[SOLVED] My Linux laptop apparently came with the wrong GPU, and isn't even using the GPU anyways

SkeletonTank · 01-28-2021, 07:24 PM

I bought the Dell Vostro 3583 laptop, which was advertised with the following specs:

CPU: Intel Core i5-8265U (which has an integrated GPU, like all Intel Core CPUs i suppose)
GPU: AMD Radeon 520 with 2GB GDDR5
OS: Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (note: i have no prior linux experience)

If i go to Settings App > Details > About, it says:

Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 (WHL GT2)

That was after a ton of system and app updates. Before the updates it said:

Graphics: Intel HD Graphics (Coffeelake 3x8 GT2)

Which i think means the GPU isn't being used. (If you have a better way to find out, please tell me.) Considering that it came with Ubuntu, the GPU should work out of the box.

But here's what's lshw says:

Code:

sudo lshw -c video
[sudo] password for : 
  *-display                 
       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:129 memory:c1000000-c1ffffff memory:a0000000-afffffff ioport:5000(size=64) memory:c0000-dffff
  *-display
       description: Display controller
       product: Jet PRO [Radeon R5 M230]
       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 bus_master cap_list rom
       configuration: driver=radeon latency=0
       resources: irq:130 memory:b0000000-bfffffff memory:c0000000-c003ffff ioport:4000(size=256) memory:c0040000-c005ffff

Radeon R5 M230 is a much worse and older GPU than Radeon 520!

Here's what the BIOS has to say about video, under System Information > Device Information:

Code:

Video Controller      = Intel(R) WhiskeyLake Graphics
dGPU Video Controller = AMD M520
Video BIOS Version    = GOP 1085
Video Memory          = 64 MB
Panel Type            = 15.6" FHD
Native Resolution     = 1920 by 1080

AMD M520 doesn't exist, so i don't know what's the deal with the M there.

When i installed PopOS 20.04 on it, the settings screen said the same thing (Intel iGPU). That was then i realized the GPU isn't working, so i used the recovery media i created with Dell's recovery tool at the original Ubuntu's setup, and selected the option to wipe the entire disk and set everything back to how it originally was. All the Ubuntu info above is from this recovered installation.

So there are 2 main things i need to figure out:
- Which GPU is in my laptop? The return deadline is tomorrow (29th), so after that if it's the wrong one i will probably have to jump through more hoops to correct the situation.
- How do i make linux use the GPU? Shouldn't the kernel already have the drivers?

Timothy Miller · 01-28-2021, 09:07 PM

The m520 is indeed just a slightly rebadged and upgraded M230. So looks like you probably do have a M520. And you have both, the Intel IGP and the Radeon. It's known as hybrid graphics, and is a bit more difficult to get working than just a single GPU.

beachboy2 · 01-29-2021, 10:34 AM

SkeletonTank,

Welcome to LQ forums.

Unless you can disable the Radeon 520 in the BIOS, I would recommend returning it. Having said that, it should default to the CPU's Intel 620 built-in graphics.

Have a look here first:

https://www.dell.com/community/Inspi...d/td-p/7439654

Also:
https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/e...erating-system

Others have had similar problems:
https://www.dell.com/community/Vostr...3/td-p/7395333

SkeletonTank · 01-29-2021, 03:16 PM

Thanks for the help from both of you. This solves my issue.

Quote:

beachboy2

I've found that the OS does use the AMD GPU if i run something through the terminal with DRIPRIME=1.

Quote:

Timothy Miller

Indeed, misidentifications such as those seem common with the AMD 500 series. Therefore, i have no reason to believe the GPU is wrong.

I'm returning the laptop anyway, for 2 reasons:

Radeon 520 is a shitty GPU which won't properly run the games i want to. In fact it's not any better than the integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 in this very laptop (https://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compar...20744vsm329613). I thought it would be good enough because it's 2.7x better than my current GPU.
A 15.6" screen is too small for Full HD. I'm going to get a 1360x768 laptop instead and an external monitor (the combined price is still less).