Radeon-R7-M445, laptop, hybrid: Intel-HD-620

[MS]

Hello,

I am new to Linux. I was seduced by LinuxLite specifically, switched from Windows10 laptop, manufactured in 2016. I am happy with the choice, as I have been digging Linux topics for a while now. The point is, the laptop has hybrid graphics composed of Intel-HD-620, which is the main display driver, assisted with Radeon-R7-M445 dedicated renderer.

The mentioned renderer is unsupported on Linux. I have checked the AMD website and the only drivers meant for it run under WindowsOS. I have seen some instructions on fixing the problem - link HERE - but perhaps due to my lacking, I was unable to get them go; actually, this:

Code:

DRI_PRIME=1 glxinfo | grep 'OpenGL'

moment locks up the system. Hard to tell, I am sure there is something that can be done.

The system does see the device, below are neofetch and system report fragments. The point is, do you have any idea on fixing it, as it would be nice to make use of the equipment available, though perhaps should I seek paid assistance at some specified comany?

[shadow=red,left]OS: Linux Lite 4.0 x86_64
Host: Inspiron 5567
Kernel: 4.15.0-36-generic
Shell: bash 4.4.19
Terminal: xfce4-terminal
CPU: Intel i7-7500U (4) @ 3.500GHz {actually it is 2 * 2 * 2.9GHz}
GPU: Intel HD Graphics 620
GPU: AMD Radeon R7 M260/M265
Memory: 533MiB / 7795MiB

Graphics Chip Information
description: VGA compatible controller 
product: Intel Corporation 
vendor: Intel Corporation 
physical id: 2 
bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0 
version: 02 
width: 64 bits 
clock: 33MHz 
capabilities: pciexpress msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom 
configuration: driver=i915 latency=0 
resources: irq:128 memory:de000000-deffffff memory:b0000000-bfffffff ioport:f000(size=64) memory:c0000-dffff 

*-display 
description: Display controller 
product: Topaz XT [Radeon R7 M260/M265 / M340/M360 / M440/M445] 
vendor: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] 
physical id: 0 
bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0 
version: c3 
width: 64 bits 
clock: 33MHz 
capabilities: pm pciexpress msi cap_list rom 
configuration: driver=amdgpu latency=0 
resources: irq:129 memory:c0000000-cfffffff memory:d0000000-d01fffff ioport:e000(size=256) memory:df200000-df23ffff memory:df240000-df25ffff 
[/shadow]

[MS]

Managed to initiate the Radeon R7 M445 for particular programs. Launching the program, I need to type:

Code:

DRI_PRIME=1 %command%

Any hint on how to make this fix a system default?

[freefreeno]

I have intel 620 and I do not use stock drivers. I use a repo with the latest intel 620 xorg and all the newest mesa and so far my picture quality and performance have gone up ALOT.

[MS]

Well, I guess that would need some clearing out, nonetheless what I did, basing off a useful topic found on StackExchange forums, was:

Code:

sudo nano /etc/environment

where at the bottom I would add:

Code:

DRI_PRIME=1

Then verify and reboot.

EDIT:

Mark the issue as solved?

Though the drives sure are not perfect.

[MS]

People with similar set may also experience tearing of dynamic image with basic Intel HD 620. This is the case of drivers, a known issue. Available solutions discussed HERE, for example. Straight to the point, go manual configuration, forget about the Composer option.

[MS]

What is interesting though, is that once you set the global environmental setup of DRI_PRIME=1 and then make XORG configuration file including enabled option of TearFree, the system will set your OpenGL display driver and device for the Intel, instead of the Radeon, nonetheless by performance difference - for the better - one can tell there is indeed some extra V-RAM buffer going on in the background, cooperating with Intel. It may suggest that somehow this way the Intel hijacks the OpenGL, but in the end, everything works on enough acceptable level, albeit drivers could be better. On the other hand, are hybrid graphics not supposed to work in such a manner?