Linux GPU Switching For Apple's MacBook Pro, Revised

[phoronix]

Phoronix: Linux GPU Switching For Apple's MacBook Pro, Revised

For those running Linux on Apple MacBook Pro laptops that have both Intel HD Graphics and a discrete NVIDIA GPU, there's new patches underway for proper GPU switching support...

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Linux-MacBook-GPU-Switching

[horizonbrave]

excuse my ignorance, but please which game is showing in the background of that picture, on the monitor behind the MacBook, to the left?
thanks!

[tomtomme]

excuse my ignorance, but please which game is showing in the background of that picture, on the monitor behind the MacBook, to the left?
thanks!

looks like http://www.warsow.net/media

[Michael]

Yes, it's PTS Warsow benchmark.

[GreatEmerald]

Huh, they use a hardware muxer, that's rare.

And hey, just today I was looking at the current state of switchable graphics. Looks like when it comes to AMD hardware, all you need to do is to launch things you want accelerated with a PRIME variable correctly set to indicate a desire for faster graphics, and that's it. Neat!

[Ericg]

Huh, they use a hardware muxer, that's rare.

And hey, just today I was looking at the current state of switchable graphics. Looks like when it comes to AMD hardware, all you need to do is to launch things you want accelerated with a PRIME variable correctly set to indicate a desire for faster graphics, and that's it. Neat!

According to... I think it was David Airlie*:

Got a mac? Uses a hardware muxer for Optimus
Got a vista-era PC? Uses a hardware muxer for Optimus.
Got a Win7-era PC? ... Could be hardware mux, could not be
Got a Win8-era PC? Probably doesn't have a hardware muxer

*Conference talk he gave a couple years ago

[ruthan]

Technically its interesting, but needs full application layer abstraction for just switch GPU during gameplay, and its now possible with usual hacks in code for different GPU.. So its not possible even on Windows.

I see more simple solution, without duplicate HW, simply shutdown GPU cores and hugely underclock discrete GPU to integratedGPU power budget.

[reed1]

Yes Please,

For what kernel will this be merged ? or any specific intel / driver / kernel module ?? This will be helpful as I don't have to reboot to OSX, set graphic card, reboot to Linux again just to change from intel to nvidia. I'm using macbook 11,3 I'd like to hear the update, thanks