hybrid-graphics-linux team mailing list archive

[Albert Vilella <avilella@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Fri, Jul 15, 2011 at 4:28 PM, Leonardo Morelli <leonrm@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi all,
> now that I've upgraded to Kubuntu Maverick, I want to give Bumblebee a try, but I have some concerns... (maybe they could be included in a FAQ/guide?)
>
> (I've already sent the DSDT file.)
>
> My notebook is a Dell Vostro 3400 with Intel/nVidia GeForce 310M Hybrid graphics (afaik it does not support Optimus technology).
>
> 1. What is Bumblebee good for?

To offload graphics processing from a graphics-intense application,
for example, for 3D-accelerated applications or CUDA code to the
discrete GPU.

> 2. In what scenarios should I install Bumblebee?

If you are happy using the integrated card for day-to-day work, but
want to execute GPU-intense applications every once in a while. In
combination with a work ing acpi_call or switcheroo, you have the
benefits of higher battery life and hot switching on/off the GPU card
when needed.

> 3. Is it currently only for testing?

Lots of people use it every day. I do.

> 4. I have a hybrid graphics card (without Optimus technology), can I use the onboard and discrete card simultaneously or are they mutually exclusive?

You will be using it simultaneously when you call one or more
application with the "optirun" prefix. For example, you can call a
WebGL-enabled browser like chrome with "optirun google-chrome", and
the WebGL code will run through your GPU. You can simultaneously be
using it for games or other 3D-accelerated applications. The rest of
the applications, including the desktop windowing manager, will go
through the integrated card.

> 5. I have a hybrid graphics card (without Optimus technology), how do I (easily) tell my machine to use either the onboard or the discrete card? (i.e. Is there an applet to do this?)

Not really. Most successful cases involve telling your BIOS which card
to use when rebooting. It's called cold switching via the BIOS. If
your BIOS doesn't support it, you'll be using either one or the other.
For AMD pre-BACON cards, you can do login/logout switching in some
cases, either with switcheroo or Catalyst.

> 6. In order to use the HDMI and VGA ports, do I need to use the nVidia driver? (this may not apply but anyway...)

No, but depending on your specific hardware, the intel drivers may be
a bit crappy. If you have the option of choosing nVidia at BIOS time,
then you'll be able to use the nVidia through HDMI, but it depends on
the physical configuration of the laptop, AFAIK.

> 7. What is the recommended way to install Bumblebee: git or PPA? or other?

Both work fine. PPA is easier for Ubuntu 11.04, since it's only two
lines. The end result is the same on both.

> 8. Do I need to run jockey and install the nVidia driver before installing Bumblebee?

Bumblebee takes care of it all.

> 9. After installing Bumblebee, do I have to do anything else?

If you have a working acpi_call method, copy it from the
/usr/share/doc/bumblebee to the /usr/local/bin. For example, for an
Alienware M11x:

sudo cp /usr/share/doc/bumblebee/bumblebee-disablecard.alienware.M11XR2
/usr/local/bin/bumblebee-disablecard
sudo cp /usr/share/doc/bumblebee/bumblebee-enablecard.alienware.M11XR2
/usr/local/bin/bumblebee-enablecard

The bumbleble-disablecard-on-powerup should do the rest. In that way,
the card will be disabled up until the point when you call an
application with optirun. It'll switch back off when the last
remaining optirun application is closed.

>
> [10. I read somewhere that I had to add an x-swat repository to get newer nVidia drivers, is this necessary?]

Not sure about this one. The nvidia drivers that are linked to
bumblebee are the ones reported to work.

>
> Thanks!
> Leo
>
> ____________________________________________________________
> FREE 3D MARINE AQUARIUM SCREENSAVER - Watch dolphins, sharks & orcas on your desktop!
> Check it out at http://www.inbox.com/marineaquarium
>
> _______________________________________________
> Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~hybrid-graphics-linux
> Post to     : hybrid-graphics-linux@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~hybrid-graphics-linux
> More help   : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
>