From b233b35cfc240c307801aa1d66d4388ba502febb Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Leah Rowe Date: Wed, 31 May 2023 13:49:39 +0100 Subject: [PATCH] e6400 nvidia tips and tricks when running openbsd Signed-off-by: Leah Rowe --- site/docs/hardware/e6400.md | 76 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 76 insertions(+) diff --git a/site/docs/hardware/e6400.md b/site/docs/hardware/e6400.md index 61b6f2b..6556cee 100644 --- a/site/docs/hardware/e6400.md +++ b/site/docs/hardware/e6400.md @@ -193,3 +193,79 @@ FreeBSD has not yet been tested, as far as we know, but it should work. and newer Linux have not yet been tested** (I plan to test *Arch Linux*), but the older Linux/Mesa version in Debian 11.6 works just fine in the Dell BIOS, and I've confirmed that it uses the exact same Video BIOS Option ROM. + +Desktop environment / window manager on OpenBSD + Performance notes +------------------------------------------------------------------- + +TODO: This section could probably be moved to its own section. It's not really +relevant to Libreboot per se, but it may help a few people. + +Again, Linux's nouveau driver is currently broken. I've been playing with my +E6400 (nvidia model) for a while and I've found that these things are a *must* +for performance (the machine otherwise lags, openbsd's `nv` driver isn't quite +as good as nouveau, when the nouveau one works that is): + +* Use a lightweight desktop environment like LXQt, or lightweight window + manager (OpenBSD has `cwm` in base, and it's excellent) +* Install `obsdfreqd` which scales down the CPU speed during idle state; the + GPU has a poor thermal pad for cooling and so if the CPU is running hot, + that doesn't bode well for GPU temperatures either, and the GPU is likely + lagging due to heat: + +How to install `obsdfreqd`: + + pkg_add obsdfreqd + rcctl enable obsdfreqd + +Now, before you start it, make sure `apmd` is disabled; it can be used, but +not with the `-A` flag: + + rcctl stop apmd + rcctl disable apmd + +Now start obsdfreqd: + + rcctl start obsdfreqd + +You will be well served to perform the copper shim mod, for GPU cooling. +With `obsdfreqd`, your laptop will run much cooler. This is generally a good +idea anyway, especially on laptops, to save electricity. + +Of course, there are many tweaks that you can do to OpenBSD but the key is: +don't use heavy bloated software. The term *lightweight* is misleading anyway; +if the software does its job efficiently, and you're happy with it, then it is +by definition superior for your purposes. So, "lightweight" is simply a word +for "efficient" in many contexts. We should encourage the use and development +of highly efficient software that runs more smoothly on old machines. The +elitist attitude of *just buy a new computer* is quite damaging; re-use is +always better, when that is feasible and safe. The power of BSD (and Linux) is +precisely that you can tweak it to get the most use out of older hardware.. + +Another nice hint: higher resolution video like 1080p 60fps or above won't +play smoothly at all in a web browser. In testing at least on OpenBSD 7.3, +Firefox seems to have the best performance among all the web browsers, at least +when I used it. Anything 720p 30/60fps will work ~OK. + +For YouTube, you could use yt-dlp, which is available in ports, and use mpv to +stream via yt-dlp. Or download manually with yt-dlp and play offline. See: + + + + + +Another hint: for watching youtube in the browser, Invidious works quite well. +It's a frontend that lets you view it by proxy, and there are many instances +of it online. For a list of instances, see: + + + +Unlike youtube.com, watching youtube via invidious works even with JavaScript +turned off in the browser. You can use it to also search YouTube, and then +paste the youtube.com link into yt-dlp or mpv; Invidious websites themselves +also often provide a download button for videos. + +The yt-dlp software may also work on a few other websites besides YouTube. +Running with JavaScript turned *off* is generally recommended for performance, +especially on slower machines, turning it on only when you need it. Many +websites are just full of junk nowadays. +