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I didn't realise the nVidia drivers are available from the Debian repo's? Assuming that's the case, these still are older drivers that (may) not work on modern hardware, so installing the latest nVidia driver using their installer does seem a good idea anyway...
I didn't realise the nVidia drivers are available from the Debian repo's? Assuming that's the case, these still are older drivers that (may) not work on modern hardware, so installing the latest nVidia driver using their installer does seem a good idea anyway...
If you need newer drivers just use the backports repository, that is what it is made for. Of course you are free to use NVdidia's drivers directly, but I would not recommend that to a newbie, for the reasons I already stated earlier in this thread: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...7/#post4723537
If there is a BIOS switch to force the nVidia GPU or disable optimus, its the easier way than using bumblebee. AFAIK the Dell XPS 15 L502x doesnt have that option.
Unfortunately, you are correct, that model doesn't have the option. SUPPOSEDLY there is a modded BIOS that adds it, however my understanding (having never actually taken the laptop apart) is that there is only 1 actual PHYSICAL connection to the LVDS port and it connects to the Intel IGP, which would make it impossible to disable Optimus while still using the onboard LCD.
I know that at least one of the Dell laptop models had a 'force nVidia/disable optimus' option that was deleted on later versions of the BIOS. Sorry, I cant remember the exact model number, but IIRC it was at least close to L502x.
If the modded BIOS is an older BIOS with the 'force nVidia/disable optimus' option, updated with newer code but keeping the 'disable' option it might be worth trying. If its just a modded standard BIOS, I wouldnt try it.
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