Compatibility for Video and Audio Editing

[Pear]

I'm currently using windows. It blows. I'm much more comfortable / familiar in a Linux environment - and I want to switch back to Debian if possible.

I used to "roll my own Debian" for years... I'm also a server admin. So I used Debian at home, and CentOS for my servers... I'm very comfortable in those environments - but not so much messing around with udev and proc type stuff...

Then I got into video editing. I found that some of the software was lacking compared to windows alternatives.. I got fed up trying to get heavier editing apps like Resolve etc to work, so I switched over to windows. Now I can edit, and make full use of the hardware - but I absolutely hate the environment.

I don't want to dual-boot.

I can use software like Shotcut (If I can get it working with my minimal install, couldn't before) and Reaper is coming out for Linux too - so I should be ok - but...

I'm concerned my hardware won't be recognized or used to the fullest.. My computer has 2 video cards and a great processor.

- Video Cards:
630 UHD and 1060 Ti. Windows uses the 630 - then switches to the 1060 when needed. Is it possible to do the same in Debian? If not, can I bypass the 630 and only use the 1060? Both are soldered to the board. Is there a way to force apps to only use the 1060?

- Processor:
8th Gen i7. Will Debian use this processor's full capability? Is there a driver for it?


Thanks for any help or advice!

[Head_on_a_Stick]

I'm currently using windows. It blows.

And sucks at the same time

Windows uses the 630 - then switches to the 1060 when needed. Is it possible to do the same in Debian?

https://wiki.debian.org/Bumblebee

can I bypass the 630 and only use the 1060?

Check your firmware ("BIOS") options. I think you may be able to do it at the software level as well, we had a thread about that recently so try searching for it.

8th Gen i7. Will Debian use this processor's full capability? Is there a driver for it?

Processors don't have drivers but I think Debian 10 (buster) should support that generation at least as well as Windows but make sure you install the intel-microcode package (and firmware-misc-nonfree for the HD630).

[4D696B65]

If not, can I bypass the 630 and only use the 1060? Both are soldered to the board. Is there a way to force apps to only use the 1060?

yes. if you cant turn the 630 off in bios, you can use this for nvidia blob only
https://wiki.debian.org/NvidiaGraphicsDrivers/Optimus#Dynamic_Graphics_Disabled_-_xrandr_and_Display_Manager_Scripts

[stevepusser]

You didn't say, but your machine is a laptop, not a desktop, is that correct? Optimus is strictly for laptops.

Regardless, you will probably be able to get more performance (reduced thermal throttling under load) along with cooler temperatures overall by undervolting the CPU with the iuvolt script. https://github.com/tiziw/iuvolt You're trying to duplicate Throttlestop on the Windows side.

[Pear]

I'm currently using windows. It blows.

And sucks at the same time

Windows uses the 630 - then switches to the 1060 when needed. Is it possible to do the same in Debian?

https://wiki.debian.org/Bumblebee

can I bypass the 630 and only use the 1060?

Check your firmware ("BIOS") options. I think you may be able to do it at the software level as well, we had a thread about that recently so try searching for it.

8th Gen i7. Will Debian use this processor's full capability? Is there a driver for it?

Processors don't have drivers but I think Debian 10 (buster) should support that generation at least as well as Windows but make sure you install the intel-microcode package (and firmware-misc-nonfree for the HD630).

I wasn't expecting that - made me laugh.. Never heard of Bumblebee, but it sounds like what I'm talking about. I am wondering though about just bypassing the 630. I don't trust that Shotcut (or similar) will trigger the switch. Though the link you sent says it's using the big GPU always to do the work, then the onboard to display it - interesting! So the Intel-Microcode and using the latest Debian 10 should mean I'm getting the most out of my hardware?

If not, can I bypass the 630 and only use the 1060? Both are soldered to the board. Is there a way to force apps to only use the 1060?

yes. if you cant turn the 630 off in bios, you can use this for nvidia blob onlyhttps://wiki.debian.org/NvidiaGraphicsDrivers/Optimus#Dynamic_Graphics_Disabled_-_xrandr_and_Display_Manager_Scripts

Well, I hate to say - but I bricked the last laptop by unlocking BIOS features then changing display properties. Yup, I'm that guy. That caused no display, and after a loooong time of trying restore a backup and feeling my way to fixing it, (and with the help of several patient people in a BIOS forum) - I eventually had the manufactuer replace it. Lame, I know. ..So, I can say from experience that this laptop model does not have those options visible in BIOS. Turning it off via the Display Manager would work though! That should make it use the 1060 for everything on that TTY - the others would use the 630 I'm assuming?

You didn't say, but your machine is a laptop, not a desktop, is that correct? Optimus is strictly for laptops. Regardless, you will probably be able to get more performance (reduced thermal throttling under load) along with cooler temperatures overall by undervolting the CPU with the iuvolt script. https://github.com/tiziw/iuvolt You're trying to duplicate Throttlestop on the Windows side.

Yep - it's a laptop! I thought Optimus was their cuda-centric branch. This card is the normal variety - it's been a minute since I've looked into it. If I switch back though, the cooler temps from that undervolt script are going to help offset the warmer nVidia.


-----

BONUS QUESTIONS

This laptop has a backlit mech keyboard and a lit bar across the front. The fans are controlable. Is there a package(s) to control the lights (color) and fan speed?

My wife has started playing "Fallout Shelter" and I'm wanting to play "Resident Evil 2 (remake)" - will Wine play these games? Would it be better to use a VBox with a windows instance to run the games through? Would a VBox recognize the hardware? I'm assuming I could install VirtualBox, run Windows in it, then add Steam and play RE2 full screen - but will the performance suck (or blow)? Like ripping or latency issues?

[Head_on_a_Stick]

BONUS QUESTIONS

This laptop has a backlit mech keyboard and a lit bar across the front. The fans are controlable. Is there a package(s) to control the lights (color) and fan speed?

My wife has started playing "Fallout Shelter" and I'm wanting to play "Resident Evil 2 (remake)" - will Wine play these games? Would it be better to use a VBox with a windows instance to run the games through? Would a VBox recognize the hardware? I'm assuming I could install VirtualBox, run Windows in it, then add Steam and play RE2 full screen - but will the performance suck (or blow)? Like ripping or latency issues?

Please open separate threads for your new questions so that the answers are available under appropriate titles, this aids SEO.

Briefly, Debian has a fancontrol package (although fan management should be automagical in most cases) and VirtualBox is not supported in Debian stable and should be avoided due to it's low quality and negligent developers, check the VGAPassthrough page in the Debian wiki for a better solution.