Nvidia Optimus Mx Linux

First what you need to understand is that nvidia optimus doesn t have 2 gpus only 1 although it has 2 modes.

Nvidia optimus mx linux. The driver i m using on device manager is xserver xorg video nouveau. Nvidia hybrid graphics are a notoriously sore subject for linux users. For this to work i used a fresh instalation of linux mint 17 1 and then installed all the updates. Many linux distributions don t specifically outline how to enable support for optimus.

One is mainly used for common tasks like reading email so. Use nvidia graphics only gives more performance than intel graphics but drains more battery which is not welcome for mobile devices. If you re using nvidia optimus on linux you switch between discrete and integrated graphics using the mate optimus utility. For those unaware nvidia optimus is a technology that allows integrated intel graphics and a discrete nvidia graphics card to be built into the same computer generally a laptop and switch between the two on demand.

This utilizes the same underlying process as the optimus manager and nvidia xrun options it should be. Before i start getting into the meat of the guide i want to mention that this guide is being written with arch linux or it s derivatives in mind. Use intel graphics only saves power because nvidia gpu will be completely powered off. There are several methods available.

As a result many laptop owners with both an intel gpu and nvidia gpu don t have it enabled and don t know the first thing about getting it working. So it s no secret that nvidia optimus technology has a somewhat.