Ubuntu – How to use the external display on the laptop with intel and nvidia video cards

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My hardware: Dell xps L502X laptop with integrated intel video card and an GeForce GT 540M (HDMI).
My config: Ubuntu 12.04 + nidia drivers 295.53

I didn't manage to use my external display neither in Ubuntu 11.10 with older nvidia drivers.

The problem is that when I want to open nvidia-setings I get 

You do not appear to be using the NVIDIA X driver.  Please edit your X configuration file (just run `nvidia-xconfig` as root), and restart the X server.

If I run nvidia-xconfig an xorg.conf file is generated and after reboot I get an 640:480 resolution on my laptop and nvidia-setings say the same thing.

Is there a way to use an external display? I don't care If I use nvidia, nuveau or other drivers.

Best Answer

I have the same laptop, your Nvidia card is called "Optimus" and won't run with the normal Nvidia drivers as Nvidia have "no plans to support it in Linux"

However:

There is a guide on this site:

Installing Bumblebee for Nvidia Optimus

Don't be alarmed by the name, it tells you how to set up the Optimus card and how to increase battery life by appx. 60% in my experience.

You will need to remove the Nvidia drivers you have first - Google is your friend for that.

After that you need to splash the cash on a mini DP to VGA adaptor (8-15 British Pounds on Ebay) for your external monitor as there is currently no support for HDMI and Optimus on the Dell L502x at least (others maybe?).

I work using projectors all the time and find this to be a robust and usually stable solution.

This gives me 1366x768 on the laptop and 1080x1920 on my external monitor.

Hope this helps.

Richard.

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