User:Crater2150/Bumblebee

= Overview =

Bumblebee is a daemon managing the use of NVidia Optimus. It enables you to use your discrete GPU when needed and shuts it down when not in use.

= Package Installation =

First you need the drivers for your GPUs. Set the VIDEO_CARDS variable:

/etc/make.conf}

Bumblebee is now included in the portage tree. You should set the useflag. This installs the bbswitch module, which is needed to turn of the discrete GPU when not needed.

Install bumblebee with

You may also want to run to re-emerge all packages affected by the  change, so they use the features from the discrete GPU.

= Configuration =

The bumblebee package includes its own xorg.config file, which can be found under or  according to the driver you select.

Bumblebee's config file can be found under. You should at least set your driver (e.g. ).

Permissions
Add any user, who should be allowed to use the discrete GPU to the bumblebee group:

Xorg.conf
Usually you won't need to change your xorg.conf. Remove any lines in it specifying a graphics driver ( and similar) or bumblebee might not run.

Daemon startup
To use bumblebee, start it with. You can start it on boot with.

= Usage =

To run a program on the GPU, use The package, which is pulled in by bumblebee, includes the program. You can use it to test your setup:

When run with you should get a significantly higher frame rate.