Nvidia Optimus On Linux
Nvidia optimus technology intelligently optimizes your notebook pc providing the outstanding graphics performance you need when you need it all the while extending battery life for longer enjoyment.
Nvidia optimus on linux. Nvidia optimus is a technology that allows an intel integrated gpu and discrete nvidia gpu to be built into and accessed by a laptop. 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. What have you seen. Use nvidia graphics only gives more performance than intel graphics but drains more battery which is not welcome for mobile devices.
So i will try my best to explain how to properly use dedicated gpu s for avoiding performance issues. Nvidia optimus there are different methods to take advantage of the nvidia gpu which depend on the driver version supported by your hardware. 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.
Hybrid graphics on linux nvidia optimus intel amd hybrid graphics hi i thought there is a need for a guide on that topic. Many linux distributions don t specifically outline how to enable support for optimus. This utilizes the same underlying process as the optimus manager and nvidia xrun options it should be. There are several methods available.
This same technology is also the cause of linus torvalds infamous finger gesture directed at nvidia themselves. Use intel graphics only saves power because nvidia gpu will be completely powered off. Ubuntu 10 4 alsa iec958. This panel based applet even supports the nvidia prime offloading feature included in the latest nvidia 435 x linux beta driver and the nvidia 435 21 linux stable drivers both of which are now available in daily builds of ubuntu 19 10.
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. Nvidia hybrid graphics are a notoriously sore subject for linux users. In order to determine the correct driver to install it is not enough to look at the supported products list on nvidia s website because they are not guaranteed to work in an optimus configuration.