nvidia 555m in linux

RudraB · 01-27-2012, 10:54 AM

Dear friends,
I have a f16 machine:

Code:

$ uname -r
3.2.1-3.fc16.x86_64

It has a hybrid graphics:

Code:

$ lspci|grep vga
3:00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 09)
16:01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation GF106 [GeForce GT 555M SDDR3] (rev a1)

first, nvidia card is a surprise, as i never installed it in linux.(its dualboot and i installed it in windows. I don't know if this is possible).
Now my question: While I bought this machine 1 yr back, I was aware that nvidia optimus does not work on linux. But now, it shows in nvidia website that nvidia 555m for linux is available.
So, can I install it? Will it really help my graphics?

sadiqdm · 01-27-2012, 12:20 PM

Have a look here - http://www.nvidia.co.uk/object/linux...driver-uk.html

On the Additional Information page, there is a not about Optimus, and a link to a ReadMe with more info. You may need to have a look in your BIOS settings as well.

cascade9 · 01-28-2012, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by advanced

Dear friends,
I have a f16 machine:

Code:

$ uname -r
3.2.1-3.fc16.x86_64

It has a hybrid graphics:

Code:

$ lspci|grep vga
3:00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 09)
16:01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation GF106 [GeForce GT 555M SDDR3] (rev a1)

first, nvidia card is a surprise, as i never installed it in linux.(its dualboot and i installed it in windows. I don't know if this is possible).
Now my question: While I bought this machine 1 yr back, I was aware that nvidia optimus does not work on linux. But now, it shows in nvidia website that nvidia 555m for linux is available.
So, can I install it? Will it really help my graphics?

Installing the nVidia drivers on an 'optimus' setup (without a BIOS switch to force the nVidia GPU, or one of the projects designed to make 'optimus' work under linux)) will just break 'X' (aka the desktop)

You can install the nVidia drivers, after doing a fair bit of work to setup bumblebee. Some directions here (warning! I have no tried this myself, so I dont know it works)-

http://forums.if-not-true-then-false...php?topic=31.0

It will 'help' your graphics if you are running 3d programs, games, etc.. If you just use your laptop for normal desktop tasks, installing the nVidia driver wont help at all.

Lekensteyn · 02-01-2012, 12:09 PM

Those instructions are outdated. See http://wiki.bumblebee-project.org/Install-and-usage for generic installation instructions. The driver installation part is not included there though.

If the GT 555M happens to be a card in a Lenovo Ideapad Y470 or Y570, no driver will work because of https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=42696