Questions about optimizing battery life and using hybrid graphics

moderndaytragedy · 2025-08-28 19:11:42

I have a asus px13 laptop with a nvidia dgpu running arch with kde.

I know there exist quite a plethora of options for both power and gpu management however i didnt have the best time using some of them (probably because i didnt set up stuff correctly).

Currently im using tlp for power saving and just configure gpus on a per application basis (like selecting the nvidia from blender settings directly). i tried tools like envycontrol and supergfxctl but i didnt get far (the first would only have one mode and the other would let me switch to integrated only but not back to hybrid). I also had issues with powertop auto tune messing with my network.

So what tools would you recommend? is tlp good enough or can i improve battery life further somehow? Do i need to set up nvidia prime or is there a way to pick gpus directly thru steam?

I only need the dgpu for blender and a few select steam games if there is a way to fully power it down for the rest of the time like u can on win with ghelper i would like to set that up.

Any advice appreciated thanks

Last edited by moderndaytragedy (2025-08-28 19:12:31)

seth · 2025-08-28 20:25:04

For the GPU specifically the normal prime setup - you've an Ada chip (assuming the journal from your other thread is relevant) what makes you eligible for https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/PRIME# … Management (should™ be default) and steam should™ pick up your GPU by default.
nb. that running/polling nvidia-smi will wake the GPU, so don't do that to monitor its status or so. Also if you've an external monitor attached to the GPU it cannot power down (because it has to feed the monitor)

Other than that: what does powertop actually pin as main battery consumer?

moderndaytragedy · 2025-08-28 21:01:40

idling it estimates 6-8 w discharge rate
how do i sort by power consumption?
also by external monitor attached to gpu u mean the laptops monitor or a hdmi connected monitor or something else?

seth · 2025-08-28 21:18:27

HDMI etc, the internal panel is typically wired to the IGP.

I'd assume that it's sortd by comsumption by default anyway, but you might want to generate a 10 minute html report w/ "-r -t600" ?

Arch Linux

#1 2025-08-28 19:11:42

Questions about optimizing battery life and using hybrid graphics

#2 2025-08-28 20:25:04

Re: Questions about optimizing battery life and using hybrid graphics

#3 2025-08-28 21:01:40

Re: Questions about optimizing battery life and using hybrid graphics

#4 2025-08-28 21:18:27

Re: Questions about optimizing battery life and using hybrid graphics

Board footer