GPU problems 😑
GPU problems 😑
I installed Debian on bare metal and wasn't happy with the graphics performance. I expected smooth operation without relying on hardware acceleration, but I was surprised to learn the GPU is being used by default. There appears to be a v-sync problem, causing noticeable tearing. Hardware decoding seems to be functioning but I'm not certain. My CPU usage was high while running a 4K 60fps video; on Windows it felt similar, but if the CPU wasn't handling it properly, usage should have reached 100% and caused stuttering. Also, I dislike my audio setup—maybe adjusting the equalizer would help, but I really hate drivers!
I don't have a specific model for your card. Have you configured the non-FOSS drivers?
We frequently rely on third-party software. The drivers in the kernel should work for both AMD and Intel. For Nvidia, you might still require non-FOSS options like mesa-intel. It’s unclear whether Debian supports this setup, as I primarily use it on servers.
I was refining my previous response as you shared it. You might need to install additional packages. I haven’t used Debian on a desktop before, as it’s mainly for servers, so I’m not certain what you’d require. What desktop environment are you currently using?
It seems like the issue might still be unresolved. I followed the configuration steps in - /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf, added the device settings and enabled TearFree. After rebooting, tearing disappeared. However, I’m still unsure if everything is working smoothly. Using i3wm helped, but I might be missing some packages due to the minimal installation. I didn’t install standard utilities and had to manually set up sudo and Xorg. Earlier, I tried Manjaro or Linux Mint on an older device, and it also had tearing problems.
Interesting. The configuration you mentioned matches what I see in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-amdgpu.conf for your AMD card.
Spoiler Section: Device Identifier – AMD
Driver – amdgpu
Option – VariableRefresh – true
Option – AsyncFlipSecondaries – true
As for the current situation, GNOME doesn’t fully support VRR at the moment (it should arrive in the next update). Changes to software often happen quickly, so things can shift over time.
Debian is primarily aimed at servers and prioritizes stability, which means it usually ships with more mature packages compared to Manjaro, which leans toward newer releases. For instance, Debian 12 uses kernel 6.1 (released Dec 2022), while Manjaro defaults to 6.6, and you can upgrade to 6.7 or even 6.8 if needed.
GPU drivers in the kernel get regular updates, so it’s a good idea to test a recent live USB if you want the latest features without installing anything.
Freesync experienced some unusual flickering during the last time I used it on my monitor. Usually, I turn it off in Linux.
I've begun adopting Wayland and I can confirm it runs smoothly. You might want to consider using Wayland instead of Xorg overall.