How to throw out discrete video card from laptop (Dell 5580 / 940MX)?

[artursabirovdev]

There is no BIOS option like 'Using only integrated graphics'. So i want to disable (or throw out) discrete card on hardware level. I thought 940mx soldered into the motherboard... am i right ? If yes - is there any workaround ?

P.s. I'm planning to use linux on this laptop.

 

[okcnaline]

You can't; soldered on. And Linux is already easy enough to set up for Linux. Just use nomodeset until you can install official NVIDIA drivers.

 

[artursabirovdev]

But i thought (and read too) that even with NVIDIA drivers and disabling discrete card my power consumption will not be so efficient as turning off it as hardware (suppose), isn't it ? Is there any programming / kernel option for disabling hardware ? If i'm right nouveau.modeset=0 disables only KMS, not a graphics card as hardware ?

 

[TJ Hooker]

The laptop display/outputs are likely hardwired to the 940MX (unless it had Optimus graphics switching). So even if you could disable/remove the 940MX, you would end up with a laptop incapable of displaying anything (assuming it would even turn on).

Edit: Hmm, looks like that laptop might support graphics switching, maybe look for something in Nvidia settings about always using integrated graphics.

 

[artursabirovdev]

Ok, i got an answer for my latitude 5580. I tried solution for XPS series using ACPI calls and it worked like a charm! Also i turned of bluetooth via 'rfkill block bluetooth' and got awesome battery life! About 4-5 hours of coding on 68wh! Waiting for shipment of my 92wh battery.

Original source:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Dell/comments/5y3rii/xps_9560_battery_life_optimization_and_fan/