No support for NVIDIA Optimus on Linux

[ALLurGroceries]

NVIDIA has no plans for Optimus support in their binary blob drivers for Linux:

We have no plans to support Optimus on Linux at this time.

Source: http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/show...77#post2183477

There are architectural problems with the X.org server implementing Optimus:

... there is no way without a major rearchitecture of the X.org and DRI stacks we can support optimus anytime soon.

Source: http://www.mail-archive.com/hybrid-g.../msg00007.html

That isn't to say new Optimus machines won't run Linux at all, just that they will probably only be able to use integrated graphics, since the actual video output is handled with a single multiplexer on the Intel IGP (previous switchable graphics implementations used a switch to select the mux).

Further reading: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Nvidia-...0.html#c379533

Nouveau may someday support Optimus, but as of yet there has been no discussion on their mailing list so this is mere speculation. There is no mention of any change that would allow X.org to support Optimus in the upcoming 1.9 release.

[ChivalricRonin]

Ugh.Facepalm. Here I was hoping at best we'd be able to get it "stuck" in discrete graphics mode, similar to how older switchable graphics worked. I had a bad feeling about Optimus, knowing that there had to be a software component to the switching, as opposed to the older days when you flipped a physical switch.

If Nvidia is pushing adoption of Optimus, they should at very least write their binary blob in such a way to favor the discrete graphics alone. This "amazing new technology" ensures that your high powered discrete card in a brand new notebook is simply junk, if you don't run Windows? I hope that's not the case.

[ALLurGroceries]

Yeah not very inspiring, the mux problem (no physical switch or BIOS interface like previous implementations) and NVIDIA's lack of support pretty much sum it up.

Here are a couple of posts on Ubuntu forums:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1420377
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1418935

NVIDIA's Optimus whitepaper (pages 14-19 in specific):
http://www.nvidia.com/object/LO_opti...itepapers.html

[jasperjones]

It sure look you know a lot more about this than me.

Just wanted to note that someone over at Anandtech installed Ubuntu 9.04 on an Optimus laptop upon my and other readers' request. Apparently installation was flawless. However, Ubuntu only used the IGP and not the dedicated GPU.

[ChivalricRonin]

I think its important that every Linux user petitions NVidia as best as possible to include proprietary support for Optimus, even if it is "just" supporting the discrete graphics card like it was the only one installed. Optimus is, as far as notebooks are concerned, Nvidia's big push. They're just renaming and rebranding the cards themselves; not making any great strides in performance or technical aspects, so this is their "baby". Since so many people focus on battery life, OEMs find Optimus enticing and its showing up in just about every major laptop that isn't made for "gaming", these days. All these notebooks are going to be nigh useless for Linux users.


It will be very, very interesting to see what the next MacBook Pros use for graphics. If they use Optimus based Nvidia cards, that means that they SHOULD be able to create workable Linux support. If they use discrete only Nvidia, that will be interesting. Apple folks have gotten used to switchable graphics after all. Then again, (this is likely my preference) they could always go back to the ATI cards that the Pro models of old used instead!

NVidia had a commanding lead in Linux support 5 years ago, but they've been slipping big time, while ATI has been working hard to make up for their deficiencies. I'd much rather buy a laptop that runs on a powerful ATI 58xx/57xx and have the option of the "ati" open source driver and Catalyst, even if it takes a little more work to get up and running perfectly, than buy Nvidia and be left with a useless husk of Optimus.

[ALLurGroceries]

Dug up some more stuff, looks like there is some work in the right direction where X.org is concerned, but this is using an ATI card, which is completely different. However the same person is talking in an IRC log about Optimus.

http://airlied.livejournal.com/71734.html via http://wiki.x.org/wiki/SummerOfCodeIdeas#line-132

IRC log: http://people.freedesktop.org/~cbril...2010-03-07.log

Here's a small group of people signing up to volunteer for debugging: https://launchpad.net/~hybrid-graphics-linux and http://www.doodle.com/63fyczzrxqaquhqx

There is a Phoronix article with a forum thread but there is nothing of worth there, and the forum thread has nothing noteworthy.

That's all I have dug up for now. I've searched Ubuntu/Arch/OpenSuSE/Debian forums with nothing good turning up, but if you are interested in this please do post any links that I haven't already posted if they contain useful info.

Edit: There's an article on Ars about graphics switching in the new MBPs released today (4/13/2010): http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/20...-switching.ars

Edit 2: reg hw is reporting that the new MBPs have multiplexers, so that would mean it's NOT like Optimus but more like the older (2nd-generation) software switchable graphics. See: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2010/04...ching_macbook/

[fnord0]

lotsa great information in this thread! +rep

[ALLurGroceries]

Was just browsing nvnews for an unrelated reason and saw this:

We currently do not have plans to support display on Optimus systems where the display is connected to the Intel hardware, but as you said, it's something we'll probably end up having to look into in the future, to at least provide some basic display sharing. I can't promise anything, though.

Source: No Optimus support means NO Nvidia at all or no dynamic switching? - nV News Forums

[nando4]

Optimus uses WIn7 apis to clone the data across to the IGP. For them to do the same under Linux would be a stack of work for likely a much smaller customer base. I think commercially it wouldn't make sense for them.

Meaning users who want need accelerated graphics under Linux consider a system with discrete, hybrid (switchable) graphics OR use a DIY ViDock.

[ALLurGroceries]

I'm assuming you didn't bother reading the thread.

There are a lot of very unhappy ASUS UL series owners who prefer to run Linux. Optimus is becoming more and more common, for them to not support it ever will be a mistake, since it will cause ill will towards the brand. Otherwise their Linux support is decent. Here's to hoping for a pointy-haired revelation.