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    Optimus technology and double booting...

    Discussion in 'Linux Compatibility and Software' started by scaevity, Oct 26, 2011.

  1. scaevity

    scaevity Newbie

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    I'm thinking of getting a new computer (Sager 5160 through xoticpc), which has an nVidia GT 540M graphics card and uses Optimus technology. I also want to double boot windows and linux.

    I know that linux does not play well with optimus, but I've also heard that it is possible to only use the integrated intel graphics and completely disable the nVidia stuff. What I'm wondering is, is it possible to set it up so that nVidia is completely disabled when I boot in linux (so it just uses the intel graphics and the nVidia part isn't draining the battery) and when I boot in windows it uses both (with Optimus)? Without having to do anything manually when I'm switching between the two, that is... I'm more than willing to put work into setting it up, just as long as I know beforehand that it is actually possible to do.

    I've also heard about the bumblebee project that is trying to support manual switching between the intel/nVidia components in linux. Does anyone have experience with how well this works (especially with the particular computer mentioned above and with double booting)?

    Thanks in advance for your help!
     
    scaevity, Oct 26, 2011
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  2. ALLurGroceries

    ALLurGroceries  Vegan Vermin Super Moderator

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    There is a kernel module called acpi_call that lets you turn off the card if it finds a supported method. That works, but it may have some odd side effects depending on how badly broken/out of spec your BIOS is.

    Most optimus systems have a setting in the BIOS to disable the discrete GPU and use integrated only. That is the safest way to use it with linux. You can ask other owners if the BIOS has this option, to be sure.

    I have no experience with bumblebee... so I can't comment there.
     
    ALLurGroceries, Oct 26, 2011
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