noble dust Apr 15, 2026, 2:13 AM

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Usually, I either download the proprietary drivers in the driver manager, or the GPU kind of just works. Unfortunately, that streak seems to end here.

Except for system info suggesting there's something, the GPU isn't mentioned anywhere else. And also doesn't seem to be utilized at all. I do get the option to 'Run with dedicated GPU' when right clicking something, and that did seem to do something with Minecraft. Nothing desirable though, it just turned it into a slogfest.
So like, how do I make the GPU here actually work? I did try searching, but didn't get very far, so I figured I could ask here.
The GPU in question is an AMD HD 7670m situated in a Sony VAIO.

prime roost Apr 15, 2026, 8:18 AM

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Please posst the output of

inxi -SMGxxx

from the terminal

noble dust Apr 15, 2026, 2:12 PM

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Graphics:
Device-1: Intel 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics vendor: Sony driver: i915
v: kernel arch: Gen-7 ports: active: LVDS-1 empty: DP-1,HDMI-A-1,VGA-1
bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:0166 class-ID: 0300
Device-2: AMD Thames [Radeon HD 7500M/7600M Series] vendor: Sony
driver: radeon v: kernel arch: TeraScale-2 pcie: speed: 5 GT/s lanes: 16
bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 1002:6840 class-ID: 0300 temp: 34.0 C
Device-3: Foxconn / Hon Hai USB2.0 Camera driver: uvcvideo type: USB
rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 3-1.3:3 chip-ID: 0489:d600
class-ID: 0e02
Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.11 with: Xwayland v: 23.2.6 driver: X:
loaded: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,radeon,vesa dri: crocus gpu: i915
display-ID: :0 screens: 1
Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1600x900 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 423x238mm (16.65x9.37")
s-diag: 485mm (19.11")
Monitor-1: LVDS-1 model: LG Display 0x03d3 res: 1600x900 hz: 60 dpi: 132
size: 309x174mm (12.17x6.85") diag: 355mm (14") modes: 1600x900
API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: intel crocus drv: amd r600 platforms: device: 0
drv: r600 device: 1 drv: crocus device: 2 drv: swrast gbm: drv: r600
surfaceless: drv: r600 x11: drv: crocus inactive: wayland
API: OpenGL v: 4.6 compat-v: 4.2 vendor: intel mesa
v: 25.2.8-0ubuntu0.24.04.1 glx-v: 1.4 direct-render: yes renderer: Mesa
Intel HD Graphics 4000 (IVB GT2) device-ID: 8086:0166
API: Vulkan v: 1.3.275 layers: 3 surfaces: xcb,xlib device: 0
type: integrated-gpu driver: N/A device-ID: 8086:0166 device: 1 type: cpu
driver: N/A device-ID: 10005:0000

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Here you go. I left the system part out, figured it wasn't important anyways.

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Oh maybe besides the version number? I made a new bootable usb 2 days ago for 22.3, which I used here.

prime roost Apr 15, 2026, 2:33 PM

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Your AMD gpu already has a driver set, it's just intel is what drives the screen (often on notebooks). What does

glxinfo -B && DRI_PRIME=1 glxinfo -B

say?

noble dust Apr 15, 2026, 2:38 PM

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name of display: :0
display: :0 screen: 0
direct rendering: Yes
Extended renderer info (GLX_MESA_query_renderer):
Vendor: Intel (0x8086)
Device: Mesa Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000 (IVB GT2) (0x166)
Version: 25.2.8
Accelerated: yes
Video memory: 1536MB
Unified memory: yes
Preferred profile: core (0x1)
Max core profile version: 4.2
Max compat profile version: 4.2
Max GLES1 profile version: 1.1
Max GLES[23] profile version: 3.0
OpenGL vendor string: Intel
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000 (IVB GT2)
OpenGL core profile version string: 4.2 (Core Profile) Mesa 25.2.8-0ubuntu0.24.04.1
OpenGL core profile shading language version string: 4.20
OpenGL core profile context flags: (none)
OpenGL core profile profile mask: core profile

OpenGL version string: 4.2 (Compatibility Profile) Mesa 25.2.8-0ubuntu0.24.04.1
OpenGL shading language version string: 4.20
OpenGL context flags: (none)
OpenGL profile mask: compatibility profile

OpenGL ES profile version string: OpenGL ES 3.0 Mesa 25.2.8-0ubuntu0.24.04.1
OpenGL ES profile shading language version string: OpenGL ES GLSL ES 3.00

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name of display: :0
display: :0 screen: 0
direct rendering: Yes
Extended renderer info (GLX_MESA_query_renderer):
Vendor: Mesa (0x1002)
Device: AMD TURKS (DRM 2.51.0 / 6.17.0-20-generic, LLVM 20.1.2) (0x6840)
Version: 25.2.8
Accelerated: yes
Video memory: 1024MB
Unified memory: no
Preferred profile: core (0x1)
Max core profile version: 4.6
Max compat profile version: 4.6
Max GLES1 profile version: 1.1
Max GLES[23] profile version: 3.1
Memory info (GL_ATI_meminfo):
VBO free memory - total: 1023 MB, largest block: 1023 MB
VBO free aux. memory - total: 1020 MB, largest block: 1020 MB
Texture free memory - total: 1023 MB, largest block: 1023 MB
Texture free aux. memory - total: 1020 MB, largest block: 1020 MB
Renderbuffer free memory - total: 1023 MB, largest block: 1023 MB
Renderbuffer free aux. memory - total: 1020 MB, largest block: 1020 MB
Memory info (GL_NVX_gpu_memory_info):
Dedicated video memory: 1024 MB
Total available memory: 2045 MB
Currently available dedicated video memory: 1023 MB
OpenGL vendor string: Mesa
OpenGL renderer string: AMD TURKS (DRM 2.51.0 / 6.17.0-20-generic, LLVM 20.1.2)
OpenGL core profile version string: 4.6 (Core Profile) Mesa 25.2.8-0ubuntu0.24.04.1
OpenGL core profile shading language version string: 4.60
OpenGL core profile context flags: (none)
OpenGL core profile profile mask: core profile

OpenGL version string: 4.6 (Compatibility Profile) Mesa 25.2.8-0ubuntu0.24.04.1
OpenGL shading language version string: 4.60
OpenGL context flags: (none)
OpenGL profile mask: compatibility profile

OpenGL ES profile version string: OpenGL ES 3.1 Mesa 25.2.8-0ubuntu0.24.04.1
OpenGL ES profile shading language version string: OpenGL ES GLSL ES 3.10

prime roost Apr 15, 2026, 2:41 PM

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That works, you just need to tell the game or app to use AMD gpu with DRI_PRIME=1

noble dust Apr 15, 2026, 2:42 PM

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Strange, if im reading into this correctly TURKS is for the desktop variants, and Whistler is for the mobile ones. Also, It very much does have 2gb of vram.

noble dust Apr 15, 2026, 2:44 PM

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prime roost That works, you just need to tell the game or app to use AMD gpu with DRI_PR...

As I said, I was able to open something with the dedicated GPU, it just ran really poorly.

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And for example, I always install mission center for monitoring, and it doesn't show up there either.

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It also just doesn't seem right that it's being referred to by it's series number, and not by what it actually is.

prime roost Apr 15, 2026, 2:51 PM

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If you run a game with DRI_PRIME=1 and without, do you see any difference?

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Also, what does

sudo apt install vulkan-tools -y && vulkaninfo --summary | grep -A99 Devices

say?

noble dust Apr 15, 2026, 3:02 PM

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Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Reading state information... Done
vulkan-tools is already the newest version (1.3.275.0+dfsg1-1).
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
WARNING: [../src/amd/vulkan/radv_physical_device.c:2182] Code 0 : Device '/dev/dri/renderD128' is not using the AMDGPU kernel driver: Invalid argument (VK_ERROR_INCOMPATIBLE_DRIVER)
MESA-INTEL: warning: Ivy Bridge Vulkan support is incomplete
Devices:

GPU0:
apiVersion = 1.2.318
driverVersion = 25.2.8
vendorID = 0x8086
deviceID = 0x0166
deviceType = PHYSICAL_DEVICE_TYPE_INTEGRATED_GPU
deviceName = Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000 (IVB GT2)
driverID = DRIVER_ID_INTEL_OPEN_SOURCE_MESA
driverName = Intel open-source Mesa driver
driverInfo = Mesa 25.2.8-0ubuntu0.24.04.1
conformanceVersion = 0.0.0.0
deviceUUID = 86806601-0900-0000-0002-000000000000
driverUUID = d496bcb1-1bf1-728f-5d6f-95bee1d6c640
GPU1:
apiVersion = 1.4.318
driverVersion = 25.2.8
vendorID = 0x10005
deviceID = 0x0000
deviceType = PHYSICAL_DEVICE_TYPE_CPU
deviceName = llvmpipe (LLVM 20.1.2, 256 bits)
driverID = DRIVER_ID_MESA_LLVMPIPE
driverName = llvmpipe
driverInfo = Mesa 25.2.8-0ubuntu0.24.04.1 (LLVM 20.1.2)
conformanceVersion = 1.3.1.1
deviceUUID = 6d657361-3235-2e32-2e38-2d3075627500
driverUUID = 6c6c766d-7069-7065-5555-494400000000

noble dust Apr 15, 2026, 3:02 PM

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prime roost If you run a game with DRI_PRIME=1 and without, do you see any difference?

Also, not really sure how to do that.

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How would that be different from the 'Run with dedicated GPU' thing anyways?

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I didn't really make clear that running the game with the dedicated GPU makes it run horribly, in comparison to HD 4000

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which totally should not be the case.

prime roost Apr 15, 2026, 3:07 PM

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Ok, what are you trying to run exactly, which game?

noble dust Apr 15, 2026, 3:09 PM

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Only really Minecraft so far.

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I'd rather not, but I guess I could quickly log into and try some stuff from steam?

boreal mason Apr 15, 2026, 3:10 PM

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Minecraft is fun on Linux

noble dust Apr 15, 2026, 3:10 PM

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Not having much fun with it now.

prime roost Apr 15, 2026, 3:10 PM

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Ok, minecraft, what launcher do you use / how did you install it?

noble dust Apr 15, 2026, 3:11 PM

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Prism, via the software manager

prime roost Apr 15, 2026, 3:14 PM

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Ok, let's see..... run the game, when you get into the world, press f3 and screensot the screen

noble dust Apr 15, 2026, 3:15 PM

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Maybe I should also clarify how it 'runs poorly'. It's quite different from the IGPU.
It actually does sort of run smoother when on the IGPU, except for when I literally make any input.
Moving around, or moving the camera, absolutely tanks the FPS.

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Oh okay, hold on.

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And when running without the dedicated gpu, the AMD stuff simply isn't there.

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Again with the Turks.. This is a laptop!

prime roost Apr 15, 2026, 3:22 PM

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noble dust Again with the Turks.. This is a laptop!

Turks is the internal name for the drivers, Thames is the marketing name (mobile)

noble dust Apr 15, 2026, 3:24 PM

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For desktop, yeah. According to this site that is: https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/amd-thames.g197

TechPowerUp

AMD Thames GPU Specs

480 Cores, 24 TMUs, 16 ROPs

prime roost Apr 15, 2026, 3:24 PM

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noble dust And when running without the dedicated gpu, the AMD stuff simply isn't there.

Looks like it runs on AMD gpu

noble dust Apr 15, 2026, 3:25 PM

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I know it does, it just runs horribly!
It also doesn't turn up in mission center, nor LACT.

noble dust Apr 15, 2026, 3:26 PM

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noble dust Maybe I should also clarify how it 'runs poorly'. It's quite different from the ...

Also, to put into perspective how extreme this is. I'm getting about 80 to 100 fps when standing still, looking out over a landscape. That turns to 5 to 20 whenever I start pressing w.

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The fan also absolutely starts howling when pressing w.

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A stark contrast from the IGPU, which just gives me a steady 40 to 50 fps.

prime roost Apr 15, 2026, 3:29 PM

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Mission center / LACT won't pick up much (or anything) from older driver like radeon, they expect newer one amdgpu, so try radeontop instead

prime roost Apr 15, 2026, 3:33 PM

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noble dust A stark contrast from the IGPU, which just gives me a steady 40 to 50 fps.

when moving around?

noble dust Apr 15, 2026, 3:38 PM

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When moving around, and when not moving around, it doesn't change at all.
I should also note that the AMD GPU only cares about me moving around, it still keeps its cool when a bunch of entities are moving in front of me.

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Installed radeontop, but it doesn't want to launch for me.

prime roost Apr 15, 2026, 3:41 PM

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Check in minecraft settings - video settings if "Use VBOs" are enabled

prime roost Apr 15, 2026, 3:41 PM

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noble dust Installed radeontop, but it doesn't want to launch for me.

it's meant to be launched in terminal

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Also, install sodium mod, should optimize some things

noble dust Apr 15, 2026, 3:46 PM

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Can't find anything about VBOs, so I guess it isn't enabled?
And I know about sodium, but this does not seem like a minecraft issue. I've never ran into something like this, where the game just shits itself whenever a player input is made.

noble dust Apr 15, 2026, 3:46 PM

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prime roost it's meant to be launched in terminal

And, right.. How do I do that?

prime roost Apr 15, 2026, 3:49 PM

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noble dust And, right.. How do I do that?

open the terminal, type radeontop press enter

noble dust Apr 15, 2026, 3:49 PM

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Hmm, and why do people constantly suggest you don't download the proprietary drivers from an official site?

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Because https://www.amd.com/en/support/downloads/drivers.html/graphics/radeon-hd/radeon-hd-7000m-series/amd-radeon-hd-7670m.html

prime roost Apr 15, 2026, 3:50 PM

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It's not a minecraft issue per se, it's how linux handles offloading on your system

prime roost Apr 15, 2026, 3:53 PM

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noble dust Hmm, and why do people constantly suggest you don't download the proprietary dri...

Mostly because these drivers are even older than what mint provides and are basicaly dead

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And won't work with current kernels anyway

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Also try lithium and starlight mods for further optimization

noble dust Apr 15, 2026, 4:21 PM

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prime roost Mostly because these drivers are even older than what mint provides and are bas...

But you would get the catalyst control pannel, and more dedicated drivers.

noble dust Apr 15, 2026, 4:22 PM

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prime roost And won't work with current kernels anyway

Though that alone makes it a no go. Also explains why I couldn't get them to work in the first place.

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Really unfortunate this. I've had other AMD HD GPUs work just fine, really weird that this one just doesn't. :(

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I don't think more optimization mods will change the fact that the IGPU just works better.

prime roost Apr 15, 2026, 4:35 PM

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Is this a notebook?

noble dust Apr 15, 2026, 4:43 PM

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I think so, yeah.

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Why?

prime roost Apr 15, 2026, 4:48 PM

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Because amd gpu isn't connected directly to the monitor and has to return it's work through intel gpu. That also adds overhead. On windows proprietary drivers handle this better

noble dust Apr 15, 2026, 5:00 PM

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Oh, that unfortunately makes a few things make sense.

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The GPU is located next to the vga and hdmi, figured that'd have a reason though.

prime roost Apr 15, 2026, 5:18 PM

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If HDMI port is on AMD gpu, then connecting external monitor might improve perfomance because amd gpu will output directly to the monitor, instead of going through intel

noble dust Apr 15, 2026, 5:43 PM

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Nope, didn"t do anything.
Though what did do something was putting the texture filtering setting on anisotropic, which makes no sense? It still makes it run pretty choppy (probably because it's a really heavy setting to run), but significantly reduces the choppyness over using RGSS or even none.

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Is there anything I can do or any other distro I can use that'd put more significance on the gpu? I really like this laptop, even wanted to use it myself, But I really don't like the GPU being dead weight.

halcyon kraken Apr 15, 2026, 7:24 PM

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GPU is running on a legacy driver, has no Vulkan support, and is generally bad (seems to be slightly less powerful than an NVIDIA 9600 GT). Pair that with X11 and poor Minecraft optimizations, and yeah, performance seems to be expected.

#Old mobile AMD GPU doesn't want to cooperate