XPS 1340: Is it possible to disable the discrete on the hardware?

Hi!

I have a 1340 with the nvidia 9500m.
The thing is: I use Linux and I don't really care for the discrete card nor this whole SLI thing. I am fine with the 9400 only, but I got the laptop with the 9500 in a promotion and they only had this option.

As I use Linux and there's no support from nvidia to SLI, the discrete card even though useless consumes power lessening the battery life and running the computer warmer.

So.. is it possible to somehow disconnect the discrete card from the motherboard? Does anybody know anything about it?

Thank you very much!

 

I know for sure that you can't physically remove the discrete GPU, but there may be a BIOS switch to enable or disable it. Can't say much more than that; I don't actually own one of these.

 

Thank you very much for the feedback, but unfortunately there is no such option in the BIOS...
I read too somewhere that the card is soldered on the motherboard.. but I was hoping there was still a way to disable it.. a jumper, or a cable or.. well, I don't know..

Does anyone have a clue?

 

There is hope, that we can switch off the discrete card in the future. You can read more about it at http://linux-hybrid-graphics.blogspot.com/ . Currently it's highly experimental. I managed to compile kernel with graphic switching module, but it doesn't work yet.

 

This is based solely on the little research I have done on this laptop with Linux. So take it has such.

It is my understanding that this system always runs on the Integrated 9400GPU until hybrid SLI is enabled and I am not sure anyone has been able to succesfully enable SLI on linux with this laptop.

With that said it is my understanding that the Discrete card IS disabled unless you have figured out a way to turn it off. Some info can be found here:

http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=1966691

 

@yellowlt4: Yes you are right, the driver nvidia provides for Linux does not support activating/deactivating the discrete card so all we can do is use the integrated one. However, even though the discrete card can not be used by the software, it consumes power from the laptop. My battery on Windows, with the discrete card turned off, lasts for around 1.5 times more than on Linux.

@myoldryn: Yes, thanks! I am already aware of that. But sincerely I think it will take quite some time until nouveau adds support to Hybrid SLI, 3d graphics, etc...

I even messed up with Linux modules, trying to write one that would shut down the discrete card, but I couldn't get it working... so my last hope was that we could somehow disconnect the card physically...
I will try writing an e-mail to Dell suggesting a BIOS update adding the possibility to disable the discrete card, I don't know how difficult would it be for them to add such thing, and even though I am considerably skeptical that they'd actually take this in consideration, I think it's worth trying.

 

Got it!
I wrote about it on my blog: How to switch off XPS 1340′s discrete video card on Linux