Optimus Laptop Audio Glitches when Powermizer is Auto

Graphics / Linux Linux
1

I have a Dell Inspiron 15 7000 (7590) with a GTX 1650.

I use PRIME, and the advanced power management documented here:
https://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86_64/435.17/README/dynamicpowermanagement.html

This setup works well: the Nvidia card remains in a low-power state except when required.

However, I experience audio glitches (buffer underruns) in pipewire and/or pulseaudio. These glitches disappear completely if I change the Powermizer setting to “Prefer Maximum Performance”, so the card remains at performance level 3.

I suspect the card is slow to release some lock or respond to some message on a shared bus due to the low power state. Is this a known problem?

nvidia-bug-report.log.gz (283.2 KB)

2

This is regular as clockwork, and I’ve found no solution other than to turn Powermizer to “Prefer Maximum Performance” to prevent intermittent system-wide micro-freezes, which are especially noticeable when playing audio. This workaround isn’t viable when I’m on battery power, though, as the GPU will eat my battery :(