Hi Gud day,

I would like to ask about if someone out here use an optimus technology laptop install the bumblebee package to enable to use the nvidia graphics card.

I just wondering on my optimus laptop which i install the latest ubuntu dist. which is 12.04 precise and update to kernel as of this date is 3.2.0-24.
Im using lucyd and bumblebee to access my paid graphics nvidia card. Before no bumblebee package install i can't use google-earth
or so called webgl on a browser. In my understanding the intel card can't handle high end application that required a high end card which is the purpose of the
nvidia. with bumblebee installed google-earth and webgl is a piece of cake. an any application that required extensive graphics. Now im confused since the default
installation of the precise 12.04 as of 2012-06-01, the google earth and webgl works fine, so does it mean the default install driver can used the nvidia or access the nvidia card.
Question:

1. I never found nvidia module/driver loaded when i run google-earth not like the bumblebee "optirun <apps>" so therefore what driver is the apps using?
2. Does the nouveau driver can access or used the nvidia card ( nouveau driver is opensource driver for nvidia right )
3. On the nouveau official website, its states that Optirun technology is not implemented yet. then maybe im wrong thinking nouveau driver is using the nvidia card?

Thanks And Best Regards.

1- Its probably using the intel video chip.

2- Not yet AFAIK.

http://nouveau.freedesktop.org/wiki/

Running nouveau on the newer GPUs that have optimus would be a major performance hit compared to the closed drivers anyway.

BTW, nouveau is NOT 'from nVidia'. nVidia doesnt provide any support, documentation or code to nouveau.

If you dont 'optirun xxxx' you will be using the intel video chip.

Thanks @cascade9: So what you are implying is that the new 12.04 fresh install on my optirun laptop is using the intel with a nouveau driver, As i check nouveau driver is loaded by default in 12.04 so it means nouveau driver is using my intel dipslay and not the nvidia. I thought in 12.04 with nouveau driver is using my nvidia card, since increased in perpormance since i can run the google-earth without installing bumblebee.

By the way thanks..

If you are using the intel video chip, you wont be using nouveau. Nouveau only runs on nVidia GPUs, not intel video chips. Try running-

glxinfo | grep OpenGL

I'd bet you will get typical intel readout (OpenGL vendor string: Tungsten Graphics, Inc, etc.)

If you install bumblebee but dont install the nVidia closed drivers, 'optirun XXXX' would probably use nouveau. Try ruuning 'optirun glxinfo | grep OpenGL' and you will probably get the nouveau readout.

If there is a difference between a 12.04 install and a post 2012-06-01 install (or updated) then the differnce is probably due to updates (there was some odd bugs in 12.04 including some related to graphics, maybe canonical has finally fixed some of them)

Thanks cascade9: Im late reading this msg since i must boot to lucyd my primary Dist not to precise(expiremental) to read this msg. before i read this msg i already install bumblebee and some odd observation i determine:
1. Nouveau module not loaded in default not like before i install bumblebee which is loaded by default.
2. glxinfo without optirun show something like what you said on "OpenGL vendor string: Tungsten Graphics, Inc, etc"
3. But google-earth run on intel (without optirun)
4. Using optirun, runnning some glx* show nvidia card info or simple nvidia card is now working.
5. Using optirun, nvidia module loaded "maybe your wrong on running optirun but using the nouveau driver and not the nvidia driver"

What i would like to know is if nouveau module is loaded by not using bumblebee then maybe my current 12.04 updated since 2012-06-03 using nouveau driver is using the nvidia card..

Maybe i will try to remove bumblebee and try the glxinfo command with nouveou module loaded, i missed this procedure to determine what graphics card are using before i installed bumblebee. Ive just confused since the nouveau is loaded and its purpose is for nvidia card right.

2+4- yeah, that is what should happen. Without optirun, you're using the intel video chip. Optirun XXXX will use nouveau, or the closed drivers if they are installed.

5- you must have install the nVidia closed drivers then.

If you dont install bumblebee (or have a BIOS switch to force the nVidia GPU) then you will only be able to use the intel video chip. Updating 12.04 will not make the nVidia chip work with nouveau or the closed drivers without bumblebee.