How to use my NVIDIA GeForce 310M?

[Huckleberry Finn]

Just

Code: Select all

optirun -b none nvidia-settings -c :8

for Nvidia settings, and

optirun packagename

to start it with Nvidia, say: optirun firefox

[SignorCastello]

Yes, it works. But how to make it the default?

[Huckleberry Finn]

Some Bioses have a setting to enable/disable/choose cards ...

[SignorCastello]

Checked. Mine doesn't.
So, how could I launch EVERY program with nvidia gpu?
By The Way, MX is the ONLY linux distro where my drivers work. Kudos!!! I'll recommend it to all of my distrohopper friends.

[Stevo]

Laptop designers often don't allow for that, since using the Nvidia GPU for everything eats up battery very fast and also makes the machine very hot. I think there are complicated ways to do that explained in the Debian and maybe the MX wiki, though.

You can add the "optirun .." command to the start of the program command in the menu, using the menu editor (right-click the item), so a game or other 3D program will always use Nvidia when launched from the menu.

[SignorCastello]

You know, you all saved my life! Thanks!

[Huckleberry Finn]

If Nvidia is used directly then optirun may not be needed (I guess):

https://github.com/bayasdev/envycontrol

I just installed EnvyControl by bayasdev on github, seemed to be a fairly popular option. after the pip installation I ran sudo envycontrol -s integrated and sudo envycontrol -s hydrid with reboots in between to make sure things didn't break and then back to integrated only.

Im not 100% sure how to prove to myself my nvidia card is off but nvidia-smi reports there is no nvidia card when set to integrated and still detects my card after i switch back to hybrid so i guess its working? lol

Tested distros
Arch Linux (GNOME, MATE, Plasma, Xfce)
Debian 11 (GNOME, Plasma, Xfce)
ElementaryOS 6.x,7.x (Pantheon)
EndeavourOS (GNOME, Plasma, Xfce)
Fedora 36,37 (GNOME, Plasma, Xfce)
Linux Mint 20,21 (Cinnamon, Xfce)
Manjaro (GNOME, Plasma, MATE, Xfce)
MX Linux 21 (Plasma, Xfce)
Regolith 2.x (i3wm)
Ubuntu 20.04.x,22.04.x (GNOME, Plasma, XFCE, MATE)