2nd graphic card neither active not passive

English Multimedia
1

Hello all,
I got a new computer, installed tumbleweed and i wanted to operate on two monitors. The dealer told me that I need 2 graphic cards. so besides the onboard card he added a second one.
I can operate only the built in card, else the computer does not boot.
I removed the external card but then i cannot login as a root; the rest seems to work fine.

This is strange, since the card is not operational, but is in a sense needed or at least expected by the system.
How can I get rid of the card?

I know I dont provide a lot of information,
but ask, I will try to provide.

2

We need some definitive information about the current graphics environment to start with.

Open a terminal and run

inxi -SGaz

Report back.

3

Not all motherboard firmware (BIOS) supports use of both an iGPU and a dGPU at the same time; with such, one or the other must be exclusive, usually the dGPU. Others may need a BIOS setting adjusted for both to work, and to determine which should be primary. Is a firmware update available for yours?

4

Hi! I’m really new to all this, so I’m not sure if what I say will help much. Sorry if I make any mistakes.
Is your computer a desktop?
On the graphics card you want to use, do you have a monitor plugged in?
At least for me, when using Wayland, if I don’t have a monitor connected to the GPU, it won’t work.
But if I do, the system boots just fine and I can use both the integrated and the dedicated card at the same time.

5 
14:11 $ inxi -SGaz
System:
  Kernel: 6.14.2-1-default arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 14.2.1
    clocksource: tsc avail: hpet,acpi_pm
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-6.14.2-1-default
    root=UUID=2c01224e-c0a4-4483-b1a2-45ae0755685a splash=silent
    mitigations=auto quiet security=apparmor nosimplefb=1
  Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 6.3.4 tk: Qt v: N/A info: frameworks v: 6.13.0
    wm: kwin_x11 tools: avail: xscreensaver vt: 2 dm: SDDM Distro: openSUSE
    Tumbleweed 20250420
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA GF119 [GeForce GT 610] vendor: Micro-Star MSI
    driver: nvidia v: 390.157 alternate: nouveau,nvidia_drm non-free:
    series: 390.xx+ status: legacy (EOL~2022-11-22) last: release: 390.157
    kernel: 6.0 xorg: 1.21 arch: Fermi code: GF1xx process: 40/28nm
    built: 2010-2016 pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 4 link-max: lanes: 16
    bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:104a class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Phoenix2 vendor: ASUSTeK
    driver: amdgpu v: kernel arch: RDNA-3 code: Phoenix process: TSMC n4 (4nm)
    built: 2023+ pcie: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 ports: active: HDMI-A-1
    empty: DP-1, DP-2, DP-3, DP-4, DP-5, Writeback-1 bus-ID: 0b:00.0
    chip-ID: 1002:15c8 class-ID: 0300 temp: 43.0 C
  Device-3: HP HP 320 FHD Webcam driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo type: USB
    rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-7.2:5
    chip-ID: 03f0:654a class-ID: 0102 serial: <filter>
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.15 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.6
    compositor: kwin_x11 driver: X: loaded: modesetting unloaded: vesa
    alternate: fbdev dri: radeonsi gpu: amdgpu display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 2560x1440 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 677x381mm (26.65x15.00")
    s-diag: 777mm (30.58")
  Monitor-1: HDMI-A-1 mapped: HDMI-1 model: HP E27q G4 serial: <filter>
    built: 2023 res: mode: 2560x1440 hz: 60 scale: 100% (1) dpi: 109 gamma: 1.2
    size: 597x336mm (23.5x13.23") diag: 685mm (27") ratio: 16:9 modes:
    max: 2560x1440 min: 720x400
  API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: amd radeonsi platforms: gbm: drv: kms_swrast
    surfaceless: drv: radeonsi x11: drv: radeonsi inactive: wayland
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: mesa v: 25.0.4 note: incomplete
    (EGL sourced) renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 20.1.3 256 bits), AMD Radeon
    Graphics (radeonsi phoenix2 LLVM 20.1.3 DRM 3.61 6.14.2-1-default)
  API: Vulkan v: 1.4.309 layers: 1 device: 0 type: integrated-gpu name: AMD
    Radeon Graphics (RADV PHOENIX2) driver: N/A device-ID: 1002:15c8
    surfaces: xcb,xlib device: 1 type: cpu name: llvmpipe (LLVM 20.1.3 256
    bits) driver: N/A device-ID: 10005:0000 surfaces: xcb,xlib
  Info: Tools: api: eglinfo, glxinfo, vulkaninfo
    de: kscreen-console,kscreen-doctor gpu: amdgpu_top, nvidia-settings,
    nvidia-smi wl: wayland-info x11: xdpyinfo, xprop, xrandr

I dont know anything but I can see the two graphic cards.
The AMD card is the one on the board, the other is in a slot.

6

I searched for a bios setting but found none.
To be honest, if I dont need a second graphic card I would prefer using a single one.
In the meanwhile i provided info on the driver.
You mean I could find an update from nvidia?

7

yes it is a desktop.
I can connect to the GPUi, but the external no, does not work.
I only connect a single monitor but in the long I want two.

8

aaah you mean a firmware update for the bios?

9

These two quotes are conflicting; indeed from the last one it looks like the two cards are engaged and working, so can you be more specific about “I can operate only the built in card”?
As a side note, a GeForce 610 on a “new” computer is nonsense (unless it is sort of “new old stock”…) and the days are likely counted that the matching 390.xx driver even builds with current kernels…

10

@ereissner Have you tried logging in to a Wayland session rather than X11?

Can you take a picture of the connectors on the back of the computer to see if there is a DP port (it may be a USB-C even?).

If no connectors for DP, I would look at a new card, that GT610 is old/legacy and not really a suitable mix with the AMD gpu, get another AMD GPU to complement the existing one if needed.

11

It means that if i connect the monitor to the external card, but none to the internal one, then the computer does not boot.
If i connect both then only the monitor on the first card works. The other monitor is black.

I know that the card is recognized, but still does not display anything on a monitor

12

you write:
s a side note, a GeForce 610 on a “new” computer is nonsense (unless it is sort of “new old stock”…) and the days are likely counted that the matching 390.xx driver even builds with current kernels…

yes maybe my dealer does not know so deeply.
I would like to remove the GeForce card if possible.

13

you mean a second AMD GPU instead of the NVIDIA?
Do I really need a second card? or just do with the onboard one?

14

@ereissner Have a look at the output from the inxi command for the Nvidia card status: legacy (EOL~2022-11-22)

I’m surprised if it doesn’t have a DP Connector as well as HDMI on the Motherboard?

Can you take a photo and post here as requested.

15

This shows OP has only VGA and HDMI ports on motherboard.

16

@ereissner So as pointed out by @mrmazda then look at using the VGA connection?

Else look for a new card… Intel ARC (A310) or another AMD GPU…

17

That dealer seems to have wanted to sell what he had in stock rather than suited to your needs. Consider having dealer replace that motherboard with a board that has 3 or 4 digital video outputs (DP and HDMI and an extra one or two digital DisplayPort, HDMI and/or DVI) instead of just your two (a quality digital HDMI plus inferior analog VGA), and dealer keep the old NVidia that isn’t needed or working with that motherboard.

All my motherboards acquired new in past 10 years have at least 3 iGPU outputs, the newer ones 100% digital. Plenty ship that way.

18

I attached two photos.
Ter internal card

IMG_20250426_222108
IMG_20250426_2221081920×2560 153 KB

one can see the hdmi output and i operate a hdmi to dp adapter on it.
You can see power supply via USB.
Besides this I can see only VGA, some USB and ps1 i think, for old mouse.

You think I may be able to plug in a monitor via USB?

IMG_20250426_222231
IMG_20250426_2222311920×1440 81.4 KB

the picture is admittedly bad quality but you can see the nvidia card with dvi, hdmi and vga output

19

I did in the meanwhile.

20

maybe or no idea on linux…

you suggest he shall replace the motherboard?

I told him I want to run 2 monitors in the long run.