hybrid-graphics-linux team mailing list archive

[Eric Appleman <erappleman@xxxxxxxxx>]

On 06/18/2011 12:23 AM, Eric Appleman wrote:
> Here comes a new challenger!
>
> http://www.rage3d.com/articles/amd_powerxpress4_asif_rehman_interview/
> http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-PowerXPress-4-0-aka-BACON-vs-Nvidia-Optimus.55204.0.html
>
>
> Same deal as Optimus: A GPU wired through an IGP. No mux.
>
> First laptops featuring this seem to be the Dell Vostro 3550 (6630M) the
> HP dv6/dv7 (6490M?/6770M). The BACON driver situation for Sandy+Radeon
> on Windows is currently being documented and there have been some
> switching problems for the HP laptops.
>
> On the AMD+Radeon side of things, almost nothing is known about BACON.
> An upcoming Llano laptop (1 of 11) from HP is apparently going to be a
> beast. A 6750M+6520G Hybrid Crossfire and dynamically switching laptop.
>
> Current fglrx support for PowerXpress, radeon, or vga_switcheroo are
> said not to work in enabling the discrete GPU for any meaningful use.
>
> Given this, there will be a need for data collection tools and possibly
> new scripts (call it BaconBits or extend Bumblebee).
>
> - Eric
btw, here's amd's take on linux support

http://www.amd.com/us/products/technologies/switchable-graphics/Pages/supported-products-dynamic.aspx

"AMD Dynamic Switchable Graphics technology requires either an AMD “A” 
series APU or an Intel processor, plus an AMD Radeon™ discrete graphics 
configuration and is available on Windows® 7 Professional, Windows® 7 
Ultimate, Windows® 7 Home Premium, and/or Windows® 7 Home Basic OS. 
Linux OS supports manual switching which requires restart of X-Server to 
switch between graphics solutions. With AMD Dynamic Switchable Graphics 
technology, full enablement of all discrete graphics video and display 
features may not be supported on all systems (e.g. OpenGL applications 
will run on the integrated GPU or the APU as the case may be)."

do note that there is apparently no opengl support on the dedicated gpu 
and that manual switching should work

accordingly, i'm confused

- eric