One of the hybrid-graphics-linux team members has found a way to switch off the nvidia graphics card from the Dell XPS L501X laptop model. Here are the details of the process:
https://lists.launchpad.net/hybrid-graphics-linux/msg00450.html
For more information, join the hybrid-graphics-linux team and reply to the email in the mailing list:
This is a summary of what has been happening on the hybrid-graphics-linux launchpad mailing list.
We now have over 410 team members, which shows that a lot of hybrid graphics laptops are being used among the Linux community.
This mailing list is the best place to post your questions/comments regarding hybrid-graphics and linux. Although some people use the comments in this blog to post their laptop details and their investigations, if you want to have a prompt reply, join the launchpad team and use the mailing list.
Here is an update of the latest emails to the mailing list:
Latest Dell Vostro 3300 and 3400 models with Intel i5 and nvidia 310M with no ACPI method found to work. Slightly older Dell Vostro 3700 model (system version A10) has a working SB.PCI0.P0P1.PEGP._OFF method.
Lots of people with Asus models, like the K52, N73, N53, P52, etc, some with working ACPI methods, not all of them.
Lots of people with the Dell XPS L501x (also L701X) model: there is still no known way to control the nvidia card on this models in Linux. It would be great to find a way to switch on/off the card for these models, since they seem to be selling well.
People report their successes and failures with the Dell Alienware M11x R2 model
People report their successes and failures with Asus 1215N: there is a lot of information around for this laptop model. There is also a Asus 1015PN model, it seems to be slightly different than the other.
The Lenovo Ideapad Z360 has no ACPI method for switching on/off the nvidia card yet.
The Samsung QX410 model was found to have a SB.PCI0.P0P2.PEGP._OFF method to switch off the nvidia card.
The Dell XPS L401x L501x L701x series is a refresh of the XPS line and comes with an Nvidia Optimus configuration.
A DSDT.dsl table from a Dell XPS L501x model was submitted here:
http://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/312756
See the link below for a review:
Support for NVIDIA Optimus models in Linux is still far from perfect, although more and more laptop models come with this configuration.
There are now more than 300 Linux users who joined the hybrid-graphics-linux Launchpad Team, and new developments are being incorporated
to the mainline Linux kernel to improve support of this graphics configurations.
Here are two new models that have been recently announced:
Equipped with a 2.4GHz Core i5-520M, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, a 320GB HDD and NVIDIA's GT 425M (1GB).
Acer Aspire 5742G with NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M
[Phoronix] Intel, NVIDIA Hybrid GPU Switching On Linux Nears
A month after making some small progress towards "hybrid graphics switching" on Linux to allow notebooks with dual GPUs (usually a low-power integrated graphics processor and a performance-oriented but high-powered discrete GPU), Red Hat's David Airlie is beginning to get things working for Intel and NVIDIA GPU combos on notebooks such as the Lenovo ThinkPad T410. Hybrid graphics on Linux still sucks, but at least it's getting better.
In a branch dubbed "drm-nvidia-switch" of David Airlie's Linux kernel DRM testing tree he has the kernel portion working for switching between the Intel IGP and the NVIDIA GPU with the open-source i915 and Nouveau DRM/KMS drivers, respectively. However, some bits are still missing and this will not work in all notebooks, but testing is just being done on the ThinkPad.
More details on this Linux GPU switching achievement can be found on David Airlie's blog.
Asus U31 13.3-inch ultrathin comes soon
The Asus U31 features some quite impressive specs for an ultrathin and we are looking at a 13.3-inch 1366x768 LED backlit screen, Intel's Core i3-370M/380M or Core i5-460M CPU, up to 4GB of DDR3 memory, up to 500GB of HDD space, 802.11bgn WiFi, and a 6-cell battery,
The Asus U31 will be available in two versions, the U31F and U31JG. The difference is the graphics card as the U31F features Intel's GMA 4500M while the U31JG will come with Nvidia's DirectX 11 ready, Geforce GT 415M with 1GB of memory. The U31JG will of course feautre Nvidia's Optimus technology for automatic GPU switching, something that we talked about for a couple of times.
As noted, the new U31 should appear in Europe by the end of December with a retail/e-tail price starting at €799.
You can find more here.
One of the ASUS U/UL series Linux users has found a way to enable the nvidia drivers by blacklisting the intel chip:
[ubuntu] ASUS N61Jv / N71Jv / N82Jv / UL50Vf anyone? - Page 3 - Ubuntu Forums