My original post
https://www.linux.org/threads/linux-mint-22-display-issue.51223/
described jumpy lines at the bottom of the screen which later on turned into the whole screen flashing once in a while, after trying different suggestions I then decided to put a completely different distro on my laptop in dual boot mode, I chose Zorin OS 17, both distro's suffered the same problem which made me think I had a hardware issue, then I realised both distro's were running the 6.8 kernel. I have since wiped the whole drive & installed Mint 21.3 which uses the 5.15 kernel & so far I have had no issues.
My laptop is a Lenovo Thinkpad T480 with onboard graphics, so I'm assuming the 6.8 kernel doesn't play well with the thinkpad's graphics.
With updated kernels, systems should normally improve rather than regress, so having a later kernel usually increases efficiency and functionality ... though not always. You may be satisfied enough to stay on the earlier kernel, but if not, the following considerations may be of interest.
The graphics details, taken from the earlier thread are:
Graphics:
Device-1: Intel UHD Graphics 620 vendor: Lenovo driver: i915 v: kernel
arch: Gen-9.5 bus-ID: 00:02.0
Device-2: IMC Networks Integrated Camera driver: uvcvideo type: USB
bus-ID: 1-8:3
Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.11 with: Xwayland v: 23.2.6 driver: X:
loaded: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa dri: iris gpu: i915
resolution: 1600x900~60Hz
API: EGL v: 1.5 drivers: iris,swrast platforms:
active: x11,surfaceless,device inactive: gbm,wayland
API: OpenGL v: 4.6 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: intel mesa v: 24.0.9-0ubuntu0.1
glx-v: 1.4 direct-render: yes renderer: Mesa Intel UHD Graphics 620 (KBL
GT2)
The driver for the i915 chipset should normally have at least the following packages installed:
linux-firmware-nonfree
intel-microcode
xserver-xorg-video-intel
intel-media-va-driver
libdrm-intel1
The flickering is a known issue and a few resolutions which have worked are using either of the following kernel options:
i915.enable_psr=0
i915.enable_dc=0
They both disable powersaving features in the driver which can cause flickering, and make barely detectable alterations to the user in my experience, but are worth considering. Only try one at a time, before both. If neither makes a change, they are entirely reversible by deleting them as kernel options to return to your default.
Another option is to create an xorg snippet configuration file using some of the options outlined in the intel man page. See: man intel, for those. For example, writing a configuration file named: 50-intel.conf, with the following contents may help:
Code:
Section "Device"
Identifier "Intel Graphics"
Driver "i915"
Option "TearFree" "true"
EndSection
It's also possible to use the options on "Accel" and "VSync" with values to see if they make a difference either individually or together. All is reversible. Place the file in: /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/, and either restart the X server or reboot. Verify if you have any improvements. Some people place the file in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/, but I've had more success in the other directory.
Another option is to install the picom compositor and use its --vsync options. I can't vouch for that but there are reports of success with it. There are no guarantees with any of these approaches. They are all reversible.
