The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Disable Discrete GPU - Only use Integrated?

    Discussion in 'Linux Compatibility and Software' started by DeeVu, Aug 15, 2011.

  1. DeeVu

    DeeVu That Compsci/Psych Major

    Reputations:
    440
    Messages:
    1,062
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Hey Guys,

    I'm new to Linux and figured it'd be a nice way to expand my OS knowledge before starting my Computer Science course work next semester (starting in a week).

    I've been trying to learn most of it the best I could but I've been having a problem with my first "goal."

    My laptop is running Wubi Ubuntu 11.04.

    So here's what I am doing and what I've done so far.

    I want to disable my Discrete Graphics card and only run on my Integrated card.
    So through research I came upon the vga_switcheroo commands (I do not even know if this applies but it seemed right).

    I used sudo to apply the following:

    1. echo IGD > /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch
    this is done to connect the integrated card

    2. echo OFF > /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch
    To turn off the GPU that is now disconnected

    I have not noticed change in predicted battery life so I assume something I did was wrong. Again I've learned all I could from scratch and am now hoping you all can help me out :)

    Once I get this done I'd also like to know to verify that my cards have been correctly turned on and off as well as be able to have my computer boot into Linux with these settings.

    Am I on the right track? Any advice? Thanks for any and all advice that can be given.
     
    DeeVu, Aug 15, 2011
    #1
  2. Thaenatos

    Thaenatos Zero Cool

    Reputations:
    1,581
    Messages:
    5,346
    Likes Received:
    126
    Trophy Points:
    231
    There is a script somewhere for the m11x, cant remember where though. Sadly its either switchable or discrete in bios.

    Here is a NBR linux     on m11x thread. Not sure if it will have what you need, but might have some good info and links at least.
     
    Thaenatos, Aug 15, 2011
    #2
  3. DeeVu

    DeeVu That Compsci/Psych Major

    Reputations:
    440
    Messages:
    1,062
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    55
    That deals with the first revision of the m11x Which doesn't use optimism the r2 and r3 models use nvidia optimus.
     
    DeeVu, Aug 15, 2011
    #3
  4. Sxooter

    Sxooter Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    747
    Messages:
    3,784
    Likes Received:
    8
    Trophy Points:
    106
    vga_switcheroo doesn't work with nvidia optimus, lookup bumblebee
     
    Sxooter, Aug 16, 2011
    #4
  5. ALLurGroceries

    ALLurGroceries  Vegan Vermin Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    15,730
    Messages:
    7,146
    Likes Received:
    2,343
    Trophy Points:
    331
    ALLurGroceries, Aug 16, 2011
    #5
  6. Sxooter

    Sxooter Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    747
    Messages:
    3,784
    Likes Received:
    8
    Trophy Points:
    106
    Interesting. I didn't know it could do that. Does acpi_call also work? It seems like it lowers my power usage more on my laptop with an ATI card, but suspend is broken when using it.
     
    Sxooter, Aug 16, 2011
    #6
  7. DeeVu

    DeeVu That Compsci/Psych Major

    Reputations:
    440
    Messages:
    1,062
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Thanks for that thread. I'll look into it :)
     
    DeeVu, Aug 16, 2011
    #7
  8. ALLurGroceries

    ALLurGroceries  Vegan Vermin Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    15,730
    Messages:
    7,146
    Likes Received:
    2,343
    Trophy Points:
    331
    Oops I confused the two, it's acpi_call not switcheroo. But the effect is the same. :)
     
    ALLurGroceries, Aug 16, 2011
    #8