What to Do If Your GPU Is Having Display Issues

Overview

Display issues with GPUs are common and can manifest as black screens, distorted graphics, resolution problems, or complete system freezes. This guide provides troubleshooting steps for GPU display problems on Rocky Linux and Ubuntu systems, focusing on practical solutions that don't require hardware replacement.

Prerequisites

• Access to the system's terminal (either directly or through SSH if display is completely unavailable)
• Root or sudo privileges
• Basic knowledge of Linux command line
• Knowledge of your GPU model (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel)

Steps for Troubleshooting GPU Display Issues

1. Identify Your GPU and Current Driver

For Rocky Linux and Ubuntu:

lspci | grep -E 'VGA|3D'

Check current driver in use:

# For NVIDIA GPUs nvidia-smi 

# For AMD GPUs lsmod | grep amdgpu 

# For Intel GPUs lsmod | grep i915

2. Use Nomodeset for Immediate Display Recovery

The nomodeset kernel parameter prevents the kernel from loading video drivers and using the GPU for mode setting, reverting to BIOS-based display functionality.

For Rocky Linux:

1. Edit the GRUB configuration:
    

   sudo vi /etc/default/grub

2. Modify the GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX line to include nomodeset:
    

   GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="nomodeset"

3. Rebuild the GRUB configuration:
    

   sudo grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg

For Ubuntu:

1. Edit the GRUB configuration:
    

   sudo nano /etc/default/grub

2. Modify the GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT line to include nomodeset:
    

   GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash nomodeset"

3. Update GRUB:
    

   sudo update-grub

4. Reboot the system:
   bash

    

   sudo reboot

3. Check and Reinstall GPU Drivers

Please Refer to: Guide to Uninstalling NVIDIA Drivers

4. Check for Kernel Updates or Conflicts

Rocky Linux and Ubuntu:

# Check current kernel 
uname -r 

# Update system # For Rocky: 
sudo dnf update 

# For Ubuntu: 
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

5. Inspect System Logs for Error Messages

# Check for GPU-related errors 
dmesg | grep -iE 'gpu|nvidia|amdgpu|i915|drm' 

# Look at X11 logs 
cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep -iE 'error|warning' 

# Check system journal for errors 
journalctl -b -p err

6. Test Different Display Output Ports

If using a desktop GPU with multiple output ports (HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI):

1. Power off the system
2. Connect the display to a different port
3. Power on and check if the display works properly

7. Adjust Resolution and Refresh Rate

For systems with functioning display but incorrect settings:

Rocky Linux (GNOME):

1. Go to Settings > Displays
2. Select your display and adjust resolution/refresh rate

Ubuntu:

1. Go to Settings > Displays
2. Select your display and adjust resolution/refresh rate

When to Seek Additional Support

Consider contacting your system vendor or GPU manufacturer if:

• Issues persist after trying all steps above
• You notice physical damage (burn marks, unusual smells)
• The GPU fan is not spinning or making unusual noises
• Multiple displays or systems exhibit the same problem with the GPU