Nvidia Optimus revisited

malloc · 12-26-2011, 10:19 PM

I have a laptop with Nvidia Optimus (Asus X53SV), one Intel integrated graphics system and one Nvidia GT540M.

I have figured out how to successfully only use the Intel device, now I would like to determine how to use only the Nvidia device.

Even with the latest kernel (3.1.6) and the latest NVIDIA drivers, I get "(EE) No devices detected" from X when I attempt to start. I get the same error when I try the nouveau driver instead; only I get also "(EE) [drm] failed to open device" prior to the other error when I try the nouveau driver.

What can I do to make this work? I don't want to worry about switching between these two devices such as the experimental Bumblebee, VGA switcheroo and Asus switch thing should do, I just want to use the Nvidia device in X. How can I do that?

ponce · 12-27-2011, 12:48 AM

If you cannot set the nvidia card as the primary device in the bios (some models, actually a few, has this option), you simply can't now.
The only option for using the nvidia card seems to be this (not tried it myself, has I haven't such hardware)

https://github.com/jgeboski/Bumblebee-SlackBuilds

but if your platform (optimus) doesn't let you use the nvidia chip normally, I think you have to blame only nvidia (and maybe seek assistance there - EDIT: nvnews forum seems to be offline ATM).

That's why I spent lotta time in finding myself a new notebook without optimus

(but now it's profit time!

)

H_TeXMeX_H · 12-27-2011, 08:36 AM

I don't know if it is always possible (because other people say it doesn't work), but if you disable agpgart and all the intel i### drivers and install the nvidia drivers it should work. I think the main reason why it doesn't work is because of conflicts between the two drivers (nvidia vs intel). If you completely remove and disable one, the other should work, or at least I don't see any reason why it shouldn't. Nvidia might not support optimus, i.e. the system of changing GPUs at will, but it should still work with the card. My eeepc works this way, I disabled all intel drivers and installed the nivdia drivers and it works. It may not work for every laptop tho, but I would still try it.

adamk75 · 12-27-2011, 08:57 AM

H_TeXMeX_H, it definitely does not work with every laptop. In fact, I'd say that yours is likely an exception. Are you sure your eeepc even comes with Optimus and not some other multi-GPU technology?

With Optimus, the nvidia GPU is designed to send the output over the PCIe bus to the framebuffer of the integrated GPU since the display is hardwired to that GPU. Simply installing the nvidia drivers and not having any Intel drivers loaded should not be enough to make this happen.

H_TeXMeX_H · 12-27-2011, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamk75

H_TeXMeX_H, it definitely does not work with every laptop. In fact, I'd say that yours is likely an exception. Are you sure your eeepc even comes with Optimus and not some other multi-GPU technology?

With Optimus, the nvidia GPU is designed to send the output over the PCIe bus to the framebuffer of the integrated GPU since the display is hardwired to that GPU. Simply installing the nvidia drivers and not having any Intel drivers loaded should not be enough to make this happen.

Yeah it does have optimus, search this page for it, it is on there:
http://www.asus.com/Eee/Eee_PC/Eee_P...specifications

I didn't know about optimus when I bought it, but it seems to work with just the nvidia drivers and no intel drivers. It says it needs Window$ Premium for optimus to work, but it comes with Window$ starter and it says optimus doesn't work. Either way I have slackware installed on two of the ones I bought and it works.

If this doesn't work for other laptops then the only option is bumblebee/ironhide.

cascade9 · 12-27-2011, 10:04 AM

@ adamk75- H_TeXMeX_H has an Eee PC 1015PN, which says it has optimus. However, it comes with windows 7 starter, which does not support optimus. IMO the asus engineers made it into some odd switchable graphics version of optimus for the standard windows 7 starter edition Eee PC 1015PN.

*edit-

Quote:

Looks like I’ve forgotten one small detail on the newly shipping ASUS Eee PC 1015PN – Nvidia Optimus is only for Windows 7 Home Premium and the 1015PN comes with Windows 7 Starter, so no Optimus. You’ll notice that disclaimer mentioned on the 1015PN product page at ASUS. Blogeee, via a person who’s already bought one, has discovered in its place is ASUS GraphicsSwitch – an app for manually switching between the Nvidia ION GPU and integrated GMA 3150 graphics. Ok, that’s better than nothing right? Well like dual graphic notebooks of yesteryear, this feature requires a reboot to actually switch graphic gears. Makes me wonder how is Optimus is being disabled.. is it done through hardware or software?

http://www.netbooknews.com/11207/asu...itch-graphics/

H_TeXMeX_H · 12-27-2011, 10:42 AM

I see, well then these types of laptops have a higher chance of actually working. So, if it lists optimus as only working with Window$ premium, then there's a good chance it will work with Linux.

H_TeXMeX_H · 12-28-2011, 02:12 PM

There are some slackbuilds available for bumblebee, maybe try them:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ptimus-920930/

jimmy_page_89 · 12-28-2011, 02:20 PM

You have to see what's the address of your nvidia card.
See your lspci (and post it here)
Then edit your /etc/bumblebee/xorg.conf.nvidia and add

Code:

BusID "PCI:xxxxxx"

where xxxxxx it the address (it is like 01:00.0)

cascade9 · 12-28-2011, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H_TeXMeX_H

I see, well then these types of laptops have a higher chance of actually working. So, if it lists optimus as only working with Window$ premium, then there's a good chance it will work with Linux.

Being totally non-standard, there is no way of know if a laptop (or desktop even) that comes with windows starter and says 'optimus' will work the way your EEE PC does.

Its probably not incorrect, but non-standard can be a right pain in the butt. With bumblebee (etc) working fairly well now, I'd guess that it would be risker than the standard optimus setups...since its non standard, you never really know what odd tricks the engineers have pulled to make it work.