How to Use Nvidia Optimus to Switch Active GPUs and Save Power on Linux Laptops

Many upcoming laptops include both Nvidia graphics hardware and Intel GPUs. Those laptops use a technology called Nvidia Optimus to intelligently switch between the two Intel's CPU in built graphics card the desktop for lower power usage, while Nvidia has more ability to capable GeForce graphics kick into gear when you need them.

That's the way it works with windows at least. But as good as the Nvidia Drivers for Linux are  Optimus Power-switching is not perfectly supported on Linux. There are the ways to enable it.

Nvidia’s official Optimus support

Nvidia has provided some optimus support since 2013. It's not a slick and convenient as it is on windows.

On Ubuntu and Linux Mint, you will have to install the "Nvidia Prime" package from your package manager first. Other Linux distributions may requires more configuration. You can open the graphical Nvidia X Server Settings application and choose between the both the graphics card Nvidia and Intel. You'll see a select the GPU you want to use" option under "Prime Profiles" in the window.

You'll have to log out and log in back for your changes to take effect. Your computer also would not automatically switch between the two. If you are just using your Linux System for gaming and you don't have to care about its longer battery life. You always use the Nvidia  GPU. It'll work just like a desktop PC with an Nvidia GeForce GPU.

The BIOS method

Some computers offer a switch for this in their BIOS or UEFI firmware settings screen.

If you are lucky, you may be able to head to the BIOS and disable the whole entire graphics. Forcing your computer to only use the Nvidia Geforce graphics. Linux will see the Nvidia graphics hardware GPU and everything will work normally, as if the Nvidia hardware was the only graphics hardware in your system. You would not have to configure anything special in Linux.

Bumblebee and Primus

The bumblebee project was created to reverse engineer the way optimus works on windows and implement it same on Linux.

Whenever you use bumblebee, you must start an application with the "primusrun" command. This will activate the Nvidia GPU only while that application is running  just like on windows. There is no need to log out and log in back. It doesn't switch directly when you launch an application, as it does on windows. However you can configure steam to directly run games with primusrun.

The official steam website provides instructions for setting up bumblebee to help get you started. This is a bit more work to set up and is unofficially supported by Nvidia, but it's the only way to have Linux switch directly between the Nvidia and Intel GPUs when running particular applications. If you want that Linux to use the Intel GPU on your system most of the time and the Nvidia GPU when running games, this is the only solution.