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[Dave]

I have been trying for months to install any Linux distro on this desktop without success.

Specs: Cpu Ryzen 7 3700x

M/B: Rog Strix B550 -F Gaming

Ram: Corsair 16G DDR4

Graphics: Radeon RX 580

Psu: Evga 650

The machine boots from live usb ok but graphics are distorted and unreadable.

I doubt this is a hardware problem as Windows 11 runs perfectly but I want Linux on this

Desktop.

The build is just over a year old.

Grateful for any advice.

                          Dave

                           

[Dave]

I forgot to add the SSD is Kingston 250g m.2 nvme

                                                   Dave

[Mad Penguin]

Hi Dave,

Can you confirm a couple of details ...
I'm assuming the graphics display is distorted but the console looks Ok, is this right?
If so, can you confirm whether you're using the default x-server video driver, or whether you have the AMD Radeon drivers installed?
It looks a little bit like the default XORG driver may not explicitly support the RX580 chipset (it doesn't appear to be listed on my installation) so you might need to install the AMD drivers to make it work properly. 

Take a look here; https://amdgpu-install.readthedocs.io/en/latest/

[Dave]

Thank you for your reply Mad Penguin.

Not sure what you mean by Custom.

I could nerver get the Radeon drivers to install on a persistent live usb.

Today I tried booting Arco Linux from an external drive which I know works fine on my

intel desktop

Same result unreadable graphics 

[Dave]

A screenshot of the Arco Linux boot

[Dave]

A screenshot booting from Peppermint live usb

                                               Dave

[Mad Penguin]

Ok, interesting, the effect is what you might see if you were using a VGA cable that's only partially connected. As the default RADEON drivers included in the standard X server don't seem list your chipset at being explicitly supported, my guess would be that it's only partially supported - hence the problems you're seeing. If this is true, then I can see two options, either use another / supported (!) card, or, install the proprietary drivers from AMD/RADEON which do claim to explicitly support your chipset.

I use an NVIDIA driver with a similar sort of problem. Many years ago the support for multiple screens on the standard driver was poor, and performance wasn't great. As a result I always had to resort to installing the NVIDIA drivers once an installation was complete, in order to extract the full potential from my card. The drivers have improved over the years, but for performance I still tend to install the NVIDIA drivers. Your problems seem to be a little more severe, but could well be the same in principle.

[Dave]

Hi Mad Penguin thanks for your reply.

The monitor is connected on HDMI

Just had a thought....If I create a persistent live usb on my Intel I7 desktop and download the

Radeon drivers and then try booting it on the Ryzen 7 machine.  Could it work....?

Dave

[Mad Penguin]

Erm (!) well, if you install the RADEON drivers on a non-radeon system, they should install, I guess the question is whether the system will fall-back to the default driver when it finds it can't use the RADEON driver .. and the answer is that "it should". However, this is not the approach I would take. Drivers won't affect console mode, so after booting, hold down CTRL+ALT+F1 (three at the same time) and you should get a console, which should work fine. If you then log in as root using the default credentials for the live distro, you should be able to follow the RADEON instructions and install the drivers from the command line. Once complete, a reboot should bring it up with the new drivers .... (?)

Please note the repeated use of the word "should", graphics drivers come second only to printer re; unexpected issues.

[Dave]

Thanks again Mad Penguin.

Will keep at it.

                 Regards

                           Dave 

[Dave]

I did try another graphics card a GTX 550 TI.

Same result unusable graphics.

So I have decided to leave the Ryzen destop on Windows 11.

I will use my Intel desktop for Linux only.

                                            Dave   

[Mad Penguin]

Mm, as I say, over the years I've tried various manufacturers, I tend to stick with NVIDIA where possible, just because on balance these cards seem to deliver the best results vs being easy to work with. I too have had problems with RADEON cards, although I've also had some good results.
My only real concern historically was that NVIDIA drivers were proprietary, however looking at the news it does seem that (finally) NVIDIA have now or at least are in the process of Open Sourcing their Linux video drivers ...