Update the system and install the required packages

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 47 views

Introduction

As a user of the HP zbook 15u g3, you may have encountered issues with the AMDGPU driver on your Ubuntu 18.04 system. The dedicated switchable graphics on your Skylake i7 processor can be a bit finicky, and getting the AMDGPU driver to work can be a challenge. In this article, we will walk you through the steps to troubleshoot and resolve the issue of using the AMDGPU driver on your Ubuntu 18.04 system.

Understanding the Issue

The AMDGPU driver is a proprietary driver developed by AMD for their graphics processing units (GPUs). It provides better performance and power management compared to the open-source Radeon driver. However, the AMDGPU driver can be tricky to install and configure, especially on systems with dedicated switchable graphics like the HP zbook 15u g3.

System Specifications

Before we dive into the troubleshooting steps, let's take a look at the system specifications of your HP zbook 15u g3:

Processor: Skylake i7
Graphics: FirePro dedicated switchable graphics
Operating System: Ubuntu 18.04
Driver: AMDGPU

Troubleshooting Steps

Step 1: Check the System Logs

The first step in troubleshooting the issue is to check the system logs for any errors related to the AMDGPU driver. You can do this by running the following command in the terminal:

sudo journalctl -u amdgpu

This will display the system logs for the amdgpu service. Look for any error messages that may indicate the cause of the issue.

Step 2: Update the System and Install the Required Packages

Make sure your system is up-to-date by running the following command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

Next, install the required packages for the AMDGPU driver:

sudo apt install linux-headers-$(uname -r) build-essential dkms

Step 3: Install the AMDGPU Driver

To install the AMDGPU driver, you can use the following command:

sudo apt install amd-ucode

This will install the AMD microcode, which is required for the AMDGPU driver to work.

Step 4: Configure the AMDGPU Driver

Once the AMDGPU driver is installed, you need to configure it to work with your system. You can do this by creating a new file in the /etc/modprobe.d/ directory:

sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/amdgpu.conf

Add the following lines to the file:

options amdgpu modeset=1
options amdgpu radeon=1

Save and close the file.

Step 5: Reboot the System

After configuring the AMDGPU driver, you need to reboot the system to apply the changes:

sudo reboot

Step 6: Verify the AMDGPU Driver

Once the system is back up, you can verify that the AMDGPU driver is working by running the following command:

sudo lspci -v | grep VGA

This will display the graphics card information, including the driver in use. If the AMDGPU driver is working, you should see the following output:

00:01.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Opal XT [Radeon 540M]

Conclusion

In this article, we walked you through the steps to troubleshoot and resolve the issue of using the AMDGPU driver on your Ubuntu 18.04 system. By following these steps, you should be able to get the AMDGPU driver working on your HP zbook 15u g3. Remember to always check the system logs and update the system and install the required packages before attempting to install the AMDGPU driver. If you encounter any issues during the process, feel free to ask for help in the comments section below.

Additional Resources

For more information on the AMDGPU driver and how to troubleshoot issues related to it, you can refer to the following resources:

FAQs

Q: What is the AMDGPU driver?

A: The AMDGPU driver is a proprietary driver developed by AMD for their graphics processing units (GPUs). It provides better performance and power management compared to the open-source Radeon driver.

Q: Why is the AMDGPU driver not working on my system?

A: There could be several reasons why the AMDGPU driver is not working on your system. Some common issues include outdated system and driver versions, incorrect configuration, and hardware compatibility issues.

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues related to the AMDGPU driver?

Introduction

The AMDGPU driver can be a bit finicky, and troubleshooting issues related to it can be a challenge. In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions related to the AMDGPU driver and provide tips on how to troubleshoot common issues.

Q: What is the AMDGPU driver?

Q: Why is the AMDGPU driver not working on my system?

A: There could be several reasons why the AMDGPU driver is not working on your system. Some common issues include:

Outdated system and driver versions
Incorrect configuration
Hardware compatibility issues
Conflicting drivers

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues related to the AMDGPU driver?

A: To troubleshoot issues related to the AMDGPU driver, you can follow these steps:

Check the system logs: Run the command sudo journalctl -u amdgpu to check the system logs for any errors related to the AMDGPU driver.
Update the system and install the required packages: Run the command sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade to update the system and install the required packages.
Configure the driver: Create a new file in the /etc/modprobe.d/ directory and add the following lines:

options amdgpu modeset=1
options amdgpu radeon=1

Reboot the system: Run the command sudo reboot to apply the changes.
Verify the driver: Run the command sudo lspci -v | grep VGA to verify that the AMDGPU driver is working.

Q: How do I update the AMDGPU driver?

A: To update the AMDGPU driver, you can follow these steps:

Check for updates: Run the command sudo apt update to check for updates.
Install the latest driver: Run the command sudo apt install linux-headers-$(uname -r) build-essential dkms to install the latest driver.
Reboot the system: Run the command sudo reboot to apply the changes.

Q: How do I configure the AMDGPU driver?

A: To configure the AMDGPU driver, you can follow these steps:

Create a new file: Create a new file in the /etc/modprobe.d/ directory.
Add the configuration options: Add the following lines to the file:

options amdgpu modeset=1
options amdgpu radeon=1

Save and close the file: Save and close the file.

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues related to the AMDGPU driver on a Linux Mint system?

A: To troubleshoot issues related to the AMDGPU driver on a Linux Mint system, you can follow the same steps as above. However, you may need to use the sudo apt-get command instead of sudo apt.

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues related to the AMDGPU driver on a Ubuntu system?

A: To troubleshoot issues related to the AMDGPU driver on a Ubuntu system, you can follow the same steps as above.

Conclusion

In this article, we answered some of the most frequently asked questions related to the AMDGPU driver and provided tips on how to troubleshoot common issues. By following these steps, you should be able to troubleshoot and resolve issues related to the AMDGPU driver on your Linux system.

Additional Resources

For more information on the AMDGPU driver and how to troubleshoot issues related to it, you can refer to the following resources:

FAQs

Q: What is the AMDGPU driver?

Q: Why is the AMDGPU driver not working on my system?

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues related to the AMDGPU driver?

A: To troubleshoot issues related to the AMDGPU driver, you can check the system logs, update the system and install the required packages, and configure the driver to work with your system.