AMD/Intel Hybrid Graphics works

[Shabakthanai]

I do not have your experience or skill or understanding of the process. My new build has an AMD 8350 8 core 4.2
ghz processor with 16ghz ddr3 1866 RAM. My video card is an XFX R7850 Double Dissipation 2GB DDR5. My operating system is a dual-boot Kubuntu 13.04 / Windows 7 Professional Sp1. My boot drive is a 256gb SATA III SSD. Both the Win 7 and Kubuntu OS's are on that SSD. I have never been a gamer and have only Bioshock and TombRaider in my Library right now in the Win 7 OS.

Will your instruction work for my video card and operating system? If not, can you direct me to the appropriate help source. Thanks for any reply. I don't really have the understanding to search a solution without help.

If you do want to make the switch possible between your Intel and your AMD graphics cards, then this post is for you. If you do not own a AMD hybrid graphic card, please leave this thread, and post your problems in a thread made for AMD single graphic or Intel single graphic.

Edit: The solution seems not to work with ATI 5xxx graphic cards, try at your own risk.
Warning: Works only for muxless systems.
Warning 2: Check if your BIOS is updated, if not update it ! (You will need Windows). This is your computer manufacturer that "implements the switch on your mother card, and modify the video drivers for Windows to work on your computer". If an AMD 6630m (for example) works on a HP computer, this doesn't mean the same video card will work for sure (for example) on a ASUS computer.

Edit bodhi.zazen: Best check hardware compatibility before following this tutorial. If your hardware is not listed as supported, this tutorial will not help you. See http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/Hardware

The following solution has been tested on a DELL Vostro 3550, with an AMD 6630m card and an Intel HD 3000 (Sandybridge) card (integrated into a Intel core i5). The version of Ubuntu used is 12.04 LTS (further versions should works too). The system is very stable, and everything works well.
This tutorial requires the use of the terminal, but still is simple if you're a beginner, you will just have to past some commands on it and press "Enter".
(Tip for beginners : to past a command on a terminal, just press CTRL+SHIFT+V, it is the same shorcut as usual just don't forget to press SHIFT when pasting).

Before beginning this tutorial, we will suppose you are following it on a fresh install (i.e. You did not install vgaswitchroo or flgrx (via jockey-gtk : The proprietary driver installer application from Ubuntu). Please also install all updates available for your computer before starting (and reboot if you're proposed to).

STEP 1 - Installing latest AMD catalyst drivers :

As I'm writing this the latest version is 12.4, please check this page to know if there is a new version : http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/Ubu...allation_Guide (this also includes the guide to install them).

First we're going to download all the prerequisite packages :

sudo apt-get install build-essential cdbs fakeroot dh-make debhelper debconf libstdc++6
sudo apt-get install dkms libqtgui4 wget execstack libelfg0 dh-modaliases
sudo apt-get install linux-headers-generic xserver-xorg-core libgcc1

If you're using Ubuntu 64bits please run those two commands (32bits users don't have to) :

sudo apt-get install ia32-libs lib32gcc1 libc6-i386
cd /usr ; sudo ln -svT lib /usr/lib64

We can now download the AMD catalyst 12.4 driver :

cd ~/; mkdir catalyst12.4; cd catalyst12.4/
wget http://www2.ati.com/drivers/linux/amd-driver-installer-12-4-x86.x86_64.run
chmod +x amd-driver-installer-12-4-x86.x86_64.run

And create Ubuntu packages of it :

sudo sh ./amd-driver-installer-12-4-x86.x86_64.run --buildpkg Ubuntu/precise

Now let's install them :

sudo dpkg -i fglrx*.deb

and configure the Xserver (xorg.conf file) for the first time :

sudo aticonfig --initial -f

Now reboot your computer.

Test the switch to the discrete card :

sudo aticonfig --px-dgpu

Then reboot again your computer.

STEP 2 - Enabling, fixing the bug for direct rendering on the integrated card :
Thanks to Niccola for finding the actual fix.

If you ever apply an fglrx update, or your system automatically update fglrx, YOU WILL HAVE to repeat STEP 2, otherwise direct rendering will be missing on integrated gpu (i.e. No Unity 3D or Gnome Shell or Gnome Classic + Compiz on the Intel graphic). If you have an other solution (like loading a script on startup) please post it.

Open the /etc/X11/Xsession.d/10fglrx file with root rights :

gksu gedit /etc/X11/Xsession.d/10fglrx

If you're using a 32bits system add at the end of 4th line this text : "/usr/lib32/dri/" without the quotes. The file should now look like this :

 LIBGL_DRIVERS_PATH=/usr/lib/fglrx/dri 
if [ `uname -m` = 'x86_64' ]; then 
if [ -d /usr/lib32/fglrx/dri ]; then 
LIBGL_DRIVERS_PATH=${LIBGL_DRIVERS_PATH}:/usr/lib32/fglrx/dri:/usr/lib32/dri
if [ ! -z $LD_LIBRARY_PATH ]; then 
LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$LD_LIBRARY_PATH: 
fi 
LD_LIBRARY_PATH=${LD_LIBRARY_PATH}/usr/lib32 
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH 
fi 
fi 
export LIBGL_DRIVERS_PATH

If you're using a 64bits system add at the end of 4th line this text : "/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/dri/" without the quotes. The file should now look like this :

 LIBGL_DRIVERS_PATH=/usr/lib/fglrx/dri 
if [ `uname -m` = 'x86_64' ]; then 
if [ -d /usr/lib32/fglrx/dri ]; then 
LIBGL_DRIVERS_PATH=${LIBGL_DRIVERS_PATH}:/usr/lib32/fglrx/dri:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/dri
if [ ! -z $LD_LIBRARY_PATH ]; then 
LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$LD_LIBRARY_PATH: 
fi 
LD_LIBRARY_PATH=${LD_LIBRARY_PATH}/usr/lib32
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH 
fi 
fi 
export LIBGL_DRIVERS_PATH

Now save the file.

STEP 3 - Enjoy your hybrid graphic system ! :

Reboot your computer to see the changes, it should boot up with the discrete card.

Useful informations, commands :

Power consumption is a lot better now, it seems that my battery last 4 times more with the integrated card, but this isn't still good as in Windows. If someone find or know tricks to decrease power consumption a little more please post it !

I do not recommend to update the catalyst driver once it's installed (if it works), if you really want to upgrade then check this page to find instructions : http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/Ubuntu

The AMD driver GUI application doesn't provide settings for screen configuration, but only 3d settings. This is a missing feature.

Switching commands :

aticonfig --pxl # List current activated GPU
sudo aticonfig --px-dgpu # Activate discrete GPU (High-Performance mode), must re-start X to take effect
sudo aticonfig --px-igpu # Activate integrated GPU (Power-Saving mode), must re-start X to take effect

Verify the Open GL's libraries used :

fglrxinfo

Verify if the direct rendering is used :

glxinfo | egrep render

Install mesa-utils, and test the card 3d power (compare the fps) :

sudo apt-get install mesa-utils
glxgears

If something goes wrong and your computer doesn't boot (i.e. black screen), press CTRL+ALT+F3, log yourself into your account and enter those commands :

sudo rm /etc/X11/xorg.conf
sudo startx

And you should be able to see your desktop.

List of fully supported computers : // Updated 05/16/2012 (American date format).

• ACER 7750g, Intel HD 3000, AMD 6650m, HDMI Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested, VGA Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested
• 
  
• DELL Inspiron 14R (N4110), Intel HD 3000, AMD 6470m, HDMI Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested, VGA Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested
• DELL Vostro 3550, Intel HD 3000, AMD 6630m, HDMI Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested, VGA Intel/AMD: working/working
• 
  
• HP Envy 14t-2000 CTO, Intel HD 3000, AMD 6630m, HDMI Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested, Mini DisplayPort Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested
• HP ENVY 15-3090CA, Intel HD 3000, AMD 6630m, HDMI Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested, Mini DisplayPort Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested
• HP Pavilion dm4-2160sf, Intel HD 3000, AMD 6470m, HDMI Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested, VGA Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested
• HP Pavillion dm4-2110sp, Intel HD 3000, AMD 6470m, HDMI Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested, VGA Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested
• HP Pavilion dv6-6102sg, Intel HD 3000, AMD 6770m, HDMI Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested, VGA Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested
• HP Pavilion dv6-6169sl, Intel HD 3000, AMD 6770m, HDMI Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested, VGA Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested
• HP Pavilion dv6-6178sl, Intel HD 3000, AMD 6770m, HDMI Intel/AMD: working/working, VGA Intel/AMD: working/working
• HP Pavilion dv6-6192sf, Intel HD 3000, AMD 6770m, HDMI Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested, VGA Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested
• HP Pavilion dv7-6070ef, Intel HD 3000, AMD 6490m, HDMI Intel/AMD: not tested/working, VGA Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested
• HP Pavilion g4-1001tx, Intel HD 3000, AMD 6490m, HDMI Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested, VGA Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested
• HP Probook 4530s, Intel HD 3000, AMD 6490m, HDMI Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested, VGA Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested
• 
  
• Lenovo e520,Intel HD 3000, AMD 6630m, HDMI Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested, VGA Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested
• Lenovo G-770,Intel HD 3000, AMD 6650m, HDMI Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested, VGA Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested
• 
  
• SONY Vaio VPC-SB1S1E, Intel HD 3000, AMD 6470m, HDMI Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested, VGA Intel/AMD: working/working
• SONY Vaio VPC-SC1AFM/S, Intel HD 3000, AMD 6470m, HDMI Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested, VGA Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested

If you want to add your computer, please do want it (this will help other users), make a post and indicate your configuration like those above.
I will then add it to the working list.
I repeat as many people do not get it : "like those above" ! It take you two minutes to write it, this saves me time, and I can update more frequently this thread. Also posts like "It works on HP Pavilion dm4" are USELESS, I won't add a computer with an incomplete computer model number. Exception for computers without a precise model name (example : DELL Vostro 3550, Lenovo e520).



Useful links :
http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-p-6936730.html You can thanks that guy because his post really helped me to understand how the ati hybrid graphics works.
http://en.gentoo-wiki.com/wiki/Fglrx-hybrid-graphics You can also check this Gentoo wiki about hybrid graphics, this is some Gentoo's users that actually found first a solution on how to make AMD hybrid cards to work on Linux.

[pasquale4289]

Hi, can I post my xorg.log? I'm not able to understand if my problem is one of those you're discussing above.

[rohit3221]

Hi..Followed your steps..but now when I use discrete gpu, Kubuntu loads into recovery...whereas when I load it into Integrated GPU mode, it again loads back into GUI mode..Any help ?

[Ishayu]

I tried doing this on a MacBook Pro 8,2. Don't do that... :S

After completing all the steps, I get to a point where the graphics stack is ill configured, and X won't start. FGLRX will attempt to kill itself or in some cases kill initramfs, which causes a kernel panic. But that isn't the biggest problem...
The biggest problem is that X won't start, and neither will your CPU or GPU fans! Linux will try to save your ass by throttling the CPU speed lower and lower, but Linux will warn you about hardware check fails, and the temperature of my CPU measured 105 degrees on all cores before I shut it down. That is really bad.

Just to make matters a little bit worse, if you try to not do anything, you'll have the open source AMD drivers start an xserver with Unity on it AND you'll have the intel open source drivers start an xserver with Unity on it, so you'll have two unity's on top of each other that both perform every single task you assign your computer, and one of them only runs in 1280x800 while the other runs at full resolution. I'm unsure which is which.

If someone could point me towards a tutorial for getting this to work on my MBP I'd be most appreciative, but I'm not trying this again...

[Przedzmirski]

Hybrid Grapchis worked for me!! I used this thread, like others said before:

http://askubuntu.com/questions/20511.../288355#288355

My specs: DELL Inspiron 14R (N4110), Intel HD 3000, AMD 6470m, HDMI Intel/AMD: not tested/not tested, VGA Intel/AMD: working/working

Anyway, thank you very much for everyone who contributed here. Helped a lot!

Just one issue: When i'm using the discrete GPU, if I open an image in the default image viewer, and try to move it, my session is killed o.0. Do somebody experienced something like this yet?

Thank you all! And good luck with Hybrid =D

[laci37]

Has any one got this working with kernel version >= 3.6? I can't install the deb packages, because DKMS prints an error, that my kernel is unsupported. I have 12.04 with kernel 3.6.6. I also asked this question on askubuntu.com. There I have posted some log files.

[MeshachBlue]

Finally Working!

I have a HP dv6-6024TX -- http://www.mln.com.au/product/?itemID=3545

This is exactly what I did.

1)
Fresh install of Ubuntu 12.10 64bit

2)
Ran all updates

3)
Installed the following:

sudo apt-get install linux-headers-generic

4)
Downloaded the AMD driver:
http://www2.ati.com/drivers/linux/am...x86.x86_64.zip

5)
Extracted the zip and marked the .run file for execution

6)
Ran the file in the following way:

sudo ./amd-driver-installer-catalyst-13-4-x86.x86_64.run

7)
Clicked the TOP option "Install Driver ... "

8)
Pressed NO to restart

9)
Typed this into the terminal:

sudo amdconfig --initial

10)
Then I rebooted.

11)
SMILED with great JOY... even said HALLELUJAH workes wonderfully... one can change graphics using the catalyst control centre...
It is great.


This helped:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/ATI

[snake2903]

Hi, i have HP ProBook 4730s with Intel HD 3000 and AMD Radeon 6490m hybrid system,
I installed fresh Linux Mint 15 64-bit (Ubuntu 13.04) and did every steps in this tutorial:

http://askubuntu.com/questions/205112/how-do-i-get-amd-intel-hybrid-graphics-drivers-to-work/288355#288355

I used latest stable AMD drivers, 13.4 version.
Everything works great. I tried switch to Intel HD, restart, works. I tried switch to AMD 6490m, restart, works.
Nothing crashed. I make scripts for switching, like in tutorial and works great.
Only thing i didn't try is HDMI. When try it, i'l edit post.


HP Probook 4730s, Intel HD 3000, AMD 6490m, HDMI Intel/AMD: not tested yet/not tested yet, VGA Intel/AMD: working/working

[rikkinho]

ubuntu 13.04

amd 13.6 beta kernel 3.8 intel hd 3000 with 6770m works with xna intel drivers, without problems.... but... really bad perfomance on steam, really really bad amd sucks, the 13.1 works a lot better on steam games, i cant undertand this type of regression the dev team from need amd prop driver needs to be fired, bad support on windows bad support on linux, i hope mir bings hybrid graphics with opensource driver iḿ tired with this garbage drivers.

[Dystout]

I am having no success following the guide found http://askubuntu.com/questions/20511.../288355#288355 in any of Ubuntu, Xubuntu, or Mint (all 13.04). Everything seems to go alright up unto the final reboot, and then I am unable to get back into a GUI. I have consistently received one error while following the steps in the guide, which I will post later once I reinstall one of the distros for the umpteenth time (as I can't access anything on the one I have installed right now). I am presented with the terminal log in, and am able to in order to access the terminal prompt. Mint is the only one that presents me with errors, about the xserver being unable to start due to a faulty graphics configuration (or something like that). I have an Envy 15t-3200 with hybrid intel hd 4000/radeon hd 7750, if that changes anything. I would really love some help if anyone can offer it; I am dying to get this working.