T520 BIOS graphics card selection

[fasterbybike]

Does the the BIOS for the T520 allow the graphics mode to be switched from the BIOS before booting the laptop

i.e.
Intel Integrated
NVIDIA NVS 4200M
OPTIMUS (auto)

Thanks

David

[blackomegax]

Yes.


Beware though, there is a 4th toggle, for "optimus aware OS detect", that, if the bios sees windows 7 booting, will flip whatever setting you have to "optimus"
to force the setting to be static, disable that.

[Colonel O'Neill]

Windows might run around for a while trying to load the appropriate drivers if you change it between sessions. Should be okay though.

[blackomegax]

itll boot, ONCE, into windows with your custom setting. and load drivers. next reboot goes back due to OS detect.
booting ubuntu defaults to intel-only with detect on, but nvidia has far better drivers.

[fasterbybike]

Thanks, this will be a dual boot Win7/64 and Ubuntu 11.04 machine. Does nVidia provide up to date linux drivers ?

[blackomegax]

http://www.nvidia.com/object/unix.html

[fasterbybike]

Awesome

Many thanks

[redhook]

Thanks, this will be a dual boot Win7/64 and Ubuntu 11.04 machine. Does nVidia provide up to date linux drivers ?

I have no problem booting into Ubuntu with my T510 and the BIOS set to detect. So you shouldn't have to mess with it at all. In fact when it is set to Optimus it always detects the OS?

[Deschanel]

Guys, is there any specific technical reason to have the NVIDIA NVS 4200M Graphics with Optimus Technology, 1GB DDR3 Memory installed on my T520 laptop along with the 2630QM processor? The idea is that I do not need it (nVidia)...
the integrated one should match all my coding needs.
Thanks.