Radeon RX550 graphics card [SOLVED]

[Jeronimus]

I have been given a Radeon RX550 graphics card by a friend to use with my AMD Ryzen 5 2400G with Radeon Vega Graphic self-build desktop, which I have fitted.

I do not know whether it is working properly, or as well as it could or whether I need to add additional drivers. The 'inxi -Fxz' is below.

At intervals, the two fans on the GPU make an alarming noise, then switch off abruptly. (Running on max, then cutting off perhaps?)

I got the GPU, which has 2GB memory, in order to have bespoke anonymous backgrounds on Zoom / Teams for meetings. But it is no improvement on the integrated graphics for that: my head floats in a sea of 1960s psychedelia at present, which is a bit distracting.

Any thoughts?

Code: Select all

$ inxi -Fxz
System:
  Kernel: 5.13.0-21-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: N/A 
  Desktop: Cinnamon 5.0.7 Distro: Linux Mint 20.2 Uma 
  base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal 
Machine:
  Type: Desktop Mobo: Gigabyte model: B450M GAMING v: x.x serial: <filter> 
  UEFI: American Megatrends v: F41 date: 07/22/2019 
CPU:
  Topology: Quad Core model: AMD Ryzen 5 2400G with Radeon Vega Graphics 
  bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Zen L2 cache: 2048 KiB 
  flags: avx avx2 lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm 
  bogomips: 57490 
  Speed: 1419 MHz min/max: 1600/3600 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 1419 2: 1419 
  3: 1585 4: 1419 5: 1419 6: 1477 7: 1517 8: 1419 
Graphics:
  Device-1: AMD Lexa PRO [Radeon 540/540X/550/550X / RX 540X/550/550X] 
  vendor: Gigabyte driver: amdgpu v: kernel bus ID: 01:00.0 
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.11 driver: amdgpu,ati 
  unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,vesa resolution: 1920x1080~60Hz 
  OpenGL: renderer: Radeon RX550/550 Series (POLARIS12 DRM 3.41.0 
  5.13.0-21-generic LLVM 12.0.0) 
  v: 4.6 Mesa 21.0.3 direct render: Yes 
Audio:
  Device-1: AMD Baffin HDMI/DP Audio [Radeon RX 550 640SP / RX 560/560X] 
  vendor: Gigabyte driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 01:00.1 
  Device-2: AMD Family 17h HD Audio vendor: Gigabyte driver: snd_hda_intel 
  v: kernel bus ID: 0a:00.6 
  Device-3: Logitech Webcam C930e type: USB driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo 
  bus ID: 3-2:2 
  Device-4: Logitech USB Headset H540 type: USB 
  driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid bus ID: 1-10:4 
  Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.13.0-21-generic 
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet 
  vendor: Gigabyte driver: r8169 v: kernel port: e000 bus ID: 09:00.0 
  IF: enp9s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter> 
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 2.26 TiB used: 400.25 GiB (17.3%) 
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: SanDisk model: SSD PLUS 480GB size: 447.13 GiB 
  ID-2: /dev/sdb vendor: Seagate model: ST2000DM008-2FR102 size: 1.82 TiB 
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 438.62 GiB used: 163.23 GiB (37.2%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2 
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 38.4 C mobo: N/A gpu: amdgpu temp: 41 C 
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A gpu: amdgpu fan: 699 
Info:
  Processes: 302 Uptime: 2h 10m Memory: 15.57 GiB used: 2.43 GiB (15.6%) 
  Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 9.3.0 Shell: bash v: 5.0.17 
  inxi: 3.0.38 

[SMG]

I do not know whether it is working properly, or as well as it could or whether I need to add additional drivers. The 'inxi -Fxz' is below.

The driver and renderer for it are installed.

Graphics:
Device-1: AMD Lexa PRO [Radeon 540/540X/550/550X / RX 540X/550/550X]
vendor: Gigabyte driver: amdgpu v: kernel bus ID: 01:00.0
Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.11 driver: amdgpu,ati
unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,vesa resolution: 1920x1080~60Hz
OpenGL: renderer: Radeon RX550/550 Series (POLARIS12 DRM 3.41.0
5.13.0-21-generic LLVM 12.0.0)
v: 4.6 Mesa 21.0.3 direct render: Yes

At intervals, the two fans on the GPU make an alarming noise, then switch off abruptly. (Running on max, then cutting off perhaps?)

Are you checking the GPU temperature around those times? Maybe they only make alarming noises when they are running? (Maybe a fan blade is bent?) Just to let you know, there is some info in the inxi output, but I do not know the accuracy for your specific GPU.

Code: Select all

Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 38.4 C mobo: N/A gpu: amdgpu temp: 41 C 
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A gpu: amdgpu fan: 699 

I got the GPU, which has 2GB memory, in order to have bespoke anonymous backgrounds on Zoom / Teams for meetings. But it is no improvement on the integrated graphics for that: my head floats in a sea of 1960s psychedelia at present, which is a bit distracting.

I do not know what this means. Are you using the Zoom app or are you zooming in a browser? Are there settings in Zoom that might be a factor in your results?

[ugly]

At intervals, the two fans on the GPU make an alarming noise, then switch off abruptly. (Running on max, then cutting off perhaps?)

Is there any pattern as to when the fans do this?

I think you might just be experiencing an issue with the fan-stop feature that some cards have. At low temperatures, the fans on the GPU will stop completely to reduce noise.

For some reason AMD cards will spin up to full blast for about 10 seconds and then slow down. I think this is an issue on Windows and Linux.

For me, it only does it on a reset. On a cold boot the fans don't ramp up to full blast. But if I reset, they will (and sometimes when I power down and power on the PC again within a few minutes).

The fan stop feature for Polaris cards (mine is an RX570, but the RX550 is also one) was added in a relatively recent kernel update (it might have been 5.11, but I'm not sure). It never did the full blast ramp up before that. But the fan stop feature didn't work either.

Since I don't reset often, I barely notice this issue. I don't think it is harmful in any way, other than being an annoyance.

[Jeronimus]

The loud noise was, I am pretty sure, a rogue cable contacting the fans and I have sorted.

What I cannot notice TBH is any noteworthy improvement of having the graphics card or not. That's a surprise, isn't it?

[Jeronimus]

I do not know whether it is working properly, or as well as it could or whether I need to add additional drivers. The 'inxi -Fxz' is below.

The driver and renderer for it are installed.

Graphics:
Device-1: AMD Lexa PRO [Radeon 540/540X/550/550X / RX 540X/550/550X]
vendor: Gigabyte driver: amdgpu v: kernel bus ID: 01:00.0
Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.11 driver: amdgpu,ati
unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,vesa resolution: 1920x1080~60Hz
OpenGL: renderer: Radeon RX550/550 Series (POLARIS12 DRM 3.41.0
5.13.0-21-generic LLVM 12.0.0)
v: 4.6 Mesa 21.0.3 direct render: Yes

At intervals, the two fans on the GPU make an alarming noise, then switch off abruptly. (Running on max, then cutting off perhaps?)

Are you checking the GPU temperature around those times? Maybe they only make alarming noises when they are running? (Maybe a fan blade is bent?) Just to let you know, there is some info in the inxi output, but I do not know the accuracy for your specific GPU.

Code: Select all

Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 38.4 C mobo: N/A gpu: amdgpu temp: 41 C 
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A gpu: amdgpu fan: 699 

I got the GPU, which has 2GB memory, in order to have bespoke anonymous backgrounds on Zoom / Teams for meetings. But it is no improvement on the integrated graphics for that: my head floats in a sea of 1960s psychedelia at present, which is a bit distracting.

I do not know what this means. Are you using the Zoom app or are you zooming in a browser? Are there settings in Zoom that might be a factor in your results?

Thanks for this.

The main, perhaps even sole reason for fitting a graphics card was so that I could use virtual backgrounds in video conferences.

I thought the integrated graphics in the CPU were the issue. But I cannot get a virtual background to work even with the GPU fitted.

I also cannot notice any particular improvement in the graphics or performance of this machine after fitting a GPU. I don't play any games. Perhaps this GPU is a bit underpowered given the CPU fitted? I will try to find some test site to stretch it a bit.

[SMG]

I also cannot notice any particular improvement in the graphics or performance of this machine after fitting a GPU. I don't play any games. Perhaps this GPU is a bit underpowered given the CPU fitted? I will try to find some test site to stretch it a bit.

I did a quick search on comparing the graphics of the two:

• Impressions – AMD Ryzen 2400G APU gaming benchmarks seems to indicate a slight improvement by adding the dGPU for gaming benchmarks.
• Sapphire Radeon RX550 Pulse 2GB review – Is it still relevant today? does not seem to note much difference.

[Jeronimus]

The reviews are very interesting.

I am not sure whether there is any point in me having the GPU or not, as the integrated ones seem fine for my needs. I surprised myself by assembling my desktop, which I had never done before, and it gives me a bit of a thrill using it - although the CPU fan is noisy and the three-quarters empty box shows I could have done something much smaller and more sophisticated. On the other hand, the simplicity and ease of upgrade are great, and it is exactly what I want with the right amount of RAM, a 500gb SSD and 2TB HDD.

Perhaps I should take up gaming?

It is obvious that the Radeon RX550 Graphics Card has somewhat been made obsolete by the new Ryzen “Raven Ridge” APUs, especially the Vega 11. The GPU within the Ryzen 5 2400G was able to perform better than the RX550 in Dota 2, providing more FPS. It is simply just amazing to see all that performance just coming from an integrated APU SoC.

However, we have also taken note that the type of game mattered a lot as well, as the Radeon RX550 seems to perform better in both Final Fantasy XV and Rise of the Tomb Raider benchmarks. There are definitely still good reasons for the adoption of this card.

...

Speaking from a more practical point of view, if you are purchasing a new budget gaming system, you will be better off purchasing a new Ryzen APU, as it is of a great deal of value for the performance that comes with it.

However, if you have pre-built desktop without a graphics card and would like to upgrade your system in order to play some games, the Radeon RX550 is still a great choice. Without the need for an additional 6-pin power cable plugged in, it should be easily compatible with most systems out there. The Radeon RX550 is still one of the cheapest graphics card capable of gaming that’s available in the market anyway, and it could take some time before the next generation of graphics card will be released.

Therefore, perhaps the purchase of a new Radeon RX550 graphics card, such as the Sapphire Radeon RX550 Pulse 2GB wouldn’t be such a bad choice after all

[Jeronimus]

Sorry, I have also fixed Zoom virtual background by installing an up-to-date version and switching off the 'green screen' check box.

I need to sort the same thing for Teams, and that's fixed. Doubt it is anything to do with GPU.

[SMG]

The reviews are very interesting.

I am not sure whether there is any point in me having the GPU or not, as the integrated ones seem fine for my needs. I surprised myself by assembling my desktop, which I had never done before, and it gives me a bit of a thrill using it - although the CPU fan is noisy and the three-quarters empty box shows I could have done something much smaller and more sophisticated. On the other hand, the simplicity and ease of upgrade are great, and it is exactly what I want with the right amount of RAM, a 500gb SSD and 2TB HDD.

Perhaps I should take up gaming?

Gaming and work with graphics-intensive apps such as Blender are usually reasons one would want a separate GPU.

You could probably mark the topic as [SOLVED] as it seems like your initial questions have been addressed.