Hello all,
Hardware:
- ASUS TUF A16 2023 Edition Laptop (FA617NS)
- Ryzen7 7735HS CPU
- RX 7600S d-GPU
- 32GB RAM
- 2x 2TB M.2 SSD
- 1920x1200 165hz display
- USB4, displayport over USB-C, HDMI
- Gigabit Ether, WI-FI 6
I installed Linux Mint v21.2 from USB and followed instructions from the good folks at Linux Mint to get kernel v6.5.0 installed (needed to address internal keyboard, touch pad, and other issues), and I installed BIOS v410. I installed the Steam v5.0 package from the software manager.
When I launch steam from the menu. Steam loads, drops an icon on the panel next to the bottom right side icons. However, the Steam client Window partially draws and then disappears in split second. It will then repeat the partial draw and disappear behavior every few seconds. When the partial draw occurs the client window’s panel button appears. When the client window disappears, the panel button disappears as well. It is as though the Steam client is going through a minimize and restore process every few seconds. I am able to close steam by right-clicking on the Steam icon on the panel and choosing exit. Even more strange is that when I launch steam from the terminal it behaves normally. This is the first time I’ve encountered this behavior.
Question #1: Is there an activity log for the Steam client similar to the output one would get from running Steam at the terminal? If yes, where can I find it and what would the file name?
Question #2: Is this a known issue?.. If yes, is there a fix for it?
Update:
I posted the info. and questions from the original post in several places. I got a response in the Steam official forums. Below is one of the responses:
it looks like this issue
https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/9383
they say running from terminal is possible solution or steam shortcut should be editedQuote from the github link:
Until this issue is fixed, you’ll just have to run Steam on the default GPU and add prime-run %command% to the launch options of each game that runs via OpenGL.
Vulkan (native or translated with dxvk/vkd3d) games should automatically pick the more performant GPU or allow you to choose if native.I then ran a little test by opening the terminal and executing the following string (without quotes): “DRI_PRIME=1 steam”. It produced the erroneous behavior. If I type “steam” and press enter while in the terminal the Steam client behaves properly. I installed Shadow of Mordor (Linux native) because the game has a benchmark tool within it. The native version of the game uses Vulkan. If I launch the game using “DRI_PRIME=1 %command%” the benchmark runs between 1 and 3 FPS. If I remove the above launcher string the performance is so bad that it doesn’t render the benchmark. When looking at the settings for the game, it picks up the d-GPU as (Rembrandt). inxi and the Mint system report lists the d-GPU as Rembrandt. I’m still at a loss as to why the game does not behave properly in Linux under the native install. I know the d-GPU works because I’ve tested it on the Windows side but of its Windows. I next switched the install to use Proton Experimental. I can run the game via proton with and without the “DRI_PRIME=1 %command%” string and it gives me between 140 and 150 FPS with Ultra settings in the benchmark. So it looks like I’ll be running steam via the terminal until a proper solution is available.
While I have another distro (I’m running the latest Ubuntu) I had the same issue.
Tried a lot of things that were recommended in the gitHub issue but nothing worked for me.
What ultimately fixed it for me is starting steam through the terminal, going into settings and disabling “Enable GPU accelerated rendering in web views” under the interface section. Had no further problems with starting steam from the menu so far, so maybe worth trying it out.
For me it seems to be an issue with the integrated GPU on my main board or something.
Update #3:
As a test I installed Manjaro KDE v23.0.4, did a full system update which brought the system up to v23.1.0. It has a v6.5.12-1 kernel, 23.1.9 mesa version. I installed Steam and Shadow of Mordor (Linux Native/Vulkan). The inxi report shows graphics device-1 as Navi 33 (7600S) which is the d-GPU, and device-2 as Rembrandt (680M) which is the i-GPU. I don’t even need “DRI_PRIME=1 %command%” inserted as a launcher string. The Feral launcher allows me to select the Vulkan render (7600S) before launching the game and it saves that selection. Even though the distro and CPU governor are not supported the game runs and gives me 170+ FPS with Ultra settings. In the video settings the 7600S d-GPU is recognized.
I rebooted back to Mint/Cinnamon and saw there was an update. I did the update and rebooted. Its still Mint v21.2, with a v6.5.0-1008-oem kernel and v23.2.1 Mesa. I ran Steam and Shadow of Mordor. The Feral launcher offers a render selection of “Unknown with Vulkan (RADV - 23.2.1)”. I pick that and launch the game again without “DRI_PRIME=1 %command%”. The games video setting shows the display adapter as “AMD Unknown (RADV GFX 1102)”. I switched to the “Ultra” preset and the benchmark is giving 170+ FPS. It seems when I ran the game earlier and it picked up the display adapter as “Rembrandt” it was picking the i-GPU. Quite strange.