Switchable Graphics is killing my Ubuntu Experience, PLEASE HELP

[onefthemany]

Hey, I was looking for updated script to switch between cards. Thanks. It works. Just the logout doesn´t work. I have to run it manually. Any idea how to improve it? I am using ubuntu 12.04. Thanks

is this intended for me?

[vedovatti]

is this intended for me?

@onefthemany
Hi, yes, it was for you. With this instrutions and script you provided I can finally switch between card. I have been looking for it since ubuntu 11.04. Anyway, the script works fine, but it doesnt logout automatically. The script switch card but doesnt run logout command (at least in Ubuntu 12.04) any idea why? or it works as well for you and its only me who has the problem?
Thank you.

[onefthemany]

@onefthemany
Hi, yes, it was for you. With this instrutions and script you provided I can finally switch between card. I have been looking for it since ubuntu 11.04. Anyway, the script works fine, but it doesnt logout automatically. The script switch card but doesnt run logout command (at least in Ubuntu 12.04) any idea why? or it works as well for you and its only me who has the problem?
Thank you.

Can you explain what your seeing and what you are trying to achieve.

Also what do you mean by "The script switch card but doesnt run logout command"

[vedovatti]

Can you explain what your seeing and what you are trying to achieve.

Also what do you mean by "The script switch card but doesnt run logout command"

Hi.
When I run the script I see the same images you have attached. So when I click on "Switch to discrete" it turns on the discrate and it supposed to run "gnome-session-quit" added in the script you provided and logout. But it does not do it. After I "Switch to discrete" I have to logout manually. Any idea to solve it? it is important for me as I will try to make a blog how to install the whole functionalities on my laptop model.
Thanks

[onefthemany]

Hi.
When I run the script I see the same images you have attached. So when I click on "Switch to discrete" it turns on the discrate and it supposed to run "gnome-session-quit" added in the script you provided and logout. But it does not do it. After I "Switch to discrete" I have to logout manually. Any idea to solve it? it is important for me as I will try to make a blog how to install the whole functionalities on my laptop model.
Thanks

sadly the logout function is out of my control as the gnome-session-quit command should work

you could issue the --no-prompt or--logout at the end and see if that works for you

however if you feel the urge to report a bug:

http://dev.man-online.org/man1/gnome-session-quit/

also make sure you give credit to the creator of the script in your blog

good luck

[markackerman8@gmail.com]

I had the same issue on my HP Envy 14; here is what i done:


edit the /etc/fstab and add the following lines:

tmpfs /dev/shm tmpfs defaults 0 0

none /sys/kernel/debug debugfs defaults 0 0


then edit the /etc/rc.local and add before exit0:

p.s. I am the one who started this thread months ago still no luck - and I will respond - FAST - to any request for details

chown $User /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch

echo OFF> /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch

once you have done that use the attached script & drop it into your /usr/bin folder, and then drop the attached icons into home/$User/.local/share/icons folder

Note: you may want to change the $User in the /home/%User/.local/share/icons element to be the user on your machine. make sure the attached file is executable or it wont work; so either chmod or change permissions by right click.

prior to running the script ensure you have installed gxmessage

to run the script/app, open a terminal and get into root (sudo su)

then simply run the following command:

switch_between_cards

the switch 1-4 picture attached shows the process and you can see my radeon card is going from off to on to off again

references:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HybridGraphics

i have changed the following in my script:

gnome-session-save --logout to gnome-session-quit

removed open box opens as they were conflicting

good luck

hope this helps

------------------------------------------------------------------

I did everything as stated above -and arghhh still no luck

It is still KILLING my Ubuntu experience 5 months later and retried again today hoping something will change

any way here is what i did from a fresh install tonight - if it helps anyone with m troubleshooting this - PLEASE

- installed fresh 12.04 Ubuntu 64 bit
- downloaded and installed amd's driver 12.4 according to the wicki
http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/Ubu...TI.27s_site.29
- after sudo amdconfig --initial -f, used switch_between_cards script seemed to work BUT logout or reboot X fails and only cntgrl+alt+F1 works, so I had to remove /etc/X11/xorg.conf, to get back in (and no discrete card function) - arghhhhhhh

PLEASE can anyone suggest any other troubleshooting tips - now 5 months without a functional Ubuntu

p.s. I am the one who started this post many months ago with still NO success using my ATI/AMD 6850m graphics card please help - I Like games and Hate Windows

[vedovatti]

Hi there.
First you have to know what kind of hybrid (or switchable) graphics you have. There are with "MUX" and "MUXLESS". It is a big difference.
The MUXLESS are the newest hybrid graphic cards. They normally are Intel HD 3000 and second generation of core i3 i5 i7 bla bla.
The MUXED is the one I have. It is a core i5 first generation.

The MUXLESS are already supported by ATI. Check this forum: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1930450

The MUXED (the one I have is a ATI 5450 / Intel core i5) currently is only possible to switch with vgaswitcheroo.

Now. If you have a MUXED then here is what I did.

1) Open the file

sudo gedit /etc/rc.local

and add this:

modprobe radeon
chown -R $USER:$USER /sys/kernel/debug
echo OFF > /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch 

That turns off the discrete card before Ubuntu starts.


2) If you want to switch to card do this:

sudo gedit /etc/fstab

and add the following lines:

tmpfs /dev/shm tmpfs defaults 0 0
none /sys/kernel/debug debugfs defaults 0 0 

Then download the script that onefthemany attached to his comment. Make it executable (just right click and in the permission tab tick it). Then double click on the script switch it and logout.

When you log in again you will be using the discrete card.

Good luck

[markackerman8@gmail.com]

Thanks for your quick reply.

I have done a bit of research and I can say with a high degree of certainty it is a MUXLESS system, based on the fact that it is a very new computer and the highest supervisor in HP Envy Tech support said so. So your last suggestions are sadly not likely going to work for me - thanks any way SO MUCH,

Mark

Any more suggestions would be MUCH appreciated.

[SevasTraSi]

Hello, thanks for the script, I had to make some tweaks to get it working.

I added the following to the top of switch_between_cards

sudo chmod -R 705 /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch

to overcome some permission problems.

I then noticed the only way to ensure my graphics switched every time was to echo DIS and then DDIS, or IGD then DIGD. I realise this should be redundant but it works.

so wherever you see:

echo IGD > /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch

add the second command to make

echo IGD > /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch
echo DIGD > /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch

and the same for DIS so you get:

  echo DIS > /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch
  echo DDIS > /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch

I am not using gnome at all in my Ubuntu install as I am running awesomeWM and avoiding anything with gnome dependencies. This meant the logout line returned a gnome error.
Therefore this:

gnome-session-quit

can be swapped for the less polite:

sudo kill -9 `pidof X`

Hope this helps someone else who was struggling as I was.

[Nevralgeek]

Hi, I have some problems with vgaswitcheroo.
I've got an Acer 4820tg (ATI HD 5470 + Intel core i3 integrated gpu), and I managed to have switchable gpu working with my good old Fedora 14.
I had to wipe everything out recently, and I installed Xubuntu.

The problem is that the script doesn't work on XFCE.
I can have both card running, or only integrated Intel one. If I turn the ATI on, there is no change, both are turned on but I'm still on the Intel HD one.

What should I change in the script to make it compatible with XFCE ?

I tried to remove "gnome-session-save --logout" and I replaced it with "xfce4-session-logout --logout" but it doesn't seem to be a great idea : "the name xorg.xfce.SessionManager was not provided by any .service file".

Any idea to adapt the script ?

Thanks a lot