External monitors flickering

[techenthudiast]

Hi,

I installed fresh Linuxmint 21.2. in lenovo X1 extreme Gen 2. when it is connected to docking station (Thunderbolt 3 Workstation Dock, Model number: DK1841) and profile of Nvidia card is selected my external screens are flickering sporadically . I tried all nvidia drivers available in Drivers applet. none help, flickering stops only when intel graphhics card profile is activated. I exchanged several HDMI cables, did not help.
On the same machine and docking station I used to have Linuxmint 20.3 it worked fine

Here is print out of "inxi -Fxxxrz"

Code: Select all

System:
  Kernel: 5.15.0-97-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 11.4.0
    Desktop: Cinnamon 5.8.4 tk: GTK 3.24.33 wm: muffin vt: 7 dm: LightDM 1.30.0
    Distro: Linux Mint 21.2 Victoria base: Ubuntu 22.04 jammy
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: LENOVO product: 20QVCTO1WW v: ThinkPad X1 Extreme 2nd
    serial: <superuser required> Chassis: type: 10 serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: LENOVO model: 20QVCTO1WW v: SDK0J40697 WIN
    serial: <superuser required> UEFI: LENOVO v: N2OET41W (1.28 )
    date: 11/25/2019
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 51.5 Wh (100.0%) condition: 51.5/80.4 Wh (64.1%)
    volts: 17.0 min: 15.4 model: Celxpert 5B10V98091 type: Li-poly
    serial: <filter> status: Full cycles: 386
  Device-1: hidpp_battery_0 model: Logitech Wireless Mouse MX Master 3
    serial: <filter> charge: 100% (should be ignored) rechargeable: yes
    status: Discharging
  Device-2: hidpp_battery_1 model: Logitech K350 serial: <filter>
    charge: 70% (should be ignored) rechargeable: yes status: Discharging
CPU:
  Info: 6-core model: Intel Core i7-9750H bits: 64 type: MT MCP smt: enabled
    arch: Coffee Lake rev: A cache: L1: 384 KiB L2: 1.5 MiB L3: 12 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 1345 high: 3608 min/max: 800/4500 cores: 1: 3608
    2: 2330 3: 1000 4: 1000 5: 1000 6: 1000 7: 1000 8: 1000 9: 1000 10: 1000
    11: 1209 12: 1000 bogomips: 62399
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel CoffeeLake-H GT2 [UHD Graphics 630] vendor: Lenovo
    driver: i915 v: kernel ports: active: none off: eDP-1 empty: none
    bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:3e9b class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: NVIDIA TU117M [GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile / Max-Q] vendor: Lenovo
    driver: nvidia v: 525.147.05 pcie: speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16 ports:
    active: none off: DP-3,DP-4,DP-5 empty: DP-1,DP-2,HDMI-A-1
    bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:1f91 class-ID: 0300
  Device-3: IMC Networks Integrated Camera type: USB driver: uvcvideo
    bus-ID: 1-8:2 chip-ID: 13d3:56ba class-ID: 0e02 serial: <filter>
  Device-4: Logitech HD Webcam C910 type: USB
    driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo bus-ID: 3-2.1.3:9 chip-ID: 046d:0821
    class-ID: 0e02 serial: <filter>
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.4 driver: X:
    loaded: modesetting,nvidia unloaded: fbdev,nouveau,vesa gpu: i915,nvidia
    display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 5760x3240 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 1524x857mm (60.0x33.7")
    s-diag: 1748mm (68.8")
  Monitor-1: DP-1-1.1 pos: primary,top-left res: 3840x2160 hz: 60 dpi: 61
    size: 1600x900mm (63.0x35.4") diag: 1836mm (72.3")
  Monitor-2: DP-1-1.2 pos: middle-r res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 102
    size: 477x268mm (18.8x10.6") diag: 547mm (21.5")
  Monitor-3: DP-1-1.3 pos: primary,bottom-l res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 102
    size: 477x268mm (18.8x10.6") diag: 547mm (21.5")
  OpenGL: renderer: Mesa Intel UHD Graphics 630 (CFL GT2)
    v: 4.6 Mesa 23.2.1-1ubuntu3.1~22.04.2 direct render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel Cannon Lake PCH cAVS vendor: Lenovo driver: snd_hda_intel
    v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1f.3 chip-ID: 8086:a348 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: NVIDIA vendor: Lenovo driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie:
    speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:10fa class-ID: 0403
  Device-3: Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Dock USB Audio type: USB
    driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid bus-ID: 3-2.1.1.2:8
    chip-ID: 17ef:3083 class-ID: 0300 serial: <filter>
  Device-4: Logitech HD Webcam C910 type: USB
    driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo bus-ID: 3-2.1.3:9 chip-ID: 046d:0821
    class-ID: 0e02 serial: <filter>
  Sound Server-1: ALSA v: k5.15.0-97-generic running: yes
  Sound Server-2: PulseAudio v: 15.99.1 running: yes
  Sound Server-3: PipeWire v: 0.3.48 running: yes
Network:
  Device-1: Intel Ethernet I219-V vendor: Lenovo driver: e1000e v: kernel
    port: N/A bus-ID: 00:1f.6 chip-ID: 8086:15bc class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp0s31f6 state: down mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 driver: iwlwifi v: kernel pcie:
    speed: 5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 52:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:2723 class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlp82s0 state: up mac: <filter>
  Device-3: Lenovo ThinkPad TBT 3 Dock type: USB driver: r8152
    bus-ID: 4-2.1.2:4 chip-ID: 17ef:3082 class-ID: 0000 serial: <filter>
  IF: enx3ce1a1d088f7 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Intel AX200 Bluetooth type: USB driver: btusb v: 0.8
    bus-ID: 1-14:5 chip-ID: 8087:0029 class-ID: e001
  Report: hciconfig ID: hci0 rfk-id: 1 state: up address: <filter>
    bt-v: 3.0 lmp-v: 5.2 sub-v: 237e hci-v: 5.2 rev: 237e
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 2.73 TiB used: 1.16 TiB (42.7%)
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 970 EVO 1TB
    size: 931.51 GiB speed: 31.6 Gb/s lanes: 4 type: SSD serial: <filter>
    rev: 2B2QEXE7 temp: 43.9 C scheme: GPT
  ID-2: /dev/nvme1n1 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 970 EVO Plus 2TB
    size: 1.82 TiB speed: 31.6 Gb/s lanes: 4 type: SSD serial: <filter>
    rev: 2B2QEXM7 temp: 46.9 C scheme: GPT
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 139.75 GiB used: 34.08 GiB (24.4%) fs: ext4
    dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1
  ID-2: /boot/efi size: 548.9 MiB used: 9.3 MiB (1.7%) fs: vfat
    dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2
  ID-3: /home size: 131.65 GiB used: 14.24 GiB (10.8%) fs: ext4
    dev: /dev/nvme0n1p5
Swap:
  ID-1: swap-1 type: partition size: 12.21 GiB used: 177.8 MiB (1.4%)
    priority: -2 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p6
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 58.0 C mobo: N/A
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Info:
  Processes: 404 Uptime: 5h 26m wakeups: 55 Memory: 62.57 GiB
  used: 50.44 GiB (80.6%) Init: systemd v: 249 runlevel: 5 Compilers:
  gcc: 11.4.0 alt: 11/12 Shell: Bash v: 5.1.16 running-in: gnome-terminal
  inxi: 3.3.13

Please help.

[SMG]

I installed fresh Linuxmint 21.2. in lenovo X1 extreme Gen 2. when it is connected to docking station (Thunderbolt 3 Workstation Dock, Model number: DK1841) and profile of Nvidia card is selected my external screens are flickering sporadically . I tried all nvidia drivers available in Drivers applet. none help, flickering stops only when intel graphhics card profile is activated.

The data you posted seems to indicate the system was in on-demand mode at the time you generated the system information (and the laptop monitor was turned off). Does the system flicker when you use on-demand mode?

[techenthudiast]

Re>

Does the system flicker when you use on-demand mode?

No, flickering occurs after I switch to NVIDIA (Performance mode). should I get system info when I am in NVIDIA (Performance mode)?

Re>

(and the laptop monitor was turned off)

Yes, my laptop screen is turned off when I am connected to external monitors

[SMG]

Re>

Does the system flicker when you use on-demand mode?

No, flickering occurs after I switch to NVIDIA (Performance mode). should I get system info when I am in NVIDIA (Performance mode)?

The external ports (for the dock) are only connected to the Nvidia GPU so when you are in On-demand mode, those displays are rendering with Nvidia.

What specific need do you have that you are switching to Nvidia Performance mode? There are some options and other things we can check if you specifically need this mode for some reason.

[techenthudiast]

Re>

The external ports (for the dock) are only connected to the Nvidia GPU so when you are in On-demand mode, those displays are rendering with Nvidia

I did not realize that. I thought that my NVIDIA card is not used at all and only when NVIDIA (Performance mode) is selected that NVIDIA is used.
Re>

What specific need do you have that you are switching to Nvidia Performance mode?

The reason for me, until now, to use NVIDIA performance profile was that I thought I am getting better graphics
Re>

There are some options and other things we can check if you specifically need this mode for some reason.

What could be reasons to use Nvidia Performance mode?

Thank you

[SMG]

Graphics:
Device-1: Intel CoffeeLake-H GT2 [UHD Graphics 630] vendor: Lenovo
driver: i915 v: kernel ports: active: none off: eDP-1 empty: none
bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:3e9b class-ID: 0300

Device-2: NVIDIA TU117M [GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile / Max-Q] vendor: Lenovo
driver: nvidia v: 525.147.05 pcie: speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16 ports:
active: none off: DP-3,DP-4,DP-5 empty: DP-1,DP-2,HDMI-A-1
bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:1f91 class-ID: 0300

This data shows which ports are connected to each GPU. eDP-1 is your laptop display. The rest of the ports are your docking station. The "active" and "off" settings do not always record properly in inxi, but note there are no external ports at all for Intel.

This part shows both GPUs are in use:

Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.4 driver: X:
loaded: modesetting,nvidia unloaded: fbdev,nouveau,vesa gpu: i915,nvidia
display-ID: :0 screens: 1

While the below designations do not match specifically with what was on the Nvidia line above, the 1.1, 1.2, etc do indicate a docking station and there are only DP ports connected to Nvidia.

Code: Select all

  Monitor-1: DP-1-1.1 pos: primary,top-left res: 3840x2160 hz: 60 dpi: 61
    size: 1600x900mm (63.0x35.4") diag: 1836mm (72.3")
  Monitor-2: DP-1-1.2 pos: middle-r res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 102
    size: 477x268mm (18.8x10.6") diag: 547mm (21.5")
  Monitor-3: DP-1-1.3 pos: primary,bottom-l res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 102
    size: 477x268mm (18.8x10.6") diag: 547mm (21.5")

inxi output only shows the first renderer to load. If we/you check the X.org log, you will see the Nvidia renderer has also loaded.

Code: Select all

  OpenGL: renderer: Mesa Intel UHD Graphics 630 (CFL GT2)
    v: 4.6 Mesa 23.2.1-1ubuntu3.1~22.04.2 direct render: Yes

What could be reasons to use Nvidia Performance mode?

There are many different ways to wire a dual-GPU laptop so it depends on the design of the laptop as to whether there is an advantage to using Nvidia Performance Mode. In some laptops, both the laptop display and the external ports will be run by Nvidia when in Nvidia Performance mode. I don't know if that is the case for your laptop, but you are not using the laptop display anyhow so that would not be an advantage for you to use that mode.

[techenthudiast]

Thank you for such thorough and clear explanation.