PRIME Synchronization on optimus (nvidia KMS, xserver-1.19.3+, nvidia-prime

[mc4man]

It's working here. Obviously not needed for Wayland but wayland is currently non-functional with nvidia-prime

method here
Switch to gdm3 if not already (will work with lightdm, for 16.04.3 stay with lightdm
Install nvidia drivers 375.66 or higher, reboot
In terminal -

sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/zz-nvidia-modeset.conf

Add this line, adjust 375 if using newer driver, ex. 381 or 384 ect.

options nvidia_375_drm modeset=1

Save changes, exit nano
In terminal

sudo update-initramfs -u

Reboot

Note: one could also just edit /etc/modprobe.d/nvidia-graphics-drivers.conf on the last line instead on creating a new file. Same affect, the new file method may be slightly more persistent, i.e., an update to nvidia that doesn't up the version #..
To check -

sudo cat /sys/module/nvidia_drm/parameters/modeset

Should return Y

xrandr --verbose

1st. section, (the laptop display), should show PRIME Synchronization: 1

Ex. here -

$ xrandr --verboseScreen 0: minimum 8 x 8, current 1920 x 1080, maximum 16384 x 16384
eDP-1-1 connected primary 1920x1080+0+0 (0x46) normal (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 345mm x 194mm
Identifier: 0x42
Timestamp: 18328
Subpixel: unknown
Gamma: 1.0:1.0:1.0
Brightness: 1.0
Clones:
CRTC: 0
CRTCs: 0 1 2
Transform: 1.000000 0.000000 0.000000
0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
filter:
_MUTTER_PRESENTATION_OUTPUT: 0
EDID:
00ffffffffffff0030e4d90200000000
00150103802313780a15d59e59509826
0e505400000001010101010101010101
0101010101017e3680b070381f403020
350059c2100000190000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000fe004c
4720446973706c61790a2020000000fe
004c503135365746312d544c4232004b
PRIME Synchronization: 1
supported: 0, 1
scaling mode: Full aspect
supported: None, Full, Center, Full aspect
...........

Note that upgrading nvidia driverversions will require redoing the above, i.e., edit # in the modeprobe file to match new driver #, then run the sudo update-initramfs -u command again

[mc4man]

Can also report it's now working in 16.04 with lightdm & upcoming HWE packages. This is better news than the state of in 17.10..
If not using the 16.04.3 image for install then one must get on the HWE path, info here
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/LTSEnablementStack
Basically just run this, you don't need to do the kernel but probably a good idea to do so. If nvidia drivers are already installed I'd either remove them if doing the HWE kernel or switch to Intel, install the HWE kernel, reboot & re-install or switch back to nvidia, ect.

 sudo apt  install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-16.04 xserver-xorg-hwe-16.04

or for just xserver

 sudo apt install --install-recommends xserver-xorg-hwe-16.04

$ apt-cache policy xserver-xorg-core-hwe-16.04
xserver-xorg-core-hwe-16.04:
Installed: 2:1.19.3-1ubuntu1~16.04.1
Candidate: 2:1.19.3-1ubuntu1~16.04.1
Version table:
*** 2:1.19.3-1ubuntu1~16.04.1 500
500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-proposed/main amd64 Packages
100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
2:1.19.3-1ubuntu1~16.04.1~7 500
500 http://ppa.launchpad.net/canonical-x/x-staging/ubuntu xenial/main amd64 Packages
2:1.18.4-1ubuntu6.1~16.04.1 500
500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-updates/main amd64 Packages

$ xrandr --verbose
Screen 0: minimum 8 x 8, current 1920 x 1080, maximum 16384 x 16384
eDP-1-1 connected primary 1920x1080+0+0 (0x46) normal (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 345mm x 194mm
Identifier: 0x42
Timestamp: 13325
Subpixel: unknown
Gamma: 1.0:1.0:1.0
Brightness: 1.0
Clones:
CRTC: 0
CRTCs: 0 1 2
Transform: 1.000000 0.000000 0.000000
0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
filter:
EDID:
00ffffffffffff0030e4d90200000000
00150103802313780a15d59e59509826
0e505400000001010101010101010101
0101010101017e3680b070381f403020
350059c2100000190000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000fe004c
4720446973706c61790a2020000000fe
004c503135365746312d544c4232004b
PRIME Synchronization: 1
supported: 0, 1

[mc4man]

For visible confirmaton dl, extract & play attached vid while using nvidia drivers thru nvidia-prime (hybrid/optimus machines)
The bar won't break which it would of in the past..

[markackerman8@gmail.com]

Awesome,

Finally a way to stop screen tearing with Optimus Laptops using Nvidia Drivers ... a Long Time Coming!

Make sure to redo it whenever you you upgrade to a different Nvidia driver as you will need to change the number in the file to match it. You will remember this as screen tearing will come right back until you do it!

Thank you so much mc4man - YOU ARE AWESOME!

Cheers, Mark

[Bashing-om]

mc4man;

Pass along a "thank you "

< ecv> Bashing-om: I got all the checks positive and though I wouldn't swear by it, I think it worked
< ecv> can't check that guy's video since I don't have an account. Also if you could thank him I'd appreciate

add my bit to try and help

[mari5ha]

Hi all,
Just to add this solution works perfectly on Ubuntu. Is it applicable for Linux Mint 18.3 Cinnamon?
TY

EDIT: Following the manual, at the end, line PRIME Synchronization: 1 is not added...

[aliuygurerol]

Hi,

I have a MSI laptop with gtx 950m. I had tearing problem for almost 3 years now and I have posted on every single forum on internet.

This solution works like a charm for nvidia chip on Ubuntu Mate 17.10. I still have a strong tearing issu with the Intel chip.

BUT THX A LOT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mc4man]

Hi all,
Just to add this solution works perfectly on Ubuntu. Is it applicable for Linux Mint 18.3 Cinnamon?
TY

EDIT: Following the manual, at the end, line PRIME Synchronization: 1 is not added...

That's because mint 18.3 has xserver 1.18.x, you need to get on the HWE path to get xserver 1.19.x. See edits in post #2 as how to, also applies to mint 18.3
(the next mint release should be on xserver 1.19.x or better...