Can't activate the GPU plugin on RuneLite (videogame)

[PureBlood]

Hello!

On my TOSHIBA laptop, when I had Windows installed, I used to be able to activate the GPU plugin on RuneLite (which makes the game run better, using the GPU). So this tells me this is not a hardware issue.

I checked on RuneLite's GitHub and it says the GPU plugin requires OpenGL 4.3 or newer.

My OS is currently Linux Mint 20.3, Una, which is based on Ubuntu 20.04.

This is the output of

glxinfo | grep "OpenGL"
OpenGL vendor string: Intel Open Source Technology Center
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa DRI Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600 (HSW GT2)
OpenGL core profile version string: 4.5 (Core Profile) Mesa 21.2.6
OpenGL core profile shading language version string: 4.50
OpenGL core profile context flags: (none)
OpenGL core profile profile mask: core profile
OpenGL core profile extensions:
OpenGL version string: 3.0 Mesa 21.2.6
OpenGL shading language version string: 1.30
OpenGL context flags: (none)
OpenGL extensions:
OpenGL ES profile version string: OpenGL ES 3.1 Mesa 21.2.6
OpenGL ES profile shading language version string: OpenGL ES GLSL ES 3.10
OpenGL ES profile extensions:

(Sorry, I still don't know how to use this forum properly.)

I've checked the Intel Drivers Update Tool for Linux, and it says anything below Ubuntu 22.04 and 11th Gen Intel Graphic Cards is not supported/should rely on the distro itself.

My Graphics Card is apparently the Intel HD 4400? 4600?
This is the output of

lspci -k | grep -EA3 'VGA|3D|Display'
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 06)
Subsystem: Toshiba Corporation 4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller
Kernel driver in use: i915
Kernel modules: i915

Mmm... Is there anything I can do to be able to turn on the GPU plugin on RuneLite on Una, in my current laptop?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[SMG]

On my TOSHIBA laptop, when I had Windows installed, I used to be able to activate the GPU plugin on RuneLite (which makes the game run better, using the GPU). So this tells me this is not a hardware issue.

I checked on RuneLite's GitHub and it says the GPU plugin requires OpenGL 4.3 or newer.

glxinfo | grep "OpenGL"
OpenGL vendor string: Intel Open Source Technology Center
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa DRI Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600 (HSW GT2)
OpenGL core profile version string: 4.5 (Core Profile) Mesa 21.2.6

If you would like help, please provide a bigger hint about what GPU plugin on RuneLite is (such as providing a link to the GitHub you mentioned) because your system meets that spec.

Explaining what version of RuneLite you installed and what version of the GPU plugin you installed would also help.

[PureBlood]

Hello SMG, thanks a lot for your reply!

RuneLite's GPU Plugin requirements: https://github.com/runelite/runelite/wiki/GPU-FAQ

Regarding the version of both RuneLite and its GPU plugin:

- The GPU plugin comes with RuneLite, it's not an add-on, but one of the many plugins that come with RuneLite (which is an improved client for OSRS, Old School RuneScape, approved and allowed by the main game's company, Jagex).
- RuneLite's version is the latest available since it self-updates. I run it from an AppImage I downloaded from the official site www.runelite.net. At the time I'm writing this, the webpage says the latest version is 1.9.13.1.

Just tried turning the GPU Plugin on and it instantly turns back off (not even sure if it ever actually turns on).

Thanks for confirming my system meets the spec.
Let me know if you need anything else. Have a great day.

[SMG]

Just tried turning the GPU Plugin on and it instantly turns back off (not even sure if it ever actually turns on).

That scenario is listed in the troubleshooting section of the link you provided.

Please open the System Reports app and click the System Information tab on the left. Your computer's information should come up in the right pane. Then click the Copy button in the lower right and paste the results into a reply window here so we can see how Linux Mint views your hardware.

[PureBlood]

Roger that!

Code: Select all

System:    Kernel: 5.4.0-144-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.4.0 Desktop: Xfce 4.16.0 
           tk: Gtk 3.24.20 wm: xfwm4 dm: LightDM Distro: Linux Mint 20.3 Una 
           base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal 
Machine:   Type: Laptop System: TOSHIBA product: Satellite S75t-A v: PSKNAU-0JS09Q 
           serial: <filter> 
           Mobo: Type2 - Board Vendor Name1 model: Type2 - Board Product Name1 
           v: Type2 - Board Version serial: <filter> UEFI: Insyde v: 1.50 date: 11/04/2013 
Battery:   ID-1: BAT1 charge: 12.9 Wh condition: 12.9/47.5 Wh (27%) volts: 12.3/10.8 
           model: LGC PA5109U-1BRS serial: <filter> status: Charging 
CPU:       Topology: Quad Core model: Intel Core i7-4700MQ bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Haswell 
           rev: 3 L2 cache: 6144 KiB 
           flags: avx avx2 lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 38314 
           Speed: 3194 MHz min/max: 800/3400 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 3197 2: 3198 3: 3196 
           4: 3202 5: 3194 6: 3194 7: 3193 8: 3193 
Graphics:  Device-1: Intel 4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics vendor: Toshiba driver: i915 
           v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 chip ID: 8086:0416 
           Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.13 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa 
           resolution: 1920x1080~60Hz, 1360x768~60Hz 
           OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics 4600 (HSW GT2) v: 4.5 Mesa 21.2.6 
           compat-v: 3.0 direct render: Yes 
Audio:     Device-1: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor HD Audio vendor: Toshiba 
           driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:03.0 chip ID: 8086:0c0c 
           Device-2: Intel 8 Series/C220 Series High Definition Audio vendor: Toshiba 
           driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1b.0 chip ID: 8086:8c20 
           Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-144-generic 
Network:   Device-1: Realtek RTL8188EE Wireless Network Adapter driver: rtl8188ee v: kernel 
           port: 4000 bus ID: 07:00.0 chip ID: 10ec:8179 
           IF: wlp7s0 state: down mac: <filter> 
           Device-2: Qualcomm Atheros AR8161 Gigabit Ethernet vendor: Toshiba driver: alx 
           v: kernel port: 3000 bus ID: 08:00.0 chip ID: 1969:1091 
           IF: enp8s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter> 
Drives:    Local Storage: total: 223.57 GiB used: 28.98 GiB (13.0%) 
           ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Crucial model: CT240BX300SSD1 size: 223.57 GiB speed: 6.0 Gb/s 
           serial: <filter> 
Partition: ID-1: / size: 218.51 GiB used: 28.97 GiB (13.3%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2 
USB:       Hub: 1-0:1 info: Full speed (or root) Hub ports: 2 rev: 2.0 chip ID: 1d6b:0002 
           Hub: 1-1:2 info: Intel ports: 6 rev: 2.0 chip ID: 8087:8008 
           Hub: 2-0:1 info: Full speed (or root) Hub ports: 2 rev: 2.0 chip ID: 1d6b:0002 
           Hub: 2-1:2 info: Intel ports: 8 rev: 2.0 chip ID: 8087:8000 
           Hub: 3-0:1 info: Full speed (or root) Hub ports: 14 rev: 2.0 chip ID: 1d6b:0002 
           Device-1: 3-2:2 info: Razer USA Razer DeathAdder V2 Lite type: Mouse,Keyboard 
           driver: hid-generic,usbhid rev: 2.0 chip ID: 1532:00a1 
           Device-2: 3-4:3 info: Silicon Integrated Systems SiS HID Touch Controller type: HID 
           driver: hid-multitouch,usbhid rev: 2.0 chip ID: 0457:1037 
           Device-3: 3-6:4 info: Razer USA Razer Ornata V3 X type: Keyboard,Mouse 
           driver: hid-generic,usbhid rev: 2.0 chip ID: 1532:0294 
           Device-4: 3-8:5 info: Chicony TOSHIBA Web Camera - HD type: Video driver: uvcvideo 
           rev: 2.0 chip ID: 04f2:b41a 
           Hub: 4-0:1 info: Full speed (or root) Hub ports: 4 rev: 3.0 chip ID: 1d6b:0003 
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 77.0 C mobo: N/A 
           Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A 
Repos:     No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list 
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list 
           1: deb http: //packages.linuxmint.com una main upstream import backport #id:linuxmint_main
           2: deb http: //archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal main restricted universe multiverse
           3: deb http: //archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates main restricted universe multiverse
           4: deb http: //archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-backports main restricted universe multiverse
           5: deb http: //security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ focal-security main restricted universe multiverse
           6: deb http: //archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ focal partner
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/winehq-focal.sources 
           1: deb [arch=amd64 i386] https: //dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/ubuntu focal main
Info:      Processes: 237 Uptime: 41m Memory: 7.70 GiB used: 2.27 GiB (29.5%) Init: systemd v: 245 
           runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 9.4.0 alt: 9 Client: Unknown python3.8 client inxi: 3.0.38 

Regarding GitHub's troubleshooting, unless I'm missing something (although I've read it many times), it seems to only provide a possible solution to systems with a Nvidia GPU, which is not my case, since I have an Intel GPU. Right? (I thought GPU was the processor? Didn't know there were Nvidia GPUs? I'm a bit lost hehe.)

Thanks a lot friend.

[DisturbedDragon]

Mmm... Is there anything I can do to be able to turn on the GPU plugin on RuneLite on Una, in my current laptop?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Sorry, but I'm curious why the OpenGL report versions do not match and show below recommended.

Code: Select all

glxinfo | grep "OpenGL"
OpenGL vendor string: Intel Open Source Technology Center
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa DRI Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600 (HSW GT2)
OpenGL core profile version string: 4.5 (Core Profile) Mesa 21.2.6    <---------------------------- 4.5
OpenGL core profile shading language version string: 4.50
OpenGL core profile context flags: (none)
OpenGL core profile profile mask: core profile
OpenGL core profile extensions:
OpenGL version string: 3.0 Mesa 21.2.6   <-----------------------------------------------------------3.0
OpenGL shading language version string: 1.30
OpenGL context flags: (none)
OpenGL extensions:
OpenGL ES profile version string: OpenGL ES 3.1 Mesa 21.2.6
OpenGL ES profile shading language version string: OpenGL ES GLSL ES 3.10
OpenGL ES profile extensions:

(not on Mint machine ATM but still there is a version mismatch)
whereas the same grep for me shows

Code: Select all

penGL vendor string: AMD
OpenGL renderer string: AMD Radeon R5 Graphics (stoney, LLVM 15.0.7, DRM 3.49, 6.2.7-200.fc37.x86_64)
OpenGL core profile version string: 4.5 (Core Profile) Mesa 22.3.7  <---------------------------------------4.5
OpenGL core profile shading language version string: 4.50
OpenGL core profile context flags: (none)
OpenGL core profile profile mask: core profile
OpenGL core profile extensions:
OpenGL version string: 4.5 (Compatibility Profile) Mesa 22.3.7  <-------------------------------------------4.5
OpenGL shading language version string: 4.50
OpenGL context flags: (none)
OpenGL profile mask: compatibility profile
OpenGL extensions:
OpenGL ES profile version string: OpenGL ES 3.2 Mesa 22.3.7
OpenGL ES profile shading language version string: OpenGL ES GLSL ES 3.20
OpenGL ES profile extensions:

[PureBlood]

Interesting.

Maybe RuneLite thinks my OpenGL is 3.0 ("OpenGL version string") instead of 4.5 ("OpenGL core profile version string").

No idea why.

[SMG]

Graphics: Device-1: Intel 4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics vendor: Toshiba driver: i915
v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 chip ID: 8086:0416
Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.13 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa
resolution: 1920x1080~60Hz, 1360x768~60Hz
OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics 4600 (HSW GT2) v: 4.5 Mesa 21.2.6
compat-v: 3.0 direct render: Yes

Those values are shown here as well.

The below is rather warm, but it also seems you have your CPU running near max so maybe that is why.

Code: Select all

Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 77.0 C mobo: N/A 
           Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A 

Regarding GitHub's troubleshooting, unless I'm missing something (although I've read it many times), it seems to only provide a possible solution to systems with a Nvidia GPU, which is not my case, since I have an Intel GPU. Right?

Yes. The only other option I see them mention is running in software rendering mode which would really sends your CPU's temps up.

(I thought GPU was the processor? Didn't know there were Nvidia GPUs? I'm a bit lost hehe.)

Your computer's GPU is integrated with the CPU and is often referred to as an iGPU (for "integrated" GPU).

An Nvidia GPU is a Graphics Processing Unit which is separate from a CPU and often referred to as a dGPU (for "discrete" or "dedicated"). It has its own memory which is not part of the processing the CPU needs for CPU work. That is why when one has a discrete GPU it is considered more powerful. It handles all the graphics so the CPU does not have to do so like it does when the graphics are an iGPU.

Maybe RuneLite thinks my OpenGL is 3.0 ("OpenGL version string") instead of 4.5 ("OpenGL core profile version string").

You indicated you were able to use the plugin when you were running Windows so I would have expected this to work for you. However, I do not know if the plug-in was coded differently for Linux-based distros.

Here is an explanation for compatibility profile versus core profile. It's not something you can do anything about. Whoever coded the program decides what is being used and they write their code accordingly.

See this post for what the difference means to a user.

The plug-ins GPU FAQ indicate, "The GPU plugin requires Windows (7, 8, or 10), MacOS, or Linux, a GPU with support for OpenGL 4.3 or newer, and 2GB of VRAM. This requires either a Nvidia GeForce 400 or newer, an AMD Radeon HD 5000 Series or newer, or Intel HD Graphics with an Intel Haswell processor or newer."

Yours is Intel HD Graphics 4600 (HSW GT2) where HSW GT2 is Haswell so, as I read this, it should meet the minimum spec.

[SMG]

Sorry, but I'm curious why the OpenGL report versions do not match and show below recommended.

One is core profile and the other is compatibility profile. See the links I provided in the prior post.

As I understand this (which is not to mean I am understanding it correctly ), OP's hardware will likely be able to run things yours will not because yours is not backward compatible with the deprecated functions. Here is more detail on the topic OpenGL Context.

[DisturbedDragon]

As I understand this (which is not to mean I am understanding it correctly ), OP's hardware will likely be able to run things yours will not because yours is not backward compatible with the deprecated functions. Here is more detail on the topic OpenGL Context.

I "installed" the game (appimage) and the GPU renderer. I am able to enable and use it. Somehow, and I am not sure how, the OP has OpenGL compatibility level (3.0) set below the game requirement threshold (4.3).

I looked it up and though the i7-4700MQ is a 4th Gen. it appears the CPU it does support OpenGL 4.3 and given OP has successfully use the plugin before it must. I also read if hardware acceleration is not properly implemented (e.g. bad/no driver) then OpenGL falls back to a lesser version. Found a post on an Arch forum from 2020 the renderer can be forced using LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE=1 variable when launching the application.

Looking closer I see the graphics are HD Graphics 4600 using the i915 driver which near as I can tell dropped further Mesa support upgrades ~2016 at OpenGL version 3.3.

Another post linked over from an Arch forum revealed this https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Intel_ ... stallation

No idea if this will work and I have no way to test it.

[SMG]

Somehow, and I am not sure how, the OP has OpenGL compatibility level (3.0) set below the game requirement threshold (4.3).

If you look at the links I provided, that is not something a user sets. It is something which is decided by the software code for the game/plug-in.

Found a post on an Arch forum from 2020 the renderer can be forced using LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE=1 variable when launching the application.

For this specific game? We need the information for this specific game because each game/application can be handled however the developer designed it to be handled. There is not necessarily a standard being used.

Looking closer I see the graphics are HD Graphics 4600 using the i915 driver which near as I can tell dropped further Mesa support upgrades ~2016 at OpenGL version 3.3.

The i915 driver you see in the inxi output is the kernel driver. It is not the mesa driver. In LM20 versions i965 is used for acceleration and in LM21 versions crocus is used. One finds them in the Xorg log and not inxi output.

[PureBlood]

Yes. The only other option I see them mention is running in software rendering mode which would really sends your CPU's temps up.

Well, I guess this settles it.

I can't do anything to turn on the RuneLite's GPU plugin on Linux, until the RL devs allow it.

However, even if there was something I could do to turn it on, your comment about the CPU temperature really resonated, because I remember my laptop used to get EXTREMELY hot (I'm sure you could fry an egg on it if you tried) back when I used Windows, and I bet the reason was running RuneLite for long hours with the GPU plugin enabled...

So I'd rather just not fry my laptop over such an optional plugin.

Thanks a lot SMG and DisturbedDragon.