42403EG ThinkPadT520

Method (_PS0, 0, NotSerialized)
{
If (ISOP ())
{
If (DGOS)
{
\VHYB (0x02, 0x00)
Sleep (0x64)
\VHYB (0x00, 0x01)
Sleep (0x0A)
Store (0x01, \_SB.PCI0.LPC.PCRS)
Store (0x01, \_SB.PCI0.LPC.PCRQ)
Sleep (0x64)
\VHYB (0x02, 0x01)
Sleep (0x01)
\VHYB (0x08, 0x01)
Store (0x0A, Local0)
Store (0x32, Local1)
While (Local1)
{
Sleep (Local0)
If (\LCHK (0x01))
{
Break
}

Decrement (Local1)
}

Store (0x00, \_SB.PCI0.LPC.PCRQ)
\VHYB (0x04, 0x00)
\SWTT (0x01)
Store (Zero, DGOS)
}
Else
{
If (LNotEqual (VSID, 0x21D117AA))
{
\VHYB (0x04, 0x00)
}
}

\VHYB (0x09, \_SB.PCI0.PEG.VID.HDAS)
}
}

Method (_PS1, 0, NotSerialized)
{
Noop
}

Method (_PS2, 0, NotSerialized)
{
Noop
}

Method (_PS3, 0, NotSerialized)
{
If (ISOP ())
{
If (LEqual (\_SB.PCI0.PEG.VID.OMPR, 0x03))
{
\SWTT (0x00)
\VHYB (0x08, 0x00)
Store (0x0A, Local0)
Store (0x32, Local1)
While (Local1)
{
Sleep (Local0)
If (\LCHK (0x00))
{
Break
}

Decrement (Local1)
}

\VHYB (0x02, 0x00)
Sleep (0x64)
\VHYB (0x00, 0x00)
Store (One, DGOS)
Store (0x02, \_SB.PCI0.PEG.VID.OMPR)
}
}
}

0855.LenovoIdeaPadY470

Method (_PS0, 0, NotSerialized)
{
If (DGOS)
{
\_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._ON ()
Store (Zero, DGOS)
Store (Zero, MLTF)
}
}

Method (_PS3, 0, NotSerialized)
{
Store (MLTF, OPTF)
If (LEqual (\_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP.OMPR, 0x03))
{
\_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._OFF ()
Store (One, DGOS)
Store (0x02, \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP.OMPR)
}
}

Acer Aspire5750G V1.11

Method (_PS0, 0, NotSerialized)
{
If (DGOS)
{
GLSC ()
\_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._ON ()
GLSR ()
Store (Zero, DGOS)
Store (Zero, MLTF)
}
}
--
Method (_PS3, 0, NotSerialized)
{
If (LEqual (\_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP.OMPR, 0x03))
{
GLSC ()
\_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._OFF ()
GLSR ()
Store (One, DGOS)
Store (0x02, \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP.OMPR)
}
}

4236NVG ThinkPadT420

Method (_PS0, 0, NotSerialized)
{
If (ISOP ())
{
If (DGOS)
{
\VHYB (0x02, 0x00)
Sleep (0x64)
\VHYB (0x00, 0x01)
Sleep (0x0A)
Store (0x01, \_SB.PCI0.LPC.PCRS)
Store (0x01, \_SB.PCI0.LPC.PCRQ)
Sleep (0x64)
\VHYB (0x02, 0x01)
Sleep (0x01)
\VHYB (0x08, 0x01)
Store (0x0A, Local0)
Store (0x32, Local1)
While (Local1)
{
Sleep (Local0)
If (\LCHK (0x01))
{
Break
}

Decrement (Local1)
}

Store (0x00, \_SB.PCI0.LPC.PCRQ)
\VHYB (0x04, 0x00)
\SWTT (0x01)
Store (Zero, DGOS)
}
Else
{
If (LNotEqual (VSID, 0x21D017AA))
{
\VHYB (0x04, 0x00)
}
}

\VHYB (0x09, \_SB.PCI0.PEG.VID.HDAS)
}
}

Method (_PS3, 0, NotSerialized)
{
If (ISOP ())
{
If (LEqual (\_SB.PCI0.PEG.VID.OMPR, 0x03))
{
\SWTT (0x00)
\VHYB (0x08, 0x00)
Store (0x0A, Local0)
Store (0x32, Local1)
While (Local1)
{
Sleep (Local0)
If (\LCHK (0x00))
{
Break
}

Decrement (Local1)
}

\VHYB (0x02, 0x00)
Sleep (0x64)
\VHYB (0x00, 0x00)
Store (One, DGOS)
Store (0x02, \_SB.PCI0.PEG.VID.OMPR)
}
}
}

Asus U36SD

Method (_PS0, 0, NotSerialized)
{
Store (Zero, \_SB.PCI0.GFX0._PSC)
If (LNotEqual (\_SB.PCI0.GFX0.DGPS, 0x00))
{
\_SB.PCI0.PEG0.GFX0.DON ()
\SGPL (0x23, 0x01, 0x01)
Store (Zero, \_SB.PCI0.GFX0.DGPS)
}
}

Method (_PS3, 0, NotSerialized)
{
If (LEqual (\_SB.PCI0.GFX0.P3MO, 0x01))
{
\_SB.PCI0.PEG0.GFX0.DOFF ()
\SGPL (0x23, 0x01, 0x00)
Store (0x03, \_SB.PCI0.GFX0._PSC)
Store (0x01, \_SB.PCI0.GFX0.DGPS)
}

Store (0x00, \_SB.PCI0.GFX0.P3MO)
}

Samsung 300E4A5A7A with PS0/PS3

Method (_PS0, 0, NotSerialized)
{
If (DGOS)
{
\_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._ON ()
Store (Zero, DGOS)
Store (Zero, MLTF)
}
}

Method (_PS3, 0, NotSerialized)
{
If (LEqual (\_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP.OMPR, 0x03))
{
\_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._OFF ()
Store (One, DGOS)
Store (0x02, \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP.OMPR)
}
}

Bumblee on Lenovo Ideapad Y570

Following the added support by the Nouveau driversfor the GPU in the Lenovo Ideapa Y570, Nvidia has recently added the 0DEB PCI ID (10DE:0DEB) to their drivers.
This means this laptop model is now supported by Bumblebee/Ironhide, and one can use the dicrete Nvidia graphics card on specified applications by installing Bumblebee/Ironhide under Linux.
This is for a NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M 1GB card, which has been seen on a bunch of different laptop albeit with slightly different names.

There are almost a dozen 555M GPU variants available. Every single one uses a GF106 chip with DDR3 or GDDR5 except for the Lenovo Ideapad Y570 which has a GF108 chip with GDDR5.

The 500M series has been a bit of a chipset mess for Nvidia. Some Dell users found ways to BIOS mod their GF108 525M into a 550M, but it's not an easy task.

As an example, the Asus G53SW/G73SW has a GF106 460M with a 192-bit bus and GDDR5. The supposed successor, the Asus G53SX, has a GF116 560M with a 128-bit bus and GDDR5. Yet at the same time, G74SX, the successor of the G73SW, has a GF116 560M with the expected 192-bit GDDR5.

Please join the Launchpad team and use the mailing list for more on this.

We are approaching 1000 team members!

The year 2011 is ending and the Launchpad hybrid graphics Linux team is approaching 1000 team members!

It's been a year of consolidation for the team members whose efforts in reporting on and improving the features of hybrid graphics systems in Linux are paying off. We now have a bumblebee/ironhide implementation for using the GPU on specific applications, with some systems also having the ability of switching on/off the graphics card on demand.

There have been attempts to bring Nvidia VDPAU video acceleration to the hybrid graphics systems, and these continue to be made to make sure they pave the way for smooth video playing in Linux.

The upstream Linux kernel and graphics drivers have received the source code produced by either members of the team or other open source contributors, which will ensure a seamless integration into all Linux distributions in the future.

Please make sure that you join the team if you haven't already. Even if your system already has decent support, your joining the team shows that there is a large Linux user base that will benefit of further improvements.

Keep reporting via the usual channels, like the mailing list and launchpad bug reporting tool.

Video acceleration for Optimus laptops -- what is the status?

Eric Appleman has taken some time to detail the situation of having
VDPAU acceleration on Optimus laptops. VDPAU is a method to use the
computing power of a GPU card to produce high-quality video and audio
while offloading the main CPU from the task. Eric has been making
great contributions in this area for Optimus configurations. Here are
the details:

There are 2 primary means of using VDPAU. Bumblebee+Xpra and
Bumblebee+Windump. Both methods have pros and cons: Windump is fast,
maintains v-sync if you use a compositor, but has rather tricky window
management. On the other side, Xpra is has a good window management,
but screen updates can be disappointing.

One of the newer things that Eric has been looking into is VAAPI and
VDPAU while using the open-source Nouveau driver. The media player VLC
supports H264 VAAPI and mplayer/mplayer2 can decode VP8 over VDPAU,
but it requires patches to both mplayer and the Mesa
libraries. Windump or Xpra would still be needed in this
configuration.

Meanwhile, Dave Airlie's PRIME/DriverScreen developments could be soon
incorporated into most Linux distributions. In theory, the code should
be ready by early 2012 and in most distributions as early as Fall
2012.

Between now and then, Eric will be looking into adding proper window
management to Windump, although it looks like a difficult job. This
would require loading a second X server, instead of attaching virtual
screens to drivers on a single X server, which is the preferred option
for bumblebee and ironhide.

VDPAU is one of the methods to have video and audio GPU-acceleration
in Linux, although it's still largely restricted to the Nvidia
proprietary drivers. Although some other open-source drivers can use
VDPAU, like the Radeon Gallium drivers through XvBA backend and
experimental trees like Emeric's Nouveau VP8 acceleration, the
environment is still incomplete and lacking big important features for
many hardware configurations.

For Nouveau, VDPAU on Nvidia cards (NV50/NVC0) and Optimus support are
two separate yet eventually convergent goals. The feature matrix for
Nouveau is still showing a 'to-do/to-finish' in 'hardware accelerated
video decoding' [1].

So, in the immediate future, VAAPI on Nouveau could be a primary
method of acceleration until VDPAU lands. The benefits of either
method may be short-lived for H264 fans. This is because there is an
ongoing transition from 8-bit compression to 10-bit compression. While
most consumer-level video cards can support hardware-accelerated 8-bit
decoding, this is not the case for 10-bit decoding at the moment, and
this situation could not change for at least a few years.

So where does this leave VDPAU with the Nvidia blob on Optimus
laptops? Aaron Plattner, Nvidia's Linux driver guy, says he is
encouraged by Dave's Xserver overhaul and would be willing to support
it. This is easier said than done, since it requires for Linux
distributions to ship with a cutting-edge X stack and kernel that
would support the new code.

Ultimately, for both Nouveau and the Nvidia driver, the new
development efforts under the Wayland framework are still a big
unknown, and it's still early to envision how it will affect Optimus
and VDPAU.

Thanks to Eric Appleman for the information on the hybrid-graphics
mailing list.

GPU hot-plugging

David Airlie has demonstrated success in the first phase of his X.Org GPU/driver hot-plugging work, which eventually may lead to proper dynamic GPU switching under X.
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTAwNDY

Request for info to users of nvidia (including optimus) laptops

Ben Skeggs (Red Hat) needs of some help from NVIDIA laptop owners. If you have a NVIDIA laptop, including Optimus models, please follow the instructions on this message to provide him with the information he needs:
http://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/nouveau/2011-October/009368.html
Thanks in advance!

Ironhide branch first release including Ubuntu Natty packages

martinjuhl has released a new branch of his bumblebee code named Ironhide:

This version features:

* Graphical User Interface for Configuration and Submitsystem.
* Tests build into the Configuration, for easy bug reporting.
* Major cleanup, removed all content not related to Ubuntu.
* Updated VirtualGL.

The Ironhide packages conflict with bumblebee, so you should be asked to remove the old packages when installing Ironhide. If your having problems getting ironhide to work, please reboot after uninstalling bumblebee, and then rerun ironhide-configuration.

https://launchpad.net/~mj-casalogic/+archive/ironhide/

Installation notes:

If you want newer versions of the nvidia packages, the X-org edgers repository works great with Ironhide:

https://launchpad.net/~xorg-edgers/+archive/ppa

When new versions come out, just rerun the configuration.

Report problems/issues here:

https://github.com/MrMEEE/ironhide/issues

The new Bumblebee Project is still available here:

https://github.com/Bumblebee-Project/Bumblebee

Tweaks to Extend The Battery Life of Intel Linux Notebooks @ www.phoronix.com

Tweaks to Extend The Battery Life of Intel Linux Notebooks @ www.phoronix.com

There is number of arguments that can be passed to the open-source Intel Linux DRM kernel driver to reduce power consumption. These enable power-saving features of the Intel Linux graphics driver that aren't enabled by default at this time, commonly because for some hardware configurations they can cause stability problems or other issues.

i915.i915_enable_rc6=1 - RC6 was enabled by default for a while, but then it ended up being too buggy for some hardware configuration so it had to be disabled. For affected systems on the current code-base, enabling RC6 can cause GPU hangs. The Intel RC6 feature allows the GPU to enter a lower power state when the GPU is idling.

i915.i915_enable_fbc=1 - This kernel option enables FBC (frame-buffer compression) for the Intel graphics driver. Frame-buffer compression is not enabled by default since for some systems when frame-buffer compression is active there is a bug where the screen is not being properly repainted when using a compositing window manager. As implied by the name, frame-buffer compression will compress the buffer of what's to be drawn to the screen so that less memory bandwidth is used on screen refreshes, and as a result, less memory being confused.

i915.lvds_downclock=1 - This kernel option will down-clock the LVDS refresh rate, which can increase power savings as a result. However, for systems that do not properly support LVDS down-clocking, the screen can begin to flicker during use.

These options can be added to GRUB boot-loader when booting the system, to the grub.cfg file to be made permanent, or can be passed if manually loading the Intel i915 kernel module.

Lenovo IdeaPad Z570, Z470 and Z370 with hybrid graphics

Lenovo IdeaPad Z570, Z470 & Z370 multimedia notebooks get Sandy Bridge

Lenovo‘s updated Z Series multimedia notebooks have had in injection of Intel’s latest Sandy Bridge processors, with the IdeaPad Z570, Z470 and Z370 built around 15.6-, 14- and 13.3-inch displays respectively and a choice of Core i3, i5 or i7 CPUs. The IdeaPad Z470 and Z370 come with eye-catching fuchsia, sky blue or dark brown transparent covers, while the Z570 is a little more sensible with an Accutype chiclet keyboard and metallic-effect casing.

 

Inside there’s NVIDIA GeForce 410M 1GB graphics on the Z370 and GeForce 525M 2GB graphics on the Z470 and Z570; RAM is up to 8GB while storage is up to a 1TB, 7200rpm HDD. There’s a choice of DVD or Blu-ray, along with optional Bluetooth, while WiFi b/g/n and gigabit ethernet are both standard.

Problems with HDMI in a Linux hybrid graphics laptop? Please report to xorg

The display drivers will sometimes not play well with the HDMI output to your external monitor in a linux hybrid graphics laptop. Some models have HDMI output connected to the discrete nvidia or ATI card, whereas some have it connected to the Intel integrated card.

If you are having problems with HDMI output, please submit a bug report to the xorg package. Open a terminal window and type:

apport-bug xorg

(Choose 'Yes' if you see a warning about end of technical support)

Then type a description of your problem in the launchpad web page that will appear in your browser.

If you cannot follow these steps while the laptop is connected to the external screen, please still submit the bug report with the laptop disconnected from the external screen, since most useful information will still be processed.

Once submitted, please send an email to the launchpad hybrid-graphics-linux mailing list with the launchpad bug id. It will be something like:

http://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/829981

Thanks!

A BIOS update has been released for the AMD muxless HP dv6/dv7 61xx series

A BIOS update has been released for the AMD muxless HP dv6/dv7 61xx series.

This for laptops with a 6470M(?) or 6770M.

The update enables Fixed Mode in the BIOS for discrete-only operation

with the Sandy Bridge IGP acting as a mux.

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp54001-54500/sp54024.exe

Bumblebee error messages after update, extended solution

Bumblebee error messages after update, extended solution:

$ sudo update-alternatives --remove-all gl_conf

$ sudo dpkg-reconfigure nvidia-current

If it fails, then

$ sudo apt-get install --reinstal nvidia-current

Dell Alienware M11xR3 (release 3), Linux and Bumblebee

Dell Alienware M11xR3 (release 3), Linux and Bumblebee:

Alienware m11xr3 and bumblebee: Unity working on Ubuntu 11.04.

Current issues:

* Laptop may lock up during stress testing

* Laptop locked up when left on over night

* Batter life not good, a bit over 2 hours on normal use (browsing, editing documents).

* Linux LED changing utility has not been updated for the R3 version of this laptop.

VDPAU Linux hybrid graphics: Integrating bumblebee and hybrid-windump

Work is underway to develop the hybrid-windump solution within bumblebee to have VDPAU working in Linux hybrid graphics laptops.

Although there are still issues with the nvidia binary packages, the solution seems to be near:

http://github.com/MrMEEE/bumblebee/issues/531

MSI GE620DX @ www.engadget.com

MSI outs its latest GE620DX gaming laptop, orcs prepare for virtual slaughter

Spilled Mountain Dew on your last laptop during that marathon session of Starcraft II? MSI's got your back buddy, with its newly announced GE620DX. There's a serious bit of dedicated gaming punch lying under this notebook's brushed metal finish thanks to its 2GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor, an NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M card and the audio tag team of MSI Premium Sound and THX's True Studio Pro. In addition to its 15.6-inch 1366 x 768 HD display, this "dream machine" sports a 720p camera, an HDMI out port and USB 3.0. The company's also thrown in a GPU Boost feature, which frees up the internal graphics chip should you be running any graphics-intensive apps. Unfortunately, your zerg Swarm-slaying hands will have to wait for an official price and retail date, but when you do get a hold of it, make sure to keep that caffeinated brew far from the keyboard.

Help Needed: Anybody got a Toshiba Satellite...

Help Needed: Anybody got a Toshiba Satellite P750 (P750/02J) running Linux that could upload the ACPI info as explained here? http://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/752542 To compile your DSDT and SSDTs information, install if you haven't already the acpidump and iasl tools: sudo apt-get install acpidump iasl ### or sudo yum install pmtools iasl Then run the following commands on a bash terminal: mkdir ~/acpiinfo ; cd ~/acpiinfo sudo acpidump > acpidump.txt # enter password sudo acpixtract acpidump.txt ls *.dat | while read i; do iasl -d "${i}"; done name=`sudo dmidecode -s system-product-name` mkdir "${name}" && cp *.dsl "${name}"/ tar czf "${name}.tar.gz" "${name}"/ && ls -l "$( pwd )/${name}".tar.gz This will create a tar.gz file that you can attach to the bug report. Finally, for posting the information in the bug report, you can check the laptop and graphics card model identifiers with these commands: sudo dmidecode -s system-product-name && sudo dmidecode -s system-version lspci -vnnn | perl -lne 'print if /^\d+\:.+(\[\S+\:\S+\])/' | grep VGA This information will allow the full development of hybrid graphics features for Linux. Thanks for your help! Bug #752542 in Launchpad Bug Reporter: "ACPI DSDT info" Log in / Register. A Bug reporter module for your hosted Launchpad project. Overview; Code; Bugs; Blueprints; Translations; Answers. ACPI DSDT info. Launchpad Bug Reporter; Bugs; Bug #752542. Reported... View or comment on Albert Vilella's post » The Google+ project makes sharing on the web more like sharing in real-life. Join Google+

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HP to offer a switch for their line of HP AMD BACON hybrid laptops

Our team member E. P. has pointed out that HP will issue a BIOS update that will allow users to switch from the default Dynamic mode to Fixed mode in HP AMD BACON hybrid graphics laptops:

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Display-and-Video/Official-HP-statement-on-Switchable-Graphics-and-Open-GL/td-p/766285

We understand that there is a concern about switchable graphics and OpenGL functionality.

 

Switchable Graphics:

HP has a document about how to configure the ATI® Mobility Radeon® Switchable graphics feature. This

document also describes the differences between fixed and dynamic switchable graphic modes and how

to use each effectively.

See: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&lc=en&docname=c02731962

 

Open GL Functionality:

To operate certain OpenGL applications, you will need to install the latest graphics driver (SP 53025)

which can be found here: ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp53001-53500/sp53025.exe . This download

provides Intel Graphics Driver version 8.15.10.2219 to support the Intel GPU in HP notebooks with

switchable graphics. The AMD graphics card in newer HP Pavilion dv6 and dv7 Series models may not

run certain Open GL software.

 

Update: There is a BIOS update in the works that will allow you to switch from the default Dynamic mode to Fixed mode. Switching to Fixed Mode will allow you to run Open GL programs on the AMD Radeon graphics processor. We will let you know as soon as this is available.

Acer TravelMate 8481 with nvidia optimus @ www.engadget.com

Acer TravelMate 8481 lands late August, £700 price tag in tow

By Christopher Trout posted Jul 17th 2011 6:34AM

Back in May, we caught a glimpse of Acer's TravelMate 8481, rocking an extra thin bezel and 13 hours of battery life for the road-weary sojourner. At the time, Acer was touting a mid-June launch, but we've just received word that the Core i7-packing notebook won't make it into carry-ons until late August. As of now, we've only got UK pricing -- £699, to be exact -- leading us to wonder when the thing will make the journey stateside. As per usual, we will keep you abreast of the details as they roll in. Until then, you can peep the full PR after the break.

Show full PR text

Acer TravelMate 8481
The ultimate road-smart companion

London, 15th July 2011 – Professionals spending most of their working life on the go need a notebook that is up to any challenge. A notebook capable of combining top performance with optimal security and extended battery life. Add to the mix a slim and light design and you have the TravelMate 8481, a true road warrior.

With the TravelMate 8481 there is no need to make compromises. First of all, it deliver all the power required for serious business on-the-go via the 2nd generation Intel® Core™ processors that not only allows to run business productivity applications 60% faster than the previous generation, but it delivers smart performance that adapts to the task at hand, enabling more responsive multitasking while ensuring energy efficiency.

Furthermore, thanks to Intel® HD Graphics 3000 the new model provides an impressive visual performance for sharper images and richer color. Using Intel® Wireless Display technology, it can share presentations or videos on HD displays or TVs via an easy to set up wireless connection. Smooth HD video playback and exceptionally clear image and sound will make any presentation really impressive.

The TravelMate 8481 is also available with discreet graphic options. Featuring NVIDIA® Optimus™ technology, NVIDIA GPUs boost graphic performance without impacting on battery life. In addition, multi-monitor support takes productivity to the next level, allowing easier multitasking.

Asus U41SV hybrid graphics linux -- acpi_call DSDT info

One of the team members posted the DSDT info for a ASUS U41SV laptop. The two calls to turn on/off the card are like this:

                                                    \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.GFX0.DOFF

                                                    \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.GFX0.DON

Code snippet:

        If (LEqual (_T_0, 0x03))

                                        {

                                            And (Local0, 0x03, Local0)

                                            If (LEqual (Local0, 0x01))

                                            {

                                                \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.GFX0.DON ()

                                                Return (0x01)

                                            }

                                            Else

                                            {

                                                If (LEqual (Local0, 0x02))

                                                {

                                                    \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.GFX0.DOFF ()

                                                    Return (0x00)

                                                }

                                                Else

                                                {

                                                    Return (\_SB.PCI0.PEG0.GFX0.DSTA ())

                                                }

                                            }

                                            Return (0x01)

                                        }

Sony VAIO Z series 2011 includes hybrid graphics option via a docking station

For the seasoned Linux users, the Sony VAIO Z series has seen 3 updates in the last 3 years, the sony-vaioz-09, sony-vaioz-10, and now the sony-vaioz-11, sporting a docking station with a discrete AMD graphics card:

 

 

Sony’s New VAIO Z Series Is Available Now, Lightest 13-inch High Performance Notebook

Sony’s much anticipated VAIO Z Series ultraportable notebooks have arrived. This new VAIO Z Series is touted as the “world’s lightest 13-inch standard voltage PC” and features an ultra slim design that’s thinner and lighter than the MacBook Air while packing in high performance specs with Intel’s latest Sandy Bridge Core i5 and i7 processors.

 

The new VAIO Z Series notebook is designed to work in tandem with a Power Media Dock that delivers the power of an AMD Radeon HD 6650M graphics card with 1GB VRAM, a slot loading optical drive, one USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports, HDMI, and VGA ports. Thanks to this pairing, the new Z Series is now a half pound lighter than its predecessor and weighs only 2.5 pounds.

The sleek chassis measures just 0.66-inch thin and is made of a combination of aluminum and carbon fiber. It is designed to be fully flat without any protruding ports or unnecessary seams. Battery life is rated for up to 8 hours and can be boosted to 16 hours with the purchase of an optional large-capacity sheet battery that attaches flush on the bottom.

The notebook is equipped with the latest Intel Sandy Bridge Core i5 and i7 processors that can be turbo boosted to 3.4GHz and has dual-channel SSD drives with RAID tehcnology. It also sports Intel’s Light Peak port, also known on Apple products as the Thunderbolt port, that promises up to 10Gbps of blazing fast bi-directional data transfer speeds.

Other things to note include the notebook’s 16:9 aspect ratio display that’s available in either 1920×1080 or 1600×900 resolution levels with anti-glare coating. The notebook comes in three colors carbon black, carbon indigo, and premium carbon black. It is available now for pre-orders at Sony’s website and retails starting at around $2000. 

ASUS U36JC from 4 to 7 hours of battery life with linux acpi_call

One of the linux hybrid graphics team members has reported that the ASUS U36JC laptop will go from 4 hours to 7 hours of battery life using acpi_call to switch on/off the nvidia card:

system-version
U36JC
1.0

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:0046] h(rev 18) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: nVidia Corporation GT218 [GeForce 310M] [10de:0a70] (rev ff) (prog-if ff

Bumblebee for Ubuntu in two lines

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:mj-casalogic/bumblebee

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install bumblebee

Gateway laptops with nvidia optimus and AMD Fusion configurations @ www.engadget.com

Gateway updates its ID and NV laptops with USB 3.0, Sandy Bridge and Llano internals

By Dana Wollman  posted Jul 7th 2011 8:00AM

Acer's had its day (or two) unveiling back-to-school laptops, and now it's its sister brand Gateway's turn. The outfit just announced the 15.6-inch NV series and the 14-inch ID47, both of which include USB 3.0 and a choice of Sandy Bridge processors. (In the case of that entry-level NV, you can also opt for one of AMD's fresh-off-the-line Llano chips.) But the company did more than just give its notebooks a spec bump -- it also tweaked their designs, adding a chiclet keyboard to the NV series, while the metal-clad ID's trackpad is 20 percent larger and no longer glows like a mood ring. The ID47 also has a 14-inch display crammed into a chassis usually paired with 13.3-inch panels, as well as a non-removable battery that promises up to eight hours of juice. (The NV is rated for up to four hours.) And, in an unusual twist, our friends in Canada will get additional choices, including a 15.6-inch version of the ID, as well as select models with NVIDIA Optimus. Both the ID47 and NV55 / NV57 are available now, with the ID starting at $629.99 and $799 Canadian, and the NV fetching $529.99 and $499 Canadian. Check out the various configurations after the break, with lots 'o photos below.

Update: Lots of you are asking about the screen resolution on these guys. It's not in the press release, but the answer is 1366 x 768, across the board.

Gateway ID47

Gateway NV55 / NV57

Gateway ID47 and NV55 / NV57 hands-on

Gateway ID47H03h ($799.00 Canadian, available in Canada)

• 2.3 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5-2410M processor
• 14-inch LED-backlit Display
• NVIDIA GeForce Optimus GT 540M graphics with 1GB video memory
• 6GB DDR3 RAM
• 750GB 5400RPM SATA hard drive
• Digital media card reader
• 8X DVD-SuperMulti double-layer drive
• 802.11b/g/n WiFi
• Bluetooth 3.0
• 1.3 megapixel webcam
• Dolby Home Theater v4 Audio Enhancement
• Two stereo speakers
• One USB 3.0 Port and twoUSB 2.0 Ports
• One HDMI Port
• Multi-gesture touchpad
• Social Networks key
• 6-cell Li-ion battery (6000 mAh)
• Up to eight hours of battery life
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• Microsoft Office Starter 2010
• Dimensions: 12.97 x 8.95 x .85-1.14 inches
• 4.6 lbs.

Gateway ID57H03h ($899.99 Canadian, available in Canada)

• 2.3GHz Intel dual-core Core i5-2410M processor
• 15.6-inch LED-backlit Display
• NVIDIA GeForce Optimus GT 540M Graphics with 2GB video memory
• 8GB DDR3 RAM
• 750GB 5400RPM SATA hard drive
• Digital media card reader
• 8X DVD-SuperMulti double-layer drive
• 802.11b/g/n WiFi
• Bluetooth 3.0
• 1.3 megapixel webcam
• Dolby Home Theater v4 Audio Enhancement
• Two stereo speakers
• One USB 3.0 Port and twoUSB 2.0 Ports
• One HDMI Port
• Multi-gesture touchpad
• Social Networks key
• 6-cell Li-ion battery (6000 mAh)
• Up to eight hours of battery life
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• Microsoft Office Starter 2010
• Dimensions: 12.97 x 8.95 x .85-1.14 inches
• 4.6 lbs.

Gateway NV55S05u ($629.99, available in the US)

• 1.5GHz quad-core AMD A8-3500M APU ight LED-backlit Display
• AMD A60M Fusion chipset
• 6GB DDR3 RAM
• AMD Radeon HD 6620G Graphics
• 640GB 5400RPM SATA hard drive
• 8X DVD-Super Multi double-layer drive
• 802.11b/g/n WiFi
• 1.3 Megapixel webcam
• High-Definition Stereo Speakers
• One USB 3.0 Port, and two USB 2.0 ports
• One HDMI port with HDCP Support
• Gateway MyBackup function key
• Multi-gesture touchpad
• Dedicated Numeric Keypad
• Gateway Social Networks key
• 6-cell Li-Ion (4400 mAh) battery
• Up to four hours of battery life
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• Microsoft Office Starter 2010
• Dimensions: 15 x 9.96 x .99-1.31 inches
• 5.7 lbs.

Acer Aspire TimelineX 3830T, 4830T, 5830T Notebooks @ www.ecoustics.com

Acer Aspire TimelineX 3830T, 4830T, 5830T Notebooks

Posted by Admin on June 08, 2011 - 11:58 pm: Edit • Reply • New

Acer updated its Aspire TimelineX series notebooks with a new sleek and stylish, thin and light design complemented by long battery life and the latest technology and new entertainment features, including Dolby Home Theater v4 Audio. 

The notebook's upscale look and feel centers around its uncluttered, elegant design. The notebooks have a clean layout with a large touchpad and chiclet keyboard to promote both enjoyment and productivity. Available in three sizes -- the 13.3-inch 3830T, 14-inch 4830T and 15.6-inch 5830T -- the designs measure about an inch thin and are very lightweight. 



Powered by the latest second-generation Intel Core i5 and i3 processors with Turbo Boost technology. In addition, Acer PowerSmart Technology provides extra long battery uptime of up to nine hours on models with integrated graphics and up to eight hours for models with discrete graphics, as well as a long battery lifecycle of up to four years. 



The new Aspire TimelineX notebook PCs are perfect for entertainment thanks to new High-Definition audio support with Dolby Home Theater v4 Audio that delivers crisp and clear sound through its two built-in 3DSonic Stereo speakers and when connected to a home theater system. The notebooks also have HDMI 1080p output, so customers can use a convenient single cable connection to deliver HD video and audio to an external source. In addition, the notebooks have a USB 3.0 port for fast transfers. Plus, the port can charge USB devices even when the notebook is turned off. 

The new Acer Aspire TimelineX models feature an HD Widescreen CineCrystal LED-backlit display with 16:9 HD True Cinematic View and excellent 1366x768 resolution for stunning clarity and viewing at any angle. Several models in the new line come with integrated NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M or 520M graphics with NVIDIA Optimus technology to deliver crystal-clear images, brilliant color and lifelike video while maximizing battery life. Additional models feature Intel HD Graphics to provide superb visual performance with sharp images and rich color. 



The thin and light TimelineX Series is ideal for staying in touch on the go. The HD webcam has a high 1280x1024 resolution and is placed in the center of the notebook for convenient video-chatting and capturing photos and video. The built-in digital microphone supports the webcam to convey excellent voice quality, while minimizing background noise and echoes. All of the new models have 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi for connecting to wireless networks as well as Gigabit Ethernet LAN for a reliable wired connection. Also, many configurations include Bluetooth. 



The Acer Aspire TimelineX 3830T thin and light notebook has a 13.1-inch display, weighs only 4.12 pounds and measures only 0.87-1.15 inches thin. Both the Acer TimelineX 4830T (14-inch screen, 4.88 pounds) and Acer Aspire TimelineX 5830T (15.6-inch screen, 5.6 pounds) come with integrated DVD drives and feature a dedicated numeric keypad for quick and easy number input. 

The new Acer Aspire TimelineX notebooks also come with Acer clear.fi, a cross-platform solution for media enjoyment and sharing with DLNA-compliant devices, so customers can easily access, store and enjoy digital media from almost anywhere in an office, home or from the cloud. 



Price and Availability

• Acer TimelineX 3830T (13.1-inch) → check price
• Acer TimelineX 4830T (14.0-inch) → check price
• Acer TimelineX 5830T (15.6-inch) → check price

The Acer TimelineX Series notebooks are available at retailers now in the United States at Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices starting at $599.99, with standard one-year parts and labor warranty.

HP dv6z with hybrid crossfire @ www.engadget.com

HP Pavilion dv6z Quad laptop with AMD Llano

By Sharif Sakr  posted Jul 4th 2011 7:37PM

AMD's Llano platform might not satisfy everyone's power-lust when housed in a desktop, but stick one of these all-in-one beauties in a laptop and you're good to go. The new HP Pavilion dv6z Quad notebook -- one of 11 new Fusion-powered models from HP -- is a case in point, having just arrived at the company's online store. The base model promises battery life of up to almost six hours, "discrete-class" integrated Radeon graphics with 512MB of video memory, and a 1.4GHz quad-core processor that can be clocked up to 2.3GHz using AMD's Turbo technology. Oh yeah, and there's the real benefit of switching to AMD: that base configuration costs just $650, versus a minimum of $999 for the Intel-equipped dv6t. For the money, you'll also get 6GB of DDR3 memory, a 640GB 5400rpm HDD, a 1366 x 768 display (yes, a glossy one), HDMI output, and a pair of USB 3.0 ports in addition to two of the USB 2.0 variety. We ought to clarify that the sexy steel gray version on the left will cost you $25 extra, but hey, who wants to be "umber gray?"

Alienware M18x with hybrid graphics @ news.cnet.com

Many of the Linux hybrid graphics team members are using Alienware laptops, which are well supported by acpi_call and bumblebee. The Alienware M18x should be no different:

Nvidia GTX 580M top-end laptop graphics unveiled; already showing up in Origin and Alienware systems

Today Nvidia unveiled its latest high-end laptop GPUs, the GTX 570M and 580M. That's not a huge surprise: the new GTX cards round out the "500 series" of GT and GTX graphics that have been available throughout the year. One feature Nvidia's particularly touting is the GTX 580's Optimus automatic switching, which should offer up "5 hours of battery life in Facebook," in case you measure your juice through social networking.

Nvidia promises that the GTX 580M is the fastest laptop graphics card anywhere, ever--the benchmark comparisons were leveled against the AMD Radeon 6970M. That bears watching, but at least know for now that the GTX 580M will be available on the Alienware M18x in single- or dual-card configurations and soon on the Alienware M17x, as well as on Origin's EON laptops, the Clevo P170HM3 and P270WM. MSI's GT780R gaming laptop will feature the slightly stepped-down GTX 570M.

We'll report more when we have a GTX 580M laptop to test, but here's one question that bears answering: who's gaming with top-end graphics

Alienware M18x: upgraded with the GeForce GTX 580M.

(Credit: Dell)