nVidia GT 635m Screen tearing

[IST]

Hi,

I've just migrated from windows 10 after hesitating for a while.

Everything's working fine so far. But I have this huge issue with screen tearing when I'm using the dedicated card. The issue appears everywhere basically: playing videos, browsing, youtube, moving windows around etc.

I've tried some solutions I could google but none seemed to work so far.

Is it a problem with my card not being properly supported? I'm stuck using my integrated intel graphics for the time being, but I'd like to use graphics heavy applications like blender, game engines and games later on.

I've tried using MATE de as well but the issue remained the same. Also when going into my nvidia settings program I cannot configure my laptop's screen, nor the external 2nd monitor. It just doesn't detect them at all, says screen 0 or something similar, without the chance to modify it's properties like refresh rate, resolution and synching(?).

Is there any solution for this yet?

Code: Select all

System:    Host: tomi-Lenovo-G580 Kernel: 4.10.0-38-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.6.6 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.3) dm: lightdm
           Distro: Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia
Machine:   System: LENOVO product: 20150 v: Lenovo G580
           Mobo: LENOVO model: Product Name v: Mainboard version
           Bios: LENOVO v: 5ECN40WW(V3.06) date: 10/22/2012
           Chassis: type: 10 v: Lenovo G580
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core i5-3230M (-HT-MCP-) cache: 3072 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 10376
           clock speeds: min/max: 1200/3200 MHz 1: 1201 MHz 2: 1200 MHz
           3: 1199 MHz 4: 1200 MHz
Graphics:  Card-1: Intel 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller
           bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:0166
           Card-2: NVIDIA GF108M [GeForce GT 635M]
           bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:0de3
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1366x768@60.00hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Ivybridge Mobile
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 17.0.7 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card Intel 7 Series/C210 Series Family High Definition Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 chip-ID: 8086:1e20
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.10.0-38-generic
Network:   Card-1: Qualcomm Atheros AR8162 Fast Ethernet
           driver: alx port: 2000 bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID: 1969:1090
           IF: enp2s0 state: down mac: 20:89:84:33:27:a5
           Card-2: Broadcom BCM4313 802.11bgn Wireless Network Adapter
           driver: wl bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 14e4:4727
           IF: wlp3s0 state: up mac: 08:3e:8e:ad:13:93
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 1000.2GB (1.9% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: ST1000LM024_HN size: 1000.2GB serial: S2U5J9BCC02587
Partition: ID-1: / size: 905G used: 6.4G (1%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2
           ID-2: swap-1 size: 12.78GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda3
RAID:      System: supported: N/A
           No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
           Unused Devices: none
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 49.0C mobo: N/A
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Repos:     Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
           deb http://mirror.inode.at/linuxmint/packages sylvia main upstream import backport
           deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial main restricted universe multiverse
           deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-updates main restricted universe multiverse
           deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-backports main restricted universe multiverse
           deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ xenial-security main restricted universe multiverse
           deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ xenial partner
Info:      Processes: 220 Uptime: 48 min Memory: 1646.7/11912.8MB
           Init: systemd v: 229 runlevel: 5 default: 2 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.481 running in gnome-terminal-) inxi: 2.2.35 

[ClixTrix]

Have you checked Driver Manager for nVidia driver update?

[IST]

Yes, I have the latest available drivers from nvidia (384.90)

[ClixTrix]

Yes, I have the latest available drivers from nvidia (384.90)

I suspect that system requires Bumblebee for the dual-graphics mode. This post at ubuntu seems to agree. Note, it's an old post on your system. However, Bumblebee is probably the correct answer.

https://askubuntu.com/questions/436819/ ... enovo-g580

Here is discussion wiki on Bumblebee:

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/bumblebee

You might try searching the Forum on current Bumblebee implementation and issues before proceeding.

[IST]

Yes, I have the latest available drivers from nvidia (384.90)

I suspect that system requires Bumblebee for the dual-graphics mode. This post at ubuntu seems to agree. Note, it's an old post on your system. However, Bumblebee is probably the correct answer.

https://askubuntu.com/questions/436819/ ... enovo-g580

Here is discussion wiki on Bumblebee:

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/bumblebee

You might try searching the Forum on current Bumblebee implementation and issues before proceeding.

Dual graphics works perfectly, I can switch between the card. It's only that with the nvidia, I get the screen tearing. But thanks I'll read it up.

[silfox2000]

You can try with the other nvidia versions provided by the driver manager - 340.102 and 304.135 or even can try the open source drivers. However, I'm with 635M with 384.90 drivers and do not have any issues using the nvidia card.

[ClixTrix]

Graphics: Card-1: Intel 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller
bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:0166
Card-2: NVIDIA GF108M [GeForce GT 635M]
bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:0de3
Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
Resolution: 1366x768@60.00hz
GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Ivybridge Mobile
GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 17.0.7 Direct Rendering: Yes

The observation of loading Intel and NOT nVidia driver has me thinking you need Bumblebee to get that driver loaded when it is needed. I'm not an expert on Bumblebee. I'm just observing which driver is running without any management assistance from a product like Bumblebee. Technically, it's not even showing the nvidia (proprietary) or nouveau (open source) drivers used. I believe an Intel driver plays the role of base support and calls upon the nVidia driver and GPU for performance functions, i.e. switching to performance need. Bumblebee (from my understanding) provides that switching function.

"The integrated GPU manages the display while the dedicated GPU manages the most demanding rendering and ships the work to the integrated GPU to be displayed."

In essence, the screen tearing cause is lack of switching function for the high-end graphics GPU (nvidia), and all rendering is operating under Intel. If you have the ability in BIOS to switch-off the Intel GPU, that might also work with the obvious side-effect of higher power consumption.

Edit: FYI.....Bumblebee is available in Software Manager.

[IST]

You can try with the other nvidia versions provided by the driver manager - 340.102 and 304.135 or even can try the open source drivers. However, I'm with 635M with 384.90 drivers and do not have any issues using the nvidia card.

What desktop enviroment are you using? And window managers?

[ClixTrix]

Here's a wiki discussion of Optimus (Win) and Bumblebee (Linux):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nvidia_Optimus

I honestly doubt you'll get your dual-GPU working under Linux without the switching function installed that's provided by Bumblebee.

[silfox2000]

What desktop enviroment are you using? And window managers?

Xfce and Compiz. When I used Cinnamon there was also no problems but with older driver version (can't really remember which one at that point).

The observation of loading Intel and NOT nVidia driver ...

This is normal if he has switched to the Intel graphics when he typed inxi -Fxz. A switching function is provided by the nvidia drivers.

[trytip]

it"s the window manager that needs to be checked not the video drivers. in MATE > Control Centre > Desktop Settings > Windows use Marco+Compton or Compiz