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Questions tagged [optimus]

For driver, software, configuration, and hardware compatibility questions related to NVIDIA Optimus GPU switching technology.

NVIDIA Optimus technology is a feature in many newer laptops with NVIDIA discrete GPUs that allows the system to dynamically and automatically switch to the discrete GPU when running graphics-intensive applications such as games, while reducing power consumption and extending battery life for everyday use. It works by passing the discrete GPU's output through the integrated GPU already present in most processors, allowing the discrete GPU to be enabled or disabled as appropriate while leaving most lighter graphical rendering tasks to the integrated GPU.

Use this tag for driver, software, configuration, and hardware compatibility questions related to NVIDIA Optimus technology.

More technical information on how Optimus works is available in the official NVIDIA whitepaper.

92 questions
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Use NVidia GPU from VirtualBox?

How do I make the VirtualBox guest use the NVidia graphics? Host setup: Windows 7 x64 NVidia Optimus In NVIDIA Control Panel, I explicitly selected High-performance NVIDIA processor for: C:\Program Files\oracle\VirtualBox\VirtualBox.exe …
feklee
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How to disable NVIDIA Optimus on a Dell XPS 15?

I've got a new Dell XPS 15 (L502x) with an NVIDIA GeForce 540M, Intel Core i7Q 2.2 Ghz, and Crucial RealSSD hard drive. As with most laptops with NVIDIA cards these days, it's got the "Optimus" feature, which switches between the integrated Intel HD…
Fopedush
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How to run Google Chrome with NVIDIA card (Optimus)?

How can I tell NVIDIA Optimus to always run Google Chrome on my NVIDIA (rather than Intel) card? The "Run with graphics processor: NVIDIA" option doesn't seem to have any effect, and NVIDIA for some reason seems to disable it in the control panel:
user541686
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How do I list which applications are currently using the discrete GPU?

I'm (as far as I know) not currently using any graphically intensive applications that needs the discrete GPU, but the keyboard icon that signifies that the discrete GPU is being used is flashing on and off (though staying on most of the time). I've…
Hubro
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How to force my laptop to use the discrete GPU?

My laptop (Asus X7BSV) is stuck using only the integrated GPU. It has a nVidia GT540M as well, but I cannot get it to work. I am using a Windows 7 x64 with latest drivers. This occurred after I attached an external USB monitor I need for work, and…
SinisterMJ
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Failing to load libGL.so.1 after installing bumblebee

I am running Linux Mint 15 64bit. My laptop has a Geforce 640M Optimus card, so I installed bumblebee according to the installation instructions (Basic Setup). Using optirun to run programs (e.g. Steam) works as intended. However, certain programs…
feob
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Laptop + 2 Displays Issue

I'd like to extend the display of my ASUS N53SV-SZ038V to two external monitors. The laptop has one HDMI output and one VGA output. I have each connected to an external monitor. The problem is that it only allows two displays to show at a time…
T31
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Nvidia control panel alternative

There was a software which allows the user to edit per-executable nvidia settings and allows user to unlocks old applications to use the nvidia graphics instead of Intel GPU. Can you give me names of software which does that?
Uğur Gümüşhan
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vga-passthrough with kvm/qemu on optimus-capable laptop

i have an asus n550jv laptop with the following output from lspci -nn | grep "VGA|3D": 00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation 4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:0416] (rev 06) 01:00.0 3D controller…
erp
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How can I disable the NVIDIA Optimus chip?

To this question, it may sound like there are a lot of confliction with this question already, well... let me explain first: Ubuntu 11.04 - disable NVIDIA graphics card -- To this, I am using Arch and it does not seem like arch has the…
milo64
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Downsampling on Nvidia Optimus (with Intel HD Graphics 3000)

What this is about The question behind the question is actually how to place four virtual machines with 800x600 resolution on a screen smaller than 1600x1200. I am trying to enable split screen Battlefield 2 gaming on my gaming laptop (yes, with…
WabbitSeason
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How to adjust overscan with new Intel Graphics Command Center?

I was able to adjust the overscan with the old Intel Control Panel, but now I can't since there is no option for this in the new Intel Graphics Command Center.
user1050331
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NVIDIA Optimus: Find out what is using my laptop's discrete GPU

My laptop has NVIDIA Optimus technology, which seamlessly switches between the integrated graphics and NVIDIA discrete GPU to provide an optimal balance between battery life and performance. There is an LED indicator on my laptop that indicates when…
bwDraco
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Is Intel/Nvidia Optimus technology supposed to switch instantly between GPUs?

I have a brand new Sony Vaio Flip 15, and it takes at least 1 second to switch between GPUs, during which time my screen goes off. Is this expected? Or should the switch be instant and happen between frames? Suppose I don't know anything about…
trusktr
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How can I use Optimus to render Youtube only when plugged in?

I have a laptop with an Nvidia Optimus card. I'd like to use the discrete graphics to render Youtube videos when I'm plugged in, but I want to switch back to integrated graphics on battery power. So far, the only way I can think of to make Youtube…
cpast
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