Is it safe to have NVidia graphics always on on a Linux laptop, or do I risk overheating?

Posted by codeape on Super User See other posts from Super User or by codeape
Published on 2011-10-25T09:16:47Z Indexed on 2011/11/26 17:58 UTC
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Filed under:

linux

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ubuntu

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nvidia

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graphics

I'm getting a Lenovo T520 with two graphics cards:

Integrated Intel HD 3000
Discrete NVidia NVS 4200M

In BIOS, I can adjust which card(s) to use:

Integrated only
Discrete only
Both (NVidia optimus)

Since optimus is not well supported under Linux, I wonder if it is OK to set up the system to use the NVidia card all the time.

I have read somewhere that a laptop risks overheating if using a discrete graphics card all the time.

Is this true? Does someone have any experience to share?

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