Ubuntu – Switching between Intel and NVIDIA GPU

Take an example for 12.04 amd64 arch. I recommend 12.04 LTS instead of 13.04. 12.04 are more stable than 13.04 and will get supports until 2017. Some PPA like ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates and ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/intel-graphics-updates do not offer to 13.04 now.

Do NOT take care of "additional drivers" for graphics card from ubuntu software center.

You first need to set graphics cards to 'switchable' in bios, if there has the setting item . If there no, do not care.

For your notebook , you should use bumblebee:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bumblebee/stable
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install bumblebee bumblebee-nvidia primus-libs-ia32
Ref: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bumblebee#Installation

Then If you want to run application with Nvidia Graphics Card, you only need to run 'optirun xxx' in gnome-terminal.

You can also make use of HD4000 for mplayer:

sudo apt-get install i965-va-driver
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:sander-vangrieken/vaapi
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install mplayer-vaapi
Last, change video output driver to `vaapi` in `Gnome Mplayer` or `VLC` config.
Ref: http://www.webupd8.org/2012/11/install-mplayer-with-va-api-hardware.html

In order for ubuntu to know your intel graphic card in 'System Settings'-> 'Details', you need to run:

sudo apt-get install mesa-utils

You can also try intel SNA (the new 2D acceleration technology for the Intel graphics driver):

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/intel-graphics-updates
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
sudo mkdir /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/
echo -e 'Section "Device"\n Identifier "Card0"\n Driver "Intel"\n Option "AccelMethod" "sna"\nEndSection' | sudo tee /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf
Then restart machine.
Ref: http://askubuntu.com/questions/298145/xserver-xorg-video-intel-in-ppaubuntu-x-swat-x-updates
Ref: http://askubuntu.com/questions/225356/how-can-i-enable-the-sna-acceleration-method-for-intel-cards-under-ubuntu-12-04
Ref: http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTExNjA
Ref: http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=intel_ivy_glamor&num=1

Based on your query in http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2291771 and the answers there, what you are asking for is not possible.

From the forum:

From my understanding of Nvidia Optimus technology I do not think it is possible. The purpose of Optimus is automatic switching between a more powerful GPU for high intensity graphic tasks with likewise high battery drain and a less powerful GPU for low intensity graphic tasks with the benefit of less battery drain.

In Linux we have yet to get an Nvidia driver that will do automatic switching.

I am guessing that the problems you are having with video play back are nothing to do with which GPU is being used but in connection with the CPU being under intensive use and needing to task switch. The Nvidia GPU should handle video playback easily. If it is not then it could be a case of too much going on at the same time.

On the other hand, you can try bumblebee/optirun as described in Correct nvidia+intel graphics setup in 14.04

Then you can start ue4 with optirun prefix, thus using the Nvidia card for it and use Intel for other processes like the browser. Open a terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T and enter:

(optirun <name of the program> &)

The (parenthesis) and & will detach the process from the terminal. This will allow you to work on the terminal after launching the program. There are other ways of completely detaching the program from the terminal.

Also see How does bumblebee optirun actually work?.

I don't have an Nvidia card, so I have not tried it.

Hope this helps