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Hanynowsky
Asked: 2011-11-09 15:53:03 +0800 CST

How to make sure my system has Nvidia Optimus?

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I just got a new Dell XPS 15 L502X with these specs:

  • CPU Intel i7 2670QM with Turbo Boost (integrated graphics : Intel HD 3000)
  • Discrete Graphics: Nvidia GT 525M

It was ordered from Dell France. Before ordering it, the salesman assured me my configuration does not have Nvidia Implemented. I called back Dell Support in France and once again they told me all XPS 15 with i7 have Nvidia Optimus disabled in them even though the systems have two graphics chipsets (Intel and Nvidia).

I installed Ubuntu 11.10 but before installing Bumblebee or Ironhire I want to make sure my system has no Optimus.

The command ~$ lspci -vnnn | grep VGA

gives the following:

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:0116] (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: nVidia Corporation Device [10de:0df5] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])

How can I make sure of this. Thanks in advance.

dell

1 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    I dont understand what the Dell Support in France told all XPS 15 with i7 have Nvidia Optimus disabled in them. All XPS ships with nvidia Optimus enabled in it. And there is no straight forward method for Switching it Off/On even in the BIOS.

    But the fact is that, while using Ubuntu, only the Intel Graphics will be used and not the nvidia card.

    Summing it up, Your system currently doesnt run Optimus (In Ubuntu). It only uses your Intel graphics. And if you want to use nvidia Graphics (Which you payed, but never used) install bumblebee.

    There is some interesting discussion regarding Optimus in XPS. Find it here and here

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