I’m a long time Xubuntu user and I’ve decided to give EndeavourOS a try as I’m setting up a new machine (Dell Precision 5570). I’ve installed EOS multiple times already without any luck. The issue is that I would like to make my dedicated GPU work. Out of a fresh install the only thing that works is the integrated GPU (as far as I understand it).
So far after a fresh install (chose the NVIDIA support iso boot option) I’ve followed all the tutorials I could find on the EndeavourOS website about using optimus-manager or optimus-switch. After installing EOS, rebooting, install optimus-manager, reboot, the system ends up to not being able to start LightDM (black screen blinking cursor). With optimus-switch same procedure the outcome is even worse. I get the black screen, but the cursor isn’t blinking, just sits there, can’t change to TTY so I guess the system got stuck.
The following inxi output is same after a fresh install or even after using one or the other nvidia-installer-dkms or nvidia-inst. I can see that the driver on the NVIDIA card shows N/A, but I don’t know why, because I’ve installed everything.
I’ve already tried to install Xubuntu on the same machine and it works perfectly. I can use prime-select nvidia to active the graphic card after installing the proprietary drivers, but I don’t want to use snaps anymore. This is why I’m looking forward to use arch with XFCE. What information do you guys need to better understand the situation I’m in?
After setting the kernel parameter ibt=offinxi -Ga actually showed driver: nvidia, but I can’t use it?! I tried things like DRI_PRIME=1 glxinfo which still showed the Intel Graphics Card being used.
So I went ahead and installed optimus-manager again with the same result, a black screen blinking cursor due to LightDM not being started.
Do I get the right without a tool to switch GPUs I can’t use the dGPU?
Ok after running nvidia-inst -p I can actually start nvidia-settings and use prime-run glxinfo for the first time and it seems to work. But how do I make the dGPU the main/primary GPU to be used by the WM without optimus-manager not working?
On Xfce there is also a tray icon provided by optimus-manager-qt, but the issue is that I never get to see it. When following this tutorial https://discovery.endeavouros.com/nvidia/optimus-manager-for-nvidia/2021/03/ after rebooting I’ll end up with the black screen blinking cursor issue again. This means it couldn’t start LightDM and this only due to installing optimus-manager
All i can do is point you in the direction. I don’t have any hybrid equipment and it seems that a not all laptops work the same that have dual graphics.
Custom Xorg config : optimus-manager works by auto-generating a Xorg configuration file and putting it into /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/. If you already have custom Xorg configuration files at that location or at /etc/X11/xorg.conf , it is strongly advised that you remove anything GPU-related from them to make sure that they do not interfere with the GPU switching process.
Nvidia-generated Xorg config : Similarly, if you have ever used the nvidia-xconfig utility or the Save to X Configuration File button in the Nvidia control panel, a Xorg config file may have been generated at /etc/X11/xorg.conf . It is highly recommended to delete it before trying to switch GPUs.
Thanks for your help. The ibt=off was a valuable hint, but I can’t make it work. Neither optimus-manager nor dGPU only, so with a heavy heart I need to go back to using Xubuntu. Hopefully, I’ll be able to use EOS in the future.
