need to turn off extra "Switchable graphics" GPU
Affects | Status | Importance | Assigned to | Milestone | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
linux (Ubuntu) |
Won't Fix
|
Undecided
|
Unassigned | ||
Bug Description
Some laptops such as this Acer Travelmate 8371G (Timeline) have two graphics adapters (Intel 4500MHD and ATI HD 4330). There are two BIOS settings: "Switchable graphics" and "Discrete graphics". With the latter option, only the ATI GPU is in use, but with the former option, *both* GPUs are powered on by default. Neither of these options is good for battery runtime.
Fortunately, Maverick kernel has the vga_switcheroo module enabled and it supports this laptop. What's missing by default is the command "echo OFF > /sys/kernel/
On the 8371G here, "Switchable graphics" originally gave some 2 hours of battery use, "Discrete graphics" gives some 3 hours of battery use, and "Switchable graphics" with this module loaded gives some 4 hours of battery use.
ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: i386
ArecordDevices:
**** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: ALC269 Analog [ALC269 Analog]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
AudioDevicesInUse:
USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
/dev/snd/
CRDA: Error: [Errno 2] Tiedostoa tai hakemistoa ei ole
Card0.Amixer.info:
Card hw:0 'Intel'/'HDA Intel at 0xf4500000 irq 22'
Mixer name : 'Realtek ALC269'
Components : 'HDA:10ec0269,
Controls : 21
Simple ctrls : 12
Date: Thu Sep 24 16:28:44 2009
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
HibernationDevice: RESUME=
MachineType: Acer TravelMate 8371
Package: linux-image-
ProcCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=
ProcEnviron:
PATH=(custom, user)
LANG=fi_FI.UTF-8
SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSign
RelatedPackageV
linux-
linux-firmware 1.19
SourcePackage: linux
Uname: Linux 2.6.31-10-generic i686
dmi.bios.date: 08/05/2009
dmi.bios.vendor: Acer
dmi.bios.version: V1.11
dmi.board.
dmi.board.name: TravelMate 8371
dmi.board.vendor: Acer
dmi.board.version: PSMBOU-1234567
dmi.chassis.
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Acer
dmi.chassis.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAcer:
dmi.product.name: TravelMate 8371
dmi.product.
dmi.sys.vendor: Acer
Changed in linux (Ubuntu): | |
status: | New → Confirmed |
description: | updated |
I confirm this on my Travelmate 8371G. However, I constantly get over 5 hours of battery life. Without the module, <2 hours on Switchable mode and ~3 hours on Discrete mode with Powerplay option of ATI proprietary driver.