Solved Can't install any Linux distro on new MSI Pulse 17 AI laptop

[karbono]

If you don't mind tui type installer you can go with "archinstall", if you want a graphical installer go with EndeavourOS or CachyOS but I would say just go with CachyOS to see what you think. I actually addded the CachyOS repos to my Arch installation to try something different and because I didn't want to reinstall.

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Hey, I'm configuring CachyOS, but I feel a little bit lag while moving between screens, windows and seeing the system animations.

Probably must check another kernel version? Actually I have this one that I attach.

Thanks in advice! Regards.

 

[f33dm3bits]

Hey, I'm configuring CachyOS, but I feel a little bit lag while moving between screens, windows and seeing the system animations.

Probably must check another kernel version? Actually I have this one that I attach.

Thanks in advice! Regards.

Kernel version is fine, that won't effect your graphics since the Nvidia drivers handle that. Check your monitors refresh Hz settings. They aren't automatically set at the highest available so you will have to configure that per monitor.

 

[Tolkem]

I've starting to promote CachyOS

I've been using CachyOS for like a year or so, before that I used Nobara, both great distros tbh. I used KDE Neon for a while too before those 2, for like 3 years or something. I tried cachy after screwing my Nobara install, really liked it so decided to stick with it and so far so good .
The thing about Cachy is that it detects your hardware and applies some tweaks. For instance, my pc has a R7 5700g, so the pkgs come from a repo for that Ryzen gen 3, Cezanne. If you have zen 4, then it'll pick the best for that, isn't that nice?
The people behind Cachy have done a great job.

 

[karbono]

Kernel version is fine, that won't effect your graphics since the Nvidia drivers handle that. Check your monitors refresh Hz settings. They aren't automatically set at the highest available so you will have to configure that per monitor.

Yeah I have set the correct refresh Hz settings at the first boot. I attach a little video to show you. I don't feel the mouse movement and others animations very smooth.

https://imgur.com/a/vcMvgHD

The video looks like I see it..

 

[f33dm3bits]

Yeah I have set the correct refresh Hz settings at the first boot. I attach a little video to show you. I don't feel the mouse movement and others animations very smooth.

Things like that can be so many things and I don't know it everything. Can you share the output of the following?

inxi -G
pacman -Qs nvidia
grep modules  /etc/mkinitcpio.conf

Can you share a screenshot of your display settings as well?

 

[karbono]

Things like that can be so many things and I don't know it everything. Can you share the output of the following?

inxi -G
pacman -Qs nvidia
grep modules  /etc/mkinitcpio.conf

Can you share a screenshot of your display settings as well?

Sure, thanks for the fast reply.

❯ inxi -G
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Meteor Lake-P [Intel Arc Graphics] driver: i915 v: kernel
  Device-2: NVIDIA AD106M [GeForce RTX 4070 Max-Q / Mobile] driver: nvidia
    v: 575.57.08
  Device-3: Bison Integrated Camera driver: uvcvideo type: USB
  Display: wayland server: X.Org v: 24.1.6 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.6
    compositor: gnome-shell v: 48.2 driver: gpu: nvidia,nvidia-nvswitch
    resolution: 1: 2560x1440~75Hz 2: 1920x1200~165Hz
  API: EGL v: 1.5 drivers: iris,nvidia,swrast
    platforms: gbm,wayland,x11,surfaceless,device
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6.0 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: nvidia mesa v: 575.57.08
    renderer: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU/PCIe/SSE2
  Info: Tools: api: eglinfo,glxinfo gpu: nvidia-settings,nvidia-smi
    x11: xdpyinfo, xprop, xrandr

❯ pacman -Qs nvidia
local/egl-gbm 1.1.2.1-1.1
    The GBM EGL external platform library
local/egl-wayland 4:1.1.19-1.1
    EGLStream-based Wayland external platform
local/egl-x11 1.0.2-1.1
    NVIDIA XLib and XCB EGL Platform Library
local/lib32-nvidia-utils 575.57.08-2
    NVIDIA drivers utilities (32-bit)
local/lib32-opencl-nvidia 575.57.08-2
    OpenCL implemention for NVIDIA (32-bit)
local/libva-nvidia-driver 0.0.14-1.1
    VA-API implementation that uses NVDEC as a backend
local/libvdpau 1.5-3.1
    Nvidia VDPAU library
local/libxnvctrl 575.57.08-2
    NVIDIA NV-CONTROL X extension
local/linux-cachyos-nvidia-open 6.15.2-2
    nvidia open modules of 575.57.08 driver for the linux-cachyos kernel
local/nvidia-prime 1.0-5
    NVIDIA Prime Render Offload configuration and utilities
local/nvidia-settings 575.57.08-2
    Tool for configuring the NVIDIA graphics driver
local/nvidia-utils 575.57.08-4
    NVIDIA drivers utilities
local/opencl-nvidia 575.57.08-4
    OpenCL implemention for NVIDIA

❯ cat /etc/mkinitcpio.conf
# vim:set ft=sh
# MODULES
# The following modules are loaded before any boot hooks are
# run.  Advanced users may wish to specify all system modules
# in this array.  For instance:
#     MODULES=(usbhid xhci_hcd)
MODULES=(crc32c)

# BINARIES
# This setting includes any additional binaries a given user may
# wish into the CPIO image.  This is run last, so it may be used to
# override the actual binaries included by a given hook
# BINARIES are dependency parsed, so you may safely ignore libraries
BINARIES=()

# FILES
# This setting is similar to BINARIES above, however, files are added
# as-is and are not parsed in any way.  This is useful for config files.
FILES=()

# HOOKS
# This is the most important setting in this file.  The HOOKS control the
# modules and scripts added to the image, and what happens at boot time.
# Order is important, and it is recommended that you do not change the
# order in which HOOKS are added.  Run 'mkinitcpio -H <hook name>' for
# help on a given hook.
# 'base' is _required_ unless you know precisely what you are doing.
# 'udev' is _required_ in order to automatically load modules
# 'filesystems' is _required_ unless you specify your fs modules in MODULES
# Examples:
##   This setup specifies all modules in the MODULES setting above.
##   No RAID, lvm2, or encrypted root is needed.
#    HOOKS=(base)
#
##   This setup will autodetect all modules for your system and should
##   work as a sane default
#    HOOKS=(base udev autodetect modconf block filesystems fsck)
#
##   This setup will generate a 'full' image which supports most systems.
##   No autodetection is done.
#    HOOKS=(base udev modconf block filesystems fsck)
#
##   This setup assembles a mdadm array with an encrypted root file system.
##   Note: See 'mkinitcpio -H mdadm_udev' for more information on RAID devices.
#    HOOKS=(base udev modconf keyboard keymap consolefont block mdadm_udev encrypt filesystems fsck)
#
##   This setup loads an lvm2 volume group.
#    HOOKS=(base udev modconf block lvm2 filesystems fsck)
#
##   This will create a systemd based initramfs which loads an encrypted root filesystem.
#    HOOKS=(base systemd autodetect modconf kms keyboard sd-vconsole sd-encrypt block filesystems fsck)
#
##   NOTE: If you have /usr on a separate partition, you MUST include the
#    usr and fsck hooks.
HOOKS=(base udev autodetect microcode kms modconf block keyboard keymap consolefont plymouth filesystems)

# COMPRESSION
# Use this to compress the initramfs image. By default, zstd compression
# is used for Linux ≥ 5.9 and gzip compression is used for Linux < 5.9.
# Use 'cat' to create an uncompressed image.
#COMPRESSION="zstd"
#COMPRESSION="gzip"
#COMPRESSION="bzip2"
#COMPRESSION="lzma"
#COMPRESSION="xz"
#COMPRESSION="lzop"
#COMPRESSION="lz4"

# COMPRESSION_OPTIONS
# Additional options for the compressor
#COMPRESSION_OPTIONS=()

# MODULES_DECOMPRESS
# Decompress loadable kernel modules and their firmware during initramfs
# creation. Switch (yes/no).
# Enable to allow further decreasing image size when using high compression
# (e.g. xz -9e or zstd --long --ultra -22) at the expense of increased RAM usage
# at early boot.
# Note that any compressed files will be placed in the uncompressed early CPIO
# to avoid double compression.
#MODULES_DECOMPRESS="no"

And attached the display settings, thanks again!

 

[f33dm3bits]

Graphics: Device-1: Intel Meteor Lake-P [Intel Arc Graphics] driver: i915 v: kernel Device-2: NVIDIA AD106M [GeForce RTX 4070 Max-Q / Mobile] driver: nvidia v: 575.57.08

It looks you also have an integrated gpu chip, it could be that your Desktop Environment is using that. We can get to that later, but lets try the following first.

❯ cat /etc/mkinitcpio.conf

MODULES=(crc32c)

Add the nvidia modules to this line so it looks like this.

MODULES=(crc32c nvidia nvidia_modeset nvidia_uvm nvidia_drm)

Then run the following.

sudo mkinitcpio -P

Reboot, has it improved?

local/linux-cachyos-nvidia-open 6.15.2-2

If the previous thing doesn't work could switch from the nvidia-open drivers to the nvidia propriety drivers as your gpu still supports those. You would just have to install the "linux-cachyos-nvidia" package.

Try these thing first and see if that helps?

 

[karbono]

It looks you also have an integrated gpu chip, it could be that your Desktop Environment is using that. We can get to that later, but lets try the following first.


Add the nvidia modules to this line so it looks like this.

MODULES=(crc32c nvidia nvidia_modeset nvidia_uvm nvidia_drm)

Then run the following.

sudo mkinitcpio -P

Reboot, has it improved?

If the previous thing doesn't work could switch from the nvidia-open drivers to the nvidia propriety drivers as your gpu still supports those. You would just have to install the "linux-cachyos-nvidia" package.

Try these thing first and see if that helps?

It looks great now!! Smoother than before. Also if I open apps menu it feels better

https://imgur.com/a/wMN0S2w

Thanks for your tips!!

 

[f33dm3bits]

Thanks for your tips!!

Great!

Did you do both things I suggested or one or the other? Is that as smooth as you would expect it?

 

[karbono]

Did you do both things I suggested? Is that as smooth as you would expect it?

I just added the nvidia modules to /etc/mkinitcpio.conf and rebooted.

But yeah, I think it's perfect now, my main display max Hz config it's 75 so, I think it's pretty good right now.

 

[f33dm3bits]

I just added the nvidia modules to /etc/mkinitcpio.conf and rebooted.

But yeah, I think it's perfect now, my main display max Hz config it's 75 so, I think it's pretty good right now.

Okay great! If you do gaming and at some point you find that the nvidia-open drivers are not working well for certain games then you can always try the propriety driver(linux-cachyos-nvidia). I have an RTX 5080 myself which only supports the nvidia-open driver and all my games run just perfect, even a game that just game out this last week for pc Stellar Blade!

 

[karbono]

Okay great! If you do gaming and at some point you find that the nvidia-open drivers are not working well for certain games then you can always try the propriety driver(linux-cachyos-nvidia). I have an RTX 5080 myself which only supports the nvidia-open driver and all my games run just perfect, even a game that just game out this last week for pc Stellar Blade!

Perfect! Thanks so much for all your help throw this way. I'm not looking to play games in Linux actually, but if I feel something wrong will try the driver that you mentioned.

Looks great that!! Hope you enjoy the game

Thanks again to you and all other people who arrived here and did their best to find a solution.

What a great forum, have a great sunday!!

 

[f33dm3bits]

I'm not looking to play games in Linxu actually

Here I thought you were also a gamer with that gpu .

What a great forum, have a great sunday!!

Have a good one too! If you want be sure to post an introduction in the members introductions section, it would be cool to hear how you got started with Linux and why and stuff like that.

 

[karbono]

Here I thought you were also a gamer with that gpu .

I have Windows installed to play hehe, but not so much. Just a little bit some days. I'm focusing to prepare the RHCSA from Red Hat exam if my boss allows me

Have a good one too! If you want be sure to post an introduction in the members introductions section, it would be cool to hear how you got started with Linux and why and stuff like that.

Sure! Probably this week I will try to remember it. Can't remember when was the first time that I used Linux... would be a fun homework!

 

[f33dm3bits]

I have Windows installed to play hehe, but not so much. Just a little bit some days.

Be sure to try it sometime as most games just works now days, aside from sometimes having to add some launch options and switching a Proton version, only games that are a no go are games with kernel level anti-cheats in them but we don't want rootkits on our system

I'm focusing to prepare the RHCSA from Red Hat exam if my boss allows me

Good luck with the exam!

 

[karbono]

Be sure to try it sometime as most games just works now days, aside from sometimes having to add some launch options and switching a Proton version, only games that are a no go are games with kernel level anti-cheats in them but we don't want rootkits on our system


Good luck with the exam!

I have tried some games that I have installed in my Windows partition directly from Linux as I did other times.
But this time, using Wine and executing directly the .exe game it goes with drops of FPS...

Also have installed Lutris but can't launch the game, it didn't boots.

If you have any tip about how to launch games I would appreciate it again

Like I said, I just played time ago with wine and works perfectly, but now maybe needs another kind of configuration, because this is the first time I use a Nvidia GPU to play in Linux ^^

Again, thanks you for your help!

 

[f33dm3bits]

If you have any tip about how to launch games I would appreciate it again

If you have a Steam account it's easier to use Steam with Steam Play(Proton) and Heroics Games Launcher.

How to Play Windows-only Games on Linux with Steam Proton

Steam Play (proton) lets you play Window-only games on Linux. Here's all the essentials you need to know about using it.

itsfoss.com

Heroic Games Launcher

An Open Source Epic, GOG and Amazon Prime Games Launcher

heroicgameslauncher.com

It's in the CachyOS repos: heroic-games-launcher-bin

Be sure to subscribe to his channel, he's great at teaching everything Linux related when it comes to desktop usage and gaming etc.