hybrid-graphics-linux team mailing list archive

[Albert Vilella <avilella@xxxxxxxxx>]

I've edited the text in the
https://launchpad.net/~hybrid-graphics-linux page to better reflect
the current status:
---------------
STATUS:
There is support for most ATI/Intel hybrid configurations via the
vga_switcheroo code and open-source graphics drivers (2.6.35 onwards).

There is ongoing work to support Nvidia Optimus/Intel hybrid
configurations for nouveau drivers:
http://airlied.livejournal.com/74176.html

Switching for Nvidia/Intel configurations via a reboot can be achieved
for specific laptop models / BIOS versions. The acpi_call module helps
in switching off the discrete graphics card while Linux loads through
the Intel chipset. Only specific laptop models are able to switch to
pre-Windows7 "compatible" BIOS mode so that the OS can see the nvidia
graphics card. This is the only way to load the nvidia binary drivers
so far.
------

Maybe we could go through the mailing list and take note of the
laptops that can have the nvidia binary drivers working. I know the
latest Asus U30, U33, U43, U53 models  can do that, using the
"compatible" BIOS option, and the Sony Vaio z-series models have a
similar system, but there are more models out there that have this
pre-Windows7 mode.

Comments?

On Mon, Dec 20, 2010 at 12:31 PM, Nuno Lourenco <nlourenz@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> And it is, on Nvidia foruns:
> http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=2183477#post2183477
> "We have no plans to support Optimus on Linux at this time."
> Besides, a quick google about it will show a lot of people talking about the lack of optimus suport on linux, even on linux distributions specific foruns and Wikis.
>
> Optimus is very "new", and developing is being made to try to suport Optimus on linux, but that require a lot of changes, even on XOrg.
> I think the true problem is people buying these laptops (or whatever) running optimus, and assuming that it will work on linux because the great drivers for other GPUs. A quick check on nvidia drivers would show that it is not true. But most people prefer to ask on a forum or a mailing list and save the "work" to use a search engine to find the answer.
> But yes, maybe someone with access may put that message somewhere relative to this mailing list :) that would save a lot of emails about it I guess.
>
>
> On Mon, Dec 20, 2010 at 12:17 PM, Michal Kottman <k0mpjut0r@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>> On Mon, 2010-12-20 at 10:14 +0000, Nuno Lourenco wrote:
>> > Hi David,
>> >
>> > It is simple as this. You don't.... Until now, as far I know, there is
>> > no way to use the Nvidia GPU on 1215n (or any other similar Optimus
>> > platform) on anything else but Windows 7.
>> >
>> > Other thing, as far as I noticed you are reading badly
>> > the /proc/acpi/battery/BAT0/state, if you see it well, you are
>> > "charging" the laptop, the increase of mA that you see is actually the
>> > "charging rate", if it increased that means that is working Ok :)
>> > Because it is waisting less energy so it is able to charge quicker,
>> > got it? :)
>>
>> Perhaps it should be stated somewhere more obviously (maybe in big
>> letters? :) that Optimus doesn't work. Maybe something like this:
>>
>> "Optimus does not work on Linux (yet). Meanwhile, you can save the
>> battery by using acpi_call to turn your (unused) discrete GPU off."
>>
>>
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>
>
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