Screen Tearing Issue in Ubuntu 24.04 with AMD GPU on a Custom-Built PC
If you have built a custom PC with an AMD GPU and are running Ubuntu 24.04, you might have experienced screen tearing. This issue occurs when the video content being displayed is not synchronized correctly, resulting in a visible split between two frames.
Understanding Screen Tearing
Screen tearing is a display anomaly that occurs when the video content being displayed is not in sync. This results in a visible split between two frames, creating a distracting visual artifact. This issue is especially noticeable during fast-paced motion scenes, such as gaming or scrolling through web pages.
Identifying the Issue
To confirm that you are experiencing screen tearing, you can observe the following symptoms:
- Visible split between two frames during fast-paced motion scenes
- Distorted visuals during gaming or scrolling through web pages
Why AMD GPUs and Ubuntu 24.04?
While screen tearing can occur on any platform, it can be more prevalent on Linux-based systems, such as Ubuntu 24.04. This is because Linux-based systems do not have built-in support for V-Sync (Vertical Synchronization), which is required to prevent screen tearing.
Resolving the Issue
To resolve the screen tearing issue on Ubuntu 24.04 with an AMD GPU, you can try the following solutions:
Enable Compositing
Compositing is a feature that allows the graphics system to manage windows and effects. By enabling compositing, you can eliminate screen tearing:
- Open the terminal and run the following command:
gsettings set org.gnome.mutter compositor-vendor "x Present Extension"Use a Different Desktop Environment
If enabling compositing does not resolve the issue, you can try switching to a different desktop environment:
- Open the terminal and run the following command:
sudo apt install kubuntu-desktopOnce installed, log out and select the Kubuntu desktop environment from the login screen.
Use the AMDGPU-PRO Driver
The AMDGPU-PRO driver is a proprietary driver from AMD that can help resolve screen tearing:
- Add the AMDGPU-PRO driver repository:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/updatesUpdate your package list:
sudo apt updateInstall the AMDGPU-PRO driver:
sudo apt install xserver-xorg-video-amdgpu-pro- Screen tearing is a display anomaly caused by a lack of synchronization between video content and the display.
- Screen tearing can be more prevalent on Linux-based systems, such as Ubuntu 24.04, due to the lack of built-in V-Sync support.
- You can resolve the screen tearing issue by enabling compositing, switching to a different desktop environment, or using the AMDGPU-PRO driver.