How to use an old GPU?

Issues & Assistance Games & Emulators
1

Hello everyone,
I have an old gaming laptop (Alienware M17x-R4) and I would like to use it for my son to play Age of Empires IV.

I have installed Steam and configured the game to use Proton 9.
My problem is that when the game loads, I get a message saying that no supported graphics hardware is found.
When I look in “About this system” in Garuda tools, I have “Mesa Intel HD Graphics 4000” as the graphics processor. There is no trace of the AMD Radeon HD 7970M card.
Back when I bought this computer and was on Windows, the system was able to switch between the 2 graphics processors and it was, supposedly, an innovation. Maybe that’s what’s causing the problem today.
Anyway, I want my graphics card to be recognized so I can play AOE IV. Do you know what I should do?
Thank you in advance for your help.

1 Like
2

Yes, always post gruda-inxi output from terminal as text. :slight_smile:

Did you search in forum?
IIRC there are commands for terminal to start a game with the GPU you want to use.

I move your post from Issues & Assistance to Games & Emulators

1 Like
3

Here is the return of garuda-inxi :

System:
Kernel: 6.12.7-zen1-1-zen arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 14.2.1
clocksource: tsc avail: hpet,acpi_pm
parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/@/boot/vmlinuz-linux-zen
root=UUID=9ad23e50-5e8b-47f1-9172-03800c3155da rw rootflags=subvol=@
quiet loglevel=3 ibt=off
Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 6.2.4 tk: Qt v: N/A info: frameworks v: 6.9.0
wm: kwin_wayland vt: 1 dm: SDDM Distro: Garuda base: Arch Linux
Machine:
Type: Portable System: Alienware product: M17xR4 v: A15
serial: <superuser required>
Mobo: Alienware model: M17xR4 v: A15 serial: <superuser required>
part-nu: M17xR4 uuid: <superuser required> UEFI-[Legacy]: Alienware v: A15
date: 05/28/2018
Battery:
ID-1: BAT1 charge: 86.6 Wh (100.0%) condition: 86.6/86.6 Wh (100.0%)
power: 0.1 W volts: 12.5 min: 11.1 model: SDI PABAS0241231 type: Li-ion
serial: <filter> status: full
CPU:
Info: model: Intel Core i7-3740QM bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Ivy Bridge
gen: core 3 level: v2 built: 2012-15 process: Intel 22nm family: 6
model-id: 0x3A (58) stepping: 9 microcode: 0x21
Topology: cpus: 1x dies: 1 clusters: 4 cores: 4 threads: 8 tpc: 2
smt: enabled cache: L1: 256 KiB desc: d-4x32 KiB; i-4x32 KiB L2: 1024 KiB
desc: 4x256 KiB L3: 6 MiB desc: 1x6 MiB
Speed (MHz): avg: 2632 min/max: 1200/3700 scaling: driver: intel_cpufreq
governor: performance cores: 1: 2632 2: 2632 3: 2632 4: 2632 5: 2632 6: 2632
7: 2632 8: 2632 bogomips: 43098
Flags: avx ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
Vulnerabilities: <filter>
Graphics:
Device-1: Intel 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics vendor: Dell driver: i915
v: kernel arch: Gen-7 process: Intel 22nm built: 2012-13 ports:
active: LVDS-1 empty: DP-1, DP-2, DP-3, HDMI-A-1, HDMI-A-2, HDMI-A-3,
VGA-1 bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:0166 class-ID: 0300
Device-2: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Wimbledon XT [Radeon HD 7970M]
vendor: Dell driver: radeon v: kernel alternate: amdgpu arch: GCN-1
code: Southern Islands process: TSMC 28nm built: 2011-20 pcie: gen: 3
speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16 ports: active: none empty: DP-4, HDMI-A-4,
HDMI-A-5, VGA-2 bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 1002:6800 class-ID: 0300
temp: 44.0 C
Device-3: Suyin Laptop_Integrated_Webcam_FHD driver: uvcvideo type: USB
rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 2-1.5:5
chip-ID: 064e:8127 class-ID: 0e02
Display: wayland server: X.org v: 1.21.1.15 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.4
compositor: kwin_wayland driver: X: loaded: modesetting,radeon
alternate: fbdev,intel,vesa dri: crocus,radeonsi gpu: i915,radeon
display-ID: 0
Monitor-1: LVDS-1 res: 1920x1080 size: N/A modes: N/A
API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: intel crocus drv: amd radeonsi platforms:
device: 0 drv: crocus device: 1 drv: radeonsi device: 2 drv: swrast gbm:
drv: crocus surfaceless: drv: crocus wayland: drv: crocus x11: drv: crocus
API: OpenGL v: 4.5 compat-v: 4.2 vendor: intel mesa v: 24.3.2-arch1.1
glx-v: 1.4 direct-render: yes renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics 4000 (IVB
GT2) device-ID: 8086:0166 memory: 1.46 GiB unified: yes display-ID: :1.0
API: Vulkan v: 1.4.303 layers: 14 device: 0 type: integrated-gpu
name: Intel HD Graphics 4000 (IVB GT2) driver: N/A device-ID: 8086:0166
surfaces: xcb,xlib,wayland device: 1 type: cpu name: llvmpipe (LLVM
18.1.8 256 bits) driver: N/A device-ID: 10005:0000
surfaces: xcb,xlib,wayland
Audio:
Device-1: Intel 7 Series/C216 Family High Definition Audio vendor: Dell
driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 chip-ID: 8086:1e20
class-ID: 0403
API: ALSA v: k6.12.7-zen1-1-zen status: kernel-api with: aoss
type: oss-emulator tools: N/A
Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.2.7 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse
status: active 2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin
4: pw-jack type: plugin tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
Device-1: Qualcomm Atheros AR8151 v2.0 Gigabit Ethernet vendor: Dell
driver: atl1c v: kernel pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: 2000
bus-ID: 07:00.0 chip-ID: 1969:1083 class-ID: 0200
IF: enp7s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Device-2: Qualcomm Atheros AR93xx Wireless Network Adapter vendor: Rivet
Networks Killer Wireless-N 1103 Half-size Mini PCIe Card driver: ath9k
v: kernel pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 08:00.0
chip-ID: 168c:0030 class-ID: 0280
IF: wlp8s0 state: down mac: <filter>
Info: services: NetworkManager, smbd, systemd-timesyncd, wpa_supplicant
Bluetooth:
Device-1: Dell BCM20702A0 Bluetooth Module driver: btusb v: 0.8 type: USB
rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 bus-ID: 2-1.1:3
chip-ID: 413c:8197 class-ID: fe01 serial: <filter>
Report: btmgmt ID: hci0 rfk-id: 1 state: up address: <filter> bt-v: 4.0
lmp-v: 6 status: discoverable: no pairing: no class-ID: 6c010c
RAID:
Hardware-1: Intel 82801 Mobile SATA Controller [RAID mode] driver: ahci
v: 3.0 port: 4060 bus-ID: 00:1f.2 chip-ID: 8086:282a rev: N/A class-ID: 0104
Drives:
Local Storage: total: 111.79 GiB used: 64.94 GiB (58.1%)
SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
ID-1: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Corsair model: Force GT
size: 111.79 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s
tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: 5.05 scheme: MBR
Partition:
ID-1: / raw-size: 111.79 GiB size: 111.79 GiB (100.00%)
used: 64.94 GiB (58.1%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/sda1 maj-min: 8:1
ID-2: /home raw-size: 111.79 GiB size: 111.79 GiB (100.00%)
used: 64.94 GiB (58.1%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/sda1 maj-min: 8:1
ID-3: /var/log raw-size: 111.79 GiB size: 111.79 GiB (100.00%)
used: 64.94 GiB (58.1%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/sda1 maj-min: 8:1
ID-4: /var/tmp raw-size: 111.79 GiB size: 111.79 GiB (100.00%)
used: 64.94 GiB (58.1%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/sda1 maj-min: 8:1
Swap:
Kernel: swappiness: 133 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default) zswap: no
ID-1: swap-1 type: zram size: 15.5 GiB used: 1.2 MiB (0.0%) priority: 100
comp: zstd avail: lzo-rle,lzo,lz4,lz4hc,deflate,842 max-streams: 8
dev: /dev/zram0
Sensors:
System Temperatures: cpu: 57.0 C mobo: N/A gpu: radeon temp: 44.0 C
Fan Speeds (rpm): N/A
Info:
Memory: total: 16 GiB available: 15.5 GiB used: 4.4 GiB (28.4%)
Processes: 285 Power: uptime: 58m states: freeze,mem,disk suspend: deep
avail: s2idle wakeups: 0 hibernate: platform avail: shutdown, reboot,
suspend, test_resume image: 6.19 GiB services: org_kde_powerdevil,
power-profiles-daemon, upowerd Init: systemd v: 257 default: graphical
tool: systemctl
Packages: pm: pacman pkgs: 1871 libs: 545 tools: octopi,paru Compilers:
clang: 18.1.8 gcc: 14.2.1 Shell: garuda-inxi default: fish v: 3.7.1
running-in: konsole inxi: 3.3.36
Garuda (2.6.26-1):
System install date:     2024-12-30
Last full system update: 2024-12-30 ↻
Is partially upgraded:   No
Relevant software:       snapper NetworkManager dracut
Windows dual boot:       <superuser required>
Failed units:

I searched the forum but couldn’t find anything that matches my problem. But maybe I missed something relevant…
What does ‘IIRC’ mean ? Sorry, I’m new to the forum and my english isn’t perfect.
What are these commands ?

4

For me, in Steam, its: “DRI_PRIME=1 %command%” in the launch options to get AoE4 to run on the discrete GPU. Exactly what is between the quotes. I have AMD APU and GPU in my laptop. I imagine it should work the same for you.

1 Like
5

Next thing, learn to search :wink:

if I remember correctly

written abbreviation for if I remember correctly, used in emails, etc. Internet, email and texting conventions

7

Thank you :wink:

8

This command doesn’t work. I think it could be the solution but actually I think my graphics card isn’t detected/installed by Garuda. Is it possible ?

9 
Graphics:
Device-1: Intel 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics vendor: Dell driver: i915
v: kernel arch: Gen-7 process: Intel 22nm built: 2012-13 ports:
active: LVDS-1 empty: DP-1, DP-2, DP-3, HDMI-A-1, HDMI-A-2, HDMI-A-3,
VGA-1 bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:0166 class-ID: 0300
Device-2: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Wimbledon XT [Radeon HD 7970M]
vendor: Dell driver: radeon v: kernel alternate: amdgpu arch: GCN-1
code: Southern Islands process: TSMC 28nm built: 2011-20 pcie: gen: 3
speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16 ports: active: none empty: DP-4, HDMI-A-4,
HDMI-A-5, VGA-2 bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 1002:6800 class-ID: 0300
temp: 44.0 C

It’s just not active. I can’t really help, is primemissing or not active?

10

I’ll install Garuda on my laptop later and check if there’s anything else I need to do, to run it. I’m on pure Arch at the moment, which might be different.

1 Like
11

What is prime ?

12

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/PRIME

4 Likes
13

So, i’ve done a fresh Garuda Hyprland install and update. AoE4 starts from Steam and uses the discrete GPU without me needing to specify PRIME now.

If you input: "DRI_PRIME=1 glxinfo | grep “OpenGL renderer”
, or
"DRI_PRIME=0 glxinfo | grep “OpenGL renderer”

From the Arch wiki link that Nepti put up, you should get your two different GPU’s listed.

Using “DRI_PRIME=0 glxgears” or “DRI_PRIME=1 glxgears” in the terminal should both play the gears demo using whichever GPU is specified.

If the info or gears demo don’t work, then something is not right with your setup. Or I suck at diagnostics.

1 Like
14

The Arch wiki link seems to be what I need, but I’m having trouble understanding how to use this information. I’m new to Garuda…
DRI_PRIME=1 glxinfo | grep “OpenGL renderer” returns OpenGL renderer string: PITCAIRN (radeonsi, , LLVM 18.1.8, DRM 2.50, 6.12.7-zen1-1-zen) and DRI_PRIME=0 glxinfo | grep “OpenGL renderer” returns OpenGL renderer string: Mesa Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000 (IVB GT2)
Using DRI_PRIME=0 glxgears I get a message “Invalid value (0) for DRI_PRIME. Should be > 0” and I have the spinning wheels animation but nothing indicates which GPU is being used. With DRI_PRIME=1 glxgears I don’t have a message and I have the spinning wheels animation with no indication of GPU.

15

So, DRI_PRIME=1 is your discrete AMD GPU, and using that with glxgears showing the animation, means that is working.

Try using DRI_PRIME=2 instead of 0, and repeat both the tests. Hopefully that will give you the Intel GPU and show the gears anim.

16

What’s surprising is that DRI_PRIME=0 glxinfo | grep “OpenGL renderer” returns OpenGL renderer string: Mesa Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000 (IVB GT2), so the Intel GPU seems to have the identifier 0.
DRI_PRIME=2 glxgears returns the message “Inconsistent value (2) for DRI_PRIME. Should be < 2 (GPU devices count). Using: 1” before playing the animation.

17

Strangely, DRI_PRIME=2 glxinfo | grep “OpenGL renderer” returns OpenGL renderer string: PITCAIRN (radeonsi, , LLVM 18.1.8, DRM 2.50, 6.12.7-zen1-1-zen). Even with DRI_PRIME=3, I get the same result…

18

Damn. Worth a try. If you do a search online for some of the errors you get, you’ll find the threads that I ended up reading when I had similar issues, including the DRI_PRIME numbering being inconsistent.

All I can suggest now, is:
See if there are any issues with other games

There may be games in your collection that will show you both GPU’s in the settings, and let you test with both. Sorry I don’t remember any specifically.

Dota 2 is free, and has an option to choose Vulkan Api rendering or OpenGL to test both of those are working.

Opening a terminal and using “steam -dev” will show all messages in the terminal, and give you a console tab in Steam, to check for errors. Just be aware there are often a lot of errors you can ignore. Compare the output from working games to see what is “normal” for your system.

Other than that, it’s probably going to be a case of working through the Arch wiki, and searching errors for threads where someone else found a cause, or fix that applies to you.

I tested AoE4 using Proton 9.0-4 on my RX6800M, and it does work, so I doubt there’s a major issue on yours, if that’s any consolation.

You could try specifying a different Proton version, such as experimental, or installing ProtonGE.

And there’s always the options to clear the Steam download cache and verifying the installed game files,

If any other issues with things not working happen, try posting on this thread. Maybe someone will connect the dots better than I can.

19

Thank you very much for your help.
This hybrid graphics system is really terrible. Back in the Windows days, it didn’t work very well either. You had to go into the AMD utility to specify using the discrete card with games. And it didn’t always work.
To this day, the utility provided for Linux can no longer be installed due to obsolete required dependencies…
I think I’m going to give up, especially since this hardware may be too old to run AoE4 smoothly.

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