[ltp] ThinkPad X1 Extreme

[Axel Braun]

Hello Jordan,

> Date: Sat, 29 Feb 2020 13:54:10 -0800
> From: John Jason Jordan <johnxj at gmx.com>
> To: linux-thinkpad at linux-thinkpad.org
> Subject: Re: [ltp] ThinkPad X1 Extreme
> Message-ID: <20200229135410.4de47d9a at Devil-Thinkpad>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> On Sat, 29 Feb 2020 16:54:27 +0100
> Axel Braun <axel.braun at gmx.de> dijo:
>
> >Am Freitag, 28. Februar 2020, 12:00:02 CET schrieben Sie:
> >> I have no experience with the X1 Extreme, but a couple months ago I
> >> did buy a Thinkpad P73 with Nvidia graphics. After installing
> >> Xubuntu on it I found that it was using just the Intel graphics on
> >> the motherboard, but after installing the Nvidia driver from the
> >> repositories and rebooting it started using both, with optimus. The
> >> Intel graphic chip is easier on the battery, and optimus allows it
> >> to use the Intel graphics unless it needs the additional speed and
> >> features of the Nvidia chip. Optimus is completely seamless - I
> >> never know which chip the computer is using.
> >
> >Yes, I heard about that - does it work with sleep mode (S2RAM
> >formerly) and hibernation?
>
> I don't know; I never put the laptop into sleep or hibernation, except
> I have closed the lid, and I think it went into sleep, because when I
> opened the lid again the screen was black for 100ms or so while the
> display came back up.

Yes, that sounds pretty much like a sleep mode. You may want to check this in Power settings of your desktop environment
I hardly switch the laptop off at all. I usually use sleep mode, unless a reboot is required due to upgraded basic components (kernel) in the rolling release. I only upgrade 2 or 3 times a month, although new stuff flies in mostly daily

> Frankly, I think I rarely use the Nvidia chip. Occasionally I do some
> video editing, and then watch the results, so then it might shift iunto
> the Nvidia graphics, but 99% of the time I am writing or surfing the
> web, and don't think it needs Nvidia for that.
>
> I should have mentioned that I had the choice of three different Nvidia
> chips, and the T2000, was in the middle.

OK, I need to check which chip is installed....

> >> Before installing the Nvidia driver I had to go to nvidia.com to find
> >> out which driver I needed for the Quadro T2000 in the computer. I
> >> could have downloaded their proprietary driver, either stable or
> >> bleeding edge, but I decided to just use the one from the
> >> repositories. The drivers in the repositories don't usually list
> >> which cards they work with, so I had to guess based on the number
> >> that Nvidia gave to their Linux driver for the T2000. Fortunately, I
> >> guessed right the first time. You can actually install more than one
> >> driver, but it will significantly slow down boot time while waiting
> >> for Linux to figure out which one it needs. Assuming that the X1 has
> >> an Intel CPU I'm guessing that you could probably install OpenSUSE
> >> on the computer without dealing with the Nvidia driver, and it will
> >> just use the Intel graphics until you get around to installing the
> >> Nvidia driver.
> >
> >That may be an option, yes. As I'm not a gamer I hardly need heavy
> >graphic power.
> >
> >Nvidias proprietary driver tend to be a bit slow when new kernels come
> >up - on the factory mailing we see regulary issues with new kernels
> >and Nvidia not building against these kernels. It usually needs some
> >time (days? I did not follow these discussions...) until they have
> >fixed their API. With Intel graphics one is usually on the safe side.
> >
> >> In my experience Intel, AMD and Nvidia have always supported Linux,
> >> even with their latest chips. And as long as the computer has an
> >> Intel CPU it probably has Intel graphics as well.
> >
> >Yes, as said, Intel graphics usually works fine. Probably the Linux
> >drivers for Nividia (nouveau?) will do the job in most cases
>
> I have attached a file with some information about what I have
> installed.

Will look into it, thanks
Axel