In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the process of disabling the NVIDIA Optimus Graphics Card on an Ubuntu system. This can be particularly useful if you’re experiencing performance issues or want to use the integrated Intel graphics instead.
To disable the NVIDIA Optimus Graphics Card on Ubuntu, you need to modify the GRUB bootloader configuration file and remove any existing NVIDIA drivers. After making these changes and rebooting your system, it will use the integrated Intel graphics instead.
What is NVIDIA Optimus?
NVIDIA Optimus is a technology that allows seamless switching between the integrated GPU (usually Intel) and the more powerful, discrete GPU (NVIDIA) in laptops. However, there can be instances where you might want to disable the NVIDIA GPU. For instance, when it’s causing compatibility issues or if you want to conserve battery life.
Prerequisites
Before we begin, ensure that you have:
- A system running Ubuntu 15.10 or later.
- Administrative access to execute commands.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Install the gksu Package
Open a terminal and install the gksu package by executing the following command:
sudo apt-get install gksuThe sudo command allows you to run programs with the security privileges of the superuser, while apt-get install is used to install the specified package.
Step 2: Open the GRUB Configuration File
Next, we need to edit the GRUB bootloader configuration file. Execute the following command:
gksudo gedit /etc/default/grubHere, gksudo is used to execute the command as root in a graphical environment, and gedit is a text editor in GNOME.
Step 3: Modify the GRUB Configuration File
In the opened file, locate the line GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash". Modify it by adding nouveau.modeset=0 to it, so it reads:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash nouveau.modeset=0"The nouveau.modeset=0 parameter disables the Nouveau driver, which is a free and open-source graphics device driver for NVIDIA GPUs.
After making the changes, save and close the file.
Step 4: Update the GRUB Configuration
To apply the changes, update the GRUB bootloader configuration by executing the command:
sudo update-grubThis command generates a new GRUB configuration based on the default settings and the changes you made.
Step 5: Remove Existing NVIDIA Drivers
To ensure there are no conflicts, remove any existing NVIDIA drivers by executing the command:
sudo apt-get purge nvidia*The purge command removes the package and its configuration files.
Step 6: Reboot Your System
Finally, reboot your system for the changes to take effect:
sudo rebootAfter rebooting, your system will be using the integrated Intel graphics, and the NVIDIA graphics card will be disabled.
Conclusion
You have now successfully disabled the NVIDIA Optimus Graphics Card on your Ubuntu system. Remember, this method should be used as a last resort if you’re experiencing severe issues with your NVIDIA card and other solutions like changing the NVIDIA PRIME profile to Intel have not worked. Always make sure to back up your data before making significant changes to your system.
No, you can only disable the NVIDIA Optimus Graphics Card on Ubuntu 15.10 or later.
Disabling the NVIDIA Optimus Graphics Card can be useful in situations where you’re experiencing compatibility issues or if you want to conserve battery life on your system.
The gksu package is used to execute commands with root privileges in a graphical environment.
The nouveau.modeset=0 parameter disables the Nouveau driver, which is a free and open-source graphics device driver for NVIDIA GPUs.
Removing existing NVIDIA drivers ensures that there are no conflicts when switching to the integrated Intel graphics.
