Keeping the Screen Turned off While Getting Inputs

[Vladimir Dergachev]

On Sat, 26 Aug 2023, Ahmad Nouralizadeh wrote:

> I want to count the processor-initiated memory accesses. On my 4K display, a huge number of accesses originate from the iGPU and dedicated GPU. I want to exclude these accesses. The IMC counter can
> only track the dedicated GPU accesses. Therefore, I have to turn the screen off to exclude those originated from the iGPU.

Those accesses might not stop with just the display off - some 
applications may keep redrawing.

The simplest solution would be to boot to console mode with X off. The 
display will still work, but GPU usage would be minimal.

There is more than one console (usually), you can switch between them with 
Alt-F1, Alt-F2, etc..

There are also ways to restrict profiling to a single process,
like "perf top -p 12345".

best

Vladimir Dergachev

> 
> On Saturday, August 26, 2023, 08:10:15 PM GMT+4:30, Dave Howorth <xorg at howorth.org.uk> wrote:
> 
> 
> On Sat, 26 Aug 2023 15:28:52 +0000 (UTC)
> Ahmad Nouralizadeh <ahmadnouralizadeh at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> > I need to run a set of (graphical) benchmarks with the screen
> > disabled.
> 
> 
> Can I ask why? What is you're trying to accomplish? Somehow affect the
> benchmarks? Stop people seeing the benchmarks being performed?
> 
> And what is the benchmark measuring? Elapsed time or CPU time or what?
> 
> Turn the display off and run the benchmarks by ssh-ing in from another
> machine?
> 
>