NVIDIA Has Major New Linux Driver: Optimus, RandR 1.4

[deanjo]

Yep, it sure does among of other things:
http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree8...Supportedd38df

Wouldn't doubt that this was a request put in for Valve. It might also mean better SLi support in linux in the future now that the first steps of per application optimizing has been implemented.

[DanL]

This: Nvidia GPU is always rendering everything, but its the blob so it has the right PM bits set and available so you'll get the same battery life (and performance) as if you just didnt have the intel card.

The intel GPU will still be active (it has to be because of the nature of Optimus), so I would expect slightly less battery life. However, this is definitely a great option when you're hooked to AC.

[Ericg]

Did anyone actually read the changelog? To quote:


This isn't proper Optimus support yet, it's for using the NVidia card *all the time* to render *everything*.

But with proper blob power management so its kind of the middleroad between no bumblebee and proper optimus support.

Bumblebee: intel driver does basically anything, select apps are run off the nvidia card, otherwise the card is off.

Proper Optimus: Seamless transition back and forth as needed

This: Nvidia GPU is always rendering everything, but its the blob so it has the right PM bits set and available so you'll get the same battery life (and performance) as if you just didnt have the intel card.

[Gusar]

Did anyone actually read the changelog? To quote:

Added initial support for RandR 1.4 Provider objects with the Source Output capability, which can be used to render the desktop on an NVIDIA GPU and display it on an output connected to a provider with the Sink Output capability, such as an Intel integrated graphics device or a DisplayLink USB-to-VGA adapter. See the README for details.

This isn't proper Optimus support yet, it's for using the NVidia card *all the time* to render *everything*.

[TheLexMachine]

I hope there's some power management stuffed somewhere in these new drivers or coming soon. I plan on buying a new Haswell notebook in the Fall and it will likely have Nvidia graphics since it's hard to get 1080p screens at 17-inches without a dedicated GPU in the configuration. Things are looking good!

[GreatEmerald]

Can I just point out the README clearly says the other device must use the modesetting driver? This means if you have an intel card you can't use the intel driver with it to enable nvidia optimus. For now this support is just useless. Bumblebee is simpler, even more if used with primus.

Huh? But Intel drivers have kernel modesetting.

[tuke81]

Does this mean we can force anti-aliasing/anisotropic filtering per-application now? That'd be cool.

Yep, it sure does among of other things:

http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86/319.12/README/profiles.html#ListOfSupportedd38df

[Serafean]

Can I just point out the README clearly says the other device must use the modesetting driver? This means if you have an intel card you can't use the intel driver with it to enable nvidia optimus. For now this support is just useless. Bumblebee is simpler, even more if used with primus.

I will be excited when I will see the same stuff they do on windows (so automatic swithing without user intervention and creative configurations). That said I hope this is a start..... a non exiting one.

Why should THEY do it? Here is an entire framework getting ready for crazy stuff, and they're still in their sandbox.
modesetting driver... Well someone's having a good laugh How the hell does it actually work? Right now it sounds as binding the X server to one PCI device would achieve the same thing. (Well, except that the display isn't connected to the nvidia GPU...)

Serafean

[Alliancemd]

Re

Torvalds' criticism was actual at the moment. And he explained why he said that.
It's not just pure hatred as Michael puts it...

[enrico.tagliavini]

Can I just point out the README clearly says the other device must use the modesetting driver? This means if you have an intel card you can't use the intel driver with it to enable nvidia optimus. For now this support is just useless. Bumblebee is simpler, even more if used with primus.

I will be excited when I will see the same stuff they do on windows (so automatic swithing without user intervention and creative configurations). That said I hope this is a start..... a non exiting one.