Dual gpu, intel and nvidia, and external monitor

My old, solid, LenovoZ570 has two graphic cards; intel and nvidia (Mesa Intel® HD Graphics 3000 Graphics Processor 2: NVD9, also see my setting, enclosed) and an external monitor, Samsung SMBx2440 (1920x1080).
Probably i have been using only intel, since the beginning.
Would you suggest to use both graphic cards?
Any step by step description to attain such result?
Would it be rather advisable to exclude intel and base the entire system on nvidia?
System settings also display a vga-1 monitor. What is it?

I won’t game on my machine
thank you
p.

— enc
Operating System: openSUSE Leap 16.0
KDE Plasma Version: 6.4.2
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.16.0
Qt Version: 6.9.1
Kernel Version: 6.12.0-160000.33-default (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: X11
Processors: 4 × Intel® Core™ i3-2310M CPU @ 2.10GHz
Memory: 6 GiB of RAM (5,7 GiB usable)
Graphics Processor 1: Mesa Intel® HD Graphics 3000
Graphics Processor 2: NVD9
Manufacturer: LENOVO
Product Name: 10245DG
System Version: Ideapad Z570
– end

This is a Fermi card and only supported by the nouveau driver on Leap 16.0. So no need to try to install any Nvidia driver as there is none available. On Tumbleweed there is still the G04 aka v390 driver series available, but not worth the effort for such an old card.

To get a better information about your GPU model, you can show the results of
inxi -GSaz

Here is the required output.
By the way, how to fix ‘Setting locale failed’?
thank you
p.

-- enc
 inxi -GSaz                                                                   
perl: warning: Setting locale failed.
perl: warning: Please check that your locale settings:
        LANGUAGE = "en_US:it",
        LC_ALL = (unset),
        LC_CTYPE = (unset),
        LC_NUMERIC = (unset),
        LC_COLLATE = (unset),
        LC_TIME = "Default.UTF-8",
        LC_MESSAGES = (unset),
        LC_MONETARY = (unset),
        LC_ADDRESS = (unset),
        LC_IDENTIFICATION = (unset),
        LC_MEASUREMENT = (unset),
        LC_PAPER = (unset),
        LC_TELEPHONE = (unset),
        LC_NAME = (unset),
        LANG = "it_IT.UTF-8"
    are supported and installed on your system.
perl: warning: Falling back to a fallback locale ("it_IT.UTF-8").
System:
  Kernel: 6.12.0-160000.33-default arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 13.4.0 clocksource: tsc
    avail: hpet,acpi_pm parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-6.12.0-160000.33-default
    root=UUID=af1a965b-ebff-4f96-9ea8-69edb683ccae splash=silent
    resume=/dev/disk/by-uuid/f25105ee-e7d6-43c4-9dc9-a2225d06a6e3 preempt=full quiet
    security=apparmor mitigations=auto
  Console: pty pts/1 DM: SDDM Distro: openSUSE Leap 16.0
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics vendor: Lenovo
    driver: i915 v: kernel arch: Gen-6 code: Sandybridge process: Intel 32nm built: 2011 ports:
    active: LVDS-1,VGA-2 empty: DP-1,HDMI-A-1 bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:0116 class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: NVIDIA GF119M [GeForce GT 520M] vendor: Lenovo driver: nouveau v: kernel 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: 16 ports: active: VGA-1 empty: none bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:1050 class-ID: 0300
    temp: 49.0 C
  Device-3: Bison Lenovo EasyCamera driver: uvcvideo type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1
    mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-1.5:3 chip-ID: 5986:0364 class-ID: 0e02
  Display: unspecified server: X.org v: 1.21.1.15 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.6 compositor: kwin_x11
    driver: X: loaded: modesetting,nouveau unloaded: vesa alternate: fbdev,intel,nv,nvidia
    dri: crocus,nouveau gpu: i915,nouveau tty: 120x32
  Monitor-1: LVDS-1 model: LG Display 0x02dc built: 2010 res: 1366x768 dpi: 101 gamma: 1.2
    size: 344x194mm (13.54x7.64") diag: 395mm (15.5") ratio: 16:9 modes: 1366x768
  Monitor-2: VGA-1 size-res: N/A in console modes: max: 1024x768 min: 640x480
  Monitor-3: VGA-2 model: Samsung SMBX2440 serial: <filter> built: 2011 res: 1920x1080 dpi: 92
    gamma: 1.2 size: 531x299mm (20.91x11.77") diag: 609mm (24") ratio: 16:9 modes: max: 1920x1080
    min: 720x400
  API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: intel crocus drv: nvidia nouveau platforms: device: 0 drv: nouveau
    device: 1 drv: crocus device: 2 drv: swrast gbm: drv: nouveau surfaceless: drv: nouveau
    inactive: wayland,x11
  API: OpenGL v: 4.5 compat-v: 3.3 vendor: mesa v: 24.3.3 note: console (EGL sourced)
    renderer: NVD9, Mesa Intel HD Graphics 3000 (SNB GT2), llvmpipe (LLVM 19.1.7 256 bits)
  API: Vulkan Message: No Vulkan data available.
--- end

@xpol Hi, not a Plasma user, but with Hyprland one can set the DRM device on older optimus setups, if you look at the output from lsgpu it will show the drm devices, then you can set an environment variable, eg;

KWIN_DRM_DEVICES="/dev/dri/card1:/dev/dri/card0"

This will utilize either the Intel or NV device for required tasks, eg vulkan, but you will need to test out and see what works best for your needs.

I do not know where you have set this, but the format with the : in it is incorrect AFAIK.

EDIT: I have to correct myself. The : is supported, it separates language wanted (from left to right).

I guess the problem is more that almost none of the other locale variables are set. But it is only a warning.

Here enclosed the lsgpu command output.
Entering lspci -k i get that both graphic card have been recognized (enclosed)
Are they both in use?
How should the env variable KWIN_DRM_DEVICES be set?
Where should it be placed?
thank you
p.

-- lspci -k
PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200/2nd Generation Core Processor Family PCI Express Root Port (rev 09)
        Subsystem: Lenovo Device 3975
        Kernel driver in use: pcieport
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 09)
        Subsystem: Lenovo Device 397d
        Kernel driver in use: i915
        Kernel modules: i915

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation GF119M [GeForce GT 520M] (rev a1)
        Subsystem: Lenovo Device 397d
        Kernel driver in use: nouveau
        Kernel modules: nouveau
---
---- lsgpu
lsgpu     
card1                    10de:1050                         drm:/dev/dri/card1
└─renderD128                                               drm:/dev/dri/renderD128
card2                    Intel Sandybridge (Gen6)          drm:/dev/dri/card2
└─renderD129                                               drm:/dev/dri/renderD129
---

I have found that
/etc/sysconfig/language:INSTALLED_LANGUAGES=“”
Should Yast be used to assign a language?
I am using the zsh, but i could not find that variable in its configuration file.

thank you
p.

To list all available (installed) locales, simply type localectl list-locales in a terminal.

Then you can set the one you want from this list.

As example english US:
sudo localectl set-locale LANG=en_US.UTF-8

Or for italien IT:
sudo localectl set-locale LANG=it_IT.UTF-8

To check, if the change was properly applied, type locale in a terminal.

All variables are set to it_IT.UTF-8
LC_ALL is the only unassigned one.
The command sudo localectl set-locale LANG=it_IT.UTF-8 has not changed any of them, LC_ALL= still unassigned.

thank you
p.

All LC variables are set in quotes. LANG=it_IT.UTF-8
is without quotes. Is that right?

That is correct. As example for german:

:~> locale
LANG=de_DE.UTF-8
LC_CTYPE=de_DE.UTF-8
LC_NUMERIC="de_DE.UTF-8"
LC_TIME="de_DE.UTF-8"
LC_COLLATE="de_DE.UTF-8"
LC_MONETARY="de_DE.UTF-8"
LC_MESSAGES="de_DE.UTF-8"
LC_PAPER="de_DE.UTF-8"
LC_NAME="de_DE.UTF-8"
LC_ADDRESS="de_DE.UTF-8"
LC_TELEPHONE="de_DE.UTF-8"
LC_MEASUREMENT="de_DE.UTF-8"
LC_IDENTIFICATION="de_DE.UTF-8"
LC_ALL=

You mentioned that you are using zsh. It seems there must be an aditional setting for zsh or zsh is not using the systemwide locale.

Do you have anything in your ~/.profileor ~/.bashrc file?

The only uncommented line is
test -z “$PROFILEREAD” && . /etc/profile || true

I have switched to bash, entring bash from a zsh.
inxi -GSaz still complains about ‘Setting locale failed’

p.

@xpol You will need advice from a Plasma user, but I suspect it’s a file down in ~/.config directory.

You also likely need to add your user to the render group, once done logout/login to make the change.

Your still on X11, I don’t use it, all my systems run wayland.

You should see a change to nouveau, rather than modesetting for the inxi “Display” output, you don’t have vulkan-tools you likely need libvulkan_nouveau installed as well.

No, I would not do that, just check the forums and running a nvidia card is one of the most discussed problems.

The combination of the CPU and 6 GB of RAM with this GF119M does not make sense to me.

Likely that made sense at the time, the GF119M was likely twice as fast as the Sandybridge integrated on some graphics apps. Also note that this is a dual VGA system, not a hybrid system, so there might be some option to enable one or the other in the BIOS.

@xpol you may install glmark2 and check for yourself.
Maybe you also have to install and enable switcheroo-control( see Install_and_Enable_Switcheroo_Control ).
If that works as expected you may launch graphics intensive applications with switcherooctl <command>

@marel Hi, for sure only run with the nouveau driver. I have a MacBook Pro with dual Intel/Nvidia graphics, one generation on from the OP.

/sbin/lspci -nnk | grep -EA3 "VGA|Display|3D"

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller [8086:0166] (rev 09)
	Subsystem: Apple Inc. Device [106b:00f7]
	Kernel driver in use: i915
	Kernel modules: i915
--
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: NVIDIA Corporation GK107M [GeForce GT 650M Mac Edition] [10de:0fd5] (rev a1)
	Subsystem: Apple Inc. Device [106b:00f2]
	Kernel driver in use: nouveau
	Kernel modules: nouveau

Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics vendor: Apple driver: i915
    v: kernel arch: Gen-7 ports: active: none empty: VGA-1 bus-ID: 00:02.0
    chip-ID: 8086:0166
  Device-2: NVIDIA GK107M [GeForce GT 650M Mac Edition] vendor: Apple
    driver: nouveau v: kernel arch: Kepler-2 pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 8
    ports: active: eDP-1 empty: DP-1,DP-2,HDMI-A-1 bus-ID: 01:00.0
    chip-ID: 10de:0fd5 temp: 42.0 C
  Device-3: Apple FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in) driver: uvcvideo type: USB
    rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 2-1.1:3 chip-ID: 05ac:8510
  Display: wayland server: Xwayland v: 24.1.11 compositor: Hyprland
    v: 0.55.2 driver: gpu: nouveau display-ID: 1
  Monitor-1: eDP-1 model: Apple Color LCD res: 2880x1800 dpi: 221
    diag: 390mm (15.4")
  API: EGL v: 1.5 platforms: device: 0 drv: crocus device: 1 drv: nouveau
    device: 2 drv: swrast gbm: drv: crocus surfaceless: drv: crocus wayland:
    drv: nouveau x11: drv: nouveau
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 compat-v: 4.2 vendor: mesa v: 26.1.1 glx-v: 1.4
    direct-render: yes renderer: NVE7 device-ID: 10de:0fd5
  API: Vulkan v: 1.4.350 surfaces: N/A device: 0 type: discrete-gpu
    driver: mesa nvk device-ID: 10de:0fd5 device: 1 type: integrated-gpu
    driver: mesa intel device-ID: 8086:0166 device: 2 type: cpu
    driver: mesa llvmpipe device-ID: 10005:0000
  Info: Tools: api: clinfo, eglinfo, glxinfo, vulkaninfo gpu: gputop,
    intel_gpu_top, lsgpu wl: kanshi, swaymsg, wayland-info x11: xprop

card0                    10de:0fd5                         drm:/dev/dri/card0
└─renderD128                                               drm:/dev/dri/renderD128
card1                    Intel Ivybridge (Gen7)            drm:/dev/dri/card1
└─renderD129                                               drm:/dev/dri/renderD129

**Hyprland environment variable setting**
-- Nouveau/Intel
hl.env("AQ_DRM_DEVICES", "/dev/dri/card0:/dev/dri/card1")

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