Dell XPS 15 9560 Crashing/driver issues

[GerwynJones]

Hi all,

Apologies if I'm posting in the wrong section but I have a very frustrating problem with my Dual boot Dell XPS 9560 (4k touchscreen) with Linux Mint 20.

inxi -Fxz output :-

Code: Select all

System:    Kernel: 5.4.0-48-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.3.0 Desktop: Cinnamon 4.6.7 
           Distro: Linux Mint 20 Ulyana base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal 
Machine:   Type: Laptop System: Dell product: XPS 15 9560 v: N/A serial: <filter> 
           Mobo: Dell model: 05FFDN v: A00 serial: <filter> UEFI: Dell v: 1.19.2 date: 05/22/2020 
Battery:   ID-1: BAT0 charge: 78.1 Wh condition: 80.2/97.0 Wh (83%) model: SMP DELL GPM0365 status: Discharging 
CPU:       Topology: Quad Core model: Intel Core i7-7700HQ bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Kaby Lake rev: 9 L2 cache: 6144 KiB 
           flags: avx avx2 lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 44798 
           Speed: 2900 MHz min/max: 800/3800 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 2900 2: 2900 3: 2900 4: 2900 5: 2900 6: 2901 7: 2900 
           8: 2900 
Graphics:  Device-1: Intel HD Graphics 630 vendor: Dell driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 
           Device-2: NVIDIA GP107M [GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile] driver: nouveau v: kernel bus ID: 01:00.0 
           Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.8 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa tty: N/A 
           OpenGL: renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics 630 (KBL GT2) v: 4.6 Mesa 20.0.8 direct render: Yes 
Audio:     Device-1: Intel CM238 HD Audio vendor: Dell driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1f.3 
           Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-48-generic 
Network:   Device-1: Intel Wireless-AC 9260 driver: iwlwifi v: kernel port: e000 bus ID: 02:00.0 
           IF: wlp2s0 state: up mac: <filter> 
Drives:    Local Storage: total: 476.94 GiB used: 307.80 GiB (64.5%) 
           ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 vendor: Samsung model: PM981 NVMe 512GB size: 476.94 GiB 
Partition: ID-1: / size: 34.46 GiB used: 8.34 GiB (24.2%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p5 
           ID-2: /home size: 178.38 GiB used: 90.65 GiB (50.8%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p7 
           ID-3: swap-1 size: 7.45 GiB used: 53.7 MiB (0.7%) fs: swap dev: /dev/nvme0n1p6 
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 42.5 C mobo: N/A gpu: nouveau temp: 25 C 
           Fan Speeds (RPM): cpu: 0 fan-2: 0 
Info:      Processes: 331 Uptime: 5d 2h 33m Memory: 15.49 GiB used: 6.72 GiB (43.4%) Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Compilers: 
           gcc: 9.3.0 Shell: bash v: 5.0.17 inxi: 3.0.38 

I think it's a graphical driver problem.... I've tried both the NVIDIA driver and the stock nouveau driver and both times its crashed. The problem occurs when I have a conference call with someone and has occurred on both Zoom and Skype. It's also happened once when watching youtube. It also happens quite randomly but only when on video call or youtube..... the screen freezes and the audio loops.

I should also note that I also had this problem with Linux Mint 19 (Tara i believe)

Anyone care to help me?

Many thanks

[SMG]

Welcome to the forum, GerwynJones

The information listed indicates only the Intel display driver is loaded. While the nouveau device driver is loaded, there is no nouveau display driver. There are also no displays detected.
Graphics:
Device-1: Intel HD Graphics 630 vendor: Dell driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0
Device-2: NVIDIA GP107M [GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile] driver: nouveau v: kernel bus ID: 01:00.0
Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.8 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa tty: N/A
OpenGL: renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics 630 (KBL GT2) v: 4.6 Mesa 20.0.8 direct render: Yes

What type of output do you get when the Nvidia driver is loaded? You can specifically get graphics information with inxi -G. I would think your laptop would run better with the Nvidia driver, but maybe it is not loading properly either.

Am I correct to presume you have the BIOS set for hybrid graphics?
Do you have secure boot on or off?

[Moonstone Man]

Welcome to the forum, GerwynJones

The information listed indicates only the Intel display driver is loaded. While the nouveau device driver is loaded, there is no nouveau display driver.

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           driver: nouveau 

So, what's that?

There are also no displays detected.

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Display: x11 server

And that?

[Moonstone Man]

I think it's a graphical driver problem....

I think it might be worse. It has the hallmarks of a hardware problem. You might try booting from a live media to see if the problems persist.

https://askubuntu.com/questions/1046812 ... -on-ubuntu
https://www.maketecheasier.com/stress-t ... ard-linux/

Those may assist you in loading up the GPU to see if it crashes under load.

What you don't say is if you disabled modesetting before installing the nVidia drivers.

See: https://www.linuxmint.com/rel_ulyana_cinnamon.php

See the section titled, Solving freezes during the boot sequence

You need to start at the line that reads, "After the installation..." to boot with the nomodeset option then install the nVidia drivers, but do this only after testing your video card.

[GerwynJones]

inxi -G gives me :-

Graphics: Device-1: Intel HD Graphics 630 driver: i915 v: kernel
Device-2: NVIDIA GP107M [GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile] driver: nouveau v: kernel
Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.8 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa tty: N/A
OpenGL: renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics 630 (KBL GT2) v: 4.6 Mesa 20.0.8

I tried doing all sorts in the grub menu.....

I tried nomodeset on my Linux Mint 19, I tried basically everything that appeared in google. It led to a black screen on boot and that's the reason I went to Linux Mint 20 from 19.

I should add that my Windows OS runs brilliantly and I can game on it no problems, so that's what made me thought that it wasn't a hardware problem.

I'll test the GPU. I believe I have the secure boot off... I'll double check.

Many thanks for the quick response... I do research and this is a big problem for me atm so getting this resolved quickly would be much appreciated.

Gerwyn

[GerwynJones]

Also just a thought.... could the touchscreen be a problem with Linux?

I don't really need it.

[GerwynJones]

I ran GLmark2 without any problems and it said that it used the Intel graphics for the benchmark.

=======================================================
glmark2 2014.03+git20150611.fa71af2d
=======================================================
OpenGL Information
GL_VENDOR: Intel
GL_RENDERER: Mesa Intel(R) HD Graphics 630 (KBL GT2)
GL_VERSION: 4.6 (Compatibility Profile) Mesa 20.0.8
=======================================================

GLmark2 Score: 69

=======================================================


I also did the "vblank_mode=0 glxgears" command and got no problems but it did transition from a high FPS to a much lower FPS

10727 frames in 5.0 seconds = 2145.282 FPS
10640 frames in 5.0 seconds = 2127.916 FPS
10231 frames in 5.0 seconds = 2046.183 FPS
11131 frames in 5.0 seconds = 2226.130 FPS
6590 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1314.331 FPS
425 frames in 5.0 seconds = 84.838 FPS
427 frames in 5.0 seconds = 85.270 FPS
426 frames in 5.0 seconds = 85.063 FPS


=======================================================


I did the Unigine Valley test and was getting 3 - 6 FPS on medium quality as seen in the attached photo

Should I try installing an Nvidia driver also does anyone know how to get the best driver for my hardware?

I've tried googling but I don't know which driver version to get.

Thanks

[SMG]

Welcome to the forum, GerwynJones

The information listed indicates only the Intel display driver is loaded. While the nouveau device driver is loaded, there is no nouveau display driver.

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           driver: nouveau 

So, what's that?

That is on the line which starts with the word Device so I refer to it as the device driver. I never know the skill level or English language level of the posters, so I do my best to have my terminology match what is listed.

The line which starts with the word Display also has drivers, but nouveau is not on that line. The first line below is what the OP listed for output. The second line is what I would have expected to see. The second line contains a nouveau driver in addition to modesetting. It also lists a display resolution which is what my lack of display comment was referencing (and why I put tty:N/A in red in my prior response).

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Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.8 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa tty: N/A
Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.8 driver: modesetting, nouveau unloaded: fbdev,vesa resolution: 3840x2160~60Hz

[SMG]

Should I try installing an Nvidia driver also does anyone know how to get the best driver for my hardware?

I've tried googling but I don't know which driver version to get.

Thanks

Nvidia has several web pages where one can check the latest version available, but one has to take some special steps to install from their website. Instead you can install from the Driver Manager app. The latest 450.80.02 driver is available there.

Nvidia does allowing signing of the drivers, so secure boot may not necessarily have to be off for your laptop. You would just go through the process (following the screen prompts) to sign the driver when you install it. However, not all computers handle this in the same manner so I do not specifically know whether you could leave secure boot on when installing the Nvidia driver.

When you install the Nvidia driver, I expect your OpenGL line (last one) in the display inxi info will change to show Nvidia as the renderer instead of Intel.

[GerwynJones]

So what should I do next.... Do I need to find a display driver?
Or do I need to download an Nvidia driver ?

Thanks

[Larry78723]

Open Driver Manager and see if it recommends a driver.

[SMG]

Open Driver Manager and select to install the Nvidia 450 driver. You will need to reboot before everything (Nvidia device and display drivers and renderer) is fully installed.

If you have secure boot on, I expect you will be asked about signing the Nvidia driver. If you leave secure boot on and do not sign the driver, it may not install properly.

[GerwynJones]

I've updated to the recommended Nvidia driver and got this inxi -Fxz output :-

System: Kernel: 5.4.0-51-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.3.0 Desktop: Cinnamon 4.6.7
Distro: Linux Mint 20 Ulyana base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal
Machine: Type: Laptop System: Dell product: XPS 15 9560 v: N/A serial: <filter>
Mobo: Dell model: 05FFDN v: A00 serial: <filter> UEFI: Dell v: 1.19.2 date: 05/22/2020
Battery: ID-1: BAT0 charge: 76.8 Wh condition: 80.2/97.0 Wh (83%) model: SMP DELL GPM0365 status: Discharging
CPU: Topology: Quad Core model: Intel Core i7-7700HQ bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Kaby Lake rev: 9 L2 cache: 6144 KiB
flags: avx avx2 lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 44798
Speed: 3400 MHz min/max: 800/3800 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 3400 2: 3400 3: 3400 4: 3400 5: 3400 6: 3400 7: 3400
8: 3400
Graphics: Device-1: Intel HD Graphics 630 vendor: Dell driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0
Device-2: NVIDIA GP107M [GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile] vendor: Dell driver: nvidia v: 450.80.02 bus ID: 01:00.0
Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.8 driver: modesetting,nvidia unloaded: fbdev,nouveau,vesa
resolution: 3840x2160~60Hz
OpenGL: renderer: GeForce GTX 1050/PCIe/SSE2 v: 4.6.0 NVIDIA 450.80.02 direct render: Yes
Audio: Device-1: Intel CM238 HD Audio vendor: Dell driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1f.3
Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-51-generic
Network: Device-1: Intel Wireless-AC 9260 driver: iwlwifi v: kernel port: e000 bus ID: 02:00.0
IF: wlp2s0 state: up mac: <filter>
Drives: Local Storage: total: 476.94 GiB used: 107.47 GiB (22.5%)
ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 vendor: Samsung model: PM981 NVMe 512GB size: 476.94 GiB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 34.46 GiB used: 10.68 GiB (31.0%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p5
ID-2: /home size: 178.38 GiB used: 96.71 GiB (54.2%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p7
ID-3: swap-1 size: 7.45 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/nvme0n1p6
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 86.0 C mobo: N/A gpu: nvidia temp: 60 C
Fan Speeds (RPM): cpu: 3181 fan-2: 3215
Info: Processes: 309 Uptime: 1m Memory: 15.49 GiB used: 1.73 GiB (11.2%) Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 9.3.0
Shell: bash v: 5.0.17 inxi: 3.0.38


Does this all seem sensible?

Thanks

[SMG]

Does this all seem sensible?

This graphics output looks good.

Graphics:
Device-1: Intel HD Graphics 630 vendor: Dell driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0
Device-2: NVIDIA GP107M [GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile] vendor: Dell driver: nvidia v: 450.80.02 bus ID: 01:00.0
Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.8 driver: modesetting,nvidia unloaded: fbdev,nouveau,vesa
resolution: 3840x2160~60Hz
OpenGL: renderer: GeForce GTX 1050/PCIe/SSE2 v: 4.6.0 NVIDIA 450.80.02 direct render: Yes

With Nvidia installed you will have the option to adjust settings in the Nvidia X Server app and you should be able to switch between the Intel and Nvidia gpus as described in the NVIDIA Optimus section of the New features in Linux Mint 20 Cinnamon.

The problem occurs when I have a conference call with someone and has occurred on both Zoom and Skype. It's also happened once when watching youtube. It also happens quite randomly but only when on video call or youtube..... the screen freezes and the audio loops.

I believe the Nvidia driver should greatly reduce any issues you may have.

I do not know whether you are using browsers or apps for the programs you listed, but also check within the apps/browser to see what settings are available that may help with performance issues. For example, Firefox has a Performance section in their settings which I have set to not use the recommended performance settings and hardware acceleration. I had problems in the past and unchecking those boxes resolved them. I have different hardware than you, so your experience with those settings may be different.