Installing and working with Bumblebee ( Configuring Linux laptops with nvidia GPU which comes with optimus technology )

       At last with the support of Hybrid LinuxSupport web site I managed to shutdown the nvidia graphic card and enable the intel HD3000 graphics in linux ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal.  Note that this guide is only a “simplified form of installing bumblebee which was extracted from above main mage for use of novice linux users”.

   There is a feature like same as optimus in ATI cards too. That can be settled with installing “IronHide”. I can’t tell anything about that as I got no ATI card in my laptop. So it’s the chance for someone else to check it and and inform us. Do a comment on your experiences. Thanks :D

What is Optimus technology ( for those who don’t know) – 

Laptops are made for portability.n So always product companies try to get best results with the battery life. Intel HD gpu consumes a little power and nvidia gpu consumes a lot of power. So always working with the nvidia gpu makes battery life to be weaker. So what this optimus technology does is switching two gpus when they want.

Ex:-

Working on documents, excel sheets – changes gpu to intel HD3000

Gaming – changes gpu to nvidia

HD video – changes gpu to nvidia

Operating system – changes gpu to intel HD3000

Conflicts with Linux systems

This is a great technology indeed. But the issue is this technology is not very well working with Linux distributions. Nvidia officials have said they have no idea to develop this software to linux distributions too. So what will happen will be both gpus will work when you boot with linux. Result will be a small battery life. Some laptops wont boot even. In my laptop Acer 4750G I tried to install linux ubuntu 11.04 natty narwhal but it doesn’t  gave me the chance to boot even to the install page. It gave me only a black screen. I waited about 30 minutes but nothing happened. This has happened to lot of people who bought laptops with nvidia optimus technology. By the way this technology works with windows 7 like a charm. I managed to code C++ in CodeBlocks software about 5 hours and 30 minutes with lowered brightness.

I checked some linux distributions with this laptop and results are –

Ubuntu 11.04 natty narwhal – Didn’t boot even. But managed to work with installed via WUBI and survived C++ coding in standard g++ compiler via terminal for about 3 hours..

Ubuntu 10.04 lucid lynx – Installed successfully. Initially gave me only a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. Then installed nvidia official linux driver and got the desired 1366 x 768 pixel resolution. ( its not a driver for optimus, but a driver to work that gpu with linux systems)

nvidia driver download page

Linux arch ( kernel version – 3.0.3 ) – installed successfully.. when I installed gnome 3 gui in it all went to a black screen.  I think it can be corrected. As I’m not a genius in linux command line interface and linux arch I couldn’t get it worked yet. Big reason to worry. But I’ll do it in next week and update this post how to :)

I couldn’t check this with fedora or any other version as I couldn’t find any of them. If one of you have checked them with a nvidia optimus enabled computer please let us know. Do a comment explaining it. Thanks :)

With bumblebee software you can either get to work both gpus in optimus technology ( better for gaming ) or either you can turn off nvidia card. ( which saves power, great for any linux user)..  Let’s see how…

Installing  –

1)      sudo apt-get install git ( give the password and press enter )

2)      git clone http://github.com/MrMEEE/bumblebee.git

3)      cd bumblebee/

4)      sudo ./install.sh

5)      Reboot

Some questions will be asked in the 4^th step. So answer them and choose your laptop model wisely J

More configuration options.

By the default optimus is enabled and working with bumblebee. So if you are happy with that you don’t need these steps.

Deactivate nvidia gpu –

1)      Open the terminal

2)      Type without quotes  “sudo  /usr/local/bin/bumblebee-disablecard

3)       Exit the terminal and logoff. Log on again…

Activate nvidia gpu –

1)      Open the terminal

2)      Type without quotes “sudo /usr/local/bin/bumblebee-enablecard”

3)      Exit the terminal and logoff. Log on again

Manual re-configuration option –

1)      Open the terminal bumblebee-config

So that’s it. You will see a improvement of your battery life and less heat from now on as nvidia card is now not working always :)

These are some shots I got while i installing bumblebee.. enjoy :)

                                 

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Nvidia GT540M GPU with Optimus technology! ( Stay away Linux and Mac users!!! )

Nvidia GT540M GPU with Optimus technology! ( Stay away Linux and Mac users!!! )

  I recently bought an Acer aspire 4750G laptop and it came with a high performance nvidia GT540M GPU with the nvidia optimus technology. In my last post I described what is called as the nvidia optimus technology and what the use of it.

             I described the issues with linux operating systems with this gpu. And I suggested you some answers too. I was able to disable my nvidia card. Even if I could disable it I’m currently working with a wubi installation of linux ubuntu 11.04 natty narwhal.  It doesn’t  give me a chance to boot in to installation page even. So I’m just saying that keep away from the notebooks with GT540M if you are a hardcore linux user.

               This story is also common for mac users too. I mean for hackintosh computers. I was also looking to install mac os x lion in my new sub notebook. But unfortunately I found that there are some users who are complaining about display resolution conflicts and errors on installation procedure with these laptops which includes nvidia GT540M. I couldn’t check mac os x yet. But I suggest you to find some more information on hackingtosh support for this gpu adaptor.

    If you are a hardcore gamer and a lovely windows user laptops with this gpu is best for you. But if you are a one who willing to make your day with linux or mac os I suggest you to find a different kind of gpu. What about intel HD3000? Laptops with 2^nd generation laptops comes with this as this gpu is a internal in processor. Get a cheaper intel hd and you will be fine. If you are handy in tweaking, any laptop will suit you! See ya folks later :D

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The problems with nvidia graphic cards made with nvidia optimus technology in Linux distributions!

The problems with nvidia graphic cards made with nvidia optimus technology in Linux distributions!

 I recently bought a Acer 4750G laptop for my studies and for entertaintment of course! This laptop came with a nvidia GT540M GPU with nvidia optimus technology. This laptop has a second generation core i5 2410M processor. So it comes with a Intel HD3000 GPU too. Nvidia GPU is made for hardcore gaming and to manage HD content. While intel gpu is too capable of that nvidia does it better. You get what I mean right? 

What is nvidia optimus technology?

Laptops are made for portability.n So always product companies try to get best results with the battery life. Intel HD gpu consumes a little power and nvidia gpu consumes a lot of power. So always working with the nvidia gpu makes battery life to be weaker. So what this optimus technology does is switching two gpus when they want.

Ex:-

Working on documents, excel sheets – changes gpu to intel HD3000

Gaming – changes gpu to nvidia

HD video – changes gpu to nvidia

Operating system – changes gpu to intel HD3000

Conflicts with Linux systems

This is a great technology indeed. But the issue is this technology is not very well working with Linux distributions. Nvidia officials have said they have no idea to develop this software to linux distributions too. So what will happen will be both gpus will work when you boot with linux. Result will be a small battery life. Some laptops wont boot even. In my laptop Acer 4750G I tried to install linux ubuntu 11.04 natty narwhal but it doesn’t  gave me the chance to boot even to the install page. It gave me only a black screen. I waited about 30 minutes but nothing happened. This has happened to lot of people who bought laptops with nvidia optimus technology. By the way this technology works with windows 7 like a charm. I managed to code C++ in CodeBlocks software about 5 hours and 30 minutes with lowered brightness.

I checked some linux distributions with this laptop and results are –

Ubuntu 11.04 natty narwhal – Didn’t boot even. But managed to work with installed via WUBI and survived C++ coding in standard g++ compiler via terminal for about 3 hours..

Ubuntu 10.04 lucid lynx – Installed successfully. Initially gave me only a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. Then installed nvidia official linux driver and got the desired 1366 x 768 pixel resolution. ( its not a driver for optimus, but a driver to work that gpu with linux systems)

nvidia driver download page

Linux arch ( kernel version – 3.0.3 ) – installed successfully.. when I installed gnome 3 gui in it all went to a black screen.  I think it can be corrected. As I’m not a genius in linux command line interface and linux arch I couldn’t get it worked yet. Big reason to worry. But I’ll do it in next week and update this post how to :)

I couldn’t check this with fedora or any other version as I couldn’t find any of them. If one of you have checked them with a nvidia optimus enabled computer please let us know. Do a comment explaining it. Thanks :)

Solutions for these problems!

    

Currently there are some solutions. One of them is Bumblebee for linux. And other way is switching off nvidia card manually, in the second way you wont get the optimus technology worked. But in bumblebee thing you will get it worked. As bumblebee is a beta testing software you can’t be assured of 100% stability. But it worth give a try. I didn’t installed bumblebee as I don’t need nvidia in linux as I don’t use linux for gaming. So simply switched it off.

Information about bumblebee and how to use it – Link

How to disable nvidia and other facts – official link

Conclusion

    This is indeed a great technology but sadly not for dual gpu systems. There are some laptops which we can choose what gpu to be enabled. In such laptops we have no issues. So if you are willing to use linux as a primary operating system and you depend on gui, afraid to deal with command line interface actions, I suggest you to move away from dual gpu systems. Or you can wait for till better solution comes or find a laptop with bios switch to enable one single gpu. That’s it… See ya later :D

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Apple iOS 4.3.5 review + Direct download links

I was using my fourth generation iPod touch with iOS 4.2.1 for about 7 months now. I was having problems like malfunctioning apps, icon disappearing and so on. So I did a restore and upgrade to iOS 4.3.5 today. I know you guys have plenty of experiences, but I just thought to express it in my way ;)

    This software update costs 651MB and you can download them through iTunes so easily. But if you have no stable internet connection don't use iTunes download manager to download it. Instead use direct links from Apple web site. The links are shown below ;)

• iPhone 4 (GSM)
• iPhone 3GS
• iPad 2 WiFi
• iPad 2 GSM
• iPad 2 CDMA
• iPad 1
• iPod touch 3G
• iPod touch 4G

Download if you want to install. But there is a huge problem with this software update. That is there is no untethered jailbreak solution for this iOS 4.3.5 version. there's only a tethered jailbreak solution and it's from RedsnOw.. A tethered jailbreak means that you will need the access to a computer to switch on your iDevice after everytime you shut it down. Untethered jailbreak means that you wont need any computer access to boot up your iDevice.  So I recommend that carrier unlock dependants and jailbreakers must be away from this. I'm too a jailbreak type person , but I had to do this... :(


          As soon as I got this installed on my iPod touch I found out that " Facetime " logo has been changed to a new silver colour thing. I really loved the earlier green colour icon. And I didn't see any changes in other icons.

Music Player was just as usual...No specific changes at all... Just perfect <3

Gallery was the same.. No changes. Multiple selection is great when you go for an Air Print ;)

Multiple selection...

It's all about easy of use... Air Printing.. 

Voice over, Zooming and white on black options were in iOS 4.2.1 too... For those who don't know,

Voice over - Reads the icon when you touch it

Zoom - When you tap twice on the screen with two fingers it will zoom the screen in anywhere ;)

White on Black - Makes contrasting negative colours everywhere

And I wonder what the heck this Apple guys have added a "Mono Audio" option :o

My info page

There are not any big changes in this version. But one thing. I couldn't track my location in 4.2.1 and this does it like a charm. Looks like guys at Cupertino fruit company has fixed that great option... See you guys later.... I really love iOS <3

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