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#1 2010-09-12 17:03:41

lost eden
Member
Registered: 2008-01-01
Posts: 62

Intel/nVidia hybrid graphics, Dell Vostro 3300

I have a Dell Vostro 3300 laptop with 'hybrid graphics' consisting of Intel graphics (built into the i5 processor) & an nVidia 310M. It is *not* nVidia Optimus. There is no option in the BIOS to disable either the Intel or nVidia graphics (I am running the latest BIOS). I want to run with the nVidia graphics 24/7; I have no interest in using the Intel graphics, as battery life & temperature aren't really that important to me.

Does anybody have any experience of getting hybrid graphics working in Arch? I have been perusing websites like http://linux-hybrid-graphics.blogspot.com/ & http://www.nvnews.net/ but there is so much information for so many laptops *other* than mine that I really don't know where to start!

Here is the output of some commands which I hope might be a start to ascertaining exactly what I need to do.

[root@reddawn acpi_call]# uname -a
Linux reddawn 2.6.35-ARCH #1 SMP PREEMPT Fri Aug 27 17:14:28 CEST 2010 x86_64 Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 CPU M 450 @ 2.40GHz GenuineIntel GNU/Linux
[root@reddawn ~]# lspci | grep VGA
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 18)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation Device 0a75 (rev a2)
[root@reddawn ~]# zgrep -i switch /proc/config.gz
CONFIG_VGA_SWITCHEROO=y
CONFIG_ASYNC_TX_DISABLE_CHANNEL_SWITCH=y
CONFIG_CONTEXT_SWITCH_TRACER=y
[root@reddawn acpi_call]# ./test_off.sh 
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P1.VGA._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB_.PCI0.OVGA.ATPX: failed
Trying \_SB_.PCI0.OVGA.XTPX: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P2.PEGP._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.MXR0.MXM0._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.PEG1.GFX0._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.PEG1.GFX0.DOFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.XVR0.Z01I.DGOF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.PEGR.GFX0._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.PEG.VID._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P2.DGPU._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.IXVE.IGPU.DGOF: failed
[root@reddawn vgaswitcheroo]# cat switch
0: :Pwr:0000:01:00.0
1:+:Pwr:0000:00:02.0

If I try doing 'echo DDIS > switch' (which should enable the discrete graphics) the output of 'cat switch' is still the same (I'm presuming here that the + symbol indicates which card is powered/active?) but when I try to start X afresh it freezes at a blank screen (so it's doing something at least) where I am unable to get out without a hard reset (though incidentally mpd keeps playing music, so I know it isn't killing the kernel).

Last edited by lost eden (2010-09-12 18:01:19)

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#2 2010-09-21 17:53:03

Saend
Member
From: France
Registered: 2008-05-25
Posts: 11

Re: Intel/nVidia hybrid graphics, Dell Vostro 3300

Same issue here.
Dell Vostro 3700. Nvidia gt330m.

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#3 2010-09-21 19:49:54

Jodell
Member
Registered: 2009-10-09
Posts: 285

Re: Intel/nVidia hybrid graphics, Dell Vostro 3300

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#4 2010-09-29 11:20:22

lost eden
Member
Registered: 2008-01-01
Posts: 62

Re: Intel/nVidia hybrid graphics, Dell Vostro 3300

Jodell wrote:

That won't work, it's a different situation. It's not a machine that has 2 graphics cards, both capable of being powered & outputting simultaneously via their own dedicated sockets (as in the case of a desktop computer with both an AGP graphics card & a PCI graphics card); it's a machine where there are 2 graphics cards that share the same sockets & can only operate independently of each other & have to be switched between hot.

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#5 2010-09-29 18:57:44

codycarey
Member
Registered: 2009-08-21
Posts: 154

Re: Intel/nVidia hybrid graphics, Dell Vostro 3300

Even though you didn't see anything directly related to the graphics cards in the BIOS there may still be something there. For instance I own an Asus UL30Vt which has a similar hybrid Intel/nVidia setup. The Intel works by default, but in order to get the nVidia going you have to change the SATA mode from Enhanced to Compatibility in the BIOS. You may need to do some experimenting.

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#6 2010-09-29 22:01:31

schen
Member
Registered: 2009-06-06
Posts: 468

Re: Intel/nVidia hybrid graphics, Dell Vostro 3300

It says to compile the DSDT.dsl file to file a bug report on the linuxhybrid blog.

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#7 2010-10-02 19:17:23

lost eden
Member
Registered: 2008-01-01
Posts: 62

Re: Intel/nVidia hybrid graphics, Dell Vostro 3300

My BIOS is defaulted to SATA mode but can be switched to IDE mode. It warns that this may brick your OS though, so I will have to wait until I have had time to image the disk before I change that & experiment.

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#8 2010-10-02 21:03:38

gorky
Member
From: Kraków, Poland
Registered: 2010-07-05
Posts: 96

Re: Intel/nVidia hybrid graphics, Dell Vostro 3300

As far as I remember, Vostro has no option to 'switch' the cards. Intel card is integrated into the CPU, but it is not possible to turn it on or off. So the laptop behaves rather like a single-card unit, always using the nVidia.

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#9 2010-10-02 21:08:52

lost eden
Member
Registered: 2008-01-01
Posts: 62

Re: Intel/nVidia hybrid graphics, Dell Vostro 3300

Nope. The laptop always boots using the Intel graphics & it is then up to the Operating System to trigger a hot switch to the nvidia graphics. When I boot the laptop into Windows 7 the screen goes black for half-a-second when it reaches the login prompt as this switch occurs. I can also set up the power-saving options in Windows 7 so that it switches from the nvidia graphics back to the Intel graphics whenever I disconnect the power.

This is not the same technology as nvidia Optimus, but it is nonetheless 'on-the-fly' or 'hot' switching.

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#10 2010-11-09 13:08:20

lost eden
Member
Registered: 2008-01-01
Posts: 62

Re: Intel/nVidia hybrid graphics, Dell Vostro 3300

In case any Googlers come across this thread, there has been a possible spark of hope on the Hybrid Graphics Linux mailing list;

I can confirm;

# ./test_off.sh
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P1.PEGP._OFF: works!


on my Dell Vostro 3300;

[root@reddawn cj]# dmidecode -s system-product-name
Vostro 3300
[root@reddawn cj]# dmidecode -s system-version
Not Specified
[root@reddawn cj]# lspci -vnnn | perl -lne 'print if /^\d+\:.+(\[\S+\:\S+\])/' | grep VGA
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:0046] (rev 18) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: nVidia Corporation Device [10de:0a75] (rev a2) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])

Likewise I don't know whether this is important, but I'm not giving up hope!

Regards,
CJ

On 11/06/2010 02:26 PM, Michele Taddei wrote:
> Hi everybody,
>
> I own a Dell Vostro 3500; after trying several random methods in the
> test_off.sh script (the standard ones didn't work), i got:
>
> # ./test_off.sh
> Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P1.PEGP._OFF: works!
>
> I can see battery discharges slower, too.
>
> I have absolutely no experience in kernel hacking, so maybe it's not
> interesting, but after running the script I can no longer load the
> proprietary nvidia module, which is good I think (obviously, there
> wasn't any problem before the execution of the script):
>
> # modprobe nvidia
> FATAL: Error inserting nvidia
> (/lib/modules/2.6.36/kernel/drivers/video/nvidia.ko): No such device
>
>
> Usual info:
>
> # dmidecode -s system-product-name
> Vostro 3500
>
> # dmidecode -s system-version
> Not Specified
>
> # lspci -vnnn | perl -lne 'print if /^\d+\:.+(\[\S+\:\S+\])/' | grep
> VGA
> 00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Core
> Processor Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:0046] (rev 18) (prog-if
> 00 [VGA controller])
> 01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: nVidia
> Corporation Device [10de:0a75] (rev a2) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
>
> Sorry for possible English errors!
>
> Michele
>
> _______________________________________________
> Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~hybrid-graphics-linux
> Post to     : hybrid-graphics-linux@lists.launchpad.net
> Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~hybrid-graphics-linux
> More help   : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp

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#11 2010-12-22 18:23:15

arnaldo.coelho
Member
Registered: 2005-01-28
Posts: 6

Re: Intel/nVidia hybrid graphics, Dell Vostro 3300

I don't know if this information will be usefull for a Vostro 3300, but i was able to make a full switch in a Vostro 3700, using "acpi_call", Dave Airlied code (drm-nvidia-switch), and these patches:
http://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/d … 06521.html
http://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/d … 06519.html
http://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/d … 06518.html

Using the compiled kernel, all i needed to do was:
modprobe acpi_call
echo "DIS" > /sys/kernel/debug/vgaswitcheroo/switch
echo "\_SB.PCI0.P0P1.PEGP.MXDS" > /proc/acpi/call
echo "\_SB.PCI0.P0P1.PEGP.MXMX" > /proc/acpi/call

The fb is in a low res, but xorg is working in the native resolution with nouveau.

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#12 2010-12-22 21:33:39

unknwn
Member
Registered: 2008-02-02
Posts: 35

Re: Intel/nVidia hybrid graphics, Dell Vostro 3300

I own asus u30jc which uses optimus. After recent kernel upgrade (i am not sure if its really kernel update who caused it) lspci doesn't show info about nvidia card anymore. However powertop shows lower power usage as if nvidia was turned off, while i didnt do anything to turn it off.  Before i used acpi_call to turn off nvidia card. However i have some random problems with power usage report, sometimes powertop shows much higher power usage while idling.

Last edited by unknwn (2010-12-22 21:34:34)

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#13 2011-02-15 03:30:51

firingme
Member
Registered: 2011-01-23
Posts: 17

Re: Intel/nVidia hybrid graphics, Dell Vostro 3300

lost eden wrote:

In case any Googlers come across this thread, there has been a possible spark of hope on the Hybrid Graphics Linux mailing list;

can anybody give some hints on whether Vostro 3300 can use nvidia card now ?

thx.

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#14 2011-02-15 15:41:17

lost eden
Member
Registered: 2008-01-01
Posts: 62

Re: Intel/nVidia hybrid graphics, Dell Vostro 3300

firingme wrote:

can anybody give some hints on whether Vostro 3300 can use nvidia card now ?

There is an acpi_call that is thought to power off the nvidia card, which will save you battery (see quote below) however as far as using the nvidia card is concerned I haven't read of any progress with the official nvidia driver; only nouveau works, which has fairly dismal performance & no vdpau AFAIK.

I also have to say that the ACPI_CALL method is working for this Vostro.

luisgls@luisgls-pc:~/acpi_call$ sudo insmod acpi_call.ko
luisgls@luisgls-pc:~/acpi_call$ ./test_off.sh
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P1.VGA._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P2.VGA._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB_.PCI0.OVGA.ATPX: failed
Trying \_SB_.PCI0.OVGA.XTPX: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P3.PEGP._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P2.PEGP._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P1.PEGP._OFF: works!


Im not sure what is doing but the battery life is increased from 2 hours to 3.

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