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    AMD-Intel hybrid graphics issue with Linux

    Discussion in 'Linux Compatibility and Software' started by cyanide911, Jan 16, 2013.

  1. cyanide911

    cyanide911 Notebook Consultant

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    My Laptop is an HP DV6 6121tx with 2 GPUs: An Integrated Intel one and an AMD HD6770M.

    Now I just want to run Ubuntu on it without getting horrendous battery life and without it getting very hot after a few minutes; which is the case right now.

    My BIOS has 2 options regarding this: Fixed switching and Dynamic switching. In FIXED mode, in Windows, I could manually choose which GPU to run my system on. In DYNAMIC, in Windows, I could choose which apps would run on which GPU, switching was seamless.

    Now I don't mind running Linux on ANY of these modes, I don't even require my AMD GPU for anything, I just do some general coding on Linux here and there.

    So here's my question. What should I do to run my system on the Integrated Intel GPU? Very importantly please also mention that whatever method you suggest is for FIXED mode or DYNAMIC mode.

    I've come across a few guides for this around the Ubuntu Forums, but I tried two of those and both times my xserver crashed. So I'm asking here if other people have been successful with this. Thanks.
     
    cyanide911, Jan 16, 2013
    #1
  2. JOSEA

    JOSEA NONE

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    JOSEA, Jan 16, 2013
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  3. ALLurGroceries

    ALLurGroceries  Vegan Vermin Super Moderator

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    You probably want to use vga_switcheroo
     
    ALLurGroceries, Jan 16, 2013
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  4. dffx

    dffx Newbie

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    ALLurGroceries is right: vga_switcheroo is probably the best way to go.

    I'm running a Clevo P150EM right now with a 7970M; for gaming I'll always use Windows, but for work and other things I use Arch. Using the opensource drivers -- radeon kernel module (in Arch it's ati_dri and xf86-video-ati) -- you'll have the best compatibility, though performance will not be as good as the proprietary drivers. You'll also need the Intel drivers installed, of course.

    Note that even with the Radeon disabled and using the Intel graphics I'm still not getting as good battery life as I do in Windows; that said, I've still got some tweaks to perform to try and get the best I can get.
     
    dffx, Jan 17, 2013
    #4