.
xorg.conf() - See Description.

I'm sorry. I don't want to add more noise.

Is "PCI:1:0:0" the true nvidia?

FreeBSD and Nvidia Optimus

This post is a “step by step” tutorial to describe how I can use my Nvidia GeForce GT540M graphic card of my FreeBSD laptop, screenshot.

alfix.gitlab.io

Thank you for the reply. I can see /etc/X11/xorg.conf listed there. I think the BusID is correct, as you can see,

Code:

# pciconf -lv|grep -B4 VGA
vgapci1@pci0:0:2:0:     class=0x030000 rev=0x05 hdr=0x00 vendor=0x8086 device=0x9bc4 subvendor=0x1458 subdevice=0x86b6
    vendor     = 'Intel Corporation'
    device     = 'CometLake-H GT2 [UHD Graphics]'
    class      = display
    subclass   = VGA
--
vgapci0@pci0:1:0:0:     class=0x030000 rev=0xa1 hdr=0x00 vendor=0x10de device=0x2191 subvendor=0x1458 subdevice=0x86b6
    vendor     = 'NVIDIA Corporation'
    device     = 'TU116M [GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile]'
    class      = display
    subclass   = VGA

The tutorial is obsoleted by a new official FreeBSD port, as mentioned in the article.

freebsd_user · Sep 30, 2023

Phishfry said:
Config files should go here: /usr/local/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/

Chapter 5. The X Window System

This chapter describes how to install and configure Xorg on FreeBSD, which provides the open source X Window System used to provide a graphical environment

docs.freebsd.org

Thank you for the reply. I tried there too by following the handbook as I mentioned but same result.

Phishfry · Sep 30, 2023

Optimus models are a mess. I use my Dell Optimus for Windows/AutoCAD.
Even when I got the video working the fan ran 100%.

freebsd_user · Oct 1, 2023

Thank you, mer, for the reply.

Is the Nvidia tied to driving an external monitor or can it drive the internal display?

No, it is tied to a laptop LCD with no external display attached.

What nvidia drivers do you have loaded/installed?

I have installed the latest driver using pkg install nvidia-driver which is 525.116.03.

one is nvidia-hybrid-graphics-390-0.5 th at specifically says "Optimus Technology support".

Unfortunately, my card GTX 1660 Ti is not listed under supported device list. However, I tried anyway, but didn't work.

output of kldlist

kld_list="nvidia-modeset"

pkg info | grep -i nvidia Someone may also want to look at the Xorg.log file.

nvidia-driver-525.116.03 NVidia graphics card binary drivers for hardware OpenGL rendering

I've updated the parent post and xorg log is attached, collected after following your instructions and a reboot.

YYY__ · Oct 1, 2023

It is auto detecting the modes and loading at low resolution. Try specifying the "modes" within the Display subsection. I don't have time to review the rest now.

mer · Oct 1, 2023

kldstat | grep nvidia
are both nvidia-modeset.ko and nvidia.ko loaded?

It looks like xorg can't find any display devices on the nvidia.

Code:

[    19.455] (--) NVIDIA(0): Valid display device(s) on GPU-0 at PCI:1:0:0
[    19.455] (--) NVIDIA(0):     DFP-0
[    19.455] (--) NVIDIA(0):     DFP-1
[    19.455] (--) NVIDIA(0):     DFP-2
[    19.455] (WW) NVIDIA: No DRM device: No direct render devices found.
[    19.456] (II) NVIDIA(0): NVIDIA GPU NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti (TU116-A) at PCI:1:0:0
[    19.456] (II) NVIDIA(0):     (GPU-0)
[    19.456] (--) NVIDIA(0): Memory: 6291456 kBytes
[    19.456] (--) NVIDIA(0): VideoBIOS: 90.16.4a.00.5e
[    19.456] (II) NVIDIA(0): Detected PCI Express Link width: 16X
[    19.457] (--) NVIDIA(GPU-0): DFP-0: disconnected
[    19.457] (--) NVIDIA(GPU-0): DFP-0: Internal TMDS
[    19.457] (--) NVIDIA(GPU-0): DFP-0: 165.0 MHz maximum pixel clock
[    19.457] (--) NVIDIA(GPU-0):
[    19.457] (--) NVIDIA(GPU-0): DFP-1: disconnected
[    19.457] (--) NVIDIA(GPU-0): DFP-1: Internal DisplayPort
[    19.457] (--) NVIDIA(GPU-0): DFP-1: 2660.0 MHz maximum pixel clock
[    19.457] (--) NVIDIA(GPU-0):
[    19.458] (--) NVIDIA(GPU-0): DFP-2: disconnected
[    19.458] (--) NVIDIA(GPU-0): DFP-2: Internal TMDS
[    19.458] (--) NVIDIA(GPU-0): DFP-2: 165.0 MHz maximum pixel clock
[    19.458] (--) NVIDIA(GPU-0):

If the laptop has a connection for an external monitor and you have one handy, try attaching it and see if anything changes.

freebsd_user · Oct 1, 2023

Please ignore this reply. It was removed due to accidental duplication.

yuripv79 · Oct 1, 2023

freebsd_user said:
Unfortunately, my card GTX 1660 Ti is not listed under supported device list.

Where?

freebsd_user said:
However, I tried anyway, but didn't work.

Any details here?

Also, there is nvidia-hybrid-graphics-0.6 package, which uses the default nvidia-driver version, tried that?

freebsd_user · Oct 1, 2023

yuripv79 said:
Where?

Nvidia product support list.

yuripv79 said:
Any details?

Tried every available driver versions including nvidia-hybrid-graphics but, no luck.

freebsd_user · Oct 1, 2023

CuatroTorres said:
It is auto detecting the modes and loading at low resolution. Try specifying the "modes" within the Display subsection. I don't have time to review the rest now.

But, it is working fine with external display without any modification.

freebsd_user · Oct 1, 2023

mer said:
kldstat | grep nvidia

Code:

 5    1 0xffffffff826e5000   10f2f0 nvidia-modeset.ko
 6    1 0xffffffff82800000  33aa138 nvidia.ko

mer said:
external monitor and you have one handy, try attaching it

You are right, it is working perfectly with external display. So what could I do to set the right display then? I have also attached the new xorg log.

mer · Oct 1, 2023

freebsd_user said:
You are right, it is working perfectly with external display. So what could I do to set the right display then? I have also attached the new xorg log.

Ahh this is good/interesting.
I think this tells me "by default the nvidia graphics is looking at/hooked up to the external display".
Now the question becomes "can we/how do we connect the internal LCD to the nvidia card?"

And my answer to that is "I don't know".
Back up in #2, CuatroTorres linked to something about Nvidia Optimus. I took a quick look earlier and there was something about running an executable that would "enable/link the Nvidia hardware". Not sure if that is relevant to your situation.

Bottom line, my opinion:
By default your hardware uses the Intel for the internal LCD, the Nvidia for driving an external display.
So loading drm_kmod, i915kms and creating a snippet file to load modesetting on the busid for the Intel should let you use the Intel for the internal LCD and the Nvidia for the external monitor.

freebsd_user · Oct 1, 2023

mer said:
And my answer to that is "I don't know".

I hope someone could tell me how to do that. Thank you for the time. I appreciate it.

YYY__ · Oct 2, 2023

mer said:
Bottom line, my opinion:
By default your hardware uses the Intel for the internal LCD, the Nvidia for driving an external display.
So loading drm_kmod, i915kms and creating a snippet file to load modesetting on the busid for the Intel should let you use the Intel for the internal LCD and the Nvidia for the external monitor.

That's exactly what it's about. You don't want high battery consumption using your dedicated graphics card daily. You'll want to use it for specific jobs: gaming, video editing...
There are several utilities, in Linux you have switchers like switcheroo or optimus-manager.
On FreeBSD you have x11/nvidia-hybrid-graphics. It involves you calling applications through an nvrun-vgl launcher.
I think you should try to work without xorg.conf and run nvidia when you need it. But if you use a xorg.conf you should specify the two cards with the modes.
I have a 1660Ti + Radeon and it worked in the past without xorg.conf. I can't test it right now, I need another OS.

FYI:

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Erichans · Oct 2, 2023

mer said:
Ahh this is good/interesting.
I think this tells me "by default the nvidia graphics is looking at/hooked up to the external display".
Now the question becomes "can we/how do we connect the internal LCD to the nvidia card?"

freebsd_user, to exlplore further if your laptop screen is indeed "unreachable" for your nvidia GPU, when the nvidia driver is driving your external display, does x11/nvidia-settings show (or not) your laptop screen as well?

serjsk8 · Oct 2, 2023

Hello freebsd_user,
I use Nvidia Optimus drivers, maybe my post will help you:

startx won't start TWM on Lenovo Thinkpad W520

Hi, I have installed FreeBSD 13.2 on my Lenovo Thinkpad W520 following the Youtube videos "Getting Started With FreeBSD, Part 1" and "Getting Started With FreeBSD, Part 2" from Robonuggie. When I do startx, it doesn't work and i get a fatal server error 'no screens found' and 'unable to connect...

forums.freebsd.org

freebsd_user · Oct 2, 2023

Thanks for the explanation. I think I am ok with something like prime render offload.

CuatroTorres said:
On FreeBSD you have x11/nvidia-hybrid-graphics.

serjsk8 said:
I use Nvidia Optimus drivers, maybe my post will help you:

Is there performance penalty using Virtual GL? Is it the same as running prime render offload on Linux? Did anyone try this driver? Although, it creates panics on kldunload and the contributor has no intention to fix it.

Update: serjsk8 and CuatroTorres I have just tried hybrid graphics drivers again with clean installation but when I run nvrun-vgl I get following errors,

Code:

$ nvrun-vgl bomber
[ALSOFT] (EE) Failed to set real-time priority for thread: Operation not permitted (1)

Although nvrun glxinfo -B is showing,

Code:

$ nvrun glxinfo -B
name of display: :8
display: :8  screen: 0
direct rendering: Yes
Memory info (GL_NVX_gpu_memory_info):
    Dedicated video memory: 6144 MB
    Total available memory: 6144 MB
    Currently available dedicated video memory: 5926 MB
OpenGL vendor string: NVIDIA Corporation
OpenGL renderer string: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti/PCIe/SSE2
OpenGL core profile version string: 4.6.0 NVIDIA 525.116.03
OpenGL core profile shading language version string: 4.60 NVIDIA
OpenGL core profile context flags: (none)
OpenGL core profile profile mask: core profile

OpenGL version string: 4.6.0 NVIDIA 525.116.03
OpenGL shading language version string: 4.60 NVIDIA
OpenGL context flags: (none)
OpenGL profile mask: (none)

OpenGL ES profile version string: OpenGL ES 3.2 NVIDIA 525.116.03
OpenGL ES profile shading language version string: OpenGL ES GLSL ES 3.20

freebsd_user · Oct 3, 2023

Erichans said:
freebsd_user, to exlplore further if your laptop screen is indeed "unreachable" for your nvidia GPU, when the nvidia driver is driving your external display, does x11/nvidia-settings show (or not) your laptop screen as well?

Sorry, I did not check that, as it is really difficult to manage one again.

serjsk8 · Oct 3, 2023

freebsd_user said:
Is there performance penalty using Virtual GL? Is it the same as running prime render offload on Linux? Did anyone try this driver? Although, it creates panics on kldunload and the contributor has no intention to fix it.

Mmm... i don't know if have some performance penalty... I suspect so.
No I didn't try amshafer/nvidia-driver from github.

freebsd_user said:
$ nvrun-vgl bomber [ALSOFT] (EE) Failed to set real-time priority for thread: Operation not permitted (1)

If I understand correctly this has something to do with OpenAL 3D audio, right?

freebsd_user · Oct 3, 2023

serjsk8 said:
If I understand correctly this has something to do with OpenAL 3D audio, right?

Sorry, I have no idea about it. The game was running but there was always 0% gpu utilization on nvidia xserver settings.

Blank screen unresponsive cursor on laptop while external display is fine for NVIDIA with Optimus, Xorg

freebsd_user

Attachments

YYY__

FreeBSD and Nvidia Optimus

Phishfry

Chapter 5. The X Window System

mer

freebsd_user

FreeBSD and Nvidia Optimus

freebsd_user

Chapter 5. The X Window System

Phishfry

freebsd_user

YYY__

mer

freebsd_user

yuripv79

freebsd_user

freebsd_user

freebsd_user

Attachments

mer

freebsd_user

YYY__

HowTo ? installation FreeBSD 13 on laptop with GPU Nvidia/Intel, need only Nvidia (Prime)

Solved - Dual head setup with two graphics cards

How to use two gpus (intel and nvidia) attached to two monitors on FreeBSD

Erichans

serjsk8

startx won't start TWM on Lenovo Thinkpad W520

freebsd_user

freebsd_user

serjsk8

freebsd_user