configuration snippets that enable 'best of both worlds' behavior for the Nvidia 2000M / Intel HD3000 combination:
- disable NVidia and work with the Intel GPU when on battery (no external monitor possible)
- power consumption is identical to a Quad-Core T520 (intel only) (15W w/ medium brightness and light usage)
- enable NVidia when external monitor is required (25-30W power consumption)
- optirun works
Note that I'm not doing anything demanding extraordinary GPU power. I could happily live with Intel-only if a T520 could handle more than 16GB memory.
Configuration has been tested on a recent up-to-date arch install with the following software installed:
- bumblebee 3.2.1
- nvidia 361.28-4 (nvidia-settings, nvidia-utils)
- xf86-video-intel 1:2.99.917+587+gc186d4d-1 (yes, that's the version as reported by pacman)
- bbswitch 0.8-44
The bin directory contains some scripts I use to automate switching between modes.
Using the scripts in the bin folder, I'm running with bumblebee service disabled,
because manual intervention is required anyway:
- you have to start
intel-virtual-outputafter NVidia card becomes active to be able to access the outputs wired to the nvidia card - you have to kill the second X Server running on the NVidia card before deactivating the driver
- so, just disable it:
sudo systemctl disable bumblebeed.service
- scyth's blog
- gave me hope and made me buy that W520 in the first place
- provides the - IMHO essential - hint to set
PMMethod=none - also important:
KeepUnusedXServer=true
- Arch Wiki
Option "UseEDID" "true"but I'm not sure that actually makes sense
xrandr --output VIRTUAL6 --autodoesn't select the highest available resolution.- explicitely request a certain mode
- mode names are strange
- the mode names (
VIRTUAL6.738-3840x2160) sometimes change, then the4kscript doesn't work - have to remember to call
mobileto turn off nvidia or else your battery runtime sucks