Dell Vostro 3700 nVidia graphics not working under linux

December 1, 2010 10:18 AM

I just purchased a Dell Vostro 3700, and the nVidia card won't work under linux.

Despite several sites saying the Vostro 3700 is fully supported on linux, I just installed Ubuntu to discover that I can't use the nVidia 330M graphics card that came with it. It seems that the issue is related to their "Optimus" technology, which switches graphics between the on-board Intel card and the discrete nVidia card as needed (to save power). However, their driver doesn't seem to support this on linux, and the result is that I can't even access the nVidia card, only the Intel one.

Is there any way I can use the nVidia card under linux? I don't really care about switching back and forth between the two cards; I'd be perfectly happy to disable the Intel completely and always use the nVidia.

posted by chundo to Technology (7 answers total)

I would post this question under the Ubuntu forums if you haven't already, as a rule I've found that people there are very helpful.

Your hardware is supported by Linux. Optimus is... not? I'll do some digging and see if I can find a better answer.
posted by Stagger Lee at 10:35 AM on December 1, 2010

Have you seen this? Looks like some laptops let you switch in the BIOS, but if you don't have a BIOS switch, your out of luck.
posted by mr_roboto at 10:40 AM on December 1, 2010

It does not lot good. I scanned the thread here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/linux-compatibility-software/473915-no-support-nvidia-optimus-linux.html

And the Phoronix update:

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=ODc2NQ

I'd look over those, and this thread too:

http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=144750

But it doesn't look like there's even a workaround currently. Unless you consider using Windows to be a workaround.
posted by Stagger Lee at 10:42 AM on December 1, 2010

Best answer: Here are your BIOS settings. I'd try mucking around with the Hybrid Graphic setting.
posted by mr_roboto at 10:45 AM on December 1, 2010

This thread at the Ubuntu forum suggests that your nvidia card is a paperweight under Linux, barring a miracle:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1546500&highlight=Optimus+workaround


I wouldn't touch the bios settings, myself. There's no sign that it helps, and unless you know what you're doing, you can make yourself a mess.
posted by Stagger Lee at 10:49 AM on December 1, 2010

Change the BIOS. Do it. C'mon. You know you want to.

Seriously, though, the BIOS stuff seems to be the closest there is to official advice from nVidia. For whatever that's worth.
posted by mr_roboto at 11:03 AM on December 1, 2010

Response by poster: Interesting, I did not notice a "Hybrid Graphics" setting in the BIOS when I first poked around, but that was also before I realized this was a problem. I will have to check again.
posted by chundo at 11:04 AM on December 1, 2010