Graphics - Revision history

Mildsunrise: /* OpenCL */ address possible mesa confusion

2026-02-08T17:44:31Z

OpenCL: address possible mesa confusion

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:44, 8 February 2026
Line 42:		Line 42:
	== OpenCL ==		== OpenCL ==

	Computing things on the GPU is supported through the OpenCL API. To enable OpenCL support, add the right packages for your hardware to <code>hardware.graphics.extraPackages</code>. See also [https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/GPGPU the Arch Wiki].		Computing things on the GPU is supported through the OpenCL API. To enable OpenCL support, add the right packages for your hardware to <code>hardware.graphics.extraPackages</code> (note that despite Mesa being present by default, its OpenCL drivers are placed in a separate <code>opencl</code> output that must be manually added). See also [https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/GPGPU the Arch Wiki].

	To verify OpenCL support: <code>nix shell nixpkgs#clinfo -c clinfo</code>		To verify OpenCL support: <code>nix shell nixpkgs#clinfo -c clinfo</code>

Likivik: 'glxinfo' has been renamed to/replaced by 'mesa-demos'

2025-11-23T20:40:29Z

'glxinfo' has been renamed to/replaced by 'mesa-demos'

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:40, 23 November 2025
Line 30:		Line 30:
	Mesa can installed using the option <code>hardware.graphics.enable</code>, but note that most desktop environment modules set this themselves anyway. This option writes the driver files to <code>/run/opengl-driver</code>. Additional graphics drivers packages can be added using <code>hardware.graphics.extraPackages</code>.		Mesa can installed using the option <code>hardware.graphics.enable</code>, but note that most desktop environment modules set this themselves anyway. This option writes the driver files to <code>/run/opengl-driver</code>. Additional graphics drivers packages can be added using <code>hardware.graphics.extraPackages</code>.

	To verify which Mesa driver is used: <code>nix shell nixpkgs#~~glxinfo~~ -c glxinfo</code>		To verify which Mesa driver is used: <code>nix shell nixpkgs#mesa-demos -c glxinfo</code>

S-aditya-k: point to new renamed option

2025-10-19T09:49:00Z

point to new renamed option

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:49, 19 October 2025
Line 28:		Line 28:
	The OpenGL implementation used on Linux is the [[Mesa\|Mesa graphics library]]. Mesa contains drivers for various hardware, the exact driver is selected automatically. Note that Mesa also supports software rendering if no compatible hardware driver is available, but this is very slow.		The OpenGL implementation used on Linux is the [[Mesa\|Mesa graphics library]]. Mesa contains drivers for various hardware, the exact driver is selected automatically. Note that Mesa also supports software rendering if no compatible hardware driver is available, but this is very slow.

	Mesa can installed using the option <code>hardware.~~opengl~~.enable</code>, but note that most desktop environment modules set this themselves anyway. This option writes the driver files to <code>/run/opengl-driver</code>. Additional graphics drivers packages can be added using <code>hardware.~~opengl~~.extraPackages</code>.		Mesa can installed using the option <code>hardware.graphics.enable</code>, but note that most desktop environment modules set this themselves anyway. This option writes the driver files to <code>/run/opengl-driver</code>. Additional graphics drivers packages can be added using <code>hardware.graphics.extraPackages</code>.

	To verify which Mesa driver is used: <code>nix shell nixpkgs#glxinfo -c glxinfo</code>		To verify which Mesa driver is used: <code>nix shell nixpkgs#glxinfo -c glxinfo</code>

S-aditya-k: point to right option

2025-10-19T09:48:23Z

point to right option

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:48, 19 October 2025
Line 42:		Line 42:
	== OpenCL ==		== OpenCL ==

	Computing things on the GPU is supported through the OpenCL API. To enable OpenCL support, add the right packages for your hardware to <code>hardware.~~opengl~~.extraPackages</code>. See also [https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/GPGPU the Arch Wiki].		Computing things on the GPU is supported through the OpenCL API. To enable OpenCL support, add the right packages for your hardware to <code>hardware.graphics.extraPackages</code>. See also [https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/GPGPU the Arch Wiki].

	To verify OpenCL support: <code>nix shell nixpkgs#clinfo -c clinfo</code>		To verify OpenCL support: <code>nix shell nixpkgs#clinfo -c clinfo</code>

Yesterko: /* OpenGL */ Changed wording, as NixOS 24.11 has been released now.

2024-12-12T21:33:00Z

OpenGL: Changed wording, as NixOS 24.11 has been released now.

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:33, 12 December 2024
Line 22:		Line 22:
	== OpenGL ==		== OpenGL ==

	{{Note\|<code>hardware.opengl</code> ~~will be~~ renamed to <code>hardware.graphics</code> in NixOS 24.11.}}		{{Note\|<code>hardware.opengl</code> was renamed to <code>hardware.graphics</code> in NixOS 24.11.}}

	Userspace-level graphics support is provided through OpenGL. The kernel module is used just for interfacing with the hardware, the OpenGL driver is what Wayland (or the X server) actually uses for rendering.		Userspace-level graphics support is provided through OpenGL. The kernel module is used just for interfacing with the hardware, the OpenGL driver is what Wayland (or the X server) actually uses for rendering.

Scrumplex: Add VDPAU failing to detect correct driver on Wayland

2024-10-06T13:07:37Z

Add VDPAU failing to detect correct driver on Wayland

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:07, 6 October 2024
Line 76:		Line 76:

	To verify VDPAU support and view supported codecs: <code>nix shell nixpkgs#vdpauinfo -c vdpauinfo</code>		To verify VDPAU support and view supported codecs: <code>nix shell nixpkgs#vdpauinfo -c vdpauinfo</code>

			Note that VDPAU will not be able to detect the correct drive to use in most Wayland enviroments, as there is no DRI2 support. The driver will always fall back to <code>nvidia</code> if it wasn't set using <code>VDPAU_DRIVER</code>.<ref>[https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/vdpau/libvdpau/-/blob/2afa3f989af24a922692ac719fae23c321776cdb/src/vdpau_wrapper.c#L129]</ref>

	== See also ==		== See also ==

Klinger: Category:Video

2024-08-25T18:18:09Z

Category:Video

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:18, 25 August 2024
Line 81:		Line 81:
	* The Arch Wiki has good articles on a lot of these topics, which are linked above.		* The Arch Wiki has good articles on a lot of these topics, which are linked above.
	* [https://git.eisfunke.com/config/nixos/-/blob/main/docs/graphics.md?ref_type=heads writeup about setting up graphics] in Eisfunke's NixOS config repo (this article was originally based on that)		* [https://git.eisfunke.com/config/nixos/-/blob/main/docs/graphics.md?ref_type=heads writeup about setting up graphics] in Eisfunke's NixOS config repo (this article was originally based on that)

			[[Category:Video]]

Jopejoe1: Added Amd and nvidia links

2024-08-17T08:43:59Z

Added Amd and nvidia links

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:43, 17 August 2024
Line 4:		Line 4:

	* [[Intel Graphics]]		* [[Intel Graphics]]
			* [[AMD GPU]]
			* [[Nvidia]]

	== Kernel-Level ==		== Kernel-Level ==

Eisfunke: Created page with "This is intended to be an overview of how setting up graphics on NixOS works. == Hardware-Specific Pages == * Intel Graphics == Kernel-Level == Kernel-level GPU support is provided by a kernel module. E.g. for AMD GPUs (including iGPUs) that's `amdgpu`. The module is loaded automatically based on the detected hardware. On x86 devices, detection is done automatically through ACPI. On ARM devices such as the Raspberry Pi, information about hardware is pr..."

2024-08-13T16:24:02Z

Created page with "This is intended to be an overview of how setting up graphics on NixOS works. == Hardware-Specific Pages == * Intel Graphics == Kernel-Level == Kernel-level GPU support is provided by a kernel module. E.g. for AMD GPUs (including iGPUs) that's <code>amdgpu</code>. The module is loaded automatically based on the detected hardware. On x86 devices, detection is done automatically through ACPI. On ARM devices such as the Raspberry Pi, information about hardware is pr..."

New page

This is intended to be an overview of how setting up graphics on NixOS works.

== Hardware-Specific Pages ==

* [[Intel Graphics]]

== Kernel-Level ==

Kernel-level GPU support is provided by a kernel module. E.g. for AMD GPUs (including iGPUs) that's <code>amdgpu</code>.
The module is loaded automatically based on the detected hardware.
On x86 devices, detection is done automatically through ACPI. On ARM devices such as the Raspberry Pi, information about hardware is provided through a devicetree, normally by the bootloader.

When loading the module, the kernel uses *Kernel Mode Setting* (KMS) to configure the video mode. This allows native resolution during boot and in tty's. See also [https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Kernel_mode_setting the Arch Wiki].

Normally, the kernel module is loaded and KMS is performed after the initrd stage ("late KMS"), i.e. ''after'' entering the encryption password if you use full disk encryption. This will produce some flickering.

The kernel module can also be added to the initrd itself ("early KMS") by adding the kernel module for your hardware to <code>boot.initrd.kernelModules</code>. Early KMS is especially desirable when using something like Plymouth for flicker-free fancy graphics during boot. If you don't use Plymouth, early KMS might actually make the boot sequence worse, because the flicker might heppen during encryption password entry.

== OpenGL ==

{{Note|<code>hardware.opengl</code> will be renamed to <code>hardware.graphics</code> in NixOS 24.11.}}

Userspace-level graphics support is provided through OpenGL. The kernel module is used just for interfacing with the hardware, the OpenGL driver is what Wayland (or the X server) actually uses for rendering.

The OpenGL implementation used on Linux is the [[Mesa|Mesa graphics library]]. Mesa contains drivers for various hardware, the exact driver is selected automatically. Note that Mesa also supports software rendering if no compatible hardware driver is available, but this is very slow.

Mesa can installed using the option <code>hardware.opengl.enable</code>, but note that most desktop environment modules set this themselves anyway. This option writes the driver files to <code>/run/opengl-driver</code>. Additional graphics drivers packages can be added using <code>hardware.opengl.extraPackages</code>.

To verify which Mesa driver is used: <code>nix shell nixpkgs#glxinfo -c glxinfo</code>

== Vulkan ==

Apart from the OpenGL API, there's also the more modern Vulkan API. Vulkan drivers are also included in Mesa (e.g., for AMD hardware that's RADV). See also [https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Vulkan the Arch Wiki].

For the installed Vulkan drivers, see <code>/run/opengl-driver/share/vulkan/icd.d/</code>. To verify which driver is used: <code>nix shell nixpkgs#vulkan-tools -c vulkaninfo</code>

== OpenCL ==

Computing things on the GPU is supported through the OpenCL API. To enable OpenCL support, add the right packages for your hardware to <code>hardware.opengl.extraPackages</code>. See also [https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/GPGPU the Arch Wiki].

To verify OpenCL support: <code>nix shell nixpkgs#clinfo -c clinfo</code>

== Hardware Video Acceleration ==

GPUs have built-in hardware for decoding / encoding video. Using this is much more efficient than using the CPU. See also [https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Hardware_video_acceleration the Arch Wiki].

There are two main APIs for video accel on Linux.

=== VA-API ===

Developed by Intel, open spec, FOSS library. Seems to be generally broader supported than VDPAU.

Many VA-API drivers are also included in Mesa.

For available drivers, see <code>/run/opengl-driver/lib/dri</code>. The file names are <code>{DRIVER_NAME}_drv_video.so</code>.

The driver used for VA-API can be overridden with the env var <code>LIBVA_DRIVER_NAME</code>. E.g. for AMD, it's <code>radeonsi</code>.

To verify VA-API support and view supported codecs: <code>nix shell nixpkgs#libva-utils -c vainfo</code>

=== VDPAU ===

Authored by Nvidia, developed by freedesktop.org, open spec, FOSS library.

Many VDPAU drivers are also included in Mesa.

For available drivers, see <code>/run/opengl-driver/lib/vdpau</code>. The file names are <code>libvdpau_{DRIVER_NAME}.so</code>.

The driver used for VDPAU can be overridden with the env var <code>VDPAU_DRIVER</code>. E.g. for AMD, it's <code>radeonsi</code>.

To verify VDPAU support and view supported codecs: <code>nix shell nixpkgs#vdpauinfo -c vdpauinfo</code>

== See also ==

* The Arch Wiki has good articles on a lot of these topics, which are linked above.
* [https://git.eisfunke.com/config/nixos/-/blob/main/docs/graphics.md?ref_type=heads writeup about setting up graphics] in Eisfunke's NixOS config repo (this article was originally based on that)