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Can we limit Window Manager to load Intel iGPU only? (hotplug Nvidia without stopping SDDM/GDM) (self.linux4noobs)

submitted 1 year ago by Ramen_LadyHKG to c/linux4noobs

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I have this laptop (Surface Book 2), a Intel iGPU and Nvidia dGPU.

Whenever I need to update the Nvidia driver/ hotplug the dGPU. I need to first systemctl stop sddm.

I thought the WM/DE only use my iGPU. (sorry for bringing Win logic here)

I'm using Arch & Fedora. Plasma/Gnome+Wayland.

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[–] gyro 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Hotplug? So you're using an external GPU?

In the case of laptops with integtrated graphics + nvidia graphics (soldered) (so called "optimus laptops"), you can configure the display manager to use 1. only the integrated graphics; 2. only the nvidia gpu; 3. both of them, loading the desktop environment with integrated graphics and offloading applications to the nvidia gpu. The tools to manage that vary across distros, for arch a good one is optimus-manager (package name), and for Fedora you can use Envy Control.

Since you're presumably outputting the dedicated GPU video to the laptop's screen through pci-e, and not using the GPU video ports, maybe the optimus tools work for your case scenario (although I'm not entirely sure of that).

Also, it could be a Wayland issue. Try doing the same thing with Xorg. I'm a Xorg user and never had to restart the DE/DM to update Nvidia drivers, but my laptop has a soldered Nvidia chip.

[–] Ramen_LadyHKG 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

In the case of laptops with integtrated graphics + nvidia graphics (soldered) (so called “optimus laptops”),

my case is In the case of laptops with integtrated graphics + nvidia graphics (soldered) (so called “optimus laptops”)

I thought optimus laptops is old kind of laptop. Newer laptop, like mine (Surface Book 2) use another thing call Prime offload might be same thing? IDK

when I want to run apps with nvidia gpu, I will have to use environment variables, ex __NV_PRIME_RENDER_OFFLOAD=1 __GLX_VENDOR_LIBRARY_NAME=nvidia osu

[–] gyro 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Prime offload might be same thing? IDK

It's the same thing. Prime offload is a tool made specifically for these optimus laptops (NVIDIA) and other switchable graphics systems (laptops with AMD GPUs)

Unless you have a solid reason to use Wayland, I strongly recommend to use Xorg instead. It works better with switchable graphics, and I think that you will be able to offload your games with it without the need to restart SDDM. In your Arch system, follow the installation instructions for the optimus-manager. Since you're using SDDM instead of GDM, it should work without the need of any tweaks.

I'm not sure if you're aware, but if you wish you can load the entire desktop environment with the dedicated GPU. It's more practical since you don't have to setup your games to be launched through the prime offload command. The caveat is that it uses more power, a downside if you use the laptop unplugged.