Precision M4700 Optimus Question

Sorry for a new topic, I searched but I found all sorts of conflicting information.

For the screen part number : DC9YJ LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY, 15.6FHD, WLED, AG, LEGEND
Processor : i7-3740QM
GPU : K2000M

Will I be able to select in BIOS or drivers or any other way:

1. Run Integrated Graphics Only?
2. Run Discrete Graphics Only?
3. Let the OS decide based on the use case?
4. Do answers 1 to 3 change if I plan to run any popular flavor of linux?

Thank you! I will continue searching for answers.

 

In the BIOS you have two options...

OPTIMUS ON (Both Intel GPU and NVIDIA GPU enabled, Intel GPU drives internal display + VGA, NVIDIA drives others)
OPTIMUS OFF (Only NVIDIA GPU enabled, NVIDIA GPU drives all displays)

When Optimus is ON, in Windows, you can set which GPU controls which apps in the NVIDIA control panel. The default behavior is to let the NVIDIA driver decide but you can set a default GPU and override on an app by app basis. I set mine to run all apps on the Intel GPU unless I specifically override.

On Linux no clue. When the M4700/M6700 were first released it was pretty much impossible to use Optimus on Linux. Not sure how much it has improved.

 

Thanks.

I just want to achieve this effect:

When I'm not using it for heavy-lifting grunt-work, I want to set the laptop to save energy by turning off the discrete GPU for nicer battery life.

And then use the discrete GPU when I do want to do the heavy grunt-work.

I don't mind having to switch the options in BIOS each time I want to switch modes.

I understand that Optimus, by definition, is trying to achieve this same effect, but is not very good at it.

I'm wondering if enabling Optimus still allows the discrete GPU to suck on power.

Thanks again!

 

Again, not sure how it works under Linux. I imagine the NVIDIA GPU will be powered off if you don't load a driver for it.

On Windows, the NVIDIA GPU is powered off when not in use.

 

Thanks for that. Sounds like it should meet my needs.